Information about wine, beer and spirits

Canned vs Bottled Beer

The main reason for the success of canned beer was convenience. Because they were smaller than bottles, stackable and didn’t break as easily they were easier to sell. The invention of the liner that made canned beer possible also allowed beer to be sold in metal kegs instead of wooden casks. This made it easier to transport to bars and easier to keep for longer periods of time. » more

California Wine

The father of California wine country was Agoston Haraszthy, who made his way as a Hungarian soldier before immigrating to the United States where he became a profitable merchant. » more

Wine Facts and Trivia

Grape skins will rise to the top of the fermenting must and will form a “cap.” This cap needs to be broken down and mixed back in with the must. When there is more extract forced from the skins, the wine will be a big and highly tannic wine. » more

A Bit of Information About Tannins

The way they work is by breaking down the digestive processes of the animals trying to eat them. They cause the predators mouth to feel astringent (think of that puckery feeling you get from red wine). This effect is what people usually relate to getting a headache from red wine. » more

Canadian Wines

Because of the predominance of wine producing regions such as France, Italy, Germany, Spain and lately Australia and the US, people usually don’t think of Canada as wine country. Or else people are under the impression that the wine industry here is relatively young. » more

Ice Wine

Ice wine is a dessert wine, known for its full body and fruity taste and aroma. But unlike others in this category, it has a refreshing dry finish that is achieved through its balance of sweetness and acidity. A variety of grapes are used to produce ice wine, with Riesling, Vidal Blanc and Cabernet Franc among the most common. » more

Homemade Beer

The also sell “pre-hopped” Malt Extract. Using the pre-hopped extract will give your beer a much more hoppy flavor. This is based completely on personal taste, so if you like hoppy beer, buy the pre-hopped Malt Extract. It doesn’t change the recipe at all to use the pre-hopped version. » more

Synthetic Cork

Vintners are constantly trying to improve their bottle closures to prevent TCA, or cork taint, and paying high prices for cork. The synthetic cork appeared in 1993 and they cost about seven cents each while natural cork is 13 to 75 cents each. » more

Recycling Wine Bottles

If you are thinking of making your own wine, recycled bottles are the way to go. Begin a bottle collection by saving and sanitizing the bottles that you get from your wine purchases. They are completely safe and can be used over an over again. » more

Popular Articles

Forums

Wine and Spirits Section