Corks, Kegs and Commentary

You likely didn't see the highlights on ESPN, no matter how late you stayed up, but a fine performance was turned in Tuesday night by Hayden's softball team.  There were the usual flashes of brilliance combined with the unavoidable streaks of foolishness, but when the stakes were highest, everyone found a way to come through. ..

Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is taking over the taps of Bown Crossing tomorrow. ..

As our customers continue to seek and demand quality local products, we continue to strive to house the best of Idaho wines in our portfolio.  Well chalk up another victory, as we are proud to announce the addition of Wood River Cellars to the Hayden family! ..

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Most people, at the mere sight of words like Pediococcus and Lactobacillus, go running for the Clorox bleach and rubber gloves.  That is especially true of most commercial brewers, who associate these terms with infection and poor sanitation. But not Eric Salazar, who heads up the wood beer program for Colorado's New Belgium Brewing Company.  He depends on these invasive bacteria strains to develop sour beers crafted in the style of Belgium's famous Roddenbach Brewery, the undisputed heavyweight champ of wood aged sour beer.  Having met Eric and learned his love for the sour, I am even inclined to believe he hosts bbq's and ice cream socials for these little critters... ..

One of autumn's finest rituals got under way last week, as college football teams across the country embarked on a new season, with the hopes and emotions of their fans riding on every snap.  Many of these fans got their early season wish, but if you wear the familiar black and gold or blue and orange that marks Idaho's in-state rivalry, you are not a happy camper.  Bronco Nation is not used to such tragedies, and is struggling to cope this week.  But if you are a Vandal fan, do not despair.  The folks at Camas Prarie Winery have found a way for you to drown your sorrows while still showing your school spirit!! ..

As I find myself with a pint in front of me at 10:00am in the Glasgow airport, I reflect on a few things:
1 - In a land where golf is a religion, my soul is in jeopardy, and need to spend some time with my knee bent at the pew of the practice green. ..

   It has been nearly a decade since the movie “Sideways” gave Merlot a proverbial kick to the groin, and tastings like todays’ make me curse what was otherwise an excellent, and at times downright hilarious, film.  The complex plot explored depression, lost love, infidelity and a host of other topics, and yet one line, “I’m not drinking any f***ing Merlot,” became all that audiences remembered. ..

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