Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Oct 11

Your host will be Renzo of Harry's.

Woodchuck Mix Pack    $15.49/12pb

Amber

The original Woodchuck. People liked it so much we made four more styles. The Amber is sweet (but not too sweet) with a nice golden color and crisp finish.*

Granny Smith

Made from only Granny Smith apples, this one's a lot more tart and quite a bit tangier than your average Woodchuck. If you're a green apple sort of person, this could be your Woodchuck.

802 Dark & Dry

A drier Woodchuck. Its made with caramelized sugar to tone down the sweetness a bit and give it its bronze color. In case you're wondering, 802 is our area code up here in Vermont. So if you're planning on calling us up to say, "Dude, that 802 stuff like rocks!" just add 388-0700 to the name of your cider.

Crisp

A session cider that's cool, refreshing and crafted to be delicate in body and perfected with a delicious crisp apple taste.

Single Malt Scotch tasting Saturday Oct. 5th 4pm-7pm

10yr Ardbeg Scotch and Uigeadial are being featured on tonights special tasting. 

Come by and see their rocket and take some pictures after you taste one of Scotlands best Single Malt Scotches. 

  Special Event Pricing:

Ardbeg 10yr $50.99 (includes 50ml Uigeadial)
An explosion of crackling peat sets off millions of flavour explosions on the tongue: peat effervesces with tangy lemon and lime juice, black pepper pops with sizzling cinnamon-spiced toffee. This is followed by a wave of brine infused with smooth buttermilk, ripe bananas and currants. Smoke gradually wells up on the palate bringing a mouthful of warm creamy cappuccino and toasted marshmallows. As the taste lengthens and deepens, dry espresso, liquorice root and tarry smoke develop coating the palate with chewy peat oils.


 
Ardbeg Uigeadial (15yr) $69.99
Full flavoured and rich with a deep mouth-coating texture, the taste is an intriguing balance between sweet, spicy and deep smoky flavours.

The flavour is initially sweet as Christmas cake begins to soak into the tongue. A burst of winter spices sets off a smoky-spicy explosion countered by a sumptuous mid-palate of honey glazed smoked food and chewy treacle. Waves of deep smoky tones and rich aromas build up on the palate like a fine Montecristo cigar. 

 Ardbog (Very rare) $89.99 3 btls available, first come first serve.
 A limited edition Ardbeg released during the Fèis Ìle whisky festival. Aged in a combination of bourbon as well as some Manzanilla sherry casks, it was produced for 'Ardbog Day', which was celebrated around the world on 1st June 2013.
Big - it feels like all the moisture is being sucked out of your mouth at first but in a good way(!). Salt crusted raisins, rich nuttiness, pickled onions. Sounds odd but it’s honestly superb!

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, Oct 5

Your host is Carlito Vitale of Winebow. 

Have we mentioned the rocket? 
Yep, 4-7pm bring your camera!

Catena Malbec 2011                         $19.99 

The Catena Malbec presents a deep violet color with purple reflections. This microclimate blend of four unique vineyards offers intense aroma, soft texture and concentrated flavor. Deep aromas of ripe red and dark fruits are joined by delicate violet and lavendar notes, with traces of vanilla and mocha. A rich, concentrated mouthfeel is highlighted by flavors of blueberries and blackberries with a touch of leather and cinnamon. The wine has well-integrated tannins, bright acidity and a flinty minerality that provies exceptional length to the finish. 

Catena Chardonnay 2012                $16.99 
There are notable changes in the approach of the 2011 Catena Chardonnay compared to previous vintages: 40% malolactic instead of 100%, a move to Mercurey barrels instead of Francois Freres, a reduction from 50% new oak to 20%. This vintage was also harvested 20 days earlier. It is a blend of three vineyards that are divided into lots at harvest. It is whole cluster pressed and aged for ten months in French oak. It demonstrates great clarity on the nose with scents of dried honey, linden, crushed stone and dried white flowers. The palate is well-balanced with crisp acidity and is a taut, focused Chardonnay with lively notes of tangerine and quince towards the finish. This is well-crafted and complex for its price point.  Wine Advocate, 90 pts 

Nieto Bonarda 2011                          $12.99 
An aristocratic wine of deep carmine red color. The nose displays aromas of red fruits such as cherries and raspberries, mixed with hints of chocolate and coffee, delivered by its oak ageing. Mouth feel shows personality, great structure and a persistent aftertaste. 

Nieto Sparkling Pinot Noir N.V.      $18.99 
Made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes sourced from the Tunpungato area of Mendoza. The juice undergoes a cold maceration to extract and preserve the delicate fruit character. The wine is then aged briefly to retain it's youthful personality. The Nieto Pinot Noir Reserva is a medium, ruby red colored wine. On the nose it presents aromas of cherries, plum and kirsch. In the mouth is it medium bodied and is very balanced with a smooth texture.  Importers Notes

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Oct 4

Your host will be Laura from Cambridge House.

Cambridge House Brews

 

Big Hoppy Double IPA         $5.29/22oz 
An Organic Double IPA. This hugely malty American Strong Ale brings together caramelized and toasted cereals in a round and oily mouthfeel where earthy and resinous hop leave their pleasant trail of bitterness.

Kolsch                         $4.49/22oz 
German Style Light Ale. Smooth, easy drinking with subtle noble hop character.

IPA                                         $4.99/22oz 
Traditional English India Pale Ale brewed with all English malt & hopped with a blend of English & American hops. High in strength, bitterness & aroma.

Three Steve Stout                  $3.99/22oz 
Our Stout is brewed with English malt, hops and oats to produce a smooth coffee-like richness with a pleasant bittersweet finish.

The Ardbeg Rocket will be in our parking lot this Saturday 4-7pm... Yes, a real Rocket!

This Saturday, October 5th, Ardbeg Distillery, one of Scotland’s most popular Scotch producers, will be bringing a Rocket Ship to our place, Harry's Wine and Liquor Market, right here in Fairfield Ct. Come join us from 4-7pm to see the rocket, talk with Ardbeg, take a picture with the rocket, and learn about the experiments with Ardbeg maturation in micro gravity on the International Space Station.

“Ardbeg has always been a hugely innovative brand. Therefore, it only made sense that we would participate in this ground-breaking experiment,” says Geraud Leclercq, U.S. Business Director for Ardbeg. “This tour is the perfect opportunity to educate our consumers about this exciting Ardbeg maturation experiment in micro gravity, which holds out the tantalising prospect of, maybe, being able to develop innovative new products in the years to come.
The scientific experiment itself will last for at least two years during which the Ardbeg Distillery team will provide regular updates on its progress.”

About the experiment:

In the fall of 2011 a rocket ship blasted off from Earth at 25,000 mph.  Deep within it no ordinary cargo; for the rocket carried research vials of precious Ardbeg-crafted molecules, the beginning of a fascinating first – a research experiment by Ardbeg…in space!
This is the most audacious adventure ever undertaken by Ardbeg Distillery – or any other distillery for that matter. Ardbeg is taking part in an experiment led by U.S.-based space research company NanoRacks LLC to test these micro-organic compounds. The maturation experiment will test the interaction of these Ardbeg-crafted molecules with charred oak. This will take place in normal gravity on Earth and also microgravity, far up in space on the International Space Station.  The vials contain a class of compounds known as “terpenes” –  a set of chemicals which are very widespread in nature and often very aromatic and flavour-active – as well as other molecules.  It is the interaction of these molecules with oak wood that forms the basis of this maturation experiment. This is believed to be the first time anyone has ever studied terpenes and other molecules in near zero-gravity.
This experiment could explain the workings of these large, complex molecules as they will remain on the International Space Station for at least two years and help uncover new truths about the change that these molecules undergo in this near zero-gravity environment. Working in close collaboration with the Ardbeg Distillery team in Scotland, the U.S. team will closely monitor the experiment against control samples here on Earth; both in Houston, Texas at the NanoRacks’ facility, and also in Warehouse 3 at Ardbeg Distillery on the Scottish island of Islay.
Michael Johnson, Chief Technical Officer of NanoRacks LLC, said: “By doing this microgravity experiment on the interaction of terpenes and other molecules with the wood samples provided by Ardbeg we will learn much about flavours, even extending to applications like food and perfume. At the same time it should help Ardbeg find new chemical building blocks in their own flavour spectrum.”
From the Ardbeg side the experiment is being led by Dr. Bill Lumsden, Head of Distilling and Whisky Creation at Ardbeg, and widely considered one of the leading innovators in his industry.
He explained: “This experiment will throw new light on the effect of gravity on the maturation process. We are all tremendously excited by this experiment: who knows where it will lead?”

Check out the video on our Facebook page or go here to see it.

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, Sep 28

Your host today is Peter Ravetto of Quintessential wines

New Age White N.V.                                    $10.99

Honey and pineapple aroma, with a bouquet that is reminiscent of Muscat. Lightly sparkling, and off-dry. Shows mango, papaya, and general notes of tropical fruits.  Benito’s Wine Review

Valentin Bianchi Malbec 2011         $11.99

This has a crisp blackberry and raspberry leaf nose that is clean, brusque and fresh, while the palate offers chunky red berry fruit that is simple and mouth filling. Returning 20 minutes later and tasting it blind, it actually opens beautifully. This is great value.  Wine Advocate, 90 pts

Cachette Cotes du Rhone 2011           $12.99

This blend is spicy, fresh and fruity and is bright cherry red. It has good intensity and is dominated by aromas of almond, cherry and spices. The nose carries through to the palate, including graphite and violet notes, with a lengthy, focused and juicy finish.

3 Rings Shiraz 2009                         $19.99

The wine is deep red with a brick-brown hue. Aromas of mocha and black pepper as well as subtle tobacco and cigar box fill the nose. The palate is balanced with dark berry fruits and undertones of cedar and raisins and the medium tannins offer a smooth, round finish.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Sep 27

Your hosts are Alex and Joey of Harry's.

Dogfish Head

75 min. IPA $8.99

Blend two Dogfish Head favorites, add maple syrup and carbonate the mixture naturally. What do you get? 75 Minute IPA.

Noble Rot $12.99

Brewed with pils and wheat malts and fermented with a distinct Belgian yeast strain. It has a spicy white wine body and a dry, tart finish.

Sha’tea $12.99

The wort for Sah'tea is caramelized over white-hot river rocks, and the beer is fermented with a German weizen yeast. In addition to juniper berries foraged from the Finnish countryside, Sah'tea is flavored with black tea.

Theobroma $12.99

The discovery of this beverage pushed back the earliest use of cocoa for human consumption more than 500 years to 1,200 B.C. As per the analysis, Dogfish Head's Theobroma (translated into "food of the gods") is brewed with Aztec cocoa powder and cocoa nibs (from our friends at Askinosie Chocolate), honey, chilies and annatto (fragrant tree seeds).

DRINK OREGON!

We are happy to officially announce the kick-off of our Oregon wine focus for the next several months here at Harry's. When I say Oregon, the great majority of the wines being mentioned are from the storied wine growing region of Willamette Valley.  We have always had a respect for the wines of Oregon and I doubt many other wine shops in our area offer the wide variety of choices we do.  Well, those choices are going to be greater than ever as a result of our recent hunt for truly exceptional wines from this area.  In addition to the expected pinot noirs from Oregon, we have been adding delicious white wines too. 

 

A bonus to the fact that these wines are gorgeous expressions of their individual varietals, very many of them fall into the category of either organic, biodynamic, or sustainably grown.  This will be of interest to those wine drinkers who are sensitive to sulfites or just like rewarding farmers (yes, very many Oregon winemakers do like to be referred to as farmers) who practice responsible farming techniques. Look for upcoming blog entries highlighting some of the incredible artisanal producers we are proud to offer. There will also be many other topics covered in upcoming blog entries.

 

Again, DRINK OREGON!

 

-Greg

Wine Tasting - Saturday 1-4PM, Sep 21

Your Host will be Paul Nerz of Vineyard Brands.

Beaucastel Coudoulet Cotes du Rhone 2010          $26.99

(roughly one-third each mourvedre and grenache, with the balance from the other permitted varieties): Vivid ruby. High-pitched aromas of red fruits, rose, lavender and Asian spices. Juicy and focused on entry, then deeper and broader across the mid-palate, displaying intense black raspberry and cherry compote flavors. Shows impressive energy on the spicy finish, which features a sexy floral quality.  Stephen Tanzer, 90-92 pts

Mohua Sauvignon Blanc 2012                                 $12.99

Exhibits lifted aromatics of lime and citrus zest, melon and lemongrass. The palate has pure intense flavours of passion fruit and white peach, ripe lemon and fresh herbs.

La Vielle Ferme Rosé 2012                                       $12.99/1.5L

Beautiful pink and red tones mark the color. The nose is floral with hints of aniseed and brown sugar that give way to aromas of white flowers, cherries and fruit drops on the palate.  Made of Cinsault, Grenache, and Syrah using the saignée method (French for bleed off).

Siesta Malbec 2009                                                    $22.99

Red tone with violet reflections - clean and very bright. On the nose there is an explosion of cherry fruit, fresh raspberry and plum. Toasty scents and subtle hints of vanilla are indications of the wine's passage through small oak barrique. The entry in the mouth is juicy, filling up the sense of taste with fruits, honey, and a touch of caramel.

Beer Tasting 4 - 7pm Friday, Sep 20

Your hosts are Alex and Joey of Harry's.

Brooklyn             $9.29/6pb

True to the original German style, full-bodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness.

Thomas Hooker  $8.99/6pb

Our rich and satisfying Bavarian-style OctoberFest comes from a special blend of imported German malts that creates a full-bodied brew and stresses a malty flavor and lingering aroma. Gently hopped and delicately balanced, its true-to-style, slow fermentation and long, cold maturation produces a luxuriously smooth, award-winning brew.

Widmer               $8.99/6pb

Our full-bodied OKTO Festival Ale is inspired by Bavarian Oktoberfest, and we pay fitting tribute with its distinctive malt flavors, mild floral character and crisp clean finish. Prost! To the land of the Prost!

Harpoon              $7.99/6pc

Several malts, including Munich and chocolate, deliver the malty character. The delicate hop aroma is not overpowering and the Willamette hops provide a gentle bitterness which balance well with the residual sweetness.