Coupon - Hearland Brewery good until March 31, 2011

There is still time to claim your coupon for a free order of wings with the purchase of 1 pint of beer at Heartland Brewery.

Use the link below.
http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/wings.html

Heartland Brewery brews their own selection of Craft Beers with seasonal additions through out the year. My personal favorites are the Red Rooster Ale and the Full Moon Barley Wine. The current Beer offerings are Indian River Light, Corn husker lager, Harvest Wheat, Red Rooster Ale, Indiana Pale Ale, Farmer Jon's Oatmeal Stout, Bavarian Black Lager, Grateful Red Lager, Mother's Milk Maiblock, Old Red Nose Ale, Smiling Pumpkin Ale, Stumpkin, Summertime Apricot Ale, Full Moon Barley Wine, Not tonight Honey Porter, Empire Premium Beer, The Beer Goddess. Not sure where to start you can order the "Voyage of Beer," this is six 5 oz. beer samples of your choice for only 12.95.


The menu can be found on their website.
http://www.heartlandbrewery.com/

Event - Cocktail Jam @ Astor Center March 28, 2011

On Monday March 28, 2011 from 6:00-9:30pm the Astor Center will host the 3rd Annual United States Bartenders Guild "Cocktail Jam."

This is a great Food Network Style competition. Twelve of the best United States Bartenders Guild members will try to create the most delicious cocktail ever.

The celebrity judges for the night are New York's:
Giuseppe Gonzalez from Dutch Kills and Painkiller
Thomas Waugh from Death & Co.
Phil Ward from Mayahuel
Stephanie Moreno from Brooklynwino

The winner gets a $2000 scholarship to the esteemed cocktail conference, Tales of the Cocktail.

50% of all ticket proceeds benefit Action Against Hunger (Tsunami Relief) and the USBGNY, and afford you samples of the nights cocktails.

Tickets are $35 and can be purchased using the link below.
http://www.astorcenternyc.com/class-cocktail-jam.ac

Beer Event - Altantic City Beer Festival April 1 & 2

"THE TOP TEN REASONS TO GO TO THE ATLANTIC CITY BEER FESTIVAL"

10. The Atlantic City April Fools Run on April 3
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=125465964190142
9. Kozac the Magician @ the Tropicana
http://www.tropicana.net/Atlantic-City-entertainment/comedy_stop.htm
8. The Price is Right Game Show hosted by Joey Fatone @ Ballys
http://www.ballysac.com/EventsDetail.do?locationCode=BAC&detailName=price-is-right-live-stage-show-detail&eventTitle=The%20Price%20Is%20Right%20Live
7. Buddy Guy @ House of Blues in the Showboat Casino on April 2
http://www.houseofblues.com/tickets/eventdetail.php?eventid=67746
6. To win big in slots or poker!
5. The Atlantic City Beach
4. The Atlantic City Boardwalk Rodeo is the same weekend
http://acboardwalkrodeo.com/
3. AC Brewers Brunch @ W.L. Goodfellows on April 3
http://www.wlgoodfellows.com/brewers-brunch.html
2. To see the band "Go Go Gadjet" on April 2
http://drinkingisasport.blogspot.com/2011/03/beer-event-atlantic-city-beer-festival_13.html
1. Unlimited Beer with the purchase of your ticket
http://www.celebrationofthesuds.com/default.asp

Beer Event - Atlantic City Beer Festival April 1&2

The Atlantic City Beer Festival being held on April 1 & 2 has just released more detailed information of the entertainment and seminars offered.

Session 1: 7pm to 11pm

7:00 The Founders (Opening Crowd March)
7:15 Lifespeed (Music Stage)
7:30 Mark Haynie "History of NJ Beers" (Demo Stage)
8:30 Rocky Fino cooking with beer demo (demo stage)
9:15 The Founders (Music Stage)
9:30 Gary Monterosso "Artisan Beers" (Demo Stage)
9:45 Lifespeed (Music Stage)
10:00 Sam Morgante cooking with beer demo (demo stage)

Session 2: 12pm to 4pm

12:00 The Founders (Opening Crowd March)
12:15 GoGo Gadget (Music Stage)
12:30 Mark Haynie "History of NJ Beers" (Demo Stage)
1:30 Rocky Fino cooking with beer demo (demo stage)
2:15 The Founders (Music Stage)
2:30 Gary Monterosso "Artisan Beers" (Demo Stage)
2:45 GoGo Gadjet (Music Stage)
3:00 Sam Morgante cooking with beer demo (demo stage)

Session 3: 6pm to 10pm

6:00 The Founders (Opening Crowd March)
6:15 Burnt Sienna (Music Stage)
6:30 Mark Haynie "History of NJ Beers" (Demo Stage)
7:30 Rocky Fino cooking with beer demo (Demo stage)
8:15 The Founders (Music Stage)
8:30 Gary Monterosso "Artisan Beers" (Demo Stage)
8:45 Burnt Sienna (Music Stage)
9:00 Sam Morgante cooking with beer demo (demo stage)

More information can be found on the festival website below.
http://www.celebrationofthesuds.com/default.asp

Beer Event -Atlantic City Beer Festival April 1 & 2

Friday April 1st and Saturday April 2nd marks the 6th Annual Atlantic City Beer Festival. There are three sessions of this festival.
Friday April 1st Session #1 at 7pm to 11pm
Saturday April 2nd Session #2 from 12pm to 4pm
Saturday April 2nd Session #3 from 6pm to 10pm
Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Atlantic-City-Convention-Center-tickets-Atlantic-City/venue/16397
The highlight of the festival is over 75 breweries from around the world showcasing a variety of craft beers. I look forward to trying beers from some local NJ and NY breweries. Local breweries that will be in attendance are Itica brewery, Flying Fish brewery, Brewery Ommegang, River Horse Brewery, Tun Tavern, Shmaltz Brewing Co. (makers of Coney Island lager), Cricket Hill Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, South Hampton Brewery, and the NJ Beer Co.
More information can be found on their website below.
http://www.celebrationofthesuds.com/default.asp

Wine Event - Merchants NY Cigar Bar March 24, 2011

Sorry boys, this is a women's only event.

On March 24, 2011 from 6pm -8pm Merchants NY Cigar Bar will be hosting a Cigar & Wine tasting event. Cigars will be provided by Miami Cigar Company, and wines from Lieb Cellars. Complimentary hors d'oeuvres will be served.

Lieb Cellars is a local vineyard from Mattituck, NY (North Fork). If you can't make it to this event, their tasting room is open on long island year round and provides samples of the complete line of Lieb wines. More information can be found on their website.
http://www.liebcellars.com/our-winery.htm


"NYC's Bravest Calendar Men" will be on hand to sign calendars. This event will benefit the Thomas R. Elasser fund, which assists the families of deceased FDNY firefighters.

click the link below to purchase tickets. They are $100/person and all proceeds go to benefit the Thomas R. Elasser fund.
www.cityofthebrave.com/Merchants

Term - SLAINTE

St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner so it's time to learn a drinking term "Slainte."
Sláinte is commonly used as a drinking toast in Ireland and Scotland. Literally translating as "health."
Common Variations are:

1- It can for be expanded to sláinte mhaith "good health" in Irish

2- The basic Scottish Gaelic equivalent is slàinte mhath (same meaning) to which the normal response is do dheagh shlàinte "your good health".

3- Another Scottish variation is air do shlàinte "on your health!" with the response slàinte agad-sa "health at yourself!"

4- Another Scottish vatiation is slàinte mhòr "great health" which is also used as a Jacobite toast with the alternative meaning of "health to Marion", Marion (Gaelic Mòr) being a Jacobite code name for Prince Charles Edward Stuart.

5- The Manx Gaelic form is slaynt vie. Alternatively, corp slaynt "healthy body" is also used in Manx.

Sound familiar?? In modern Romance languages, the word descended from salus (such as salud in Spanish, saúde in Portuguese or santé in French) are used as a toast.

From Wikipedia

Beer Event - Get Real NY March 19 & 20, 2011

The "Get Real NY" Beer and Food festival will be held on March 19 and 20 at:
THE ALTMAN BUILDING
135 WEST 18TH STREET
NEW YORK, NY 10011
Tickets are $65 for general admission and $80 for VIP admission.
There are 2 Saturday Sessions on the 19th from 12-3 P.M. and 5-8 P.M.
There are 2 Sunday Sessions on the 20th from 12-3 P.M. and 5-8 P.M.
There will also be a VIP session each day from 4-8 P.M.

The ticket includes beer from over 80 breweries, unlimited samples from nyc eateries, and live music.

Check out this trailer below.

Beer Event - Atlantic City Beer Festival 2011

Along with the Beers mentioned in my previous post, this event will also be showcasing live music.

Session 1 Act (April 1st 7-11pm):
Life Speed












Session 2 Act (April 2nd 12-4pm):
Go Go Gadjet












Session 3 Act (April 3rd 6-10pm):
Burnt Sienna







Did I mention "Go Go Gadget" is one of my personal favorites. This band is a relative new comer from the Philadelphia, PA music scene. They are essentially a cover, who makes an effort not to imitate the original artist, but to create a song that sounds completely their own. This is a band worth seeing live.

Store Review - Penn Wine & Spirits

"Penn Wine & Spirits" is a wine store located in Penn. Station, New York. The Store can be found on the L.I.R.R. level between tracks 16 and 17, in the corridor adjacent to Starbucks.



They carry an interesting selection of wines from around the world, with emphasis on the rarer brands. Making this the perfect store to shop for that one of a kind gift. I was lucky enough to wonder in on a Wednesday, when they were conduction a wine tasting of two red and one white wine. Tastings are held every Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. With Friday's tasting run by the distributor's themselves, they showcase wines made at the same vineyard.




My favorite wine from the tasting was a 2006 Chateau Les Grandes Mottes Bordeaux Superior (Cab/Merlot Blend) on sale for $14.99 a bottle. Here are some tasting notes: "Deep cherry in color, it has an earthy smell. It's a medium bodied wine with ripe cherry and black teaflavors. There's also a strong tannic structure that you get full blast if you swish it around a while before swallowing. It's an interesting wine."

Beer Event - Atlantic City Beerfest Brewers Brunch April 3, 2011

After you have had your fill of beer from Friday and Saturday's (April 1 & 2) Beerfest head to W.L. Goodfellows and Co. for their Sunday morning brewers brunch (April 3).
For $49.99 you receive an all you can eat "Buffet" style brunch and a flight of six 1/2 pint beers.
The Beer selection is:

1. Beach Haus Classic American Pilsner, East Coast Beer Co., Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey

2. Bock Beer, Yuengling & Sons, Pottsville, Pennsylvania

3. Negra Modelo, Grupo Modelo, Mexico

4. Spring Blonde Wheat Ale, Blue Moon Breweing, Colorado

5. Toasted Lager, Blue Point Brewing, Long Island, New York

6. Wyld Organic Extra pale Ale, Unita Brewing, Salt Lake City, Utah

More information can be found on the restaurant's website http://www.wlgoodfellows.com/

Beer Event - The Atlantic City Beer Festival April 1 & 2, 2011

Friday April 1st and Saturday April 2nd marks the 6th Annual Atlantic City Beer Festival. There are three sessions of this festival.
Friday April 1st Session #1 at 7pm to 11pm
Saturday April 2nd Session #2 from 12pm to 4pm
Saturday April 2nd Session #3 from 6pm to 10pm
Tickets are $45 in advance or $50 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at
http://www.ticketmaster.com/Atlantic-City-Convention-Center-tickets-Atlantic-City/venue/16397
The highlight of the festival is over 75 breweries from around the world showcasing a variety of craft beers. I look forward to trying beers from some local NJ and NY breweries. Local breweries that will be in attendance are Itica brewery, Flying Fish brewery, Brewery Ommegang, River Horse Brewery, Tun Tavern, Shmaltz Brewing Co. (makers of Coney Island lager), Cricket Hill Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, South Hampton Brewery, and the NJ Beer Co.

Wine Notes - Picks from the New York Wine Expo

This year marked the 4th year for the New York Wine Expo. Special focus was on innovation, green drinks, and dessert wines. My picks from Fridays Tasting events are below:
1- Parra Family Organic Wines from Spain
2- Eden Vermont Cider
3- W&J Graham's 20 year Tawny Port
4- Dow's Late Bottled Vintage Port
5- Grand Duval's Sparkling Wine - Clasico and Quinceanera (Ecuador)
6- Santero Moscato - Muscat Wines and Fragolino
7- Brooklyn Oenology Viognier
8- Magners Hard Cider and Magners Hard Pear Cider
9-Barefoot Wine Sweet Red

Brewery News - 14 New Jersey State Breweries

1- Basil T's Brewery & Italian Grill
Red Bank, NJ
basilt.com
2-Cricket Hill Brewing Company
Fairfeld, NJ
crickethillbrewery.com
3-Flying Fish Brewing Company
Cherry Hill, NJ
flyingfish.com
4-Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant
South Orange, NJ
gaslightbrewery.com
5-Harvest Moon Brewery and Cafe
New Brunswick, NJ
harvestmoonbrewery.com
6-High Point Brewing Company
Butler, NJ
ramsteinbeer.com
7-Iron Hill Brewery
Maple Shade, Nj
ironhillbrewery.com
8-J.J. Biittings Brewing Company
Woodbridge, NJ
njbrewpubs.com
9-Krogh's Restaurant & Brew Pub
Sparta, NJ
kroghs.com
10-River Horse Brewing Company
Lambertville, NJ
riverhorse.com
11-The Ship Inn Restaurant & Brewery
Milford, NJ
shipinn.com
12-Triumph Brewing Company
Princton, NJ
triumphbrewing.com
13-Tun Tavern Brewery & Restaurant
Atlantic City, NJ
tuntavern.com
14-Uno Chicago Grill & Brewery
Metuchen, NJ
pizzeriauno.com

Wine Event - A Taste of Spring - March 10, 2011 NYC

• Date:March 10, 2011
• Start Time:6:00 PM
• End Time:9:00 PM

• Altman Building
• 135 West 18th Street
• New York, NY 10011

Event Details

Enjoy 80+ Great Wines plus artisanal cheese, charcuterie and more.

3:00-5:00pm Trade and Press

6:00-9:00 General Admission

http://bottlenotes.com/event/taste-of-spring-dash--wines-from-around-the-world-dash-new-york

Recipe - Carnival

Carnival is the festive season that occurs just before the Lenten period. Traditionally during Lent, no parties or other celebrations were held, and people refrained from eating rich foods, such as meat, dairy, fats and sugar. The forty days of Lent were meant to recall the biblical depiction of the forty days Jesus spent in the desert. In the days before Lent, all rich food and drink had to be disposed of. Kind of like Prohibition. The best way to dispose of all that rich goodness was to throw a party, a Carnival!

Today, Carnival is celebrated all over the world with grand and elaborate parades. Revelers sometimes don festive masquerade masks. Most of these traditions date back to the Carnival of Venice, first recorded in medieval Italy. Brazilian Carnival is probably the most recognized party today.

When most People think of Carnival, the first cocktail that comes to mind is the caipirniha. A twist on a caipirinha is always delicious and as simple as adding fresh seasonal fruit or switching up the sweetener. Try these variations below:

BARE ESSENTIALS
Cocktail Collective

Muddle 1/2 a lime quartered

1/2oz Ginger syrup

1/4oz honey syrup

2oz Leblon

Shake with 4-5 cubes vigorously and pour all contents into a rocks glass

No garnish

SUNSET SWIZZLE
Joe Alessandroni
1.5 Leblon
.5 Falernum
.5 Campari
.5 pineapple gum
1 Lime
2 dash bittermans tiki bitters

Build all ingredients except Campari in a wine glass. Crushed Ice. Float Campari on top. Garnish with pineapple wedge, umbrella, and berries.

RAINFOREST SANGRIA (Carafe)
David Rodriguez (Plunge @ Gansevoort Hotel in Miami Beach)
Recipe:
6 oz Leblon Cachaça
3 St Germain Elderflower liquor
6 oz semi sweet crisp white wine (Riesling)
3 oz of simple syrup
4 half limes squeeze
Blueberries (2 handful)
Rosemary stick
Thyme stick

In a pitcher: muddled blueberries, herbs, simple syrup and lime. Add ice, Leblon, St Germain and white wine. Stir very well and strain into a Carafe with ice. Top with club soda. Garnish with fresh blueberries and rosemary stick inside.

from www.contemparycoacktailsinc.com

Beer & Wine Event - Joe Canal's - Woodbridge, NJ

* * *
Class: Beer 101 with John Hoyos
Saturday, March 12, 2011 - 1:00pm - 3:00pm
Join Joe Canal's in Woodbridge on Saturday, March 12th to get your beer knowledge on just in time for St. Patty's Day! John Hoyos from Hunterdon Brewing will be leading our first ever Beer 101 class in our Liquid Learning Center. Sample eight unique and interesting beers while gaining an insight into the world of craft beer. Come with questions, John will be happy to answer any you might have! It's only $10 per person! This class is a must for any craft beer lover and promises to be a great time. Please check the events page at jcanals.com for more information!

* * *
Tony Sirico Appearance and Bottle Signing
Saturday, April 9th, 2011 - TIME TBA
Joe Canal's is pleased to welcome Tony Sirico to our Liquid Learning Center for a bottle signing! Tony is best known for his role as Paulie "Walnuts" Gualtieri on HBO's hit series, The Sopranos. He'll be stopping by to sign bottles of Sopranos wines and to say hello to all his fans. Please check the events page at jcanals.com for more information!

Joe Canal's Discount Liquor Outlet
489 US Route 1 South
Iselin, NJ 08830
732-726-0077