YumSugar

Happy Hour: Sam Adams Cranberry Wit

partysugar — Fri, 08 May 2009 16:00:21 -0700

Since 1996, the American brewing company Samuel Adams has hosted an annual homebrew contest. This year, both of the winners were Bay Area residents, so I found myself at a tasting that celebrated the chosen beers. While I enjoyed Alex Drobshoff's Traditional Bock and Mike McDole's Double IPA, it was Carissa Sweigart's Cranberry Wit that was particularly memorable.

Carissa, a sales rep for Sam Adams, was the winner of the employee section of the competition. She used ingredients from her howetown, Cape Cod, to create a sensationally complex beer.

With hints of orange zest, cinnamon, and cranberry, this beer was different from any brew I've ever tasted. Topped with a creamy head, the Cranberry Wit has a cloudy yellow color and medium body. The autumnal flavors of the wit seem ideal for the colder months.

Have you tried the Cranberry Wit? Or any of the beers that come in Sam Adams Longshot Six-Pack ($9.99)? Which was your favorite?

YumSugar Gift Guide: Bonkers for Brewski

YumSugar — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:27:19 -0800

If you've got a brewski buddy or homebrewer on your holiday list, give them a gift that will allow them to revel in their love for beer. If they're not yet making their own brew, get them a Mr. Beer Micro-Brewery Kit. If they're already a master brewer, get them a beer tasting kit. It comes with 13 different kind of hops for them to discover and identify. If your beer lover is still in the early stages of their beer love, get them a set of engaging pint glasses.

For more great gift ideas, scroll through the options below.

HopHead Tee ($9.99)	Famous Beer Pint Glasses (Set of 4, $11.96)
Brewmaster Board Game ($19.90)	Beer Tasting Kit ($49)
Mr. Beer Micro-Brewery Beer Making Kit ($49.95)	Monogrammed Beer Mugs (Set of 4, $59)

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 16-23, 2009

YumSugar — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:30:47 -0700

This weekend doesn't just mark Juneteenth and Father's Day. It's also packed with events that honor all of the pleasures of Summer, from peaches, blueberries, and watermelon to ribs, RC cola, and moon pies. But that's not all: this Friday marks the acclaimed Aspen Food & Wine Classic, which we're so excited to be returning to this year. Stay tuned!

Know of any important food events we've left out this week? Feel free to chime in below!

Sedona, AZ: Dine in Sedona Restaurant Fest - June 16-30
Clarksville, AR: Johnson County Arkansas Peach Festival - June 16-21
St. Helena, CA: StarChefs Rising Stars Napa & Sonoma - June 17
Emmett, ID: Emmett Cherry Festival - June 17-20
Portland, ME: Taste of the Nation Portland - June 18
Oakland, CA: National Homebrewers Conference - June 18-20
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest 2009 - June 18-21
Gettysburg, PA: Gettysburg Festival - June 18-28
Dallas, TX: Food For Thought Dallas - June 19
Crewe, VA: Virginia Chicken Festival - June 19
Owego, NY: Owego Strawberry Festival - June 19-20
Rotan, TX: Juneteenth Enrichment Festival - June 19-20
Boston, MA: American Craft Beer Festival - June 19-20
Aspen, CO: Aspen Food & Wine Classic - June 19-21

To see the rest, read more.

Stowe, VT: Stowe Wine & Food Classic - June 19-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days Festival - June 19-21
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign Urbana - June 19-21
Clayton, NY: The Great New York State Food & Wine Festival - June 19-21
Flagstaff, AZ: Made in the Shade Beer Tasting - June 20
Brewton, AL: Alabama Blueberry Festival - June 20
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20
Bell Buckle, TN: RC & Moon Pie Festival - June 20
Martinez, CA: King of the County BBQ Challenge - June 20-21
Hampton, SC: Hampton County Watermelon Festival - June 20-28
Boise, ID: Savor Idaho - June 21

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - May 15 to 21, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 15 May 2008 14:30:52 -0700

The weather has warmed up and the festivals are in full swing! From coast to coast there are amazing things to check out. Whether it's cheese in Seattle or BBQ in New Jersey, there's a lot of food waiting to be gobbled up. So if you're wondering what to do this weekend, then look no further. There's something for every region this weekend.

Nantucket, MA: Nantucket Wine Festival - May 14-18
Buckhannon, WV: Strawberry Visions - May 14-18
Alpharetta, GA: Taste of Alpharetta - May 15
Memphis, TN: World Championship BBQ Contest - May 15-17

Monterey, CA: Cooking for Solutions - May 16-17
Intercourse, PA: Rhubarb Festival - May 16-17
Washington, DC: Savor - American Craft Beer & Food Experience - May 16-17
Magnolia, AR: Magnolia Blossom Festival and World Championship Steak Cookoff - May 16-17
Dermott, AR: Crawfish Festival - May 16-17
Fruita, CO: Mike the Headless Chicken Festival - May 16-17
Seattle, WA: Seattle Cheese Festival - May 16-18
Little Rock, AR: International Greek Food Festival - May 16-18
Lodi, CA: ZinFest - May 16-18
Taylorsville, KY: Gourd Festival - May 16-18
Pasadena, TX: Strawberry Festival - May 16-18
Paso Robles, CA: Paso Robles Wine Festival - May 17
San Francisco, CA: Uncorked! Wine Festival - May 17
New York, NY: Taste of Tribeca - May 17
Norfolk, VA: Annual Beer Festival - May 17

There's a ton of other events - including homebrew and oysters! - so be sure to read more.

Albany, OR: Oregon Homebrew Competition - May 17
Toms River, NJ: Chili & Salsa Cook Off - May 17
Nashville, TN: Toast to Tennessee Wine Festival - May 17
Hico, TX: Texas Steak Cookoff - May 17
Sacramento, CA: West Coast Brew Festival - May 17
San Francisco, CA: Oysterfest 2008 - May 17-18
Castroville, CA: Artichoke Festival - May 17-18
Muscoda, WI: Annual Morel Mushroom Festival - May 17-18
National Harbor, MD: Food & Wine Festival -May 17-18
Grand Prairie, TX: Annual Cajun Festival - May 17-18
Plant City, FL: Blueberry Festival - May 17-18
Mountain View, CA: A La Carte and Art - May 17-18
Richmond, VA: Broad Appétit - May 18
Tuckerton, NJ: Bluegrass & Barbecue Festival - May 18
Astoria, NY: Cuisine of Queens & Beyond/Burger Battle of the Boroughs - May 20
New Orleans, LA: Wine & Food Experience - May 20-24

If there's something not listed, let us know in the comments below!

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - June 19 to 25, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 19 Jun 2008 14:00:07 -0700

This Saturday is the Summer solstice, and if you're looking for a way to enjoy the longest day of the year, there are still oodles of food festivals happening all over the country. Strawberry season is in full force, peaches are popping up in Alabama, and a massive barbecue competition is going down in our nation's capital. Take a look at some of the best fests happening in the next week.

Costa Mesa, CA: Summer Food & Wine Festival - June 19
Cincinnati, OH: National Homebrewers Conference - June 19-21
Brooklyn Park, MN: Tater Days - June 19-22
Fort Wayne, IN: BBQ Ribfest - June 19-22
Wisconsin Rapids, WI: Cranberry Blossom Festival - June 19-22
Norfolk, VA: Bayou Boogaloo and Cajun Food Festival - June 19-22
Burgaw, NC: North Carolina Blueberry Festival - June 20-21
Glenwood Springs, CO: Strawberry Days - June 20-22
Clayton, NY: Great New York State Food and Wine Festival - June 20-22
Champaign, IL: Taste of Champaign-Urbana - June 20-22
Long Grove, IL: Long Grove Strawberry Festival - June 20-22
Clanton, AL : Chilton County Peach Festival - June 20-28
Washington, DC: Safeway 16th Annual National Capital Barbecue Battle - June 21-22

More local food events, so read more.

Tuckerton, NJ: Bayman's Seafood and Music Festival - June 21
Cockeysville, MD: Great Grapes Wine, Art, and Food Festival - June 21-22
Huron, OH: Mulberry Creek Herb Fair - June 21-22
Litchfield, CT: A Taste of the Litchfield Hills - June 21-22
New York, NY: The Bar Show - June 22-23

Source

Noteworthy Nibbles - May 8-14, 2008

YumSugar — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:30:40 -0700

Looking for something to do this weekend? The spring food-festival season is still in full swing, so grab mom and treat her to a fun Mother's Day weekend event. From wine to bbq, there's bound to be something to enjoy. And if there's nothing in your neck of the woods, grab picnic basket, a bottle of wine and a blanket, and create your own outing!

If something is missing from this list, let us all know about it in the comments below!

Charlotte, NC: Charlotte Wine & Food Weekend - May 7-10
St. Louis, MO: Saint Louis Brewers Heritage Festival - May 8-10
Owensboro, KY: International BBQ Festival - May 9-10
Breezy Point, MN: Minnesota Governor's Fishing Opener - May 9-11
Addison, TX: Taste Addison - May 9-11
Norfolk, VA: Spring Town Point Virginia Wine Festival - May 10
Charlotte, NC: US Open Annual Homebrew Competition - May 10
Hopkins, SC: Lower Richland Sweet Potato Festival - May 10
Cleveland Heights, OH: Northeastern Ohio Chocolate Festival - May 10-11
San Francisco, CA: San Francisco Cocktail Week - May 13-19
Nantucket, MA: Nantucket Wine Festival - May 14-18
Buckhannon, WV: Strawberry Visions - May 14-18