Author: Freelance Melt

Top o’ the mornin to ya! With St. Patrick’s Day right around the corner, we figured it’s time to go over our favorite St. Patty’s Day beers. And it’s no surprise that they’re all Guinness—but did you know about these different Guinness varietals? 

That’s right—there’s a Guinness for everyone! Check out the tasting notes of each below and make your beer run before the 17th. Oh, and don’t forget the green food coloring! 

Guinness Draught Stout

Aroma: Sweet smell with a coffee and malty nose

Flavor: Balance of bitter and sweet with malt and roast characters

Palate: Smooth, creamy, and balanced

ABV: 4.2%

Appearance: Distinctively dark, with a rich creamy head

This one’s iconic. It’s sweet, bitter, and perfectly balanced. Guinness likes to describe it as “rich and creamy. Distinctively black. Velvety in its finish.” 

Guinness Extra Stout

Aroma: Medium and balanced with roast character and subtle fermentation fruitiness

Flavor: Rounded flavor of bitter and sweet

Palate: Smooth with a slight bite and a dry finish

ABV: 5.6%

Appearance: Distinctively black and full-bodied with a rich creamy head

It’s crisp, it’s hoppy, it’s bold. Guinness says it’s “a rich, refreshing taste. Brewed with skill. Built to last.”

Guinness Blonde

Aroma: Light and hoppy with floral and citrus notes 

Flavor: Complex and flavorful, hoppy and citrus on the nose

Palate: Lively mouthfeel, crisp and refreshing with a long malt biscuity finish

ABV: 5%

Appearance: Golden amber with a dense head

Hops: Citra, Wilamette, Mount Hood

It’s complex and full of flavor. Unique from the rest of the Guinness family, Blonde is light, floral, and citrusy. It’s perfectly balanced and Guinness says “it’s the coming together of vibrant flavors, of character drawn from both sides of the pond. And it’s come a long way to get here.”

Guinness Foreign Extra Stout 

Aroma: Strong, with pronounced fruity and roast character

Flavor: A full-bodied palate of roast, fruity character

Palate: Initial tingling impact, bittersweet with a dry finish

ABV: 7.5%

Appearance: Rich and dark with a frothy head

It starts off fruity and caramelly, then moves into smokey notes and bitterness. According to Guinness, “where extra hops and a stronger alcohol percentage were once used to preserve the beer, allowing it to survive and thrive during long sea voyages, now they yield its bold taste and unique flavor profile.”

So which one will it be? Classic stout or extra stout? Blonde or foreign? Whatever you choose, be sure to let us know on Facebook or Instagram.

Love is in the air and it’s time to talk Valentine’s Day wine pairings. Whether you’re going for chocolate pairings or a fancy meal pairing, we’ve got you covered. 

Our go-to Valentine’s Day wine pairings:

Flowers Pinot Noir

Pairings: 

• Beef
• Veal
• Game (deer, venison)
• Poultry

About the wine: 

• Aromas of bright red cherry and raspberry
• Hints of savory cloves and graham crackers
• Graphite and sea salt
• Bright acidity and a long, lively finish
• 94 points from James Suckling 

From the winery: 

“Every Flowers wine is made to express the land where it was farmed. Our coastal proximity and high-elevation vineyards give our wine its distinct minerality and fresh acidity. Farmed sustainably, fermented with 100% native yeast and crafted with minimal intervention in the cellar, Flowers Pinot Noir is a pure expression of the rugged and extreme Sonoma Coast.”

Flowers Chardonnay 

Pairings: 

• Pork
• Rich fish (salmon, tuna etc)
• Vegetables 
• Poultry

About the wine:

• Notes of Meyer lemon, dried chamomile, lemongrass, and minerality
• Pure fresh palate
• Flavors of tangerine and green tea
• Fresh coastal acidity
• Long, savory finish

From the winery:

“The most anticipated release of the year, Flowers Moon Select showcases the best barrels of the vintage. Sourced from our estate vineyards, these wines are the pinnacle of Flowers offerings. Our winemaking team meticulously tastes through every barrel to consider which barrels will make the final blend. Each barrel selected contains wonderfully expressive fruit, making the blending process arduous yet exciting.”

Leviathan Red Wine

Pairings:

• Beef
• Lamb
• Veal
• Poultry
• Chocolate

About the wine:

• Boysenberry, black cherry, and plum
• Cocoa powder, allspice, and nutmeg
• Bay Laurel, sage, cedar, dry red earth 
• Supple and balanced tannins
• Savory finish 
• Hints of graphite and star anise 
• 93 points from James Suckling 

From the winery:

“One blend. One focus. Leviathan was founded in 2004 by winemaker Andy Erickson, former winemaker of Screaming Eagle Winery. The goal was simple: to create one, unique red wine, drawn from some of the best vineyards in Northern California.”

Black Stallion Gaspare Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon

Pairings:

• Beef
• Lamb
• Game (deer, venison)
• Mature and hard cheese
• Poultry
• Chocolate covered strawberries 

About the wine:

• Broad wine with an elegant structure
• Fruit-forward and expressive
• Aromas of blackberry, blueberry, brown sugar, and cedar
• Flavors of dark fruit and sweetness
• Vibrant acidity
• Bold tannins and an elegant finish 

Faust the Pact

Pairings:

• Beef
• Lamb
• Game (deer, venison)
• Mature and hard cheese
• Poultry
• Dark chocolate 

About the wine:

• Black cherry and black currant
• Plus texture and fresh acidity
• Dark fruit and graphite
• Tobacco, cinnamon, star anise, and dark cocoa flavors
• Long-lasting finish

From the winery:

“The Coombsville AVA is both the newest in Napa Valley and the furthest south. The region benefits from marine breezes coming off the nearby San Pablo Bay, as well as a long and cool growing season due to its location in the valley. This extended ripening period gives The Pact its signature silkiness, unmistakable blue and black fruit and pronounced acidity.”

Cheers to a happy, wine-filled Valentine’s Day!

Whether you’re just getting into wine and don’t know where to start, or you just want to find new ways to spice up your wine, we’ve got some fun wine cocktails for you! Stock up on some wine and start trying new things!

White wine mojito

Ingredients:

1 bottle of Yellow Tail Pure Bright Pinot Grigio, chilled

2 c sparkling lemonade

3 limes

1 c fresh mint

Sugar to taste

Instructions:

Mix wine and sparkling lemonade in a large pitcher.

Juice 2 limes in the pitcher and set one aside for garnish.

Mince ¾ c mint and add to pitcher

Add sugar to taste if needed.

Mix well.

Garnish with remaining lime, sliced, and remaining mint. 

Tip: clap mint between hands before garnishing to help release aromas and flavor.

Wine Spritzer

Ingredients:

3 oz Yellow Tail Pure Bright Sauvignon Blanc

1 oz club soda

Dash of orange or lemon bitters

Orange or lemon twist

Instructions:

Pour wine into wine glass over ice.

Top with club soda and bitters.

Garnish with orange or lemon twist.

Zin Sour

Ingredients:

2 oz Crown Royal whisky

1 oz lemon juice

¾ oz maple syrup

1 egg white

1 tsp blueberry jam

1 oz zinfandel

Instructions:

Add all ingredients except wine to a shaker and shake vigorously.

Fill with ice and shake again.

Strain into a wine glass or cocktail glass.

Float wine on top using a spoon.

How to float wine: hold a spoon upside down over your drink (a bar spoon is recommended). Slowly pour wine over the back of the spoon on top of the drink. Move the spoon up as the glass fills. 

Kalimotxo

Ingredients:

3 oz Robert Hall cabernet

3 oz cola

1 squeeze lemon or lime

Lemon or lime to garnish 

Instructions:

Add all ingredients to a wine glass or rocks glass over ice. 

Squeeze lemon or lime on top and garnish. 

Winearita

Ingredients:

1 ½ oz Olmeca Altos Silver Tequila 

1 oz lime juice

¾ oz simple syrup

½ oz – 1 oz red wine 

Lime slice to garnish

Instructions:

Add tequila, lime juice, and syrup to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake until chilled.

Strain into a cocktail glass.

Float red wine over the glass.

Garnish with lime.

How to float wine: hold a spoon upside down over your drink (a bar spoon is recommended). Slowly pour wine over the back of the spoon on top of the drink. Move the spoon up as the glass fills. 

Cheers!

Sometimes, the wine lover or beer enthusiast can be the toughest on your list to shop for – there are so many options, so how do you know what they’ll like?! Don’t worry – we’ve put together a holiday gift guide for wine and beer drinkers to help narrow it down for you. 

A customizable hometown wine glass to help them remember their roots. 

A customizable wine stopper. Add their initials, their favorite sports team, a special date, or a word that’s special to them. 

A vacuum-sealing cork to keep their wine fresh no matter how long it takes them to finish the bottle!

An Alabama beer shirt to show off their love for local breweries. 

Beer chilling coasters to keep their beer cool (and cool looking!).

A pressurized craft brew growler for the craft beer enthusiast (especially great if there’s a brewery nearby!)

Lightweight but durable stemless wine glasses for the one who always seems to break the glass. 

Happy shopping! If you snag anything from this list for the wine lover or beer enthusiast in your life, you’re sure to make their holidays.