Brick's Beer List (10/11/2011) - Really Cool New Beers!

By: Bryan Brick | K&L Beer Buyer

Hi All,

These recent gloomy days seem to be clearing up with some heat behind them so make sure your fridge is packed with some delicious, thirst quenching, beer! It may be the last real heat spike we get this year. Hot or cold outside I think these will be a little bit of beer here for everyone. Not to mention some really sought after new releases.

Also, save the date! Friday October 28th from 5-6:30pm is the fall beer tasting in Redwood City! Always a good time, with 10+ beers and snacks. Check the event listings on Facebook and Local Events on KLWines.com for more details. The lineup and cost of tasting will be posted the week of the tasting.

Happy Shopping!

Alaskan Brewing Company "Perseverance Ale" Russian Imperial Stout, Alaska 22oz $8.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1076932

Brouwerij De Proef/Sly Fox "Broederlijke Liefde" Saison, Belgium 750ml $14.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1076911

Deschutes "Fresh Hop Mirror Pond" Pale Ale, Oregon 22oz $5.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1076934

Hair of the Dog "Blue Dot" DIPA, Oregon 22oz $7.49

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1048354

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales "La Parcela #1" Pumpkin Ale, Michigan 750ml $14.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1061239

Maui Brewing Company "Coconut Porter," Hawaii 12oz $2.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1049604

Port Brewing Company "High Tide IPA" India Pale Ale 22oz $5.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1051654

Pretty Things "Hedgerow Bitter" English Bitter, Massachusetts 22oz $8.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1076913

Ridgeway Brewing Foreign Export Stout, England 500ml $5.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1076914

Russian River Brewing “Damnation 23" Oak-Aged Golden Ale 375ml $8.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1077401

Theakston "XB" ESB, England 500ml $3.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1076912

Victory Brewing "Prima Pils" Pilsner, Pennsylvania 12oz $1.49

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1049628

Weihenstephaner HefeWeis, Germany 500ml $2.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=996008

Weihenstephaner Original Lager, Germany 500ml $2.99

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=996003

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Love beer?  Be the first to get news and updates by joining Bryan Brick's Beer list. Write to bryanbrick@klwines.com for details.

Iberian Wine News 9/28/2011:

By: Joe Manekin  | K&L Staff Member

Spanish & Portuguese News - 9/28/11

Greetings, everyone,

Happy Wednesday, Erev Rosh Hashanah, and (to the Bay Area folks) summer.  Last week felt good - busy in the shop and outside of work eating and drinking- a fun meal out at Aziza (including an amazing older magnum of Miguel Merino Gran Reserva - damn that was good), and some quality time with David "barrel o' whisk(e)y " Driscoll and Jason Marwedel, who made his famous leg of lamb paired with some OLD Bordeaux - hey, this is K&L and we do occasionally drink Bordeaux.

Alright, short and to the point this week:

1.)  SHERRY

Why don't you drink more of it?  If you haven't done so in a while, please browse our section, ask one of us about it (the staff loves this stuff nearly as much as I do), and start learning more about what are arguably the best values in the wine world.  Here are two "brown sherry" picks.  Fortified and intense, but actually quite dry.   I would drink these anytime, but especially love them as digestifs after a meal.

Gutierrez Colosia "Sangre y Trabajadero" Oloroso El Puerto de Santa Maria (375ml) - $15.99

For the money, this is one of my favorite olorosos.  Surprisingly elegant.

http://www.klwines.com/content.asp?&N=0&Nr=OR%28OutofStock%3AN%2CInventory+Location%3ASpecial+Order%29&Ns=QtySoldLast30%7C1

 

1979 Gonzalez Byass Palo Cortado Añada Jerez - $129.99

Drank this last week.  SERIOUSLY GOOD.   To give you an idea of how good, it's better than an Equipo Navazos bota punta palo cortado I once drank.  It's one of the most memorable wines I have drunk. Awesome.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1070645

 

2.) October events

  

Friday October 7th 

Vibrant Rioja tasting in San Francisco store (5-6:30pm). $5

Vibrant Rioja tasting in Hollywood store (5:30-7pm). $5

 

Friday October 14th

Sherry focused tasting  in Redwood City (5-6:30pm).  From quaffers to collectibles. We will be pouring Remelluri's terrific Rioja as well. Price TBD. Check our event listing on Facebook or K&L Local Events for updates.

Sunday October 16th

For the SoCal people and folks who may happen to be in Los Angeles this weekend. Vibrant Rioja walkaround tasting at Campanile (4-6pm).  $25 to taste at least 25 wines, including some top producers and our new direct imports from Miguel Merino and Bodegas Puelles. Tickets available online:

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1075851

 

Thursday October 20th

Vibrant Rioja tasting in Redwood City store (5-6:30pm). $5

Lineups are generally confirmed and posted the week of the tasting, so check our Facebook page or K&L Local Events for updates.

 

As promised, we're keeping it short this week to prepare for lots of new arrivals we'll have in stock next week.

 

Saludos,

Joe

 

---

Joe Manekin

Spanish, Portuguese, Latin American Wine Buyer

K&L Wine Merchants

Ph: 877.559.4637 ext. 2748  |  joemanekin@klwines.com

¡Oye Tio! Iberian Wine News: Announcing New Direct Imports from Rioja

By: Joe Manekin | K&L Staff Member

Welcome to our new Spain & Portugal weekly update! 

Lots of new stuff to talk about, as well as upcoming events and other news items of notes. 

I do hope that you find the updates on products and information you read here useful and decidedly less sales pitchy/bombastic than the usual online retail fare. 

And, here we go…

Direct Imports from Rioja, Spain

We are quite pleased to soon be bringing in Riojas from Miguel Merino (Briones, Rioja Alta) and Puelles (Abalos, Rioja Alta).  You’ll be hearing (and, hopefully tasting) much more when these arrive in the next several weeks.  For now, though, I am thrilled to have heard from several customers who visited Miguel Merino and/or have drunk his wines on the east coast.  Both Merino and Puelles are small and know Rioja inside out, Miguel more on the wholesale side (until his fairly recent “retirement project” that is his winery) and Puelles on the viticultural side.  They are both super talented, crafting very terroir driven expressions from vineyards based around their respective towns.  We took our time finding the right Rioja DI’s and I believe that the extra time and lack of hurry to find the right producers will prove to be well worth it.

For Your Consideration

A short list of wines I'm excited about right now:

2004 Viña Valoria Blanco Crianza Rioja - $15.99

Classic white Rioja, reminiscent of LdH Viña Gravonia and less $.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1075160

2008 Vega de Ribes Sauvignon Blanc Penedes - $14.99

Sauvignon Blanc?  From Spain?  Trust me.  If you like Clos Roche Blanche, I think you may have a winner here.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1061388

2005 Quinta das Bageiras "Garrafeira" Vinho Branco Bairrada - $14.99

Aged white from one of the best producers in arguably Portugal’s most exciting region.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1075534

2009 Bodegas Mendall Roig Finca Caiballes "R" - $29.99

Not for the timid!  Read up and know what you’re getting into for this wine.  That said, I find this to be most exciting.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1074378

Alfredo Maestro Tejero "Viña Almate" Tempranillo - $17.99

Single vineyard organic tempranillo, mineral, NO TOAST French oak.  Seriously well made.

http://www.klwines.com/detail.asp?sku=1073574

Upcoming Events and Tastings

Tastings with Vibrant Rioja

Vibrant Rioja is helping us to promote Rioja wines this Fall.  We will have in-store tastings each month featuring some of our favorite Rioja producers.

Here is the schedule:

Redwood City – Third Thursdays from 5-6:30pm (9/15, 10/20, 11/17)

San Francisco – First Fridays from 5-6:30pm (10/7, 11/4)

Hollywood – First Fridays from 5:30-7pm (10/7, 11/4)

Also, perhaps 1-2 other events TBD.  We might have some Palacios chorizo, sheep’s milk cheese, even paella on hand? Stay tuned.

In-Store Tastings

@ K&L Redwood City (5-6:30pm)  map 

Friday 9/23 – TXAKOLI!  This is always a popular tasting.  Get there early before it gets nuts.  Or, get there later if you prefer the crazy.

Friday 10/7 – Riojas from Bodegas Ontañon.  Very solid producer, with a wonderful story, great vineyards, very good wines.  Taste ‘em for yourself.

Friday 10/14 – Jerez-Xeres-Sherry.  We take our sherry very seriously and do not plan on taking this one lightly.  Holly from De Maison (Spanish & French importer, as well as a leading light of all things sherry) will be pouring the good stuff. 

~

@ K&L Hollywood (5:30-7pm) map

Thursday 9/15 - Golden State Wine Co. will be pouring wines from their very strong portfolio.

Alrighty, until next week.  As always, feel free to contact me with questions.

Salud!

Joe

***

Joe Manekin is the K&L Buyer for the wines of Spain, Portugal, and South America. He is committed to supporting the hard-working folks out there making honest wines that show a sense of place. When he is not at K&L, Joe enjoys cooking, traveling, hanging out with his dog Clem, doing occasional PR, booking and recording work for reggae band JohnStone (http://www.johnstonemusic.com/), and writing for his wine, food and music blog, Old world Old School (http://oldworldoldschool.blogspot.com/).