Red, White and Brew

1 cup Wesson oil

4 eggs

¼ cup vodka

¼ cup Kahlua

¾ cup water

Mix above ingredients together, then add ingredients below

And beat for 4 minutes:

I box yellow cake mix

½ cup sugar

1.6oz. box instant chocolate pudding

Pour into oiled bundt pan and bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes.

Cool and remove from pan. Poke holes in cake (put in lots of holes almost to bottom). Pour glaze over cake. Dust with powdered sugar when completely cooled.

Glaze: ½ cup powdered sugar ¼ cup Kahlua

This fantastic brew is an intricate dark ale with a touch of smokiness.  The rich malt flavor, crisp bitterness and smoke reach perfect equilibrium in this brew.  At 7.5% abv, Fireside Ale will warm you right up on those cold winter nights!

Mirrabooka is the name that the Australian Aborigines give to the Southern Cross constellation, which has served as a celestial navigation guide in the Southern Hemisphere for centuries.  According to the myth, Mirrabooka was an ancestral being immortalized in the night sky to watch over his tribe and protect all humanity.  The Southern Cross is featured on the Mirrabooka label.

The Mirrabooka wines are crafted in the style that Australians love to drink.  They are fresh, vibrant wines with a strong sense of place and an emphasis on elegance.  The best part is that they are also modestly priced so you can enjoy them every day.

The Unwooded Chardonnay is an aromatic, crisp dry white wine that makes a perfect aperitif or accompaniment to seafood and poultry dishes as well as salads.

The Shiraz is a deeply colored, intensely flavored wine with a terrific balance of fruit and spice characters, making it an ideal accompaniment to grilled and barbequed meats.

People love beer.   But it has come to our attention that many of you feel a bit intimidated by the Import section of Red, White & Brew.  The average beer drinker feels very comfortable checking out the Domestic section: the IPA’s, the Brown Ales, the Stouts & Porters — but those same people may feel a little unsure about the Import section.  Do you know what a “stick beer” is?  Are you familiar with a Geuze?  Do you know how many Trappist beers are available in NJ?  If this is something you would like to learn more about, e-mail us at Stacey@redwhitebrew.net .  We’re going to start sending out one Beer Newsletter every week in an attempt to educate “Joe Average Beer Drinker” and turn him into a Superstar!  We’ll get information from Importers and Brewers themselves.  We’ll give you descriptions of what you should be tasting in each beer and will even give you recipes to make to serve with your new beers.  Yes, beer is quickly becoming acceptable at the dinner table along with the wine!  Be ahead of the game & get your BEER on!

This past Holiday season we noticed a huge surge in sales of Recession Buster Wines.  Yes, we sold our fair share of wines over $20 a bottle but the majority of you are still feeling the bite of the recession and choose your wines carefully.  In fact, we’d venture to say that the majority of you are buying more wine — but you are buying value wines; wines that are good quality AND priced right.  Good for you for having such discriminating taste!  Terra Andina wines from Chile are just those wines.  Both are under $10 and both are exceptional.  In fact, the Carmenere was probably one of our biggest sellers this Holiday season.

Dark and deep red with violet hues, Terra Andina Carmenere is a tasty blend of black currant, blackberry, grilled red pepper and black pepper.  With a very varietal character, this wine shows balance with volume and soft but present tannins and a pleasant after taste.  Pair this bad boy with braised and roasted meats, BBQ, hamburgers and mushrooms.

The Terra Andina Chardonnay is juicy and fresh with pineapple and citrus notes and a silky smooth texture.  Serve it with chicken, shellfish or pastas with a light cream sauce.

We often get asked about the different sizes of wine and Champagne bottles.  Here’s a little handy guide:

750 ml (regular sized bottle) ~ Standard

1.5 liter ~ Magnum

3 liter ~ Jeroboam

6 liter ~ Methuselah

9 liter ~ Salmanazar

12 liter ~ Balthazar

15 liter ~ Nebuchadnezzar

What are the 3 main grapes used in Champagne?  Chardonnay, Pinot Noir & Pinot Meunier

Why do people “clink” their Champagne glasses?  This stems from Medieval times to prove the wine or Champagne was safe.  The host would take a bit from each of his guest’s glasses and drink it to prove it was good and safe!  He would then “clink” each of his guest’s glasses to make sure they all knew it was OK to drink.

What are the different types of Champagne?  Brut is the driest, and the standard.  Extra Dry is less dry than Brut.  Sec is sweet and Demi-Sec is even sweeter.

What’s the difference between Vintage and Non-Vintage?  A Vintage Champagne is made up of grapes from one certain year or crop and the year will be shown on the label.  A Non-vintage Champagne can be made up of grapes from different years.

For your eyes only!  Mention this blog & save $3 on a Oregon Pinot Noir!

Sipino Pinot Noir - 100% Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley on sale at Red, White & Brew (whiles supplies last).  Regularly $15 a bottle, if you mention this blog you can purchase Sipino for only $12 a bottle!  An unheard of deal.  Get it while you can!

Treat Yourself & your Friends to a Scotch Lesson

                                                      

New Belgian Beers come to NJ & RW&B is the first to get them

Choose the right wine to go with your Holiday feast: Here are a few of the typical Thanksgiving foods with their favorite suggestions ~

Ham / Pork:  Rose wines are a great choice because they are juicy and ripe and most have flavors of strawberries.  Don’t confuse a dry Rose with a White Zinfandel — they have nothing in common.  A good Rose is elegant and flavorful.  Hint: Try Rose of Cabernet from Summers Winery

Turkey:  The old standard deserves something with a little zip to it.  Gewurztraminer is a perfect companion for turkey because it spices up an otherwise bland meat.  Hint:  Try Covey Run Gewurztraminer       But for those of you who like a little butter with your turkey a Chardonnay may be more in order.  Hint:  Try JT Cellars Chardonnay for something inexpensive or Cuvaison Chardonnay if you’re looking for a splurge       Turkey also appreciates a good light red ~ Hint: Try Yamhill Pinot Noir

Roast:  For those who aren’t huge turkey fans and would rather have meat, a Zinfandel is a top choice.  Hint: Try Portrait of a Mutt Zinfandel from Mutt Lynch winery

Other Hints: 

Chianti is a nice light red that will go with a variety of Thanksgiving foods.

Merlot is also a great, versatile - albeit misunderstood - wine that also goes with a multitude of foods.  Try Merlot Over & Play Dead from Mutt Lynch winery – one of our favorites.

Riesling doesn’t always have to be sticky sweet and goes with a myriad of foods - especially turkey & ham!  Try Peter Mertes Kabinett or O’Reilly’s Riesling