CS Booze Club.

[Victory Sabre]

Tonight I'm enjoying a New Glarus Brewing Co. Apple Ale.
http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/inde...beer/apple-ale

Almost no head when poured.

Flavor - Apple cider. So delicious. It would be a good beer to enjoy with a special someone sitting in front of a roaring fire on a cold fall night. Very good, but also expensive. It was $9.99 for a 4 pack.

[Jester]

Very good, but also expensive.

Life is too short too drink cheap beer. Currently drinking my favorite beer of all time, Weihenstephaner Korbinian dopplebock, while watching my Sun Devils kick the Wildcats' collective asses.

Life is good.

[sms001]

Apple cider.... good, but also expensive.

Have we already covered Stella Artois' entry in this category? iirc, it was well past that price point, but I think I saw an oversized single bottle on sale for around five bucks, so I'll get one for the wife and let you know what she thinks.

[Dentarthurdent]

Have we already covered Stella Artois' entry in this category? iirc, it was well past that price point, but I think I saw an oversized single bottle on sale for around five bucks, so I'll get one for the wife and let you know what she thinks.

I've tried it. Thought it was gross and kinda...apple-juice-like.

[deadbody]

Next time I head to Wisconsin-land (which may be in a week and a half), I'll get it. Really impressed with their beer, and if I could get it here in Minnesota, I would.

Central Waters is available in MN. I buy a decent amount of it. Their Bourbon barrel stout is very good for the price. Peruvian Morning when uninfected is one of the best beers ever. Their barleywine is pretty good, and the bourbon barrel version is off the chain.

[KiaKat]

Valpolicella does vary widely - and to make it even more confusing, there are three levels. Valpolicella, Ripassa (Ripasso), and Amarone. The prices vary widely, as well, with Amarone being wildly expensive (we carry a well-regarded bottle priced at $99, and that's a good price for that bottle), and Valpolicella being a lovely, medium-bodied table wine with bright red fruit and some minerality. Tends to be a nice light alternative to the glut of heavy Montepulciano d'Abruzzos on the market.

[Jester]

Kia, I had no idea Valpolicella was related to amarone. I was turned on to amarones years ago by one of my favorite bartenders on the island, and it's one of the few wines I'll gladly shell out $15 for a glass.

[KiaKat]

Amarone is made by drying the Valpolicella-blend grapes in a climate-controlled room, then they're pressed and fermented. It's a very cool process.

[Jester]

I don't doubt it, as it's a killer wine.

[Victory Sabre]

Central Waters is available in MN. I buy a decent amount of it. Their Bourbon barrel stout is very good for the price. Peruvian Morning when uninfected is one of the best beers ever. Their barleywine is pretty good, and the bourbon barrel version is off the chain.

I haven't seen it where I live, but I'm sure I can get it in the cities, and will.

[deadbody]

I haven't seen it where I live, but I'm sure I can get it in the cities, and will.

Next time you head into the cities let me know. I'll direct you to some, or hook you up with a bottle or 2 from my cellar.

On a related note, Bent Paddle golden IPA is amazing, different than most IPA's still nice and hoppy, but with a smoother body. Had some camping this summer when they only distributed to the frozen north of Duluth. Now that I can get it in the Twin Cities (although only in 3 locations) I am and it is wonderous.

Also drank a 2012 Sierra Nevada Narwahl last night, excellent as always.

[Irving Patrick Freleigh]

So.....

Midnight Moon. Anybody tried it? It's moonshine from a recipe by the family of Junior Johnson (who NASCAR fans should know). I got the apple pie variety.

It's...pretty good. Very prominent alcohol taste, as it's 35% alcohol by volume (some other varieties of theirs are 50%), but the aftertaste is very apple-y and creamy, like a slice of apple pie with ice cream. I only had half an old-fashioned glass and I do have a bit of a booze buzz going.

Maybe a bit of this in a cup of hot apple cider would make a good holiday drink.

[KiaKat]

It's fine, as far as liqueurs go. Bugs me that they sell it as shine ( which is really just unaged corn whiskey), but I'd love to find a truly awesome apple liqueur to go with my truly awesome ginger liqueur. So far, no dice.

[sms001]

my truly awesome ginger liqueur.

Hey Kia - got any tips on using up some ginger brandy? I've got all but the 1/2c I used for a sangria recipe left sitting around taking up space.

[KiaKat]

As in ginger infused brandy, or a brandy-based liqueur?