Ketal One Grapefruit & Rose Vodka is the perfect liquor to end summer with!  This delicious smelling and tasting vodka makes a great cocktail, especially when you add fresh basil and grapefruit soda to the mix. Keep summer going with this tasty cocktail –

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Ingredients:

Mix it up:

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The culture Stony Creek Brewery embodies is one of creating high quality beer that inspires people across the region. Located in Branford, Connecticut, their modern brewery is a sight to be seen. They have a stunning indoor/outdoor taproom, game pit, dock access, and a first-hand look at their canning and bottling lines right from the taproom.

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Stony Creek believes that this is the time for Connecticut craft beer. Their team is comprised of local residents that are working alongside some of the industry’s best.

Stony Creek offers multiple styles of beer including The Crankies, an IPA selection, Lagers, Ales and their Seasonal collection. They also offer a limited series called “Flip The Bird”, basically flipping traditional beer styles on their heads.

 

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  • “No Egrets” American Imperial Stout: bold, pitch black brew is loaded with decadent notes of dark chocolate and roasted barley. Extended aging on White Oak contributes subtle layers of vanilla and caramel that lend a smooth complexity.
  • “Sour Silhouette” Sour Stout: What presents as a traditional stout is then kettle soured and aged on cabernet oak. The result is a beer that opens impeccably tart and finishes smooth, rich and roasty.
  • “Imperial Stony Joe” Imperial Golden Mocha Stout: Burundi Mpanga coffee lends complex notes of cocoa, spice, and fruit while Guatemalan coffee contributes a dark roast finish.
  • “Chahklit” Baltic Port: Chahklit is a Baltic Porter brewed with almonds and earthy Ceylon Cinnamon. Cacao Nibs impart rich chocolate depth. It ages in Caribbean Rum Barrels to lend oak complexity and subtle Rum nuance.
  • “Crimsang” Soured Double IPA: Adding fresh Blood Orange Juice, and then souring the wort. It is fermented with our their Saison Yeast Strain, lending spiciness, and a lush texture. In the end, you get an aggressive, west coast IPA with a refreshingly tart dry finish.
  • “Reposado Negro” Black Wheat Wine: Reposado Negro is A Black Wheat Wine aged in Tequila Barrels. A marriage of sweet alcohol warmth, smooth bready texture, and roasted malt “charred” flavors, this jet black brew will have you swearing you are sipping a top-shelf tequila.
  • “Lichtenlizzy” Hybrid of a Berliner Weiss and a smoked Rauch: A low alcohol wheat beer is lightly soured to contribute a tart finish. Balancing this are two types of smoked malt (Beachwood and Oak) combining to offer an incredibly soft, yet ever-present smokiness. Smooth and smoky, yet tart and refreshing. Intricate and distinct.

2After reading through the list of Stony Creek’s “Flip the Bird” series, if you need another reason to visit the Brewery, they have a long list of events to attend, including live music and good eats. You can also check out their gift shop and flaunt their apparel, as well as checking out their blog posts on their website. With great craft brews and good company, Stony Creek is a proud establishment that everyone can rally around.

On Wednesday, I went to the farmer’s market in Arlington and there they were. Native tomatoes! I bought a carton of cherry tomatoes, a carton of sun gold tomatoes, a few Black Princes and six early Early Girls. I also bought a big bunch of basil because my daughter and her husband were coming for over and I was planning a simple, summery pasta for dinner.

Now I needed wine.

Although, since Sideways, we all drink Pinot Noir, pasta with tomatoes and garlic calls for something a bit bolder. Something Italian. I could have picked a Montepulciano, which I love, but my inner Anthony Hopkins prevailed.

Hello, Chianti.

I picked up two bottles of Rocca delle Macie’s 2015 Chianti which boasts a understated label that belies its reasonable price. Then I went home, unpacked the tomatoes and got cooking. This is my easy, go-to summer pasta sauce because frankly with fresh, ripe tomatoes, it’s hard to go wrong.

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I tossed some minced fresh garlic in a pan with good olive oil. My daughter, Perry, arrived. “Smells good in here!”
I handed her a corkscrew and she opened the Chianti. Yes, she’s over 21. And that’s just one of the great things about adult kids. You can drink with them. We poured the wine and noted its gorgeous ruby color. We sipped and knew that even though the first swallow was delicious (tart cherry, vanilla? cinnamon?) it would be even better by the time we ate. So we opened the second bottle to let it mellow out, too.

Then Perry showed me a hack to slice cherry tomatoes that she had seen on YouTube.

It worked!

So we tossed all the halved cherry tomatoes and one of each of the big tomatoes into the pan with some salt, pepper and basil chiffonade. While the sauce cooked down a bit, we started the water for pasta, put some hot Italian sausages onto a cast iron pan and made an arugula salad.

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By the time my son-in-law and husband arrived, it was time to eat. We brought our plates and the two bottles wine onto the porch so we wouldn’t have to get up mid-meal. The evening was getting cooler, the sky was turning grey, thunder rumbled in the distance. We filled our glasses and toasted to an ordinary Wednesday. The wine had opened up and was smooth as silk, the tagliatelle was al dente and the sauce captured the essence of summer.

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May every day be this ordinary. Ciao!

As the time of year rolls around that kids head back to school and the pools begin to close, many people consider it to be the end of summer. Marking August in your mind as the end of the summer months means missing out on the fun and outdoor activities you could be enjoying far into September! September is the perfect time to host a backyard barbecue and enjoy some of the many great beers on the market this year. If you’re looking to start trying new brands and brews, take a look at some of these top picks Mystic Wine recommends checking out.

Cloud Candy IPA

CLoud Candy

This IPA offers a smoot, crisp finish with hints of mango, papaya, and starfruit. The deep golden-orange color draws you in and the taste will have you coming back for seconds.

Blood Orange Brew Free! Or Die IPA

Blood Orange

This IPA features a 100% fresh blood orange puree for a unique flavor and deep gold color. If you’re looking for a traditional IPA with a twist, this beer is for you.

UFO Splash Down

UFO

UFO released this limited-edition summer variety pack to mix up your flavor picks and it’s been a hit! This pack includes raspberry, white, pink lemonade, and pineapple. There’s a flavor for everyone, or more to try for yourself!

Winter Hill Darlin’s IPA

Winter Hill

This IPA from Winter Hill pours dark and has a flavor all its own. The dark chocolate and coffee like aroma this beer gives off makes for an interesting flavor palette with roasted undertones and little to no hop flavor.

Goose Island IPA

Goose Island

This beer is referred to as a hop lover’s dream for very good reason. The fruity aroma of this IPA is offset by a long hop finish with a dry malt middle. If you want an IPA that really lets you enjoy the flavor of the hops, this one’s for you!

Gripah Grapefruit IPA

Gripah

This beer is a light, citrusy IPA with a 5.5% alcohol content and a great flavor. Grapefruit zest is added during the fermentation process to create the citrus taste and aroma.

Tall Bouy IPA

Tall Buoy

This IPA is a hazy gold color with orange and white highlights throughout. The flavors in this beer are unique, with a sweet aroma and taste followed by a malt that is earthy and full of body, this beer will leave you wanting more.

Castle Island Righteous GOALS IPA

Castle Island

This drink is one for those who enjoy something a bit tart and sour, but still sweet. The guava and passionfruit notes create a flavor and taste that is sweet with a sour twist. There’s a great tangy acidity with every sip of this beer. It’s crushable and light.

Jacks Abby Hoponius on Holiday

Jacks Abby

This beer is a clear golden pour and an aroma with notes of mango and orange. A moderately bitter and tropical beer without being too sweet is hard to come by, but this hits the mark perfectly! This is the perfect refreshing summertime beer.

No matter what your taste preferences are, there’s a new beer for you to try this summer! Summer doesn’t end in August, so get out there and enjoy the weather with a new beer in your hand.

Get your limes out!!!  This month we’re mixing-up a tasty cocktail with Patrón Citrónge Lime Liquor.  If you haven’t tried this Patron flavor yet, hurry into Mystic Wine Shoppe and pick-up a bottle to celebrate the rest of summer.

Tasting notes: Juicy and sweet lime flavor from the highest quality Persian limes. Clear in color with the aroma of fresh lime and a long-lasting, fresh finish.

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Ingredients:

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Directions: Mix together and enjoy!

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What’s your go-to summer cocktail?  Please let us know!