Not your grandma's cider

Woodchuck Ciders has been making hard cider for two decades out of Proctorsville, Vermont. They offer quite an array of cider styles like Granny Smith, Raspberry and Pear, as well as their traditional 802 Dark and Dry, and Amber cider.

My first taste of Woodchuck was Pear and I was impressed enough to have more than one pint. As their ciders can be found in a variety of ways I was able to find bottles of their Granny Smith Apple, Raspberrry and limited release Fall Cider at Total Wine

My initial reaction to the Fall Cider was "how am I going to even finish this?" To say the least, it was not pleasant upon first sip. After letting it breathe and a few more sips the taste of old-fashioned cider came out. Hints of caramel and cinnamon stood out among other spices and flavors like nutmeg and pumpkin.

Having a limited release beer is always fun and new to try. Although not so pleasant at first, I would have this again. Hopefully Woodchuck will continue to release this cider every fall season.

Woodchuck has a great tool that allows those interested to contact "Woody" himself and find out where to find Woodchuck cider.

Beer really is good for you

A new report has found that beer and wine may strengthen your bones, as long as its in moderation. The rest of the article can be found here

93 Rock - The Best Damn Brew Review

93.1 is holding their annual Best Damn Brew Review on Friday, February 26th at Gulfstream Park Racing & Casino in Hallandale Beach. Gates open at 8pm and the event will go on until midnight. There will be over 200 craft beers there along with food from McDonalds, Tijuana Taxi Co. , Lime Fresh Mexican Grill , Big City Dogs and a few more.

Tickets are $20 in advance at any Total Wine locations and $25 at the gate (cash only). Parking is free along with three live bands that will be performing.

Some of the domestic brews that will be there include Dogfish, Holy Mackerel, Michelob, Sam Adams and Sierra Nevada. Imports that will be showcased include Erdinger, Fuller's, Kalik, Sapporo and many more. There will also be ciders from Woodchuck and Ace as well as Fruit Malts from Mike's Hard and Bacardi Silver. If you are a beer lover, THIS is the event to attend. Sadly, I will not be in town for it.

For more information about the event including the full list of beers visit 93 Rock Brew Review

Holy Mackerel

I first tried Holy Mackerel at Yardhouse in Palm Beach Gardens and was impressed by its drinkability despite its rather bitter taste.

Holy Mackerel was actually created by a Fort Lauderdale native who won the Sam Adams World Homebrew Contest in 1996. The Golden Ale is refreshing and crisp with a hint of spice. It has an impressive 8.5% ABV which goes down smooth. It can found bottled or on tap at several establishments throughout South Florida.

Beer Bowl

As the weekend approaches South Florida will be immersed in Super Bowl Parties and Events. One of my favorite places in South Florida is hosting an event with hourly drink specials.

Bar Louie Boynton Beach


Drink Specials include:
$1 Coors Light Bottles for 1 hour before kickoff (5:30pm - 6:30pm)

During the Game:
$8 Domestic Buckets (all Bud products, Miller Lite, Coors Light)
$12 Import Buckets (Heineken, Corona, Amstel)

Quarter Specials:
1st Quarter: $1 Jello Shots
2nd Quarter: $2 Domestic Drafts
Half Time: Half price Apps!
3rd Quarter: $3 Import Drafts
4th Quarter: $4 Svedka Vodka single liquor mixed drinks

Bar Louie has some of the best specials for anyone who loves their beer. Thier selection includes over 20 beers on tap such as Arrogant Bastard, Dead Guy Ale (Rogue), Seasonal Sam Adams beers and many more. They have "beers" of the month specials and amazing deals for anyone in the biz. Bar Louie is one of my favorite places to go and grab a pint in South Florida.

Friday Night Tiki Tastings

Each Friday night Bx Beer Depot in Lake Worth, Florida hosts a Beer Tasting from 6 to 10pm. Beers vary from week to week, but beer depot's selection of craft beers is plentiful enough that you won't be disappointed.

Wild Blue

Wild Blue marks my second venture in trying blueberry lager. This lager's 8% alcohol (by volume) is deeply masked by the intense blueberry taste. The beer's bluish/purple color was an indication that Anheuser-Busch did not just stop at flavor to appeal to blueberry lovers.

Although the flavor was enjoyable, the sweetness made it difficult to finish more than two beers. This beer can only be found bottled at select grocery and convenience stores.

Anheuser-Busch also suggests using Wild Blue to add flavor to your next salad.

Wild Blue Vinaigrette Dressing

Blend 6-8 fresh hulled strawberries, ½ cup fresh raspberries, ½ cup fresh blueberries and 2 tablespoons white vinegar in a blender until smooth. Add ¼ cup red wine vinegar, ¼ cup balsamic vinegar, ¼ cup granulated sugar and ¼ cup Wild Blue; blend briefly until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and chill.

UFO Hefeweizen

Harpoon Brewery introduced this tasty delight back in 1998. More often than not its name gets more attention than its characteristics.



UFO has a cloudy yet golden color and prominent citrus aroma. It is an unfiltered wheat beer that is often served with a lemon wedge to accompany its aroma and flavor. This refreshing beer has a clean finish that pairs well with seafood and spicy foods.

UFO Hefeweizen can be found all year long in several establishments around South Florida.