What are you drinking?

[haltz]

I got off early and surged a few Guinness (Guinnesses? I need a ruling on this one) at work, then it was Negra Modela and some live music across the street. I come home to find a half bottle of Bailey's and some chardonnay. I just poured the chardonnay into a pint glass. Ugh.

[Michael]

Nothing, I'm sick. I want booze.

[docellis]

pinot noir yellow tail. it sucks

[haltz]

pinot noir yellow tail.

I'm sorry.

I found a bottle of tequila in the freezer. It's all downhill from here.

[Radbird]

pinot noir yellow tail. it sucks

I'm trying to get used to wine for our Paris trip, so I'm drinking this (I know, it's a Colo wine, but we had some laying around the house, so what the heck)



I couldn't tell you whether it sucks or not. I don't know how to tell if wine is good. Here's what their website says about the 2002 version.

BookCliff Vineyards Ensemble 2002

(Silver medal winner at the Eastern International Wine Competition 2005)

Medium red garnet color. Vanilla in the nose, jammy with bright berry flavors. A touch of black currant in the finish.

Varietal: 48% Merlot, 29% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc
Appellation: Grand Valley
Production: 698 cases
Alcohol: 13.8%
Harvest: 9/21/02 - 10/06/02
Aging: Barrel fermented, malolactic fermentation. Merlot aged for 9 months in French oak barrels, Cabernet Sauvignon aged for 9 months in French and American oak barrels, Cabernet Franc aged for 9 months in French barrels.

I have yet to notice any vanilla in my nose, and I have no idea what "jammy" means.

I wonder if they make beer in France....

[maddash]

I wonder if they make beer in France....

At least from my limited experience there, they serve plenty of Heineken (which I'm not really a big fan of, and it's not French) and Kronenbourg 1664 (which is yummy but still a lighter beer). At least those are two of the more popular beers there - kinda the Bud Light and Miller Light of France. But you'll find plenty of great European beers sold in just about any bistro.

If you're wanting to train your palate for wine, I'd recommend starting with a beaujolais. Georges Duboeuf makes a nice one that's very accessible (you'll find it in just about any grocery store). I would even chill it slightly in the fridge before serving. Even though it's a red, it's a very drinkable wine, and those are the types of reds you'll see served chilled in many places in France. Also keep in mind that you'll rarely see wines listed by the grape in France, it's almost always be region.

[Popeye_Card]

I wonder if they make beer in France....

They do, but it's not widespread. Biere de Garde (or French Farmhouse Ale) is the beer style native to France. Jenlain is fairly popular, and fairly good.

Jenlain Original French Ale
Even though the Bière de Garde style originated in Belgium, it's one that French brewers have adopted and do really well. Synonymous with "French farmhouse ale," it's name literally means "beer for keeping" and as such was traditionally brewed on the family farm in the winter and kept in storage until the summer months. It that regards it's similar to the Saison style (which is covered above).

Brasserie Duyck, the brewer of the Jenlain line of ales, has been brewing these beers since 1922. Their Original French Ale is an oft-cited classic example of this style of beer. Look for a lot of complexity, as well as the spices and herbs that exemplify the style.

BeerAdvocate score: 85/100, 96% approval.

To me, it tastes similar to a Fat Tire with a higher alcohol flavor.

--P--

[JL21]

I wonder if they make beer in France....

One of my favorite beers is a French beer. Pelforth Brune.

BUT, that said, it generally gets trashed by beer-rating sites.

[jim]

I wonder if they make beer in France....

One of my favorite beers is a French beer. Pelforth Brune.

BUT, that said, it generally gets trashed by beer-rating sites.

The "Budweiser" of French beers is "1664". I loved it, it was in my hotel room fridge so I pretty much drank that when I was working there.

Another beer common in the area that you want to try is a Belgium beer called Leffe Blonde Ale. Outstanding - probably my favorite beer of alltime although RC recommends a darker beer from the same brewer.

I've been drinking Capital Brewing Company "Wisconsin Amber" this week and it is gooo-oood.

[thrill]

Leffe Blonde Ale

mmmmmm....