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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Canadian Whisky of the Year


Whisky Advocate Award:  Canadian Whisky of the Year


We have 2 cases in stock now!!! online also
Wiser’s Very Old/18 Year Old.....our price.....$49.99

FEBRUARY 3RD, 2012
JOHN HANSELL
Wiser’s Very Old/18 Year Old, 40%, $65
Some folks always suspect that food or drink exporters keep the best stuff for themselves. I’ve heard it about cheese, beer, fruit…but when I’ve looked into it, the export markets are indeed getting “the good stuff.” Why not? You’d want to send the best to get the highest price, given that shipping costs are the same for great or mediocre products.



But after enjoying this bottle of Wiser’s Very Old (also sold as Wiser’s 18 Year Old), I’m starting to think that the Canadians really are keeping the good stuff up north. There are small amounts for sale in the U.S. (though that’s slowly increasing), but almost all of it stays home.

That’s a hardship for us non-Canadians, because this is a very nice whisky. After years of thinking of Canadian whisky simply as fuel for highballs and sweet Manhattans we’re looking for something else, something that can stand on its own and intrigue us, or something that could make a more robustly Canadian cocktail, and this Wiser’s would very much fit the bill. You can really taste rye and oak, without a lot of gloppy sweetness, and there’s a finish to reward sipping contemplation.

We’ve seen innovation in this category from John Hall’s Forty Creek whiskies, and rare elegance from limited bottlings like Canadian Club 30 Year Old. Wiser’s Very Old delivers classic Canadian smoothness with a rich extra helping of well-integrated flavor and complexity. Keep it coming, Canada; we’re ready for more.—Lew Bryson

The Wine and Cheese Place and Schlafly Bourbon Barrel Quad is BOTTLED!!!


Schlafly / The Wine and Cheese Place Bourbon Barrel Quad is BOTTLED!!!!!

When we first put the Schlafly beer in barrel six months ago (check out the pics) , I thought this day would never come....but....
I got "the call" today from Stephen Hale, head brewer of Schlafly, that they bottled the Bourbon Barrel Quadrupel.  That is the good news, the bad news is that the "angel's share" was bigger than we thought.  The barrel only yielded 18 cases of bottled beer after evaporation.   We are going to save a case for for special tastings and ageing. So that leaves only 17 cases to sell or 204 bottles!


So the beer should be at the distributor on Friday and we will get it next week!   We will work on the raffle portion of the beer.  With the small amount we received, I will sell 100 bottles with the raffle method and will update you on the other 104 bottles.


You know I will keep you up to date with the blog/facebook/twitter this weekend.   I am thinking next Friday February 17th as the official release date.


We cannot tell you how excited we are about this program and to be involved with local breweries in creating these rare, limited, and exciting beers.   I think it is very exciting for the beer community here in St. Louis and is a result of the close network we have and the amazing brewers and their willingness to participate.   This is just the first one to be bottled with 5 more beers in barrel and more on the way.  Click here to read more about the barrel program and scroll down the blog posts and check out the pictures..


Great looking bottle --

Picture and info from Schlafly.com




Bourbon Barrel Aged Quadrupel
Available in extremely limited quantity, exclusively at The Wine and Cheese Place.



ABV:
12 | IBU: 50
APPEARANCE: Deep mahogany, slightly hazy
PROCESS: Strong Belgian-style Ale; aged in a Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrel for several months
HOPS: Marynka, Lublin (PL)
MALTS: 2-row malted barley, malted wheat, Munich malt, Special B malt, Caravienne, Dark Candi sugar
YEAST: Belgian Abbey Ale
OG:24.5
SRM:27

Our Quadrupel is easily one of the most rich and full bodied beers we make, so when Paul Hayden at The Wine and Cheese Place in Clayton, Missouri asked us to age some in a bourbon barrel, we were happy to oblige. The resulting ale is loaded with oak and bourbon character, as well as the rich dried-fruit character of the Quadrupel. We have created a unique taste you will only find in this extremely limited edition. We filled just one bourbon barrel and may never produce this beer again, so enjoy!










Old school beers...


Some new beers/package from old school breweries...


New beer from Newcastle -- seasonal

Newcastle Founder's Ale....$7.79 / 6pk

Only one Limited Edition is special enough to bear the name Newcastle Founders Ale. The name, like the star on its label, is a tribute to the heritage of the five founding brewers of Victorian-era Newcastle. Its nutty brown color, light-bodied flavor and malty dry, bitter finish will make you as proud of our heritage as we are.






Corona Familiar....$3.49 / 32oz
There seems to be a big debate online if this is the same beer as "regular" Corona or if it is a different beer.  Some think it is the same beer just keeps better because it is in the brown bottle and some think it is a different beer.  Either way, we have it in stock now.


Now found in over 150 countries, Corona has become:
The #1 selling beer in Mexico
The #1 selling Mexican beer in the world
The #4 selling beer in the world









George Killian's Irish Red.....$6.29 / 6pk
I was told that they changed back to the original formula?  I could not find any information online about it though.  At minimum, it is a new package and in stock







Now in stock!!


River City Savories Cheese Spreads

The Wine and Cheese Place is the first and only place to have River City Savory Spreads in stock in St. Louis....



"What do you do when you have a surplus of dehydrated morel mushrooms? You think of ways to use them, create recipes and come up with a unique product that is the Morel Mushroom Cheese Spread. This cheese spread made its public debut at the Alton Farmers Market during the summer of 2010 and quickly became a very popular item all around town. A favorite served at dinner parties and wine tastings, we were often sold out before we could get set up for business. Not satisfied to be a one product venture, we added other flavors to our savory cheese spread line-up. We now create 30 different flavors of savory cheese spreads!!

River City Morel Mushroom Cheese Spread
Savory Cheese Spreads- The one that started it all. Our very popular morel mushroom cheese spread. A blend of cheeses and spices with a layer of morel mushrooms in the middle. A fabulous accent to your next steak, burger, baked potato or good just as a snack on crackers or bread.
Plus we also have these cheese spreads from River City
  • Wasabi and Salmon
  • Horseradish and bacon
  • Spinach and Artichoke
  • Blue Cheese 

Monday, February 6, 2012

Just Sweet Desserts



We are proud to have Just Sweets baker and founder, Andrea Reubin, at The Wine and Cheese Place presenting samples of her Chocolate Passion Cake.   Please join us to meet Andrea and taste her amazing creations!!  Check out her website to see the tasty treats

When: Saturday, February 11 from (1pm-4pm).
Where: The Wine and Cheese Place
               7435 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton MO 63105 - 314.727.8788

She will be taking orders at the store for pick up for Valentine's Day.  This will optimize the quality of her Just Sweets for your Valentine.


"Chocolate Passion Cake"

The Chocolate Passion Cake is sure to send you howling with love: dark chocolate cake is covered with milk chocolate Italian buttercream, and finished with a bittersweet chocolate ganache. This cake will delight chocolate lovers one amazing bite after another. Fair trade, organic and local ingredients make the experience all the more delicious.


More info about Just Sweets:


Luxurious, Yum-tastic Desserts
with Fair Trade Certified Ingredients

Just Sweets bakes up the harvest of fair trade farmers to create extraordinary desserts that transform lives. Experience the art of yum with outrageous, sustainable, dessert luxury in every bite.

Just Sweets baker and founder Andrea Reubin’s philosophy is top-notch ingredients, as many local as possible, but first and foremost, for all ingredients that are produced in developing countries to be Fair Trade Certified. Fair Trade Certified ingredients translate into living wages that provide food, shelter, clean water, good health, education and build strong families who succeed. “My story is simple: I love dessert but it has to be worth it!”

Baking is always a balancing act to get just the right flavor, texture, and depth. By hand-crafting top-notch ingredients and living wages into luxury desserts, Just Sweets is exactly that, just sweets.






Big O Valentine's Basket


Special Missouri Valentine Basket!


Big O Ginger Liqueur and Kakao Chocolate Gift Basket....$49.99
The decorative, sea-grass basket contains a 750ml bottle of The Big O ginger liqueur, two cordial glasses, and a box of four hand-dipped truffles from Kakao Chocolates of St. Louis.

A sensual pairing - the delicate spice of The Big O ginger liqueur and the silky satisfaction of hand-dipped artisan truffles from Kakao Chocolate. Intensely satisfying!
Baskets are made to order to assure the freshness of the artisan chocolates. 

Orders must be placed by February 9th for Valentine's Day gifts. 
to order - call 314.727.8788
or email paul@wineandcheeseplace.com



Big O Ginger Liqueur - click here to read more

Kakao Chocolate - St. Louis, MO

Kakao strives for nothing short of the finest chocolate experience.

Brian Pelletier is the owner and chief chocolatier of Kakao Chocolate. The first 20 years of his career were spent toiling in the corporate world of business marketing, and it wasn’t until 2008 that he found his true passion – making people happy with delicious chocolate confections.

Kakao Chocolate uses only the finest all-natural ingredients, with no artificial flavors or colors. We hand-dip our confections in small batches in our St. Louis shop – the extra time and care we give to this process produces a higher quality you'll notice with your first bite.

Friday, February 3, 2012

A couple of new Perennial beers...


Both are scheduled to arrive next week (if all goes to plan Feb 9 or 10)

You can reserve some now



Perennial Artisan Ales Collaboration with Half Acre of Chicago, IL -- 








Perennial / Half Acre Plan B...$11.99 / 750ml
Plan B! Plan B will be a sour mash Belgian Dark Ale with Black Currants.



Perennial Black Walnut Dunkel...$11.99 / 750ml
"Black Walnut Dunkel is our first foray into German-style beer.  Originally brewed an underground beer dinner with our friends at entre, BWD is a rich, malty Dunkelweiss with 250 pounds of Missouri black walnuts.  Game birds, such as quail, pair nicely with the unique, earthy character of the walnuts." -- label





An update on The Wine and Cheese Place Barrel Aged Beer Collaborations


More beer is in the barrel now...we now have 5 different barrels filled with beer and aging in the cellars of some of the local breweries...




Barrel Update - Feb 3, 2012

Barrel -  Buffalo Trace Barrel
Brewery: Schlafly
Barrel filled on August 5, 2011 with Schlafly Quadrupel
February 7, 2012 is the scheduled bottling date!
Watch for the release soon








Barrel -  Knob Creek 9yr Barrel 
(first full barrel ever sold in St. Louis) 
Brewery: Perennial Artisan Ales
Barrel filled on October 6th with Perennial Heart of Gold Wheat Wine
(now 4 months in barrel)





Barrel - Elijah Craig 12yr Old 
(1st full barrel sold in STL)
Barrel - Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey
Brewery: 4 Hands Brewing Company
Both barrels filled on February 3, 2012 with their Bona Fide Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Goshen Espresso and Whole Vanilla Bean to age.








Barrel - Buffalo Trace
Brewery: 2nd Shift Brewing
Barrel filled on December 29, 2011 with thier "LSD" Liquid Spiritual Delight










Barrel - Buffalo Trace
Brewery: Charleville
The barrel is at Charleville to be filled soon with a 9% Wee Heavy that they are creating



Stay tuned for more barrels!

Filling the 2 barrels at 4 Hands Brewing Company

4 Hands Brewing Company * St. Louis, Missouri
Make sure you visit 4 Hands and enjoy their amazing beers - Here is their website
Along with their "regular" beers that they have on draft, they just added a pear saison and plan on having the "non-barrel aged" version of the Bona Fide Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Goshen Espresso and Whole Vanilla Bean on draft in about 2 weeks, plus they are releasing their Double IPA War Hammer on March 3 on draft.
They are still getting their bottling line up and going, so we hope to see their bottled beers on our shelves early Spring.


Barrel Aged Beer!
I went down to 4 Hands Brewing Company today to take some pictures of them putting their Bona Fide Russian Imperial Stout brewed with Goshen Espresso and Whole Vanilla Bean in 2 barrels that we supplied.  They filled one barrel of Elijah Craig 12 Year old Bourbon and one barrel of Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey.   Same beer in each, but two different barrels and each will be bottled separately.


The front door of 4 Hands Brewing Co.



Will Johnston, head brewer for 4 Hands, filling the Elijah Craig Barrel with Bona Fide Stout


Kevin Lemp, owner of 4 Hands Brewing, absorbing the potent smell of the bourbon from the barrel


The old barrel getting filled up with Bona Fide Stout



The first barrel getting full, but it must be filled more until all the head is pushed out



Wasting good beer on to the floor...


Here is a short video of the over flow...

First barrel is full and now it is time to start the second barrel...

Same beer going into the Dry Fly Wheat Whiskey Barrel...

Kevin Lemp checking the fill and bouquet...
Barrel number two is filled up...


Stop them up and wash them off..

Cleaned and ready for storage...check out the two barrels.  They will have the same beer aging in them for 6+  months.  The one on the left held a Wheat Whiskey for maybe 2-4 years (cannot get an exact date), but the Elijah Craig held a Bourbon for 12 years (stamped on the barrel that it was filled in 1999).   It will be interesting to taste the same beer 6 months later in 2 different barrels.
Here is some foam from the barrel...

Getting moved to their resting place to be forgotten for about 6 months.  We should hopefully see the two barrels bottled this fall.



Thanks very much to Kevin and Will of 4 Hands Brewing!

Bud Light Platinum


In stock at Rock Hill and Forsyth...

Bud Light Platinum...$5.99 / 6pk

Putting more beer in barrel...



Just left 4 Hands Brewing Company to take some pictures of them putting the Bona Fide Stout in barrel...actually two barrels -- 
I will post some pictures in the next couple of days and more info.

Also, just tasted their new Saison they just added on draft in their tasting room.  It is fantastic, head down to 4 Hands and get your self some.  Here is their website



Thursday, February 2, 2012

Anchor is back in St. Louis...


Anchor beers are finally back in St. Louis after a 6 month hiatus....

One of the original Craft brews....

In stock now!!!
Anchor Steam Beer
Anchor Liberty Ale
Anchor Old Foghorn



Another newsletter from the past...17 years ago...



Celebrating our 30th Anniversary this year!!!


The Wine and Cheese Place is proud to have introduced a number of items to St. Louis.   Did you know we were the first to bring in the very popular Borsao Spanish wine?   We had tasted the 1994 Borsao and loved it and ordered a pallet of it.   I remember the day it finally arrived at our store, the new issue of The Wine Advocate arrived in the mail (before it was online) that very same day and the headline was "The five greatest red wine values I have ever tasted?" -- Robert Parker.   Borsao was one of those wines - it was $4.99 and 89 points from Robert Parker.   We were shocked that the issue arrived the same day the wine did.   We sold those 56 cases in a weekend.   We started ordering 400 cases at a time and went through over 1,600 cases of that one wine!
Here is a newsletter from fall of 1995 .  Again, sorry we cannot honor these prices, plus we do not have these vintages in stock anymore :)

The Roasting House was still around and we had not opened our Forysth location yet.  We were still just called The Cheese Place (not Wine and).  Also it was before the (636) area code was needed for our Ballwin location.  

Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Reserve


Harviestoun Old Engine Oil Engineer's Reserve...$5.49 / 11.2oz


This is the limited Reserve Release "Blackest Ale"
"The intensely flavoured bu incredibly smooth Engineer's Resere is our fabulous Old Engine Oil brewed up to 9% ABV.   Three hop varieties - grassy Fuggles, spicy East Kent Goldings and fruity Galena - are combined with roast barley providing a slightly burnt, toasted coffee character. 

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Mikkeller It's Alright!




Mikkeller It's Alright....$4.49 / 11.2oz
It's Alive's! Little brother. A Mikkeller session beer. Low in alcohol, dry, light, sour and refreshing.
Ingredients :
Water, malt (pale and caramunich), light rock sugar, hops (hallertauer og styrian goldings), ale yeast and brettanomyces."

Buxton Brewery


Imperial Russian Stout from Derbyshire



Buxton Tsar Imperial Russian Stout...$4.69 / 11.2oz
TSAR is rich and powerful, a full bodied Imperial Stout. Malty chocolate, mocha and dark berry fruit-notes preside over a subtle hop profile, whilst a smooth velvety texture in the mouth gives way to a lingering bitter, dark chocolate finish 
Rated 94 on RateBeer





THE BUXTON BREWERY BREWHOUSE, AND HOW WE BREW.

We have a 5 Brewer’s barrel (BBL) plant. The vessels are; (from left to right) Mash Tun, Copper, Hot Liquor Tank.

The malted barley and wheat mix (grist) are combined with hot liquor (brewer’s term for water) in the mash tun and form into a thick, porridge-like consistency. This mash is left to stand for a little over an hour, so that the enzymes present in the grains of barley and wheat can get to work converting the starch into fermentable sugars (mostly maltose). This is the good stuff that the growing grain of barley would have used to sustain itself whilst sending its rootlet into the ground, and its shoot into the sunlight.....read more about the brewery

Denied Entry...



Anders Kissmeyer was the brewmaster at Nørrebro Bryghus for 10 years -- this is his own brand... (sounds like it was not a smooth break up - read more)

  
Kissmeyer Denied Entry....$5.99 / 22oz
A dark copper coloured, fruity tart Belgian Style brown ale brewed with pomegranate and orange peel.




"Brew master Anders Kissmeyer is the promoter behind the vision of Nørrebro Bryghus. His personal vision and solid professionalism is the foam of the beer and the leading star of developing and building the brewery. Anders is the analytical entrepreneur, the connoisseur and the alchemist, who has dedicated his life in search of the formula for the best brew." Nørrebro Bryghus website


Kissmeyer Beer
"Kissmeyer Beer is my personal beer brand. It is the essence of more than 26 years in the brewing business and expresses the brewing philosophy developed with the Nørrebro Bryghus-brand in its first six years on the market. This philosophy combined with my extensive experience within brewing and quality management is translated into actual beers which are brewed to the highest possible degree of technical quality. The inspiration for my beers is a mix of my own personal thoughts, definitions and discoveries of beers that I miss on the market today and my many past and future collaborations with friends among the world’s best brewers.
Kissmeyer Beer is not a brewery in the physical sense – it is a so-called phantom brewery. Kissmeyer Beer brew at carefully selected breweries around the world to ensure excellence. Each brewery is chosen based on my personal knowledge of both brewery and the brewers in charge. Only those with a personality, competence and karma that matches the philosophy of Kissmeyer Beer as well as the ability to add an extra dimension to my beers, will qualify. And there will not be released any beers under the Kissmeyer Beer brand without my personal involvement in the brewing of the first batch at the brewery.
Inspired by my collaborative brewing and other ideas the portfolio of beers under the Kissmeyer Beer brand name will continuously expand and develop over time as a result of my perpetual pursuit of perfection. So nobody should be surprised if my beers, although their names remain the same, gradually, but continuously change." -- Anders Kissmeyer

Disputin is back!


We only got 24 bottles in stock now at Forsyth


Other De Molen available online also


De Molen Disputin RIS is back in stock

De Molen has changed their name of their Rasputin to Disputin because of North Coast's version of Rasputin -- read more

De Molen Disputin Russian Imperial Stout....$19.99

This batch produced only 548 bottles and was bottled on May 1, 2008
Very limited release.

"Our first Imperial Russian Stout is named after probably the most famous Russian of the Romanov court. According to our own made up believe he was personally responsible for the fact that during the rule of Tsar Nicholas II and Tsarina Alexandra this style was born. So this is why we dedicated this beer to Rasputin. It’s brewed only once or twice each year in a limited edition."

-- De Molen

Our first Barrel Aged beer should be bottled next week...


The plan is to bottle the The Wine and Cheese Place / Schlalfy Bourbon Barrel Aged Quad next week!!  Watch for the release very soon!!




Schlafly Quad Aged in a Buffalo Trace Barrel

Beer: Should be bottled on February 7  
It will have spent 6 months and 2 days in barrel!





Three Floyds at The Wine and Cheese Place


In stock now,  we got a good amount.  Since I am at home now, I am going to turn the online reservation off for now.   You can go to Forsyth to buy some or call 314.727.8788 to reserve.  

We are very excited to get Three Floyds  --- (well, its a collaboration with Mikkeller and Three Floyds) 







Mikkeller + Three Floyds Boogoop....$11.99 / 750ml
"A delightful Buckwheat Wine brewed by Three Floyds and Mikkeller at De Proefbrouwerij in Belgium. Enjoy the fourth collaboration between our two breweries! 80 IBU 10.4% ABV" 
-- 98 Percentile on RateBeer.com

Mikkeller Tiger Baby


Mikkeller new beer in stock at Forsyth....and online now also


Brewed for the release of the Danish pop band Tiger Baby's third Album - Open Windows and Open Hills.


Mikkeller Open Windows Open Hills....$11.99 / 750ml
Ale Brewed with Mango and Passion Fruit
8% ABV

Named after a Danish elelctro pop group Tiger Baby its third album 'Open Windows Open Hills'. To celebrate the release Mikkeller and Tiger Baby brewed a special 'Open Windows Open Hills'-IPA, which matching the melancholic pop songs.

Tiger Baby
"Beautiful, danceable songs pursuing the stylistic expression of pop while moving around in a varied musical landscape and finding a resting place somewhere between eurodance and shoegaze. All songs are written, recorded and produced by the group itself in their own studio on Islands Brygge in Copenhagen." From Tiger Baby's facebook page






Mikkeller invades the U.S.


Mikkeller IPA brewed here in the U.S.



Mikkeller Invasion IPA...$8.99 / 22oz
American India Pale Ale - 7.0% ABV

in stock at The Wine and Cheese Place Forsyth

Mikkeller 19 Hop beer...


Order Mikkeller online



Well, we had all 19 Single Hop beers, now you have 1 beer with all 19 hops
Mikkeller "19 Hops"...$4.99 / 11.2oz 
6.8% American Style IPA
96 percentile on RateBeer