Author: Admin

Categories
Agave

Rare Mezcal in San Francisco

Howdy friends, I’m happy to report the arrival of a few very special mezcals.

First on the list is the extremely limited Mezcal Real Minero: Arroqueño.  This was made from Agave Americana/Oaxacenis, a varietal that matured for 20 years before it bloomed.  Only 65 liters were produced and California was allocated 6 bottles.  I have 2. 

I also brought in some limited releases from Wahaka and Rey Campero.  Both producers have offered a Tepextate/Tepeztate and Jabali distillate.  Both these varietals are very scarce.  The Tepeztate is a large agave with thick wide leaves rimmed with serrated edges.  They look a bit like Rattle Snakes guarding their nest.  When stripped of their armor, the exposed piñas are hobbit sized and make for some fantastic juice.

The Jabali is made from small agaves that grow in rocky regions.  Since they’re so small you need to find a lot of them to make a respectable batch and once you find them, you have to cook them with precaution and expertise as they tend to break apart and become difficult to work with.  However when done right, it’s truly something special.  Mezcal made from this varietal is a rare treat.

I’ve had the great pleasure of enjoying both producers offerings of these varietals and they are VERY different.  They are all worth their weight in gold and come very highly recommended.

I have more options from Rey Campero coming in next week so look forward to their excellent Cuishe, Madre Cuishe, Mexicano as well as a couple offerings from Mezcal Real Minero which blew my mind.

Keep it classy San Francisco,

 

Eli

Categories
Beer

Heeyyy we want some brew today!

Allagash Cuvee d’Industrial (Clement only!) 375ml bottles
Select American and French oak barrel ales ranging in age from one to five years are put in the cuvee for a golden ale with complexity. Coovee. Cooooooveeeeeee
 

Coronado Old Scallywag Brandy Barrel 375ml bottles

Ahoy matey! With a weighty ABV of 11.4%, this English-inspired and oak brandy barrel aged ale will test your sea legs on dry land. Was that a gassy ‘hiss’ when I popped the top, or the siren’s song?
  
Drake’s Aroma Coma and Aroma Prieta 22oz bottles
The Coma comes along with a hoppy burst of American Cascade, Chinook, CTZ, and Citra hops. The Prieta flips the script and tickles our tastes with all Southern Hemisphere hops: Nelson Sauvin, Pacific Jade, and Moteuka from New Zealand. Helga from Australia. The first is citrusy and piney, the latter bright and fruity.
Pine Street Menagerie Saison sixpack 12oz cans
/məˈnajərē,məˈnaZHərē/
noun
a strange or diverse collection of things
…a unique hybrid beer: a Bohemian wheat ale due to floor malted wheat, a Northwest pale ale from the Falconers Flight hop blend, and a Belgian farmhouse ale from saison yeast. 
Categories
Beer

New arrivals from Anchorage Brewing, Grimms, and some key restocks!

The Lost Abbey Framboise de Amorosa
Lost Abbey takes their Lost & Found Belgian-style ale and ages it in oak over multiple additions of raspberries. The result; love incarnate.

Grimm Super Going
Going going GULP: a high concept gose from the mighty minds at Grimm. German aroma hops, orange zest, and American white oak conditioning.

Anchorage Brewing Love Buzz
Rose hips, peppercorns, and fresh orange peels to spice the brew, then dry-hopped with Citra in French Oak Pinot Noir barrels… “would you believe me when I tell you, you are the king of my dreams”

Anchorage Brewing Bitter Monk
Our man up above does his imperial tribute to the almighty Orval Trappist ale.

Kulmbacher EKU 28
World classic superbock back in stock. Can’t tell if there is a renewed interest in these beers or simply nobody else carries them, but we got some all the same.

Categories
Beer

HOTTER than July! Err…

NEW ARRIVALS for this week at BOTH stores:
Cascade Strawberry
2014 Project! A wheat ale aged over whole strawberries and vanilla beans in oak wine barrels for up to twelve months.
New Belgium Lips of Faith – Eric’s Ale
The triumphant return of the sought-after peach sour from our friends in Fort Collins.
Prearis Grand Cru Islay Whisky Barrel 2014
Phenomenal yet totally overlooked Belgian Quadrupel brewed by “The Professor” at DeProefbrouwerij and aged in barrels selected from the smoke-driven Islay single malt distillery Ardbeg.
Lagunitas A Little Sumpin’ Extra!
From Lagunitas: These words are the voice of the beer you are about to drink, they are an attempt to be understood. The beer beneath is more than just words. It is a promise. You are the promised. Revel in your times…
…from Healthy Spirits: don’t call it an Imperial India-style White Pale. But you could.

CHRISTMAS IN JULY!

These cool, foggy evenings definitely warrant a winter warmer if you’re so inclined. Selected holiday ales are 15% OFF through the month of July. While supplies last!

Categories
Beer

Healthy Spirits Beer of the Month Club!

July 2015’s selections from Anchorage Brewing, Ninkasi, Cambridge Brewing,
and Baird Brewing looking pretty as a picture

Hey Everybody,

Just wanted to remind you all that we have a great Beer of the Month Club here at Healthy Spirits: Here’s the pitch:

We pick a few beers, usually 4 to 6 bottles, every month. There is no membership fee other than the discounted retail price of the beers selected. Cost to you tends to average $65 every month. In addition to detailed tasting notes on each of the selections, club members have certain privileges:

-Discount card, entitling you to 10% off in-store purchases (some exceptions may apply)
-Right to reserve bottles by telephone (this comes in handy with limited release products. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or y’know, this blog to stay up to date on new releases)

Membership is month to month, and there’s no fee to join. All you pay is the discounted cost of the club selections on a monthly basis. Makes a great gift!

To join, simply come into the store and fill out a membership form or call our Castro store at 415-255-0610 or our Richmond location at 415-682-4260 for more information.

Categories
Beer

Firestone Walker Stickee Monkee 2015

Since 2006 Firestone Walker’s barrel aging project has turned out some of America’s most sought after beer releases in their Anniversary Ale series. These ales are a blend of several unique components, beers of varying styles aged in spirits vessels. Over the years, our friends in Paso Robles have treated us to some of these component ales as draft only and, to our delight here at Healthy Spirits, limited bottle runs.

Stickee Monkee lives up to its name by spiking a full on Belgian-style dark strong ale with Mexican Turbinado brown sugar and aging in oaken spirits vessels to impart more flavor. A rich molasses sweetness gives way to toasted coconut, and an earthy leather finish. 
22oz bottle in a handsome display box will set you back $18.99 plus tax and CRV. One (1) bottle per person per diem limit, please, and phone reservations for club members only.

Categories
Whiskey

New Arrivals: Yellow Spot, Stranahan’s Diamond Peak, Michter’s Cask Strength Rye, Balcones True Blue and more…

Hey All,

Got some new stuff in the last week or so. A lot of these are going fast so if you don’t grab em quick make sure you call in to see if we still have them. Castro and Clement also got slightly different allocations. Here’s the list:

Balcones True Blue Cask Strength $99.99 (First time we’ve seen this is in a year and a half)
Yellow Spot 12 Year Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey $120.99
Stranahan’s Diamond Peak $89.99 (Extra aged version of the original)
Michter’s Cask Strength Rye $99.99
Yamazaki 18 Year Japanese Single Malt $299.99
Filibuster Cask Strength Sherry Finished Bourbon $89.99
Ardbeg Perpetuum $127.99 (New Ardbeg Day Release)
Jefferson’s Reserve Groth Cask Finish $99.99 (Finished in French Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels)
Maker’s Mark Cask Strength Bourbon 750ml $69.99
Balvenie 21 Year Port Wood $259.99

The hits keep coming. And on a side note, just a word to the wise, there’s been a few releases lately that have been so tiny in quantity that we went a head and put them on the shelf without posting about them, as a reward for anyone who stops by the shop more frequently. This will happen from time to time with things we only get a bottle or two of, we think it adds a layer of fun and excitement to things that would otherwise sell out in 5 minutes. Just something to bare in mind. Cheers everyone!

Nate

Categories
Beer

New arrivals and key restocks this week at Healthy Spirits

Calicraft Chez Panisse Farmhouse Ale
Infused with organic anise hyssop, lemon verbena blossom, and Meyer lemon leaf.

Shady Oak Funkatronic
Last chance for this grapefruity brett IPA until another batch is made: likely a 6 month wait!

Cismontane 5th Anniversary Five Grain Saison
A high ABV saison for sipping now or saving ’til later.

Cascade Kriek
2014 Project Northwest future/classic cherry sour.

Wexford Creme Ale
When only a nitro widget will do.

Categories
Whiskey

Review: Jim Beam Distiller’s Masterpiece Bourbon Finished in PX Sherry Casks

Hey All,

Had the privilege of trying Jim Beam’s relatively new Distiller’s Masterpiece a few days ago and I have to say I was remarkably impressed. There’s no age statement but my palate tells me its one of the oldest bourbons they’ve ever released considering how tannic and oak driven the flavor profile is. While Scotch producers have been using sherry barrels to age whiskey for centuries, it’s a relatively new concept for American whiskey. Here are my tasting notes:

Aromas/Nose: Strong notes of sherry on the nose in the form of fruitcake, figs and marizapan. I also get aromas of candied ginger, firewood, granite stone, chocolate souffle and Italian sausage. The impressive heavy handedness of the oak seems to proliferate even the aromas, adding a density you wouldn’t think possible. I get the sensation of being in a swamp where fallen trees and branches are slowly decomposing and a damp wood smell fills the air.

Taste: Wow this stuff’s good. It’s bold, it’s viscous and resinous, it’s everything I never knew Jim Beam could be. The initially flavors I get are earth, volcanic ash and gravel. Tannic and oak driven are an understatement, and I could see how this might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but I’m unabashedly smitten. All a board the oak train, we’re riding this one till the wheels fall off. As it opens up I get notes of sticky toffee pudding, pumpernickel, cinnabons, espresso, cement and bran muffins. At 50% alcohol the flavors are perfectly concentrated without being overwhelming.

Finish: The finish is rustic and earthy, with a pronounced lingering minerality. There’s some creaminess mid-palate but the finish is all beautiful leathery tannins that make your mouth water. Absolutely epic!

This for me is about as good as it gets bourbon wise. The richness of the sherry combines beautifully with the intensity of the oak. The price tag’s a little steep at $200, but it’s a one time release that’s definitely worth seeking out. All things considered, you could pay $10,000 or more for a Scotch of equivalent quality. I’m sure I’ll be taking home a few bottles of this for my cellar.

Available @ Both Shops!

Cheers

Nate

Categories
Beer

Friday to Friday Beer Sale THE ITALIAN JOB

SALE!


LA RIDUZIONE!



After the popularity of our Ducato and Panil sales recently, we’ve decided to pull ONE LAST HEIST: “The Italian Job”. Unlike the needless remake with Markie Mark, Mos Def, and Cha-cha-cha-charlize Theron, our updated caper sends you home with a bottle of thought-out and skillful Italian ale at a discount without an explosives expert or safe cracker!

Brush up on your Michael Caine impersonation, race over in your Mini Cooper, and get your bottle of Italy’s finest today.

15% off ALL Italian craft ales until next Friday, May 22nd