Nov
14

Chocolate stout brownies

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Thanks to  for posting this recipe

Double Double Chocolate Stout Brownies Recipe

Ingredients

12 oz. chocolate stout
1 cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
2 cups sugar
½ cup butter, melted
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 eggs
2 cups flour
¾ tsp. salt
½ cup semisweet chocolate, chopped (NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Morsels are the perfect size)
½ cup milk chocolate or white chocolate, chopped

How to do it:

Preheat oven to 350° F. Line a 13x9x2 baking pan with aluminum foil, letting the foil extend 2 inches beyond the short side.

Whisk chocolate stout and cocoa powder in a large bowl until blended and smooth. Add sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and eggs, one at a time, whisking until well blended.

Add flour and salt, whisking until smooth. Stir in chocolate.

Spread mixture in foil-lined pan and level batter with a spatula.

Bake 42 to 45 minutes until the top of the brownies are shiny and dry (there may be a few cracks in the top). When a wooden toothpick comes out of the center with just a few moist crumbs attached,

Oct
04

Russian River Brewing: Pliny The Elder | Beer Review: (Tasting #4)

Style: American Double / Imperial IPA

ABV:  8.00%

IBU: 100

A little background taken from Russian River Brewing site

Pliny the Elder was a Roman naturalist, scholar, historian, traveler, officer, and writer. Although not considered his most important work, Pliny and his contemporaries created the botanical name for hops, “Lupus salictarius”, meaning wolf among scrubs.” Hops at that time grew wild among willows, much like a wolf in the forest. Later the current botanical name, Humulus lupulus, was adopted. Pliny died in 79 AD while observing the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. He was immortalized by his nephew, Pliny the Younger, who continued his uncle’s legacy by documenting much of what he observed during the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Sep
19

Community Wine Tasting: Peju Winery 2009 Sauvignon Blanc

Family owned winery in Napa. I had the pleasure of finding this place out of happenstance. My girlfriend and I were in Yountville for a Beatles tribute concert that my girlfriend’s daughter was begging to see. We had just dropped her off  (around 4:30pm) and wanted to go taste some wine before all wineries closed. We were close to Robert Mondavi and headed there but they were closed because it was 5:00pm. A lady passing us asked if we need help and proceeded to tells us that Peju Winery was open until 6:00pm. We left in a hurry and arrived at Peju Winery in enough time to taste their line of wines. We wanted to buy all but by process of elimination or should I say prices, we decided on the Sauvignon Blanc. I am going to let the video tell the you what it tastes like. but I will leave you with the details of the wine and the winemakers tasting notes. So you can compare them.

Wine Makers tasting Notes: Bright and clear in appearance, the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc has a delightful nose of white nectarine, passion fruit, lemon curd and hints of minerality. Fresh and lively on the palate with balanced acidity, the flavors are a fabulous combination of tropical fruit, grapefruit and lime zest with whispers of mango, guava and fresh pineapple. Drink now through 2012

Harvest Date: August and September, 2009

Barrel Type: 89% Stainless Steel, 11% neutral French oak

Bottling Date: April, 2010

Release Date: November, 2010

Residual Sugar: .2

Alcohol Level: 13.7%

Sep
14

Bend, Oregon Beer Delivery

 

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This is what showed up in Fresno, Ca Monday evening. How you ask? My dad was  in Oregon all summer long and  he graciously purchased these right before he left Bend, Oregon two sundays ago. Basically I looked on Beer Advocate for great places to buy beer in Bend. I found a market , Newport Avenue Market and their beer selection was awesome. I emailed my dad a list of beers that I wanted . Most of the beers were from Deschutes Brewery, Black Butte XXIII, Stoic and Conflux No. I asked him to call me when he gets to the market. The girl who was running the beer section just happened to be there and my dad passed the phone over to here. I chatted with her for a few minutes. I asked her to put anything that was rare and coveted in the basket until my dad said that was enough.

Here is what I got:

Seven a Sasion by Upright Brewing with an A- from Beer Advocate

Hop-Head an Imperial IPA by Bend Brewing with an A- from Beer Advocate

The Stoic a Quadruple by Deschutes Brewery with a B from Beer Advocate

Black Butte XXIII an American Porter by Deschutes Brewery with an A- from Beer Advocate

Conflux No. 2 a Belgian IPA by Deschutes Brewery with an A- from Beer Advocate

Snake Bite Porter an American Porter by Silver Moon Brewing with an B+ from Beer Advocate<

S1nist0r Black Ale a Brown Ale by 10 Barrel Brewing with an A- from Beer Advocate

Sep
05

Does It Help? The Wine Aroma Wheel

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Does Something like the aroma wheel really help when your are tasting wine? David J. Duman has interesting take on this in an article  “Rethinking the Wine Aroma ” I usually smell the wine I am drinking and then wait for a memory that it reminds me of. Then I will think about what was going on at that time of the memory. I start weeding through all the smells and tastes that are were present at the time and then connect the dots. So this wine aroma wheel can be very suggestive and not allow me to name the smells I am smelling but suggest the smells I should be smelling. Although  I could see it being somewhat useful to new wine drinkers. I would always suggest to the new wine drinker to use this as the last resort. Like David J. Duman says that not all smells are represented here.

Aug
29

Bashah by Stone Brewing and Brew Dog – Beer tasting #1

Aug
25

I know what is at the end of Rainbow?

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This last Tuesday I went up to San Francisco and snuck over to City Beer ( the pot of gold). I love this store but, I have to put time limits on myself or I will stay in there all day. Is that a bad thing? It is when you have a girlfriend and three kids waiting. This is what I picked up Russian River Brewing Pliny the Elder, Dog Fish Head and Epic Portamarillo, Mikkeller and Stillwater Arsenal Two Gypsies, Hair of The Dog Adam, Stone’s 15th Anniversary Black IPA, Hair of The Dog Fred and Dogfish Head Chateau Jiahu

Aug
21

Pierce Ranch Vineyard Vinho Doce 2005

Varietal: 25% Touriga Nacional, 25% Tinto Cão, and 50% Tempranillo

ABV: 18.5%

Look: Deep purple and lots of thick legs (very viscous)

Smell: Big bright whiffs of blackberry mixed with hazelnut and light spring floral notes

Taste: Smooth!! not as heavy as port. This is Reminiscent of a late harvest Zinfandel right up front then it finishes like ripened nectarines with skins diced with a little sugar on them sweet and tannic. This one of my favorite port styled wines.

The Story: Back in October of 2010 my girlfriend and I went to Monterey for the weekend. It turned out to be a rainy weekend which normally would be a bummer but for us it was just another adventure. The first evening we had dinner at the Monterey Fish House. Pierce Ranch Vineyard was mentioned by the girls at the table next to us. The Girls were telling us how they were wine tasting all day. Pierce Ranch Vineyard was one winery they really enjoyed. So the following day, which was a Saturday, it became very rainy. We decide to go find Pierce’s tasting room. I wished I could remember the gentleman’s name but he was very laid back a served us plenty of wine in fact probably too much. When he poured us Vinho Doce 2005 we instantly impressed and bought one. If you are in Monterrey please do yourself a favor and find Pierce Ranch Vineyard and enjoy their wines.

Jun
27

McManis Viognier at the Grape Tray

McManis Viognier 2009
Alcohol: 13.5%
Total Acidity: 6.05g/L
pH: 3.49
Composition/Blend: 100% Viognier
Appellation: California
Fermentation: Stainless Steel