Wine-o: Harpoon UFO White

Harpoon Brewery UFO White Wheat Ale, Windsor, Vermont
Alcohol
Price $8- (6-pack)

I was told very clearly by the BF and the BF's Former College Roommate (here on known as VegasBaby) that the Harpoon UFO White is one of the best if not THE best of White Ales.  In our house it is always served with a wedge of orange, and next to the Harpoon Cider is my favorite of their offerings (and beer in general).

The Harpoon Brewery has the most wonderful visiting area in Windsor, VT and Boston, MA.  They offer guided tours, have a lovely indoor and outdoor dining room, and offer tastings as well.  The layout is wonderful, with a nice retail area linked onto the dining room (but situated so that the diner and shopper can be comfortable in their area or floating between).  They also feature several wonderful events and do a great job of marketing.  All in all, this is our favorite brewery we have visited thus far and also The BF's favorite types of beer.  I have a feeling we will have Harpoon in the house as long as we are in the area.  Now to buy some of their Irish road signs...

Freya Score 95
Mona Value 11.9

The MV is calculated by dividing the FS by the price, giving a better analytic that takes into consideration price as well as overall taste

Get your post updates via Facebook and the new Freya's Keeper Page!

Wine-o: Tereseret Antique Rose

Tereseret Antique Rose, FRANCE
Alcohol 12.5%
Price: ~$15

This wine was a lovely rose.  It was not as sweet as I anticipated and paired very well with hors d'oeuvres of crackers and french soft cheeses.  Served chilled it is a great solution for a hot summer evening.  I would recommend serving this first to guests and then a more conventional white or red wine paired with the dinner offering (remember, reds can be served slightly chilled as well!)

"Crisp"

"Refreshing"

"Sweet and slightly dry, pairs well with St. Andre cheese"

"Refreshing and a bit fruity without going overboard"

Freya's Score: 68
Mona's Value: 4.5

Get your post updates via Facebook and the new Freya's Keeper Page!

Wine-o: American Microbreweries

The USA is the home to several microbreweries.  In New England I have noticed a pride in local microbrews that I didn't detect in Arkansas.    Breweries are very fun to visit, often with a dining room for sampling beer and basic pub fare.  And of course, a ton of retail items such as t-shirts, coolers, hats, dog leashes, etc.  Many breweries also offer guided tours.

The BF's favorite type of beer is IPA, and so this is more often than not the kind of beer in the fridge, and thus the kind that I try.  I am not a huge beer drinker, and my taste is narrow and specific, however I will rank beers on a 100 point scale.  I can detail the fun experiences at the breweries that we visit as well.

Printer Friendly Maps & Cheat Sheets:
New Hampshire
Vermont
Maine
Massachusetts
New York
Connecticut
Rhode Island

For more information about microbreweries, one can watch "Beer Wars" (available on Netflix Instant). This is a documentary about the market share struggle between the "big 3" and microbreweries across the country.  The narrator has a very clear opinion, but the documentary is informative.

Get your post updates via Facebook and the new Freya's Keeper Page!

Wine-o: Fat Bastard Merlot

Fat Bastard 2010 Merlot, FRANCE
Alcohol 13.5%
Price $12

This is a great wine that I have enjoyed many a time.  It is an affordable wine and therefore a great hostess gift.  It is a soft and smooth merlot, with some tannins that give a sharp metallic kick of an aftertaste.

This wine pairs well with a variety of meats.  It goes wonderfully with venison steak as well as barbecue pork.  I've even enjoyed a Fat Bastard wine at Thanksgiving with stuffing and domestic turkey.

"I love a fat bastard!"

Freya's Score: 80
Mona's Value: 6.67


Get your post updates via Facebook and the new Freya's Keeper Page!

Culture Bit: New Hampshire Blueberries

New Hampshire grows delicious blueberries.  I have become a huge fan since our move.  I have them with my morning cereal, dessert, sometimes alongside a lunch sandwich.  Delicious.  The BF and I decided to take advantage of a local farm that featured "Pick Your Own".  We found this handy information on the NH site: 

Super Acres - blueberries

722 River Road, Lyme, NH 03768. Phone: (603) 353-9807. Email us at:patrice.g.super@valley.net . Directions: Located just south of the covered bridge, or 4 miles north of the Thetford/Lyme Bridge. Click here for a map to our farm. We are open July, August. Our hours are: 8am-7pm daily during blueberry season. Late July through August. Pick Unsprayed blueberries in our 1,200 plant orchard near the Connecticut River and Clay Brook.

Onsite, they provided pints to take your berries home in, as well as picking buckets for customers to borrow.  They also had a handy sign to help us figure out what to do.

1.  Pick Blueberries

2.  Weigh blueberries (arrow pointing to scale right next to sign)

3.  Pay $2.50/pound

Simple, and a fun evening outing.  When we got home I spent an hour or so washing our 7 pounds of blueberries.  A kitchen sieve helped me pick through them, removing small bugs, leaves, twigs, and damaged berries.  Now I am onto the fun part: baking time.  I found two recipes to try:

Blueberry Gallettes from Haniela's blog

Blueberry Crisp from King Arthur Flour (another local feature!)

Wine-o: Marcus James Chardonnay

Marcus James Chardonnay, Eastern ARGENTINA
Alcohol 13.5%
Price: ~$11

Our move has been successful!  The art is up, and I am cleaning now because the dogs continue to shed, not for sanitization or moving reasons!  As the job search rages, I've converted momentarily to mondo sized wines, you know, the 1.5L steals that you can find for parties and whatnot.

If you know my current taste in white wine, you will know that I like buttery, full, Chardonnays, like Lucky Star's Chardonnay.  This is not buttery.  It is full, and the label says it all: "crisp fruity style with hints of apples and other orchard fruits..."  I really enjoy it.  It seems almost like a Sauvignon Blanc, but is drier as one would expect of a Chardonnay.  

All in all, it's great, it's large, and it's original looking. It goes well with appetizers such as tortilla chips with salsa or hummus, as well as roasted chicken.

Freya's Score: 70

Mona's Value: 6.4

Wine-o: Beaulieu Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Beaulieu Vineyard "BV" Coastal Estates 2010 Cabernet Sauvignon, CA
Alcohol 13.5%

Price ~$11-

As I have had the pleasure to travel and visit with friends and family this summer, I thought that I would include various comments from our collective wine tastings.  I am often told that wine tastes differently to everyone, and that any review or observation is right!

"Fruity- good standard wine, great for chit chatting"

"Drinkable"

"soft, mmmm"

"smooth, no bite, not a lot of tannins"

Freya's Score: 77
Mona's Value: 7