Tuskie's Food and Beverage Blog!

Anderson Valley Oatmeal Stout - With its deep, dark brown-black color, thick, full-bodied, velvety-smooth mouth feel, mocha character, and, strong yet subtle hop bite, Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout is one of the thickest, richest, and most complex stouts on the market today. 5.7% ABV Great Lakes Rye of the Tiger -The Rye of the Tiger has claws. Named for its fierce hop profile and sharp rye content, Rye of the Tiger is a thrilling India Pale Ale with bite. Rye of the Tiger is crafted for the fighter in all of us, a powerful beer meant to inspire feats of strength and skill. At 7.5%, mind those catlike reflexes if your bout goes into extra rounds. If you can handle this hopped-up kitty, you’ve earned your stripes.

We've been big fans of Quinta de Soalheiro for years.  Located in the Vinho Verde region  of Portugal, they produce outstanding Alvarinho---called Albarino in Spain.  Most Portuguese Alvarinho is usually blended with other white grape varieties, but the owners of Soalheiro think so highly of their Alvarinho that they bottle it on it's own.  The 2012 vintage was just released, and it may be their best yet.   It is medium-bodied, with aromas and flavors of limes, quince and herbs. It has a wondeful smooth texture, a juicy pungeant quality and a tangy, crisp finish.  This complex, versatile wine would go with all types of seafoood dishes; from Seafood Paella to grilled Carribean-style fish.  This wine has gotten some great press, so it will dissapear quickly.  You should come to Tuskies and try it one of our terrific Seafoood Special dishes.

St. Bernardus Tripel , with high fermentation, has a pale amber colour and a flowery, fruity taste with a harmonious balance between sweet and sour (8% alcohol content). This beer has a thick and vivid froth and strikes by its balanced taste with a delicate bitterness. Lagunitas Undercover Shutdown Investigation Ale We brewed this especially bitter ale in dedication to all the world’s would-be astronauts, in remembrance of the 2005 St. Patrick’s Day Massacre on the Brewery Party Grounds and also in joyous celebration of our 20-day suspension that following January. Do the crime.  Do the time. Get the bragging rights. Cheers!   9.75% ABV

T wo bottles of wine that I find myself reaching for lately both happen to come from Italy. Matteo Correggio's Arneis 2011 is  absolutely delicious.  This Piedmontes white is medium-bodied, with a fresh floral bouquet.  It has flavors of peach, pear and melon, with notes of mint and herbs and plenty of minerals in the finish.  I would love this with grilled Halibut with an herb butter sauce. Collosorbo's Rosso di Montalcino 2010 is one of my favorite reds right now.  This Sangiovese from tuscany is medium-bodied, with flavors of cherries and herbs, and a supple texture.  As it opens up, the texture becomes more silky, and a smokey note becomes apparent.

We've just added 3 new red wines from Argentina that are just delicious.  Often, reds from this region can be over-ripe, over- extracted, over-oaked; heavy-handed and not much fun to drink.  While these reds have plenty of ripe fruit, they also have great acidity and balance, which makes you want another sip. Pulenta Estate Cabernet 2010---medium-bodied, with notes of smoke, black currants and herbs.  It's weight and supple texture make it a versatile wine that would work well with pork, veal or steak. Chakana Estate Malbec 2011---medium-to-full-bodied, it has plenty of red berry flavors---cherries, raspberries and currants, as well as notes of vanilla and pepper.  Perfect with our grilled Duck with Port-Cherry sauce. Tikal Patriota 2011---a blend of 60% Malbec and 40% Bonarda, this is medium-to-full-bodied.  Smoky, with aromas and flavors of blackberries and black pepper, this would be terrific with our Rack of Lamb.

We're always looking for something unique and exceptional to feature on our wine program, so we were thrilled to come across the Tenuta delle Terre Nere Etna Rosso 2011.  Made from indigenous Nerello grape, this Sicilian red is so balanced and elegant that I always end up drinking more of it than I should.  From vines grown near  the base of Mt Etna, it has aromas and flavors of cherries, red licorice and herbs.  It's a light wine, but it has a lot of  flavor---the way a good Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo does.  I would love this with our Truffle Mousse Pate, a Filet Mignon or the incredible Tasmanian Salmon that we often serve. For more information:  http://www.marcdegrazia.com/italian-wine-selections/italian-wine-producers/terre-nere.html