Wine and Beer Enthusiasts

[Gutwrench]

Now, that is a beverage I have not come across before.

I had to check it out online; what is it like?

It's fiery and took me by surprise when trying it for the first time in China. I tend to bring it out for certain guests as a novelty. I was a guest of one last night and after a couple vodkas thought I’d pour a taste.

Btw - I have no plans to open the bottle in the photo. It was a gift from Wang Qishan.

 

[Huntn]

One more for the road; pouring a glass of Moutai!
At one time I had five bottles (all 2004).
Now I’m down to one open and this one unopened so I drink it sparingly.

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Now, that is a beverage I have not come across before.

I had to check it out online; what is it like?

I googled it and came up with:
Maotai is distilled from a blend of sorghum, wheat, and peas. Its taste is tough to describe. Imagine rotten cabbage, ethyl alcohol, and paint thinner, blended and strained. It smells like ammonia; the Wikipedia page for Maotai notes its "solvent and barnyard aromas."Apr 15, 2009
Acquired taste?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I googled it and came up with:
Maotai is distilled from a blend of sorghum, wheat, and peas. Its taste is tough to describe. Imagine rotten cabbage, ethyl alcohol, and paint thinner, blended and strained. It smells like ammonia; the Wikipedia page for Maotai notes its "solvent and barnyard aromas."Apr 15, 2009
Acquired taste?

Well, the Finnish black liquor Salmiakki is said to be an acquired taste, but I acquired it immediately upon acquaintance some years ago in a bar that could best be described as a dive, when served it by a Finnish colleague, who manned our bar at night.

But, yes, Maotai does sound.....different.

Having said that, I'll try anything once.

 

[Gutwrench]

I googled it and came up with:
Maotai is distilled from a blend of sorghum, wheat, and peas. Its taste is tough to describe. Imagine rotten cabbage, ethyl alcohol, and paint thinner, blended and strained. It smells like ammonia; the Wikipedia page for Maotai notes its "solvent and barnyard aromas."Apr 15, 2009
Acquired taste?

Dan Rather or Kissinger or someone called it drinking liquid razor blades. It has a strong grain alcohol flavor. I’ve found it to be more of something to survive rather than savor. A few glasses a night with champagne sized bottles of Tsingtao or Yanjing with a table of friends is pretty darned fun.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Chablis 1er Cru, (a white wine from Burgundy). Elegant, balanced and exceedingly palatable.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

"Beer Geek" a stout ('an oatmeal stout brewed with coffee' says the label) by Mikkeller, a Danish brewery who produce some stunning beers.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

My second beer of the night is also a stout: The superlative "Yellow Belly" from the Buxton Brewery.

 

[rhett7660]

Dan Rather or Kissinger or someone called it drinking liquid razor blades. It has a strong grain alcohol flavor. I’ve found it to be more of something to survive rather than savor. A few glasses a night with champagne sized bottles of Tsingtao or Yanjing with a table of friends is pretty darned fun.

That is one description that has me wanting to give it a whirl.

Had a good Scottish Ale by Belhave Brewery as well as a nice cold and very crisp Allagash White.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A bottle of St-Emilion with a friend last night.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Puligny-Montrachet, a white wine - an excellent white wine - from Burgundy (Grand Vin de Borgogne).

 

[Mr Kram]

some bubbly and some beer.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Châteauneuf-du-Pape, but white.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Watching; Manchester United vs Leicester.
Listening to; Artie Shaw on my B&W P9’s
Drinking: Jim Beam and Pepsi Max with lots of ice.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Watching; Manchester United vs Leicester.
Listening to; Artie Shaw on my B&W P9’s
Drinking: Jim Beam and Pepsi Max with lots of ice.

Keeping a vague and distant eye on Manchester United vs Leicester. (And I hope Leicester equalise).

Listening to: Haven't yet decided - as I had debated reading before I became distracted with other matters.

Sipping and savouring: Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, a rich, yet robust, but luscious white wine from a region better known for its reds.

 

[obeygiant]

Juan Gil

"Mainly produced with grapes from very old Monastrell vineyards of low yield, as the Cabernet-Sauvignon and Syrah vines planted at about 700 meters of altitude, this is a very concentrated, complex and elegant wine, kept for 18 months in French and American oak barrels."

Haven't done many blends but this was really good.

 

[AVBeatMan]

Keeping a vague and distant eye on Manchester United vs Leicester. (And I hope Leicester equalise).

Listening to: Haven't yet decided - as I had debated reading before I became distracted with other matters.

Sipping and savouring: Châteauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, a rich, yet robust, but luscious white wine from a region better known for its reds.

I used to love Chateauneuf-du-pape when I drank wine. Never had it in white though. From memory it's quite strong isn't it? 14%? I used to love the ritual of decanting and then leaving the wine to breathe for 30 minutes to an hour, then drinking from a lovely large Dartington Crystal wine glass. Ah, I miss those days...Maybe I'll try again someday....

As for the match, I'm a Man Utd fan. My mother told me the story of the Munich air crash where most of the team were killed after crashing on take off. 1958 I think? I was around 5 at the time and have supported them ever since.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I used to love Chateauneuf-du-pape when I drank wine. Never had it in white though. From memory it's quite strong isn't it? 14%? I used to love the ritual of decanting and then leaving the wine to breathe for 30 minutes to an hour, then drinking from a lovely large Dartington Crystal wine glass. Ah, I miss those days...Maybe I'll try again someday....

As for the match, I'm a Man Utd fan. My mother told me the story of the Munich air crash where most of the team were killed after crashing on take off. 1958 I think? I was around 5 at the time and have supported them ever since.

My dad also supported Manchester United ever since the Munich crash, as does one of my two brothers. However, I cannot abide Mr Mourinho - a corrosively negative and toxic human being - and wish MU misfortune as long as he manages the club.

White Châteauneuf-du-Pape is lovely, rich and full bodied (yes, I love the red version, too); normally, I love the whites from Burgundy, but for a seriously good white wine from French that is not Burgundy, I will recommend a white Châteauneuf-du-Pape, or a white from Alsace - which I also love - but that is a white from a different style of wine.

I have some elegant - and quite old - crystal glassware, Waterford crystal in the classic Lismore pattern, white wine and red wine glassware both, and this is how I take my wine.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A stunning Gewürztraminer from Alsace, a Grand Cru Marckrain Bestheim.

 

[Gutwrench]

Two racks of ribs on the grill and switching off to my other favorite Belgium beer: Blue Moon with a slice or orange.

 

[rhett7660]

Had a few IPA's last night:

Boom Sauce, IIPA/Double New England Style - Lord Hobo Brewing Co. - My Favorite of the night
Leo v. Ursus, Wookus IIPA/Double Bock mix - Firestone Walker Brewing Co. - Not bad.
Corridor of Uncertainty, IPL - Brewery REX - This one had the most hops out of the three.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Brouwerij de Molen, Amarillo, an Imperial IPA.

 

[Gutwrench]

Hard lemonade and sunshine.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Founder's KBS from 2015; still a legend.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

A Pinot Blanc from Alsace: Domaines Schlumberger, Les Princes Abbés.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Had a glass of a French blend of Viognier and Chardonnay with a friend over lunch; I think prefer both Viognier and Chardonnay on their own.