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by snebbu

Endless Beer: 2016 Bourbon County Stout

Ahh yes, the most wonderful time of the year. My Black Friday shopping tradition became not one of waiting in endless lines but going to pick up my favorite holiday stout. Goose Island annually releases their Bourbon County Stout on Black Friday. Few distributors are provided with a limited supply and the beer snobs rush to get their stash. This is my third year of commitment to the stout and I now have a nice collection in my cellar to one day do a tasting across five years. Goose Island suggests that the brew can be aged up to five years, so why not?

On to the tasting!

Burns My Bacon: Cranberry Garnish

Cranberries are taking over the world. Not the band, I wouldn’t mind that as much. More specifically, cranberry garnish is taking over. We recently attended a wedding where cranberries were in our champagne glasses. Only weeks later, we had cranberries in another one of our drinks. Why? What does it add to the drink?

I’ve had strawberries in my champagne – sliced up and infused into the champagne. I’ve had mint in my mojitos, basil in strawberry drinks – all garnishes that I could taste. But cranberries? You can’t get flavor out of a cranberry unless it is cooked! Garnish is fine if it has some kind of use…but just to throw it on there for the hell of it? For who’s benefit?

1) FREEZE the cranberries

At least you can use them as ice cubes in the drink. I would argue that the cranberries will at least keep the drink’s original constitution rather than watering it down with ice cubes.

2) Cook the cranberries

Boil the cranberries first and muddle them in a new drink. Your hipster friends will be more impressed. Although, I can guarantee you that at least one hipster will ask where the garnish is.

3) Infuse with cranberries

You see, the key here is to COOK them first. Cook on medium heat in a sauce pan. Then let it sit in your favorite booze for a few days.

THERE. Something useful for cranberries in alcoholic drinks. At the least, you can use them as ice cubes if it’s that important that the drink look “pretty”.

in Rants & Raves 0 comments

by snebbu

Endless Beer: Top 10 Winter Beers

Our annual winter beer list is here. It’s taken a lot of taste testing to narrow it down. We’ve looked far and wide in search of the delicious suds that make us feel merry and bright. We’re looking for beers with high(er) ABVs, winter warmers, holiday spices, and the overall sense of “I have to save this one for a special occasion.” Enough talk. In no particular order, here it is…

10. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout

Every year, Goose Island releases this gem at a very limited capacity. Some even say it is one of the rarest beers in the world. Anyway, typically weighing in on an ABV over 10%, Goose island does a good job of balancing out winter flavors into one tasty sip (or swig).

9. Troegs Mad Elf

This brew is also hard to get. However it is worth the hunt. We’ve featured it before, but it never gets old no matterhow many times you’ve had it. This is the essence of a winter warmer.

8. Black Raven Festivus Ale

Get the Festivus Pole out and crack one of these open. Start drinking and let the insults fly!

7. Wingman Brewers Noel

This year, this one was one of my favorites. A great belgian ale that also has some of the Christmas spices we all know and love.

Endless Christmas Cookies: Fluffernutter Candies

I’m pretty sure my wife has made more cookies than Mrs. Clause does this time of year. Awful, I know. There’s the nostalgic cookies that remind us both of our families, then the cookies made because they are Italian and that’s what Italians do, the experimentals … the list goes on. This year, we introduced fluffernuter candies to the list. First off, if you like peanut butter, then you’ll love these. Secondly, they are very easy to make – no baking required.

These crack-like substances are made from four things: Ritz crackers, peanut butter, fluff, and chocolate. Sandwich a rich and luscious mixture of peanut butter and fluff between two Ritz crackers. STOP. DO NOT eat the sandwich. You will be tempted for sure. Then, dip these scrumptious sandwiches in melted chocolate until submerged. That’s it. Friends and family will be impressed (if you have any left by the time the holidays come around). Make sure you find a good spot to forget about them until then…because you can’t eat just one.

In case you need a “real” recipe, here it is:

Ingredients:

Ritz Crackers
Peanut Butter
Fluff
Melting Chocolates

Mix together peanut butter and fluff to a ratio of your liking (half and half works well)
Spread mixture onto cracker and top with another cracker
Melt melting chocolates in microwave
Dip/cover sandwiches in melted chocolate and let them cool

Yes…it is that easy. You’re welcome.

in Desserts / Holiday / Recipe 1 comments

by snebbu

Top 10 Holiday Cocktails

Ah yes, here we are. The red cups are back, people are crankier than ever, and our bank accounts are draining the same day we get paid. So how do we ~~cope~~ celebrate? Alcohol and parties! Yes, we all gather to celebrate the holidays and drink our sorrows away. Well, this year, impress your colleagues, friends, and family with some new cocktail recipes. You’re welcome.

10. Candy Cane Affogato

Ever since I had my first Affogato on a cruise, I will always order it when on the dessert menu. But now, this?! Not only do I get my espresso with my ice cream, but there’s a bit of booze and minty freshness. Sign me up.

9. Wine Me Up Santa

I got a massive bottle of red wine for our recent holiday party. Well, a day later and there is still at least 3/4 of the bottle left. Knowing it would “go bad” in a few days, I drank the rest of the bottle myself. Next time, I’ll be offering these at the party. Unless I’m feeling like drinking an entire bottle of wine again.

8. Gingerbread Man Old Fashioned

I’m a whiskey fan. Go to drink is typically a Whiskey Sour or just drinking it straight. I’m always looking for other cocktails to make than the Whiskey Sour. Well, here we have it – Gingerbread Man Old Fashioned. I’ll be having this one tonight. Cheers.

7. Hot Buttered Whiskey

At my super-classy holiday party, I was tempted to serve buttered rum. Only thing was that the party just started and I didn’t feel like bringing another Crock Pot up from the basement. You can use this recipe with rum or whiskey. I suggest whiskey.

6. Candy Cane Martini

Some like to keep it simple. While this certainly is not for the lightweights, it will get the job done.

5. Haute Hazelnut Cocktail

A few years back, I fell in love with Rumchata. This version of Bailey’s is very similar. I mean, I could probably even have this drink with breakfast.

4. New York Sour

First time I had this drink was at Keen’s in New York City. I always ask if the bartender knows how to make this. if they say no – then I go with beer. Otherwise, I go for this every time.

3. Hot Peanut Buttered Rum

The POV in D.C. offers this up as their spin on buttered rum. Start with peanut butter infused rum with hot cinnamon tea, butter, and of course a bunch of whipped cream on top.

2. Punched Up Punch

Take yourself back to the days of college, grain alcohol, and Kool Aid. Now class it up a bit and you have this drink made with Brazilian Cachacaliqueur, ginger infused acai spirit, organic tea syrup, lime and passion fruit juice. Originally found at Poste in DC.

1. Purple Snowflake Martini

I mean…if you want glitz and glam at your holiday party. Here it is. And it has plenty of booze too!

in Drinks / Endless Cocktails / Holiday / Lists 0 comments

by snebbu

Top 10 Ways to Use Those Thanksgiving Leftovers

Don’t tell me that you do not have Thanksgiving leftovers in the back of the fridge. You look at them thinking “what the hell am I going to do with all of these mashed potatoes?” Or maybe it’s the turkey staring you in the face, as you cringe that it is one day away from going bone dry. Well….we have the fix for you! Add your leftovers in to these recipes and you won’t even realize that leftovers were included!

10) Mashed Potato Latkes

My family usually just fried them in a frying pan, ut this is wayyyy better.

9) Southern Fried Cake

Go ahead…I dare you.

8) Turkey Salad

Personally, I prefer this for lunch over the gobbler sandwich.

7) Turkey Parm

This is a “two-for” deal for those Italianos out there. Take the ceremonial Italian casserole, plus the turkey and have at it, hoss.

6) Turkey Coconut Curry Soup

Or you can make turkey noodle soup.

5) “Stove Top Stuffing” Sheppard’s Pie

YUM.

4) Cranberry Pie

I mean…dessert never runs over to leftovers, so why not use your leftovers to make more dessert?

3) Warm Fall Kale Salad

Make yourself feel healthy for a day.

2) Apple Bourbon Pulled Pork Stuffing

Turn thanksgiving into barbecue all in one.

1) Butternut Cranberry Springrolls

I personally hate springroll wrappers, but if you want to try your hand at it – good luck.

in Holiday / Lists 0 comments

by snebbu

Turkey Extravaganza: Move Over Gobbler

If you are a typical American, you likely still have turkey in the fridge and there are ongoing arguments about the date to throw out all of the food that someone said will be eaten. I believe the turkey can still be saved! While the gobbler sandwich (delicious roll embarrassing and unhealthy stack of turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and often potatoes) is delicious, us Americans have short attention spans. Fear not America, there is another way to get your fill of leftovers before they kick the can.

Turkey salad. A festive spin on your chicken salad that includes the flavors of Thanksgiving. The sandwich is quite simple to make. I enjoyed mine atop a freshly baked roll. With just the right amount of mayo, the turkey salad provides a savory taste of Thanksgiving with a crunch of celery (the only thing celery is good for is texture), followed by sweetness of cranberries. I tell you folks – this may replace my gobbler. Bonus – you can bring this to work in a container without dropping all of the drippings on your tie. You’re welcome. Here’s the recipe:

Turkey Salad Sandwich

– Turkey (shredded or chopped into smaller pieces)

– Mayo (some like it loaded with mayo, some enjoy just a tiny bit) – think of how much you would add for chicken or tuna salad

– Chopped celery

– Dried cranberries (or just add cranberry sauce spread on your roll)

– Thinly sliced sage

– Salt and Pepper

– Onion chopped into small pieces

– Pinch of garlic powder

Take all ingredients and mix into a bowl. Put this on a sandwich, use crackers, melt cheese on top, eat it from a bowl. Whatever – it’s good.

in Holiday / Recipe / Sandwich 0 comments