Author: Stickie

Congratulations to Two Rivers Cider Company for 15 years of success. We are lucky to have one of the highest rated cider companies in the United States here in our backyard. Sacramento has also greatly benefited from their generosity, especially in the bicycle community, with their constant presence at charitable functions and their organization of the annual Thanksgiving Day ride.

Two Rivers will be celebrating tonight at One Speed from 5-8pm with four rare, barrel aged ciders (Wallonia, Hay-on-Wye, Chica Vieja, and the unnamed Bourbon Cider) and a variety of other surprises. Come join them and hoist your glass to fifteen more years of fantastic cider!

You may not have noticed it, but Rubicon Brewing is quietly raising lots of money for local charities. Their 501c Wednesdays have hosted a variety of organizations who get a cut from the daily till and a chance to promote their organization to the beer loving public.

This Saturday, Rubicon will host the Northern California Brewers Guild and the California Small Brewers Association for a fundraiser for the craft beer industry itself. Both organizations are active in promoting craft beer among consumers, businesses and lawmakers. The highlight of this event, without a doubt, will be the two silent auctions of rare beer. How rare? Some of these beers have never even been for sale to the public.
Continue reading “Rare beer auction at Rubicon”

More sad news. My friend Mike Costello informed me that this will be the last weekend for Brew It Up! Almost 15 years ago, BIU! started helping the public make beer in their tiny Davis location, moving to Sacramento in 2004 to their present location. Costello cites the economic downturn, including furlough Fridays, as being too much for his operation.

Head down to Brew It Up! this weekend and help them drain the tanks. All beers are $5, and you can take the logo glass home as a souvenir of good times. Doors close Sunday at 8pm.

Due to ongoing disputes between landlords and contractors, the popular and delicious L Wine Lounge & Urban Kitchen closed after brunch on Sunday. The Bee reports that the owners hope to reopen in two months. The small family of Sacramento restauranteurs is helping the staff out with some shifts, but the future of the business and their employees may depend on the expediency of Superior Court to straighten out the mess.

To celebrate the third anniversary of Pangaea Two Brews Cafe, Sutter Buttes Brewing Company made an intensified version of their popular Franklin Double IPA. Franklin Junior is a limited-time engagement for the summer months, so if you are a self-styled hophead, you should hop down to Pangaea and try this marvelously complex beer while it lasts. I was most struck by its smooth drinkability, a quality I find lacking in many DIPAs brewed in the ongoing “arms race” to create hoppier and stronger beers. The hop character is incredible without being aggressive, and at approximately 10% alcohol by volume (ABV), this beer is deceptively strong. Of course, I wanted to know how brewer Peter Hoey created it, and he took a few minutes from pouring it last Saturday to fill me in on the details.
Continue reading “Junior DIPA at Pangaea”

Year after year, the State Fair’s Wine Garden is my place of comfort and luxury. Most recently, the cool misters overhead, soothing Save Mart employees, and a cold glass of California bubbly provided me shelter from the easily-pleased crowd at the Hammer show.

More than 140 wines are available for purchase by the glass and/or bottle. The commemorative glass is now $7, a bargain considering it is twice as big as the alternative plastic wine cup. Swanky glass in hand, it was time for my annual review.

The Best of Show White, V. Sattui Muscat, is an seductive bomb of sweet richness that lingers on your tongue with layers of summer stone fruit. Great for indulgent summer sipping, but at a hefty $15 a glass, I will leave that one the ladies in the red hats, they are certainly enjoying it. I also recommended that they try the Double Gold winning Korbel Sweet Rose, which is only $20 a bottle. For the white zin crowd, this is the perfect choice for something sparkly and sweet to keep them dancing. They loved it.
Continue reading “Winning white wines at the State Fair”