Oktoberfest is my season. Not just because the weather cools off and football is firmly upon us, but also because märzens flood the market with the most drinkable beer style in the universe. There’s nothing quite like a bready, malty Oktoberfest brew, a beer that’s as easy to drink as a light beer but loaded with enough flavor that you can drink them a liter at a time and not get sick of them.
Germany’s märzens are the standard bearer because their breweries have been making them for hundreds of years. That leaves America’s beermakers playing catchup. This doesn’t mean U.S. Oktoberfests are bad or inherently inferior — they’re usually great! It does mean brewmasters have a little room to experiment with a recipe that’s already pretty much perfect, but not infallible.
That means these beers vary a little more from coast to coast than their European counterpart. In a few places, that means a heavier hop load — the solution to lots of problems in American microbreweries and honestly not a terrible one. At California’s Firestone Walker, it means maturing the brew inside oak barrels to impart a smooth, slightly earthier beer that doesn’t throw away the hop profile, either.
Is it any good? Well, yeah. It might be the best beer I’ve had this year.
Sam Adams was the epitome of class growing up. For my parents and my friends’ parents in Rhode Island, the dividing line between a cookout and a cookout where folks had money was whether there were Sam longnecks in the cooler.
“A brewer and a patriot,” they’d scoff before prying off the cap and lamenting whatever awful thing had happened to the Red Sox that year. But deep down, they were impressed. Heineken levels of impressed.
The folks at Sam Adams have been kind to Boston and welcoming to emerging brewers, but they’ve largely become a relic as the country’s beer scene exploded. Boston Lager is up there with Sierra Nevada Pale Ale when it comes to microbrews-turned-standard-bearers. Even so, the company’s portfolio is generally something I’ll pass up if more interesting local beers are available.
In fantasy baseball terms, they’re the steady veteran who hits .260 and gives you 20 home runs each year; completely reasonable but unable to stack up to an unproven young prospect with All-Star potential. In beer terms, well…
I typically think of Sam Adams as the kind of beer you turn to at a generic spot with no local buy-in whatsoever. More often than not, it’s a nondescript airport lounge. The beers are overpriced and there are only six on tap. And if you’re not interested in Miller Lite or Stella Artois or, if they’re fancy, Guinness then Sam Adams is the best you’re going to do.
That’s the brewery’s sweet spot; a realm where they remain the innovative young upstart despite evolving into a macrobrew over the past three decades. Sam Adams has been aggressive to count a new generation of drinkers who’ve been inundated with choices in hopes of fixing that image. That’s meant entirely too many television ads, sure, but also an evolving line of new and old beers aimed at casting the widest possible net of beer lovers.
Mountain Dew, moonshine and a little bit of fire in honor of Pittsburgh-West Virginia renewing their hate vows.
College football is back.
Technically, it’s been back for a few days. While Week 0 gave us a spectacular Scott Frost meltdown and performances from Illinois and Vanderbilt that bordered on “hopeful,” it was a gas station hot dog compared to the seven-course meals that will follow. Week 1 has its share of throwaway games, but also plays host to a smattering of top-25 matchups (No. 11 Oregon vs. No. 3 Georgia, No. 23 Cincinnati vs. No. 19 Arkansas and No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Ohio State).
It also features the revival of one of the greatest rivalries in the sport. Pittsburgh and West Virginia have met in the Backyard Brawl 104 times. They haven’t seen each other on the gridiron since realignment separated the neighboring(ish) schools in 2012. The dulcet tones of “Take Me Home (Country Roads)” are set to return to Heinz, sigh, Acrisure Stadium, leaving us with not only a great football game but also a stellar excuse to drink on a Thursday.
So let’s drink on a Thursday. And let’s make up a drink that pairs perfectly with Monongahela-region hate.
The Ignited Couch Bomb
Named for the West Virginia tradition of celebrating around incendiary furniture, I tried to combine the best of West Virginia and Western Pennsylvania in the worst possible way.
Ingredients:
1.5 oz moonshine
6 oz, Mountain Dew
fire (optional)
Mountain Dew is the unofficial state drink of West Virginia. If you try looking up “What do they drink most in WV?” you’ll get some entries about how the state has a mean gin and tonic game. While I won’t dispute you can get some top quality quinine down there, that’s Mountain Dew country kiiiiiiiid. I’m not about to sip something with a lime wedge before watching Pitt and West Virginia renew their hate vows.
So there’s our base. I only had cans, which adds a layer of inauthenticity to my proceedings. If you want the true, date night at Cabela’s experience of both Western Pennsylvania and the Mountain State, you’d bring a 16.9 ounce bottle for proper dip disposal.
The moonshine is something called “American XXX Born,” which I have no affinity towards. It was pulled out of the bargain cart at Woodman’s as a $4.99 fifth I could earmark for stupid experiments like this. It is clear, appears to have been aged roughly 15 minutes inside the trunk of a Pontiac Fiero and is generally a bad decision.
But what is college football if not a 150-year tradition of bad decisions? To compound that, let’s introduce fire to the equation. Lighting shots is basically why we can’t find Bacardi 151 anymore, and it’s an immensely stupid way to drink. Without it, however, this is simply a “couch bomb” and, thus, an insult to the good people of Morgantown.
Fortunately, mine only kinda ignited — it’s only (?) 103 proof — so my danger was merely from the poison within. The good news is, it tastes kinda… good? It went down easier than expected and packed the punch necessary to watch a post-Kenny Pickett Pitt return to mediocrity.
It’s maybe not a great “Thursday night, I have to work tomorrow” drink. But for a Saturday night when you’ve got to get into the stadium fast and need to put on that inside coat, yep, that’ll work.
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel …
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel participated by sharing a few drinks and dishes based on the warring families and on some of the more compelling characters, like the White Walkers and Dothraki.
With the debut of the prequel in 2022 (House of the Dragon), we decided to re-share this post, recipes and all.
What Is Dead May Never Die
This cocktail, inspired by House Greyjoy, was crafted with Deveron 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch from the Deveron Distillery in northeastern Scotland. The scotch is nuanced with the flavors of dill and caraway from Aquavit and a touch of dried seaweed from Dashi. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
What Is Dead May Never Die. Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces Devron 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
3/4 ounce Svöl Danish Style Aquavit
1 ounce Meyer lemon juice
1/2 ounce Dashi syrup
Directions
Dashi Syrup: Make a simple syrup by combining a near-boiling 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup cane sugar. Steep one sheet of nori and 1/2 cup of bonito flake for one minute in hot liquid. Fine strain to remove all solids. Chill syrup before using.
Cocktail: Combine ingredients in shaker tin over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into large rocks glass over ice. Garnish with sheet of seaweed.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands
Inspired by House Baratheon, this cocktail pairs Royal Brackla 12-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey with the richness of Fino sherry and a zip of passion fruit to create punch fit for a king. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
2 ounces Royal Brackla 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
1 ounce Fino Sherry
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce passionfruit syrup
Directions
Combine all ingredients over ice in shaker tine. Shake vigorously. Strain into tall glass. Top with soda. Garnish with handful of grapes.
The Dragonglass
The Dragonglass cocktail was created by Hemant Pathak, Mixologist of NYC’s Michelin Star restaurant Junoon. He says “One way or another, the catalyst in the final season will have something to do with Dragonglass!” The cocktail will be served in the restaurant starting April 14, a new addition to the robust Game of Thrones-themed cocktail menu.
The Dragonglass. Photo: Junoon.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Belvedere Smogory Forest
0.75 ounce Basil-Limoncello
0.5 ounce lemongrass-infused Cocci Americano
0.5 ounce citric acid solution
1 ounce ginger ber
Directions
Stir all ingredients with ice. Serve in small wine or rocks glass with ice sphere. Garnish with Angostura Amaro.
The following cocktail and appetizer recipes are courtesy of celebrity caterer Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs. The White Walker Martini recipe follows, with links to the appetizer recipes below. A GOT watch party is the kind of thing Andrea does every day for her clients, which include Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon and P. Diddy.
White Walker Martini
White Walker Martini. Photo: Elegant Affairs.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce Blue Curacao
1/2 ounce Elderflower Liquor
1 teaspoon crushed dry ice
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, place the dry ice (be careful handling dry ice, read instructions carefully). Add in all other ingredients. Shake well and strain (without the ice) into a cold martini glass.
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel …
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel participated by sharing a few drinks and dishes based on the warring families and on some of the more compelling characters, like the White Walkers and Dothraki.
With the debut of the prequel in 2022 (House of the Dragon), we decided to re-share this post, recipes and all.
What Is Dead May Never Die
This cocktail, inspired by House Greyjoy, was crafted with Deveron 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch from the Deveron Distillery in northeastern Scotland. The scotch is nuanced with the flavors of dill and caraway from Aquavit and a touch of dried seaweed from Dashi. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
What Is Dead May Never Die. Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces Devron 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
3/4 ounce Svöl Danish Style Aquavit
1 ounce Meyer lemon juice
1/2 ounce Dashi syrup
Directions
Dashi Syrup: Make a simple syrup by combining a near-boiling 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup cane sugar. Steep one sheet of nori and 1/2 cup of bonito flake for one minute in hot liquid. Fine strain to remove all solids. Chill syrup before using.
Cocktail: Combine ingredients in shaker tin over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into large rocks glass over ice. Garnish with sheet of seaweed.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands
Inspired by House Baratheon, this cocktail pairs Royal Brackla 12-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey with the richness of Fino sherry and a zip of passion fruit to create punch fit for a king. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
2 ounces Royal Brackla 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
1 ounce Fino Sherry
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce passionfruit syrup
Directions
Combine all ingredients over ice in shaker tine. Shake vigorously. Strain into tall glass. Top with soda. Garnish with handful of grapes.
The Dragonglass
The Dragonglass cocktail was created by Hemant Pathak, Mixologist of NYC’s Michelin Star restaurant Junoon. He says “One way or another, the catalyst in the final season will have something to do with Dragonglass!” The cocktail will be served in the restaurant starting April 14, a new addition to the robust Game of Thrones-themed cocktail menu.
The Dragonglass. Photo: Junoon.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Belvedere Smogory Forest
0.75 ounce Basil-Limoncello
0.5 ounce lemongrass-infused Cocci Americano
0.5 ounce citric acid solution
1 ounce ginger ber
Directions
Stir all ingredients with ice. Serve in small wine or rocks glass with ice sphere. Garnish with Angostura Amaro.
The following cocktail and appetizer recipes are courtesy of celebrity caterer Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs. The White Walker Martini recipe follows, with links to the appetizer recipes below. A GOT watch party is the kind of thing Andrea does every day for her clients, which include Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon and P. Diddy.
White Walker Martini
White Walker Martini. Photo: Elegant Affairs.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce Blue Curacao
1/2 ounce Elderflower Liquor
1 teaspoon crushed dry ice
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, place the dry ice (be careful handling dry ice, read instructions carefully). Add in all other ingredients. Shake well and strain (without the ice) into a cold martini glass.
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel …
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel participated by sharing a few drinks and dishes based on the warring families and on some of the more compelling characters, like the White Walkers and Dothraki.
With the debut of the prequel in 2022 (House of the Dragon), we decided to re-share this post, recipes and all.
What Is Dead May Never Die
This cocktail, inspired by House Greyjoy, was crafted with Deveron 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch from the Deveron Distillery in northeastern Scotland. The scotch is nuanced with the flavors of dill and caraway from Aquavit and a touch of dried seaweed from Dashi. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
What Is Dead May Never Die. Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces Devron 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
3/4 ounce Svöl Danish Style Aquavit
1 ounce Meyer lemon juice
1/2 ounce Dashi syrup
Directions
Dashi Syrup: Make a simple syrup by combining a near-boiling 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup cane sugar. Steep one sheet of nori and 1/2 cup of bonito flake for one minute in hot liquid. Fine strain to remove all solids. Chill syrup before using.
Cocktail: Combine ingredients in shaker tin over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into large rocks glass over ice. Garnish with sheet of seaweed.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands
Inspired by House Baratheon, this cocktail pairs Royal Brackla 12-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey with the richness of Fino sherry and a zip of passion fruit to create punch fit for a king. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
2 ounces Royal Brackla 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
1 ounce Fino Sherry
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce passionfruit syrup
Directions
Combine all ingredients over ice in shaker tine. Shake vigorously. Strain into tall glass. Top with soda. Garnish with handful of grapes.
The Dragonglass
The Dragonglass cocktail was created by Hemant Pathak, Mixologist of NYC’s Michelin Star restaurant Junoon. He says “One way or another, the catalyst in the final season will have something to do with Dragonglass!” The cocktail will be served in the restaurant starting April 14, a new addition to the robust Game of Thrones-themed cocktail menu.
The Dragonglass. Photo: Junoon.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Belvedere Smogory Forest
0.75 ounce Basil-Limoncello
0.5 ounce lemongrass-infused Cocci Americano
0.5 ounce citric acid solution
1 ounce ginger ber
Directions
Stir all ingredients with ice. Serve in small wine or rocks glass with ice sphere. Garnish with Angostura Amaro.
The following cocktail and appetizer recipes are courtesy of celebrity caterer Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs. The White Walker Martini recipe follows, with links to the appetizer recipes below. A GOT watch party is the kind of thing Andrea does every day for her clients, which include Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon and P. Diddy.
White Walker Martini
White Walker Martini. Photo: Elegant Affairs.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce Blue Curacao
1/2 ounce Elderflower Liquor
1 teaspoon crushed dry ice
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, place the dry ice (be careful handling dry ice, read instructions carefully). Add in all other ingredients. Shake well and strain (without the ice) into a cold martini glass.
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel …
Several years ago, when HBO was airing the final season of Game of Thrones (based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series), the excitement manifested itself in elaborate “watch parties” around the world. Food Channel participated by sharing a few drinks and dishes based on the warring families and on some of the more compelling characters, like the White Walkers and Dothraki.
With the debut of the prequel in 2022 (House of the Dragon), we decided to re-share this post, recipes and all.
What Is Dead May Never Die
This cocktail, inspired by House Greyjoy, was crafted with Deveron 12-Year-Old Single Malt Scotch from the Deveron Distillery in northeastern Scotland. The scotch is nuanced with the flavors of dill and caraway from Aquavit and a touch of dried seaweed from Dashi. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
What Is Dead May Never Die. Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces Devron 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
3/4 ounce Svöl Danish Style Aquavit
1 ounce Meyer lemon juice
1/2 ounce Dashi syrup
Directions
Dashi Syrup: Make a simple syrup by combining a near-boiling 1/2 cup of water and 1/2 cup cane sugar. Steep one sheet of nori and 1/2 cup of bonito flake for one minute in hot liquid. Fine strain to remove all solids. Chill syrup before using.
Cocktail: Combine ingredients in shaker tin over ice. Shake vigorously. Strain into large rocks glass over ice. Garnish with sheet of seaweed.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands
Inspired by House Baratheon, this cocktail pairs Royal Brackla 12-Year-Old Scotch Whiskey with the richness of Fino sherry and a zip of passion fruit to create punch fit for a king. Created by Andrew Record, National Single Malts Ambassador for Deveron in San Francisco.
The Usurper, Lord Paramount of the Stormlands, Photo: Devron.
Ingredients
2 ounces Royal Brackla 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch
1 ounce Fino Sherry
3/4 ounce lemon juice
1/2 ounce passionfruit syrup
Directions
Combine all ingredients over ice in shaker tine. Shake vigorously. Strain into tall glass. Top with soda. Garnish with handful of grapes.
The Dragonglass
The Dragonglass cocktail was created by Hemant Pathak, Mixologist of NYC’s Michelin Star restaurant Junoon. He says “One way or another, the catalyst in the final season will have something to do with Dragonglass!” The cocktail will be served in the restaurant starting April 14, a new addition to the robust Game of Thrones-themed cocktail menu.
The Dragonglass. Photo: Junoon.
Ingredients
1.5 ounces Belvedere Smogory Forest
0.75 ounce Basil-Limoncello
0.5 ounce lemongrass-infused Cocci Americano
0.5 ounce citric acid solution
1 ounce ginger ber
Directions
Stir all ingredients with ice. Serve in small wine or rocks glass with ice sphere. Garnish with Angostura Amaro.
The following cocktail and appetizer recipes are courtesy of celebrity caterer Andrea Correale, founder and president of Elegant Affairs. The White Walker Martini recipe follows, with links to the appetizer recipes below. A GOT watch party is the kind of thing Andrea does every day for her clients, which include Brooke Shields, Mariah Carey, Jimmy Fallon and P. Diddy.
White Walker Martini
White Walker Martini. Photo: Elegant Affairs.
Ingredients
1-1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce Blue Curacao
1/2 ounce Elderflower Liquor
1 teaspoon crushed dry ice
Directions
In a cocktail shaker, place the dry ice (be careful handling dry ice, read instructions carefully). Add in all other ingredients. Shake well and strain (without the ice) into a cold martini glass.
