We’re all looking for buried treasure. Whether it’s playing the lottery or binge watching Antiques Roadshow, everyone dreams of hitting the motherload and never working again. We can’t promise you expensive jewels or pricy coin collections at Payless Liquors, but we do have a few hidden gems we’d like to share with you!
In the next few months, we’d like to share a few rare products from our Payless vaults (yes, we have vaults; they’re hidden). At Payless Liquors, we want the customer to be king. That’s why we’re sharing 2005 George De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon with you first!
George De Latour is unsurprisingly named after its founder, a Napa Valley original who started his Rutherford vineyards over a century ago. The same grapes are now sent to a state of the art winery, where Beaulieu Vineyard produces this company’s flagship wine.
The current run of these wines are quite good, but we think the 2005 George De Latour is a hidden treasure you will only open on a very special occasion. In a series of wine reviews, expert taster S.H. from Wine Enthusiast had this to say about 2005 George De Latour: “This is one for the cellar and will age for at least a decade and probably far longer.” But enough about history and ratings. Let’s get to the wine!
After popping open this bottle, you will get the strong scents of blackberry, plum and oak. The last is from the barrel aging of this wine. The body of George De Latour is medium-full bodied, and great for heavier meals. The coloring is that of black cherry and grapes, and the pour gives off hues of red and pink, hinting at the complexity here.
The first taste you will get from this vintage is that of blackberry, black cherry and mocha. There are more subtle hints of black licorice and vanilla, which come from the aging process. If you’re looking for a simpler wine, you will not want the 2005 George De Latour. This is a complex, concentrated wine with multiple layers. However, the vanilla and mocha compliment the fruity, strong blend quite well.
If you looking to pair this vintage with food, keep in mind the body and aroma as well as the taste of this wine. You’re looking for slightly heavier foods, because lighter fare will be overwhelmed. For a tasting I would suggest heavy, creamy cheeses like Brie. If you’re pairing this with a full meal, you cannot go wrong with filet mignon!
If you’re in the mood to go treasure hunting, I couldn’t suggest a better prize than the 2005 George De Latour Private Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. Please contact us if you’re interested in reserving a bottle. The price is $103.99. I do not think they will last long!
The India Pale Ale is one of the most popular beer styles on the market today. In fact, brewers sometimes struggle to keep up with the high demand for these typically dry, extra-hoppy ales. A common misconception is that the style was initially developed as a way to avoid beer spoilage during the long voyage to India and the hands of homesick, beer-thirsty British troops.
To learn more about the true history of the IPA, read this great article by Beer Church. To learn about great new IPAs available from Goose Island, continue reading!
“The Illinois” Imperial IPA was named in honor of the mile-high skyscraper designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It’s also part of Goose Islands’ new series of Imperial beers. This hoppy ale incorporates Chinook, Cascade, Citra and Meridian hops to flavor a big, aromatic and boldly fruity brew that delivers what lupulin lovers crave. Weighing in at 9% ABV and 95 IBUs, this is not a beer to miss. 4NR
Endless IPA is Goose Island’s venture into the “session” IPA category. This Amarillo hopped IPA is bright and crisp. According to Goose Island’s website, it was brewed to be “easy drinking and endlessly refreshing, so you can enjoy every encore” during the long days and warm nights to come.
Ten Hills Pale Ale is technically not an IPA. However, this ale, that’s named after a well-known hop farm in Idaho, does pack a hoppy punch. It has been described as noticeably citrus with good malt presence and a medium-bitter finish. This old school ale is brewed with hops from the “first ten hills” of Elk Mountain Farms and is reminiscent of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale. 6NR
Stop by your nearest Payless store to pick up one of these new Goose Island ales. Our knowledgeable and friendly staff can help you decide which of the three you should purchase first—or grab a 6-pack of each! They won’t be around forever.
The Spring season is a favorite time of year for many in the Hoosier state. Especially after such a brutally cold and snowy winter, the warmer and longer days of Spring can’t seem to get here fast enough!
Just as nature starts to transition in late March and early April, so do the palettes of many beer drinkers. Out go the winter warmers and stouts and in comes something new. Why not make it a hoppy, delicious IPA this year? Sierra Nevada has several great ones to choose from:
Harvest Single Hop IPA
Sierra Nevada’s Harvest Single Hop IPA is the first beer to kick off its Harvest series. This IPA utilizes a new, yet to be named, hop #291. Harvest Single Hop offers a tropical and citrusy aroma. The taste is moderately bitter with tones of citrus and some sweetness. This 100 day IPA is made to drink fresh, and won’t last long. 24 oz bottles are $5.99 at Payless Liquors.
4-Way IPA Variety Pack
New for 2014, Sierra Nevada’s IPA variety pack has lots to offer hop lovers! It features three new India Pale Ales and their year-round IPA, Torpedo Extra. Here’s the scoop on each of these beers:
Snow Wit White IPA – A hopped up version of a Belgian Wit brewed with experimental Dwarf hops and a Belgian yeast strain. It received a “very good” score of 85 of BeerAdvocate.
Blindfold Black IPA – A new take on the Beer Camp Black IPA, Blindfold melds dark roasty malts and fruity American hops. It also received a “very good” score of 85 on BeerAdvocate
Nooner Session IPA – A lighter and less alcoholic take on the style, Nooner focuses on citrusy hop flavor and drinkability.
Torpedo Extra IPA – The year-round offering uses the “hop torpedo” method of dry-hopping to extract maximum hoppy aroma and flavors.
12-packs of this sampler pack are $14.99 at Payless Liquors.
Have you tried any of these offerings from Sierra Nevada? If so, we’d love to hear what you thought of them. Reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or our website and let us know what you thought! Until then, here’s to good beer and warmer weather!
We had so many great beers to choose from this month, it was pretty hard to narrow it down to three!
After much nail-biting, your fearless author chose three brews, typed up a blog, and relaxed with a bottle. Of course, that bottle contained yet another beer that should have been discussed in our February Round-Up. Long story short, we’ve expanded our February round-up of beers to include three more. When you see the contenders, you won’t blame me for adding to the list!
Schlafly Beer American IPA: Brewed and dry-hopped with Simcoe, Centennial and Amarillo, this golden beauty contains the best hops around. The aroma of this amber beer is bright with citric and floral hop notes. Flavors include hints of grapefruit rind and pine sap, with enough caramel malty sweetness to balance the taste perfectly. Seasonal availability, so stop in soon! You can get a case of six for $11.99 right now.
Sun King Brewing Company’s Ring of Dingle Dry Irish Stout: This Indy favorite is a mouthful in more ways than one. I was a tad worried they couldn’t get the whole title on the bottle. This is a traditional roasty Irish Stout named for a series of scenic roads in Ireland. This brew has a rich, full flavor that ends in a clean, dry finish. Ring of Dingle also won the Silver Medal at the 2012 World Beer Cup for Classic Irish-Dry Stout. Get this four can Olympian at Payless for $13.99.
Southern Tier Brewing Co.’s Creme Brulee (Imperial Milk Stout): This thick, creamy beer is brewed with lactose milk sugar. Custard, vanilla bean and brown sugar flavors dominate this beer for a flavor that really nails the elements of Creme Brulee. It’s best served as a dessert, or even over vanilla ice cream. You can pick-up this after-dinner treat for $9.99 at Payless.
Like all sequels, we hope you enjoyed our expanded story. What amazing new brews have you run into this February? Any big surprises or disappointments you’d like to share with us? We’re always happy to talk beer, friend. Find us on Twitter, Facebook, or at our winterwebsite.
Superhero movies are very popular right now. These films make billions of dollars in the theaters and then proceed to make even more money from t-shirts, video games and toys. Why do these movies do so well? They’re fun of course, but how do they grab our imaginations and refuse to let go?
My theory is that people love a great dramatic performance. Whether it’s a heart-racing action movie or a flavorful beer (see where I’m going here?), we love the bright and the bold. If you want to see a good movie, I suggest you go rent Thor 2. If you want an amazing new brew, you need to keep reading.
First up we have Victory Brewing Company’s Hop Ranch Imperial India Pale Ale. If nothing else, this beer at least tells the uninitiated what IPA stands for. Brewed with the newly popular Mosaic and Azzaca hops, Hop Ranch is brewed to celebrate the farmers dedicated to harvesting the high alpha varieties that popularize good IPAs. While the nose on this beer is big and tropical, the bold flavors reminded me of candied grapefruit, pine sap and caramel slathered toast. With seasonal availability, Hop Ranch is one IPA you need to try, and try fast.
We also recently got a hold of Two Brothers Brewing Company’s Night Cat. This dark, hoppy wheat beer got an 86% on Beer Advocate, and we can see why. Brewed with a Citra hops (of Three Floyd’s Zombie Dust fame!), Night Cat is a deliciously well balanced addition to the Two Brothers lineup. Its citrus and tropical fruity notes balance well with a strong, rich and roasted malt backbone that make for a really tasty seasonable beer. Come in and grab a case, because this one is going to fly off shelves.
Ready to slip on your body armor and drive the Batmobile down to get these beers? We understand. Or maybe you’re not a fan of fruity beers? Please feel free to talk to our knowledgeable staff. They’re always happy to help you find the perfect flavor. You can also reach out to us on Facebook, Twitter, or our website. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Hop Ranch, Night Cat or both.
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