Amuse Bouche: The All Beverage Issue

James Gribbon

Stew Leonard’s Wines is getting into the Olympic spirit. They will also be hosting a “Wide World of Spirits” on Friday, July 27 from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 28 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m. featuring four drinks from four continents.

Westport's new wine shop, BottleRocket will host several events this weekend. If you haven't stopped by yet, this top notch wine haven is worth a taste. Thurs, July 26:  Magic Hat Elder Betty beer (seasonal, weiss-style and super refreshing), 4-7pm: Fri, July 27:Mer Soleil Chardonnay from California, 4-7pm & Sat, July 28: Laxas Albarino (refreshing summer sipper from Spain), 1-4pm

Hartford's City Steam brew pub, already distributing their Naughty Nurse pale ale in bottles at retail, is rolling out bottles of their Innocence IPA in the coming weeks. We've asked, and we'll update you when we know Ffld. Co. locations. 

The Eternal Question, AnsweredWhich soda pairs best with Cool Ranch Doritos?

Mikro Beer Bar in Hamden will host a five course beer pairing dinner on August 13 with neighbors New England Brewing of Woodbridge. Both food and beer will be locally sourced, and Friar's Quad will be included, along with the Neighbor of the Beast. ($80)

"OHH show me the way to go home..." Narragansett has released retro style cans of its lager, as seen in Jaws, coinciding perfectly with recent sightings of a 15-foot Great White shark off the coast of Cape Cod. 

You know: the essentials. Food, water, alcohol, soap... grocery stores experimenting with "man aisles." 

Far away, so close. Most of us hear "mead" in this country and think of Robin Hood or Renfairs, but the culture of honey wine, long dormant in Europe, is alive and flourishing in Africa. The Makana Meadery in Grahamstown, South Africa, was founded to bring the ancient African mead iQhilika to markert, and now Connecticut's own B. United has imported this potent golden beverage. B. United aged the iQhilika in barrels formerly used to age French Mourvèdre wine, and connoisseurs may now find this ultra-rare beverage (on draught!) at The Ginger Man in SoNo. Sweet but tart with oak tannins, it's a delicious (and potent, at 12%) change of pace.