Treasured Valley

The winter warmers have arrived.

Choice selections including Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve and Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown. I’m always excited to check out the new vintage of Stone Double Bastard, a phenomenal beer that is also a great value.

Not included in this email, but Deschutes’ The Abyss ’09 has also arrived at the Co-op.

Check out the full update below.

Howdy all,

Winter seasonals are in full swing with more arrivals this week:

• Boulevard Nutcracker – light, brightly hopped winter ale using wet Chinooks – wonderful grapefruit/blood orange aroma leads to a very approachable and easy-drinking body with an off-dry finish; also from Boulevard, Smokestack Series selections, including Double Wide IPA, Seeyoulator Doppelbock, Saison, Saison Brett, and Long Strange Tripel
• Goose Island Christmas Goose – no tasting notes yet
• Goose Island Bourbon County Stout – gotta love it, big, barrel aged stout, the season is upon us
• Rogue Santa’s Private Reserve – big, hoppy red ale, like Rudolph’s nose, capable of turning the nice, naughty
• Leinenkugel’s Fireside Nut Brown – if we could keep it in stock, I would try it, maybe next week
• Malheur 10 & Malheur 12 – Belgian goodness that I suspect will join our regular set
• Barbar Blonde and Barbar Winter Bok – Belgian ales brewed with honey and spices
• Wells Banana Bread Beer – sounds odd, tastes, well, like Banana Bread with serious banana nose, touch of spiciness, nice nutty malt character and a surprisingly dry finish
• Stone Double Bastard – aggressive American strong ale from the folks in SoCal – ages delightfully or masochistically enjoy now, no worries, you will regain your senses in time

Mark your calendars (I really need to format this better or perhaps just attach a calendar – I don’t know, I’m open to suggestions):

• The Front Door – Thurs. 11/5: First Thursday Beer and Cheese Pairing, 6PM – ?; Wed. 11/11: Laughing Dog Beer Dinner, 6PM – ?, $40, featuring Dogfather Imperial Stout Vertical and Anniversary Belgian-style Quad; Thurs. 11/12: Widmer Beer Dinner, 6PM – ?, $40, featuring Widmer Pilsner, Fresh Hop Ale, and Black IPA (exclusive draft only selections)
• TableRock – Fri. 11/6: Friday Nitro – dry-hopped Winter Cheer release, 3PM – ?
• Boise Co-op Wine Shop – Sun. 11/15: Alaskan Porters, 2-4PM - 3yr vertical of Smoked Porter and 2yr vertical of Baltic Porter, $ TBD
• Brewforia.com – Thurs. 11/19??: Dogfish Head Beer Dinner – please visit website for details
• The Ram (StoneHouse) - Sat. 11/21: Mug Club Party Release, 5-8PM, $10, featuring Lost Reindeer (and always some fun guest star ales) and price includes a plate of seasonal fare

Just a couple of little tidbits to mention, folks getting some national media exposure and what not, check out this link to a New York Times blogpost on Bittercreek’s Low-Power Happy Hour: I had the opportunity to experience this on Monday, and though it was dark by 5:30, the candles were lit, the Hippie Shake pints were under $3, and my appetizer was half-price, all-in-all, pretty neat.  For those that love them some PBS, Mike Heath, one of our local, organic potato farmers received some well-deserved attention on the PBS program, Botany of Desire, based on Michael Pollan’s book of the same name.  Interesting stuff, literally food for thought.  On the horizon, Deschutes Abyss, Sierra Nevada Life and Limb Collaboration w/ DFH, and all sorts of holiday import wackiness.  Cheers, ~m