One of the many signs of the vitality of American craft beer is the growing concern for quality. Beyond ingredients and brewing techniques, there’s a greater emphasis on proper storage and serving, and even the importance of glassware.

Matt with IPA glass @ BSP

Of course, Belgian and German breweries are famous for creating elegant glasses for their beers. More recently, American breweries, including the Boston Beer Co., have created special designs, such as the Samuel Adams Boston Lager Glass, that aim to enhance sensory perception.

In the past few weeks, the big news has been a glass touted to be so well designed it makes craft beer lovers’ favorite style even more of a sniffing and sipping pleasure.

American craft brewers Dogfish Head and Sierra Nevada teamed with the German glassware maker Spiegelau to create a new IPA glass they say will change the way you experience hop goodness.

It features thin, round walls to maintain proper temperature longer; a slender, bowed shape …

Continue reading Can the glass better the beer? »

Gil Kulers, CWE

2010 Tiger Mountain Vineyards Touriga Nacional, Georgia

• $19
• Two Thumbs Up
• Engaging and rich aromas of blackberry, tar, rose petals and a light vanilla note. Flavors of dry porcini mushrooms, black cherry, cola and touch of black pepper on the finish.

“I am very saddened to inform you that we are closing the vineyards and winery at Blackstock.” Thus began David Harris’ not unexpected letter earlier this year. We found out officially just after the New Year that he and his wife, Trish, were throwing in the towel after 17 seasons of growing arguably north Georgia’s best wine grapes from their vineyards outside of Dahlonega.

A freeze in April 2012, which left Blackstock essentially cropless, sealed the deal. Never heard of the Harrises or Blackstock? Not a surprise. From challenging weather, to a byzantine distribution system, to a largely skeptical market, to the preponderance of inexpensive, imported California grapes, Georgia’s winemakers face formidable …

Continue reading Wine Kulers: Tiger Mountain Touriga Nacional »

Last year, Atlanta’s Frozen Pints hit the market with craft beer ice cream. Now, Roswell’s Happy Hour Confections is infusing sweet and savory baked goods with craft beer.

Lemon Hefeweizen Cupcake (Credit: Holly Pezzano)

During a recent conversation at Five Seasons North in Alpharetta, owner Holly Pezzano sipped a pint of Dark Star stout and explained how she made the move from home baker to entrepreneur.

“Actually, my husband started all this as a kind of challenge,” Pezzano said. “He made a chili recipe with beer and was so thrilled with the result he said, ‘What else can we try?’ So we started marinating and cooking all sorts of things with beer. Then I tried baking with beer.”

As Pezzano got more serious, she began dreaming up more recipes and testing them over several months, often taking samples by her favorite beer shop, Ale Yeah! in Roswell, for feedback.

“At one point, she would come up here at least twice a week,” said Ale Yeah! owner Eddie Holley. “We said, ‘Why …

Continue reading Beer Town: Happy Hour Confections »

Gil Kulers, CWE

The 1970 Pontiac GTO provided engineers the opportunity to revamp the transfer of power to the rearend.

This week’s column will tackle the subjects of how to remove the transmission in a 1970 Pontiac GTO with the help of port tongs and the interesting connection between the wines of Barolo and the 3-4 defensive scheme used by the Green Bay Packers.

I will completely understand if many of my female readers take a rain check this time. I’ll see you in a couple weeks with less overtly masculine themes.

When General Motors beefed up its power plant for the 1970 GTO, it presented engineers with a unique opportunity to utilize transmission technology dating back to the early 1960s….

OK, fellas. I think we are alone now. What I really wanted to talk to you about today is one of the most stressful situations American males face every year: ordering the wine for your Valentine’s Dinner. If you blow this important call, you can expect the dreaded “eye roll of …

Continue reading Kulers Uncorked: Valentine’s Edition »