Beer Tasting Friday July 18th, 4-7pm
Smuttynose Farmhouse Ale, 22 oz. $7.99
The latest in Smuttynose' Big Beer Series, pours a slightly cloudy, clean, crisp orange color. The head is stark white and about an inch of fluffy goodness. Lots of bubbles make this beer look alive and quite refreshing. Smells spicy and funky just like it should. Lots of sweet apple smells also combine with the organic/earthy notes and even some hints of leather. This smell is exceptional. Taste is more of that spice and funk that comes from the yeast strain. The sweet fruit tastes are also present with a nice dry finish. Its an excellent example of the style.
Lagunitas Special Release Sirius Cream Ale, 6-pack bottles, $10.99
Pours a bright, deep gold with copper highlights and a thin, off-white (yellow-ish) head. The aroma is slightly sweet from honey-like malts and herbal from fresh-smelling, funky hops. The flavor is nice: a bready malt with subtle melanoidins, residual crystal malt sweetness, and balanced bitterness. The beer is hoppy with a nice blend of piney bitter hops and sweet malts. The finish is full with a slightly hoppy dryness and hoppy grapefruit aftertaste. The body is full and surprisingly drinkable and quenching considering its gravity. The texture has a decent crispness from a medium level carbonation. Overall, a very drinkable strong ale with a delicious balance of sweetness and bitter hops.
Long Trail Blackbeary Wheat, 6-pack bottles, $8.99
A fine summer beer that is enjoyable from when you pop the bottle cap off to the last sips of the beer. This beer is a fine wheat ale that is brewed with blackberries. It has a nice, crisp blackberry flavor that is not too overbearing and does not take away from the wheat ale flavor of the brew. The Blackbeary Wheat combines 2-Row Pilsen malt and a hint of crystal malt, and obviously a nice load of malted wheat. Long Trail then adds bushels of blackberries to the mix which gives the beer its smooth, and sweet finish. beer goes great with a barbecued feast or just while sitting out in the backyard playing some whiffle.
Long Trail Belgian White, 6-pack bottles, $8.99
Another from the Long Trail Brewery in Bridgewater Corners, Vermont. Modeled after the Belgian Witbiers brewed in monasteries during the 14th century. The soft notes of citrus and spice are topped with a light, fluffy head that finishes clean and crisp.
Wine Tasting Saturday July 19th, 4-7 PM
Calcu Red Wine '06 $14.99
We're really excited about this new "Super Chilean" blend here at Menotomy. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Carmenere, and 15% Cabernet Franc. Winemakers Ricardo Rivadeneira and Alejandro Jofre capture the diversity of Chile's Colchagua Valley by combining a range of flavors into a single wine. Alejandro and Ricardo artfully blend the mineral notes and fresh acidity of grapes from the Andes foothills with the ripe tannins and red fruit from the center of the valley, and, finally, add richness and body from grapes grown closer to the Pacific Ocean. The resulting wine is lightly oaked, allowing the grapes' natural, fresh fruit character to shine through.
Jim Barker's White '06 $13.99
This wine is a blend of two fascinating varieties - Viognier and Verdelho. The Viognier
is a French grape and the Verdelho is Portuguese, and both are full of character.
The Viognier has an orange blossom and stone fruit character. The Verdelho imparts tropical fruit and pear flavour to the wine. The Hugh Hamilton wine making crew picks both varieties at around 12.5 be to take advantage of the natural acidity in the grape. This ensures the wine has a freshness which makes it ideal for drinking with food. The grapes are hand harvested to protect the integrity of the juice and to maintain fruit delicacy. This blend is a great match with seafood, salads, pasta and meats such as chicken and turkey.
E. Guigal Cotes du Rhone Blanc $13.99
Here's the Viognier again, along with Roussanne, Clairette, Bourboulenc, Grenache Blanc and Marsanne. Plump and forward, with peach and melon notes, backed by a mineral hint on the finish. Very fresh. Yellow gold, clear and brilliant in the glass with a freshness marked by the distinctive aromas of viognier; white flowers, apricot, acacia and white peach. Fruity with plenty of richness and body. Well-rounded wine with elegance, strength and balance.
Crios Rose of Malbec '07 $13.99
Medium pink with an expressive bouquet of strawberry and cherry. On the palate, the flavors of strawberries and cherries come rushing in, accompanied by some spice notes and a clean, dry finish. Medium-bodied with lots of glycerin giving it a smooth palate feel. Dry in style, with rich flavors, excellent acidity, and a lengthy finish. This is the wine to serve with warm-weather meals when there is a mix of traditional white & red wine foods.
El Toqui Cabernet Sauvignon '03 $12.99
Strong dark cherry and black currents aroma. Very earthy flavor, but the tannins cover the little fruit there is. One of the lesser priced, high quality cabs that we sell.
Have a great weekend!
We're Now Open!
We're located at 80 Broadway in East Arlington (walking distance to the Somerville border at Alewife Brook Parkway) with easy access to the MBTA bus (route 87) and withing walking distance to Mass Ave and the 77, 79, and 350 bus routes.
Sign Up for our E-mail Newsletter
Want to know what new wines and beers are coming in? Want to know when the next wine tasting is? Want to know of some other special events? Drop us an E-mail at info @ menotomybeerandwine . com to sign up for the E-mail newsletter. All E-mail addresses go directly to us, are completely confidential and will not be shared with anybody.