Lawson's Finest Liquids - "Sip of Sunshine" IPA

I originally wasn't going to do a post for this, because I had it last year at the Craft Brewer's Conference and said a few words about it in one of my posts. But the folks from Lawson's Finest Liquids are in town from Stratford this week for SAVOR, and according to Jesse Chong, brought with them 1000 cases of "Sip of Sunshine", arguably their most sought-after beer. This means local shops get it in limited quantities, and when I stopped by Irving Wines and Spirits, saw this in their single can cooler, and grabbed a pint.

"Sip of Sunshine" is a 8.00% ABV New England-style IPA packed with lupulin powder and super fresh hops. Upon opening, it immediately throws a super fresh, juicy aroma and appears slightly-hazy orange in the glass. As expected, it's true to its name - there's a nice strong showing of hops, not bitter but very flavorful and full, followed by very very fresh juicy wheat and malts. The beer equivalent of sunshine. I think what I like most is the juicy flavors last throughout the beer. It's quite strong and pronounced and really carries through, which is not as easily done as one might expect. I actually contrast this to something like "Heady Topper" or a Tree House beer because it's got more hops than either of them. And I should say that strength does not translate into bitterness in the hops, so it's easy drinking and perfect for a hot day. I got this as a single pint can for $4.99 at Irving Wines and Spirits; they also sell four-packs (as does D'Vines) for $18.99. Get it while you can!

Ruggero di Barda - 2016 susumaniello [Italy]

As I was perusing the wine aisle at Trader Joe's, this stout bottle caught my eye. The shape and size of the bottle suggested to me this might be a fortified wine or some sweet after-dinner libation. Nope, turns out to be an Italian red wine, and an interesting one at that - a Susumaniello from Ruggero di Barda. Despite the the size of the bottle, I am assured by the label it is 750ml. No bamboozles, Trader Joe's!

This wine is from Apulia (or Puglia), the somewhat flat and fertile southern province of Italy better known as the "heel of the boot." While Tuscany is perhaps the most famous Italian region for wine, it's grown all throughout the country. According to GrapeCollective.com, Apulia is actually Italy's most prolific winegrowing region, comprising 17% of all grapes grown in the country!

Apulia. Source: Wikipedia, naturally

And now the grape - another surprise. It's called "Susumaniello", and is not terribly common. In fact, I have neither seen it in a shop nor heard of it before today. According to WineReviewOnline's Rebecca Murphy, the grape was thought to be a Dalmatian transplant - makes sense, since it's not a long trip across the Adriatic Sea - but to find out for certain, they turned to science. Fenetic typing - called "microsatellite marker typing" - is a type of genetic testing that can reveal the heritage and history of grapes. A test performed by Italian scientists determined that Susumaniello is a close genetic match of Sangiovese (along with numerous other grape varieties.) Sangiovese is a grape I've had quite a bit, which is acidic and can be quite tannic, so perhaps today's wine will be on the heavier end.

Let's dive in - the wine pours deep ruby red, a very pretty color. Purple when candled. Not getting much aroma, maybe a bit of sweet alcohol. But not much.

OK, I think we have a winner here. I'm immediately struck by how "full" it is - big, juicy flavors, right off the bat, a bit salty, with some candied fruit notes - really quite delicious. There's some dark fruit in there, too...I'm thinking dried plums, nothing too acidic like cherry. The texture balance is quite interesting here, as well - it's silky smooth, not too dry, and lacks any sort of "bite", such as the kind of tannic sharpness one might with a Nebbiolo or a Montepulciano d'Abbruzo, however at the same time it's not underpowered or jammy or fruit-forward.

This is a perfect example of a "big" wine - a full-bodied, strong wine that's packed with flavors and coats the mouth. I really dig the Port-style notes, especially in terms of mouthfeel and texture. I paired this with my homemade mac n' cheese, which is a mix of Colby Jack and Swiss cheese, reduced in a roux of Kerrygold butter, flour, and whole milk, seasoned with garlic, sriracha, and black pepper added - and topped with baked Black Forest bacon.

I'm really pleased, and the price point - $9.99 at Trader Joe's - simply can't be beat. In my opinion, a very good value and a wine worth trying for certain. I'll definitely keep my cellar stocked with a bottle of this.

Browar Palatum - "Maximus" ale [Poland]

Dzien dobry! I'm filing from Warsaw, Poland today, bringing you an example of fine Polish craft beer. Like much of Europe, Poland has a lot of beer, much of it generic German-style pilsners or malty, sweet brews like Zywiec or Tyskie, so I was really excited to find some unusual craft beers at Same Kraft Multitap, a tiny pub in the heart of Warsaw's Old Town.

Hidden away amongst the old houses, the pub is long and narrow, and to get to the six-seat bar, you have to wind your way past a small seating area and through a tunnel. The bar space is very small, and there's enough room for I would say 10 people to stand and sit comfortably. When I was there, all six seats were occupied by a group of heavy-drinking fellows from somewhere in the UK, but luckily there was a small set of stools off to the side that were unoccupied.

They had seven beers on draft, and a good mix too! Some stouts (way too hot out for that), and a couple of wheat beers. I wanted something unique and interesting, and here's on that looks like it would fit the bill - a 6.20% ABV "tropical chili ale" by Browar Palatum from right here in Warsaw.

Beyond what is listed above, not much about the beer was said on the draft placard, so it was a bit of a surprise.

The chili flavor is noticeable, but like any good pepper beer, it's not nuclear. The flavor is remarkably full - deeper and stronger than what was expected - and has an almost sugary taste...I'd venture to draw some similarities between hazy New England IPAs. Some juicy hops adds a body to the beer without bittering, and the pepper hangs on a bit after the beer is swallowed. Most importantly, it's remarkably light in terms of body. Full in flavor, but doesn't weigh you down like a triple IPA might. It's been very hot out - and Poland (like much of Europe) has a casual relationship with air conditioning, so a lighter, flavorful beer is just what the doctor ordered. 

In terms of value for the money, this - and much everything else in Poland - is super affordable due to the favorable exchange rate. For .3 liters of beer (about 11 ounces) it cost 10 zloty, so $2.80. Very, very affordable for draft beer at a pub. In DC, you'd expect this to cost four times as much. So definitely a good deal! I have been trying numerous craft beers around Warsaw this week, so hopefully the success of this one is indicative of the rest of Polish craft beer offerings.

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery - "Dragons and Yumyums" pale ale

Warmer weather means super fresh, juicy beer, and today's beer is no exception. A special spring release by Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, this 6.50% American pale ale is called "Dragons and Yumyums", and as it turns out, this beer is a collaboration with the musical group The Flaming Lips. This may be the first beer with its own theme song - check out the bizarre, yet catchy, "The Story of Yum Yum and Dragon"!

Now, I should say I'm generally wary of Dogfish Head's stuff, not because it's bad, but because it's expensive. They have some of the most consistently expensive beer on the shelves, and while some of their stuff is definitely worth getting, I found some of their pricey offerings leaving much to be desired. Today's beer has generated a lot of buzz around the shop, though, so I decided to give it a go. As per usual, Martin O. and I split the six pack, which made it more affordable to try.

This beer is billed as a "lip smackingly tropical pale ale", and judging by the ingredients, I can see why. It's made with dragonfruit, passionfruit, yumberries, black carrot juice, and pear juice - sounds pretty great, right? I admit I'm really not sure what most of these ingredients are. I've never heard of dragonfruit, or yumberries, or black carrots, so I really am not sure what to expect. It's pretty moderate in terms of alcohol, with very low bitterness (25 IBUs), so par for the course for a pale ale. Let's give it a shot.

Pours pretty swiftly, as expected for a light pale ale. It looks remarkably like a rosé, bubbles and all. There's not too much aroma, oddly, for a beer that's supposed to be an explosion of tropical goodness.

So yeah, pretty much what I expected - a soft, juicy pale ale with good fruit flavors throughout. There's a definite citrus flavor in there, like a dark fruit juice, which could be the passionfruit. I don't know what dragonfruit or yumberry tastes like, so I can't tell if there's any in there. Sugar is pretty low. The beer is a little tart, and has a very pronounced burst of flaked what on the finish. Wow! That's really cool. Nice nod to German style beers.

Overall, a super fresh, light, and juicy ale and great for those who want a lighter drink - especially on a hot day. I can see myself having a couple of these out back, some summer's day, waiting for the grill to heat up.

Next we come to the dreaded cost-benefit discussion....it was $15.99 for six 12oz bottles, which in light of what I just had, is a bit steep. The beer was light and tasty, but I can't justify spending that much money on it when there are other options out there for half as much. Now, D'Vines has this beer on growler fill, and is on sale for $9.00 for a 64oz pour. That, I feel, is much closer to the appropriate price point for this beer.