Winesday Wednesday

Posted on May 7, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Hey friends!

PS: I call a lot of people everyday at work and depending on the province, they’ll answer the phone “Hello, Bonjour” and it ALWAYS reminds me of ^this part of Beauty and the Beast. And I usually reply:

Happy Winesday Wednesday! I was super bad last week and didn’t post (ok, who REALLY cares??!) because I felt like ish and ended up drinking a few margaritas and watching the Discovery Channel. Because apparently that helps.

ALSO–> While I was sipping said margaritas, I noticed from our front patio that there were a lot of marked and unmarked police cars in my neighbours driveway. The officers were all pretty chill, but they were taking a ton of pictures of the house and going in and around it quite a bit. I was super nosey and NEEDED to know what happened. THEN, the next day I saw online that there was a huge bust from several locations around Calgary and one was supposedly in my neighborhood. HMMMMM….

A quick round-up:

If you missed it, check out my latest favorite homemade margarita recipe. (LOTS of these were made this past weekend at a Cinco de Mayo party. YUM. PS: I had my stylist ombre my hair this weekend. I liked it when she styled it… HATED it when I got home. Going back later this week to add to it so I don’t have so much anxiety about it. And YES I have been having major anxiety about hair color that no one at work has even noticed.
Whenever Calgary decides to not have snow, I really want to make these Cherry Beer-garita popsicles. For you lucky folks with nice weather already, let me know how this taste while you sunbathe.
I always love a quirky Jezebel article. Especially when the topic is alcohol. Cider is Fucking Awesome. End of Story.

Also, I’m becoming a HUGE fan of brunch. And well…. I NEED ONE (OR BOTH) OF THESE:

I need to buy a buttload of prosecco and keep it chilled because every Saturday I wake up and NEED a damn mimosa. Or four.

Michael sent in this gem last week: It is the first Trappist brewery in the US and happens to be in Spencer, Massachusetts. It was really good — spicy, hints of clove, banana-y. I would definitely have it again if I can get my hands on some.

Sounds like a local beer I’ve had here in Calgary! But I’d really like to try this 🙂

Anyone ever see this movie?

(source)

Ok, time for bed. Night!

Winesday Wednesday

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

It’s here again! Winesday Wednesday. Hooray, this is me dancing about it

Short post this week, sorry! (I really just want to nap)

Cool new beer to share! So Big Rock Brewery is one of my favorite local breweries and they came out with an Alchemist’s Edition called Freyla’s Field. It’s a mead braggot, aka: 1/2 mead, 1/2 beer. The flavor wasn’t too different- at least for what I was expecting. It was a good, crisp beer though and had some interesting lingering flavors.

We also picked up a case of their Swinger Pack- one of which included:

Another good Summer drinking beer!

Keith sent over the following beauty, writing: Here’s an oldie from 2008! It’s a Meglioli Pinot Grigio. There are only a few left. I was trying to put it up against the light to show the amazing deep amber colour it has. It tastes like liquid gold. I somehow don’t think it will last much longer…

That looks delicious! And it makes me anxious to be able to drink the pinot grigio we made 🙂

For your entertainment:

Eight Ways to Tell if Your Have a Drinking Problem– I’m not going to personally comment on these.
Read This if You Have a Rescue Dog!– How cool is this- a vineyard is having a competition to raise funds for rescue pets. The winning submission gets their pup’s face on a wine label! I really need to sit down and type up a blurb about my beloved Layla!
Powdered Alcohol is About to be a Thing– Best part? It’s called Palcohol. And duh people will obviously snort it. Dummies.

See ya next week! (If YOU have something to share, email me to be included in a future post!)

Winesday Wednesday

Posted on April 9, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

**Edited to add some extra goodies to the bottom of the post!**

Funny how now I’m becoming more consistant with Winesday Wednesday posts and nothing else. (Question: what do you like best about this blog? WW posts? Randomness? Should I post more recipes/workouts? WHAT DO YOU WANT, PEOPLE?!!!) Let’s get to it.

So yes, it’s Winesday Wednesday and I have a wonderful vino to share with you:

Finca Decero Cabernet Sauvignon– an Argentinian wine I found to be very smooth and rather sweet. Sweet as in NOT DRY, but not sweet as in Moscato or Boxed Wine or Candy sweet.

I picked this up Saturday night and only had a small glass, so I’m very glad I have the majority of this bottle to enjoy later. I’m also glad Tyler is still on his beer/rum kick so I can have my wine selections all to myself. This wine was priced at $22 (keep in mind, that’s Canadian prices. I guarantee it’s significantly cheaper in the US…as is everything else) and it’s something I wouldn’t mind purchasing again.

Look at my mom getting all crazy and setting out 2 bottles of wine and 2 glasses. I’m guessing these are probably both just for her.

Just kidding. Maybe. The wine on the left is a pinot grigio from Adirondack Winery which is local to my parents. I already made a mental note to head up there next time I visit. And in case you can’t read my mom’s fabulous wine glasses, they read: “Mommy’s Suppy Cup” and “Serving of Fruit”.

Michael sent some more goodies over to share as well! He wrote:

This passed week I had a few old standbys and some new ones that just came to Maryland. First up is the Limbo IPA by Long Trail. Love this beer and love this brewery. Visited it the day after a friends wedding a few years back and the venue was really close to the brewery so I said why the hell not? Fantastic decision on my part. As IPAs go, this one is more floral but not so much in the way of hop bitterness, making it very drinkable. Second is one of my go-to beers from Maine Beer Company called Peeper. It’s an American pale Ale and is one of their best. Fruity, spicy, hoppy, etc. All of those things work perfectly together to make a well balanced beer. No one thing overpowers another which is excellent. Lastly is the picture you already saw from my excursion to a relatively new alehouse near me. It’s a shame I am moving in a few months to another county because this place is good! Pictured is the Stone Enjoy by 4-20-14 IPA in the snifter and an empty sample of Lagunitas Undercover Investigation Shutdown Ale.

Funny story: I used to drive by Long Trail every time I drove to/from my parent’s house to college. Talk about having a brewery in the middle of nowhere! PS: I really want to try that IPA now!

Other things of interest:

Love wine so much, you want to sleep with it? Or at least, sleep in the contraption that houses it? Tray A Wine Barrel Hotel
I forgot to give up anything for lent. This guy didn’t: he gave up everything BUT beer on his Beer Diet for Lent
Summer is right around the corner, so before you slap on the bikini for those sweaty summer months, whip up a batch of Pina Colada Cupcakes.
Want to know where your state ranks in wine consumption? Check it out here. Also, I probably helped NH a bit with all the boxed wine I housed in college.
8 Things Karen Walker Taught Us All. If you don’t know who Karen Walker is…shame. She really educated me on juice boxes.

Winesday Wednesday

Posted on March 26, 2014 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

It’s that time of the week. Winesday Wednesday. But to me, it’s like Winesday Thursday because I took Friday off this week. I can’t WAIT to have an extra day to myself- which is already pretty much packed with things I want to do.

COOL THINGS UPDATE: My friend Susie and I are doing Beer Fridays! We will be meeting up each Friday after work at a different place for some chit chat and a beer or two. We both agreed it’s a great way for us to both get out and socialize, but done right after work so that we can each go home and spend time with our men. Last Friday, we met up at Bottlescrew Bill’s and enjoyed a couple brews and about 5 hours of conversation. Second best part? (with first being beer and friends) NO HANGOVER the next day! Fantastico.

So that’s cool.

NOT so cool would be that I have no new wine to share with you this week.

wine fail.

However, I did get some stuff from YOU GUYS!!!!
Michael sent me this gem:

This is for Winesday Wednesday! Glad you brought it back. Anyway I went to Montana for work and being the craft beer seeker that I am, I decided to try this. It’s a brown ale that was actually pretty delicious. Like an American/better version of Newcastle. It’s made by Big Sky brewing company. I ran the gamut when it came to trying their beer offerings, ranging from IPA ( Big Sky IPA) to wheat ales (Trout Slayer).

I also had one called Cold Smoke by Kettle House Brewing company. I forgot to take a picture but it was my favorite while I was there. It is a Scotch ale and was highly recommended by the locals. I bet some are available near you!

Funny thing, I have actually had this! And it was in Montana, too! For me- it paired perfectly well with a super greasy pizza 😉

Liz sent me the link to Wine Glass holders (like, the kind that suction to the wall in your bathtub!!!) But by the time I clicked on the link, the dang things were all sold out. Womp womb. That’s ok, I’ll still with my straw-in-my-wine-glass scenario for now. Thanks Liz!

Stuff to share:

I watched last night’s episode of New Girl and now I *MUST* play True American. Too bad most people here probably wouldn’t be able to recite as much American history. (or could they??? Raised eyebrow)

I need this:

The end.

Your turn: Have anything to share?

Winesday Wednesday 12/18

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Jen @nutcaseinpoint

Yes yes yes, it’s Winesday Wednesday!

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I’m a crappy blogger, so I really haven’t given myself the time to actually sit down and write out these posts (as short as they are, they actually do take a while to put together! You should probably send me a gift for that.)

But let’s forget the past. I’m here now so everyone relax.

PS: it’s the holiday season and I know plenty of you are indulging in holiday temptations- one of which should include alcohol. SO HERE’S YOUR ASSIGNMENT. It’s so freaking easy. Send me a pic of a holiday drink you or someone you know has had! I want to see your eggnogs, your hot toddies, your cranberry martinis, bailey’s, EVERYTHING. That way, when I’m bored after opening all my wonderful presents next Wednesday, I’ll be able to throw a festive post together for your holiday reading pleasure.

Or not.

But please do.

OK, so what do we have to share this week. How about the submissions I received and never published? Yep.

Keith emailed: Last time we had this, I focussed on the stopper. This time the bottle showing a bit of dust. Down at the bottom you get a hint of the deep amber colour this wine has. It went very, very well with a roast chicken dinner, stuffing, baked spuds, and the salad you see. Sort of a modified waldorf, with a honey dressing and pickled ginger as one of the ingredients. I’m drinking the wine while contemplating the wine order to phone in tomorrow. Such a soft and gentle wine this time, whereas the last pinot grigio was a fruity wine with a bit of a bite to it. Maybe an affectionado would say we’ve left it too long, but then, I don’t really care what the wine snobs say.

Then there’s these babies:

Oh yeah, and my parents got us this thing for Christmas.

(you can get it here)

I used it for the first time last weekend when I opened a bottle of Cinnamon Mead (more on that) and the thing works amazing! Of course, it took me a few tries to get it right, but now that I know how to operate it, I’m a pro. Calgarians: invite me to parties and I can entertain your guests with my bottle opening skills.

Booze we’ve sampled lately:

Village Brewery Gardener Ale- where the ingredients are locally grown/sourced. Pretty sweet! It’s similar to an IPA (which aren’t on the top of Tyler and my list) and it was pretty tasty. I think even more so knowing where it came from!

Fallentimber Meadery- we picked up a bottle of cinnamon mead after having a sample at the local liquor store. It was actually pretty tasty and I LOVE me a local vendor! The guy turned out to be the owner of the place and he invited us out to the property to take a tour of how they brew/harvest honey. Not keen on bees, but definitely keen on mead. We’re going.

Samuel Smith’s Cider– super sweet, but very light and yummy.

Grizzly Paw Winter Cranberry Ale– more like a porter! It was a very dark beer and had a rich, deep flavor.

The Tin Brewery Chocolate Cherry Porter- the taste lived up to it’s name!

Whistler Brewing Company Chai Maple Ale- OOOOOOOOMYGOD. So deliciously lovely I want to drink it all the days of the week. It’s seasonal though, so that’s sad 😦

PS: Friday is national sangria day. I think I can do my part and indulge in a glass or two….can you??