What are you Drinking?

[The Minsky Moment]

Which one was better with ice cubes?

Tough question - the white will take the chill better, but the volnay would withstand the dilution better.

[PDH]

I saw what you did there.

[The Minsky Moment]

I've given up preaching to the heathen.

[derspiess]

For the second playoff game last night my brother brought over a growler of a douple IPA made by a new local microbrewery called 50 West: http://fiftywestbrew.com/beers/forgot-stevie-double-ipa/

First taste was like biting into a handful of Cascade hop cones.  Got better after the initial shock, but that is a wallop of 110 IBU.  Hops hide the 8.5% alcohol very well.  Had two pints and definitely felt the effect-- just didn't realize the alcohol content until I looked it up today.

[merithyn]

Spent Saturday night out with the girls. Homemade Rumchata is wonderful... Several glasses of homemade Rumchata followed by several glasses of chardonnay, however, makes for a sick Meri. 

[mongers]

Water !

[crazy canuck]

Almost all the good bottles I have had have had in those grapes have been from Burgundy - despite huge efforts nowhere else does it as well. 

The problem I think is that Pinot Noir grapes have not been grown in places like Australia or North America long enough for the producers to really know where the optimal locations are located and what the optimal growing methods might be.  It is all rather hit and miss compared to the knowledge the Burgundians have after hundreds of years.  As you will know in Burgundy quality will vary even within short distances.  It is even possible to get some very bad Pinot sold in Beaune.

It is possible to get a good pinot noir outside Burgundy to it has nothing to do with the price and everything to do with the small chance that the producer has "hit" that year.  I find it is the small producer who has an intimate knowledge of his soil and growing conditions who is more apt to hit.  I have found one such small producer who will not bottle his pinot noir in years he thinks he missed and instead sells those grapes to others.

That said Australian producers make some very nice Shiraz but unfortunately I did not find any good Pinot.  I spent I wonderful day in the Hunter Valley sampling some of the smaller producers there.  If you ever see this I suggest you give it a try.  I bought a few bottles but accidently drank them during the trip.

http://www.capercailliewine.com.au/wines.php?id=102&sub=10

[derspiess]

Gotta finish off that Double IPA growler tonight before it goes totally flat.  I like the stuff but you really gotta be in the right mood to drink it.

[Capetan Mihali]

Russell's Reserve 10 Year Bourbon, marked down like crazy at the liquor store ($17.99 from ~$35).    Tastes damn good to me, probably on the sweet side of the spectrum, but I don't know much about whiskey.  Any Languish bourbon aficionados tried this one?  I believe it is a Wild Turkey brand.

[PDH]

The wine of Superbowl slowdown boredom.

[Caliga]

Any Languish bourbon aficionados tried this one?  I believe it is a Wild Turkey brand.

Nope.  I don't drink the competition, son.

[derspiess]

Just finished some awesome Russian Imperial Stout from 50 West. I can really get into this boutique craft brewing thing.

[mongers]

I should be drinking whatever wine Mark Wahlberg has had, he's on a UK chat show and he is way more than half-cut, getting frisky with Sarah Silverman, who obviously had a bit too, along with Michael Fassbender, but is now rather pissed with him; drunk people are amusing. 

[garbon]

You're watching a talk show days later?

[Caliga]

Old Fashioned with Knob Creek.