New item for the Beer and Wine department! Scrumpy’s Organic Cider! This cider is pressed, made, and bottled in Michigan. It is certified organic, so will be eligible for a discount on this upcoming Saturday, April 28th. They have one variety year-round, with seasonal options coming available in the fall. If you’re a cider fan, check it out!

Check out our new labeling in the beer area.  We now have shelf talkers for “regional” beers.  We define regional as any state that touches Iowa.  Of the 130 varieties of beer currently in the cooler, 30 are local (from Iowa) and 25 are regional!

New local beer! The Angry Cedar Brewing Co. is the latest Iowa brew to hit our shelves. This brewery started after the flooding of the Cedar River in 2008 and is named for the flood. Previously available only in Waverly, Angry Cedar is now distributed state-wide. Check out their Pale Ale, Amber Ale, or both!

We just got in a new sparking wine called The Ruins, from South Africa. This Brut (dry) sparkler is made with organically grown Colombard variety grapes. Great for parties, weddings, graduations, etc. Notes of ripe guava, fig and white fruits with a sugar/acid balance that give it a crisp freshness and fresh full palate and length.

~Bronwyn, Beer and Wine Buyer

News from the Beer Department! We recently brought in Hinterland’s seasonal “Maple Bock”, from Green Bay, Wisconsin. Wisconsin is known for their great craft-beer industry, and Hinterland promises to be no exception. Hinterland writes of their Maple Bock, "Maple Bock has a dark brown, mahogany hue around the fringe. The dark, creamy looking head leaves you with a little bit of lace. Hints of chocolate and caramel malts and a touch of maple syrup fill your nose. Maple Bock enters your mouth dense, and full. With the nice taste of a solid bock, maple syrup flavor doesn't overpower the rest of the beer. Layered roasted malt and caramel create a slightly sweet flavor. Maple Bock was given the "World Champion Bock" designation by the World Beer Championships in 1997."

Beer news for February:  Bell’s Hopslam is in! This highly sought-after, limited edition brew from Bell’s Brewery in Michigan finally arrived. Since it is SO limited in supply, we are selling it by the single bottle only, which goes for $2.99. If you are a fan of IPAs or hoppy beers, this is one you don’t want to miss!

(Bronwyn and Isaac model the Anarkos bottle.)

By Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Beer and Wine Buyer

Wheatsfield’s latest product in the wine department is “Anarkos”, a Puglia Rosso variety wine from the Apulia region of Italy.  In this region many small, traditionally run, small vineyards are being destroyed to make way for more industrial methods of grape production.  The makers of Anarkos are dismayed by what they see happening to their beloved region, so have been marketing Anarkos to showcase what traditional farming methods can yield.  Try this wine and support some anarchy!

Learn more about Anarkos.

Think that only corn and soybeans grow in Iowa?  As it turns out, we have a great climate for hops, too!  Check out the latest product, an IPA, from Madhouse Brewing Company, out of Newton, IA…it’s made with 100% Iowa grown Centennial and Cascade hops!  It is newly available at Wheatsfield in the upper right-hand corner of our beer cooler.  Crack one open and see what you think!

News for 2012 from the Beer and Wine Department
By Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Operations Manager and Beer and Wine Buyer

Happy New Year!  If you didn’t get enough Champagne on New Year’s Eve, we still have some exciting bubbly products.  We still have a limited quantity of Sam Adams’ “Infinium”, which resulted from collaboration between the Boston Beer Company and Weihenstephaner (Weihenstephaner claims to be the oldest brewery in the world).  Infinium is a “Bière de Champagne,” a relatively new beer category that is reminiscent of Champagne.  

We also still have some of the Gruet Winery’s Blanc de Noirs, which received #47 on the Wine Spectator’s Top 100 wines of 2011.  (It’s still good in 2012.)  The Gruet Winery is in New Mexico, though was founded by a French family, who established a French Champagne cooperative before relocating to the States.  Their Brut and Blanc de Noirs, both of which are currently available at Wheatsfield, are produced using the traditional “methode Champenoise.”  Both wines retail under $16, and are fantastic examples of quality domestic sparkling wines.  The Blanc de Noirs will go fast, so be sure to try some if you are able!
   

Stay tuned for more beer and wine news updates throughout the year!

November is the month to celebrate the fruit of summer’s labor. It’s a month for great food, hearty beers, and rich, warming wines. Wheatsfield will be sampling wine or beer from 4-7p.m. every Friday in November and December, and also on Saturday, November 12th from 12-6 p.m., in conjunction with our Thanksgiving Sample Day event. Below are some choice wines you can sample in November.

On Friday, November 4th, we will feature the Graziano family of wines from California. This includes several different labels, each based on different grape varietals. We will be sampling one wine from each label.

• The Enotria label includes grape varietals which are native to the Piedmont region in Italy where the winemaker’s grandfather grew up. The Enotria Moscato is a refreshing, semi-sweet white wine.

• The Monte Volpe label features red grape varietals which are normally grown in Tuscany. We will sample this label’s Rosso, a red blend made of Zinfandel, Sangiovese, Carignan, Negromaro, and Nebbiolo grapes.

• And try a Chenin Blanc from the Graziano label, which features staple grape varietals of the Mendocino growing region.

On Friday, November 11th, we will be introducing a new line of wines which we have recently begun carrying, called Familia Cecchin. This Argentinian line is produced in the Mendoza region. The wine is made with organically grown grapes and includes one variety (Malbec) produced without added sulphites. The varieties you’ll find at Wheatsfield include a Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Merlot, and the no-sulphite added Malbec. These high-quality wines come from a winery that focuses on sustainable, organic, and biodynamic farming techniques.

On Saturday, November 12th, we will be sampling wines which pair well with a typical Thanksgiving meal. One of the many wines we have chosen to feature is from Cartlidge and Browne Winery. The winery is located in California and was founded by business partners Tony Cartlidge and Glenn Browne. For 25 years their winemaking has been directed by Paul Moser. Their Pinot Noir is made from fruit which comes from the Sonoma Carneros appellation, Sonoma Valley, and Napa Valley. This is a classic example of a Pinot Noir, with notes of black cherry and jam, and a balanced oak character.

These are just a few examples of the great wines and beers which we will be sampling every Friday from 4-7p.m. during November and December. Come in to find out which wines speak to you!