Altitude Spirits Tasty Holiday Cocktails

Check out these great cocktail recipes featuring the Organic and delicious Altitude Spirits!

Ummmm! TAG/Thomas Fogarty Umami Wine Dinner

TAG’S Chef Troy Guard prepares umami-intense dishes for the

über-edgy wines by Thomas Fogarty winemaker Michael Martella

On November 30, 2011 Michael Martella, the winemaker for Thomas Fogarty Vineyards in Santa Cruz Mountains since its inception in 1981, will visit TAG to present his wines, representing the absolute cutting edge in the crisper, moderately scaled, cold climate grown contemporary style to which more and more wine lovers are turning these days.

First, some background:  the Santa Cruz Mountains American Viticultural Area is one of the cradles of the California wine industry.  In the mid-nineteenth century, in fact, there were over 14,000 acres of commercial wine grapes grown on these mountain slopes, and the region was widely known as the Chaine d’Or, or “Chain of Gold.”

The post-Prohibition growth of California wine may have concentrated mostly in warmer regions like Napa Valley and Sonoma County – where grapes ripen much more easily, as long as a month before they do in Santa Cruz Mountains – but modern day pioneering vignerons like Fogarty have been quietly carving their niche, growing their sleek style of Chardonnay and exotically spiced Pinot Noirs and other red wine grapes at 2,000 ft. –plus elevations, chilled by winds blowing in from the Pacific just 10 miles away.

Because of the intrinsic balance and emphasis on terroir (i.e. “sense of place,” often with minerally complexities) rather than simple varietal fruitiness of the Thomas Fogarty wines, TAG Chef Troy Guard has planned a special menu – working with longtime friend, wine journalist Randy Caparoso (the award winning founding partner of the Roy’s family of restaurants, and today, an editor for Sommelier Journal) – that emphasizes the “fifth sensation,” known as umami.

What is umami, and why such a big deal?  While not an everyday term, umami is one of the common sensations everyone tastes in foods and drinks, along with the sensations of sweet, sour, salty and bitter (the hot taste of spices might be considered a sixth sensation, but it is considered more of a tactile feel rather than something perceived by taste buds).

Caparoso, who will be guest speaking alongside Mr. Martella at this winemaker dinner, tells us, “if you boil it all down, umami is nothing more than a taste activated in by ingredients containing high amounts of amino acid.  A vine ripened heirloom tomato, for instance, is especially high in umami; so is authentic Parmigiano Reggiano, seaweeds, mushrooms, especially truffles and sea urchin, and the highly reduced veal and seafood stocks traditionally used by chefs as the bases of sauces that help bind and intensify dishes.

 “In restaurants the deliberate use of ingredients that are high in amino acids especially comes in handy when preparing dishes specifically to bind and balance matching wines, in the same way that sauces do.  After all, the best balanced dishes are always the easiest to match with wines; and vice-versa, the best balanced wines are always the easiest to match with food.”

Hence, the high umami menu planned for the wines of Thomas Fogarty, which by nature of their mountain origins are appreciated more for their balance rather than brute strength, and aromatic complexities as opposed to simple “varietal character.”

So are you ready for some high elevation culinary adventure?  Your entrée to this event, taking place in TAG’s underground dining room, is just $68/person (plus tax and gratuity).  Reservations are by pre-payment, which you can make by calling TAG at 303.996.9985, or through opentable.com.  The works:

Thomas Fogarty Vineyards & TAG present

a Santa Cruz Mountains wine meets umami dinner

November 30, 2011

with guest winemaker, Thomas Fogarty’s Michael Martella

& guest umami host, Randy Caparoso

amuse-gueule

Veal cheeks arancini with butternut squash & parmigiano reggiano

2008 Thomas Fogarty, Monterey Gewürztraminer

1

Fresh lemon grass lobster roll with monkfish paté, tarragon, mitusuba & crispy fennel

2008 Thomas Fogarty, Santa Cruz Mountains Chardonnay

2

Fresh roasted sea bass with soba & wakame in grilled tomato seafood broth

2008 Thomas Fogarty, Rapley Trail Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Estate Pinot Noir

3

Ravioli of crispy sweetbreads & porcini with Swiss chard & tofu skin

2007 Thomas Fogarty, Santa Cruz Mountains Cabernet Franc

4

Tasmanian pepper berry lamb with

smoked heirloom potato, charred onion soubise & pecorino salad

2006 Thomas Fogarty, Lexington Santa Cruz Mountains Meritage

5

Chocolate beet cake, sea urchin gelato & Sicilian pistachio crumble

Coffee or tea

Troy Guard

TAG chef/owner

It's Tasting Time Again!

Don't even think about missing this one!
Even more deets soon to follow.

112 Reasons to come to GIBF 2011

We hope to see you at the Falling Rock this Sunday!

1	Lion Imperial Lager
2	Lion Stout
3	Plank Pils
4	Plank Hefeweizen
5	Plank Heller Weizenbock
6	Plank Dunkler Weizenbock
7	Belgoo Magus
8	Cucapa Runaway IPA
9	Cucapa Low Rider Double Rye
10	Cucapa La Migra Stout
11	Steelhead Extra Pale
12	Steelhead Extra Pale
13	Steelhead Double IPA
14	Steelhead Extra Stout
15	Steelhead Scotch Porter
16	Steelhead Double Dread Red
17	Jamaica Sunset
18	Jamaica Red
19	Green Flash West Coast IPA
20	Green Flash Hop Head Red
21	Green Flash Double Stout
22	Green Flash Imperial IPA
23	Green Flash Le Freak
24	Ommegang Witte
25	Ommegang Hennepin
26	Ommegang BPA
27	Ommegang Three Philosophers
28	Duvel Belgian Ale
29	Duvel Triple Hop
30	d'Achouffe La Chouffe
31	d'Achouffe Houblon Chouffe
32	Maredsous Tripel
33	Liefmans Fruitesse
34	Liefmans Cuvee Brut
35	Liefmans Goudenband
36	Redstone Meadery Traditional Mead
37	Redstone Meadery Sunshine Nectar
38	Redstone Meadery Boysenberry Nectar
39	Redstone Meadery Black Raspberry Nectar
40	Redstone Meadery Juniper Berry Mead
41	Redstone Meadery Nectar of The Hops
42	Fort Collins Brewery Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat
43	Fort Collins Brewery 1900 Amber
44	Fort Collins Brewery Kidd Lager
45	Fort Collins Brewery Red Banshee
46	Fort Collins Brewery Rocky Mountain IPA
47	Fort Collins Brewery Chocolate Stout
48	Fort Collins Brewery Z Lager
49	Fort Collins Brewery Wheat Wine
50	Fort Collins Brewery HellesBock
51	Fort Collins Brewery Maibock
52	Grand Teton Brewing Bitch Creek ESB
53	Grand Teton Brewing Sweetgrass IPA
54	Grand Teton Brewing Pursuit of Hoppiness
55	Grand Teton Brewing Persephone Pils
56	Grand Teton Brewing Lost Continent
57	MateVeza IPA
58	MateVeza Black Lager
59	Sünner Kölsch
60	Omer Blonde Ale
61	St Feuillien Saison
62	St Feuillien Biere de l'amitie
63	Urthel Saisonniere
64	La Trappe Isid'or
65	La Trappe Dubbel
66	La Trappe Tripel
67	La Trappe Quadrupel
68	Urthel Hop-It
69	Lucifer Golden Ale
70	Gouden Carolous Classic
71	Gouden Carolous Triple
72	Gouden Carolous Hopsinjoor
73	Gouden Carolous Keizer Rood
74	Gouden Carolous Keizer Blauw
75	Kasteel Tripel
76	Kasteel Donker
77	Kasteel Rouge
78	St. Louis Peche
79	St. Louis Framboise
80	Samichlaus Classic
81	Straffe Hendrik Tripel
82	Straffe Hendrik Quad
83	The Bruery Mischief
84	The Bruery Saison Rue
85	The BrueryTrade Winds
86	The Bruery Rugbrød
87	Saison Dupont Farmhouse Ale
88	Foret Organic Saison Ale
89	Scaldis Refermentee
90	Scaldis Peche Mel
91	Scaldis Blonde Triple
92	Dupont Avril
93	Aspall Organic Cider
94	Aspall Demi-Sec
95	Bateman's Triple XB
96	Bateman's Combined Harvest
97	De Proef Grande Blanche
98	De Proef Witte Noire
99	De Proef Zoetzuur
100	De Ranke XX Bitter
101	Geants Saison Voisin
102	Jenlain Ambree
103	EKU Pils
104	EKU 28
105	Kulmbacher Eisbock
106	Henney's Dry Cider
107	He'brew Messiah Bold
108	He'brew Origin Ale
109	He'brew Lenny RIPA
110	Coney Island Lager
111	Coney Island Albino Python
112	Coney Island Sword Swallower

GIBF 5

Time flies indeed.
It's time once again for our hugely popular trade tasting event, the Great International Beer Fest.
The venue will again be the Falling Rock Tavern at 1919 Blake from 2:00 to 5:00pm.

As always, there will be great food, prizes, and of course hundreds of our great craft beers to sample.
Mark your calendar--we'll see you there!

A Michelle of All Trades

Need your plumbing fixed, a stone cold pick for the Final 4 bracket, or just want to place an order for some Elite wines or craft beers? Our Michelle can help with all that and lots more.
In addition to her many duties at Elite, her mechanical know-how has bailed us out in several situations, and last week she easily won the company NCAA Bracket, correctly picking Butler and Connecticut to make the Final Four, and UConn to go all the way.
Brava Michelle!

Here's To Conferencing!

It's CBC - Brewer's Association Conference time right now in San Francisco. The Craft Brewers Conference is the premier craft brewing industry educational event, bringing together more than 2,600 of the world’s leading brewers, brewery owners, brewery/brewpub marketing and management, and brewing supply professionals.  This year's sessions were sold out, and record attendance of 3,900 (including, of course, Elite Brands) is expected.
Cheers to that!

New Cider--In the House!

 Since the first American settlers arrived to our country over 300 years ago until prohibition in the 1920’s, hard cider was the original drinking man’s beverage on the farm, in the factories and through our coastal shipyards.
     Located in the frontier gold mining town of Julian, California, our growing company continues the American tradition of handcrafted, quality hard cider production using the finest ingredients, painstaking attention to detail and good old fashioned hard work.
One taste of our premium hard cider and you will experience why Julian Hard Cider is “American to the Core”.
     The Julian Hard Cider recipe originates from 1670 colonial America and is comparable to the finest British ciders. Unlike many “impostor” hard ciders on the market, it is easy to have more than one pint of Julian Hard Cider as we do not use concentrated apple Juice or additives which leave the drinker with a lingering sugary film and after-taste.
     Why is Julian Hard Cider the choice of true cider lovers? We have only one ingredient… the freshest apples in the world! Our cider is lightly carbonated with tartness, acidity and a clean dry finish, enabling it to stand firmly on its own or compliment your favorite meal.

More Info: http://julianhardcider.biz/

Hoppy Anniversary!

Elite Brands of Colorado celebrated their 8th Anniversary in business this week.
They've come a long way, and are looking for many more years to follow.
Congratulations Terry and Elite Brands of Colorado!

Some of our morning crew enjoy an anniversary cupcake breakfast.

Eight great years and many more!

Another New Addition

Elite is happy to welcome Grand Teton Brewing to our craft beer lineup.
Grand Teton Brewing Company is the original brewery of Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. We have been brewing their handcrafted beers at the base of the Tetons since 1988.

Since they've been around awhile, many of you are probably familiar with their portfolio, but for those who aren't, here are just a few of the highlights:

Bitch Creek

Bitch Creek perfectly balances big malt sweetness and robust hop flavor for a full bodied mahogany ale.  Like the stream for which it is named, our Bitch Creek ESB is full of character, and not for the timid. 

Sweetgrass

An American Pale Ale of distinction!  2009 Great American Beer Festival Gold Medal winner in its category, this crisp and fragrant beer is hopped and dry hopped with plenty of Amarillos and Cascades. Try it with any bold, flavorful food to complement its citrusy, resinous spiciness.

Pursuit of Hoppiness Imperial Red

Brewed to showcase the brash beauty of American hops--topping out at 100 IBUs, and about 8.5% alcohol by volume, this thick and warming beer is to be shared and savored. Tastes like it sounds--lots of hops and spice.

Lost Continent Double IPA (available Apr-Sept).

A more traditional Double IPA flavor profile--drier, less malty, more hoppy.To the delight of hopheads everywhere, the style has survived through the centuries and has become the beer of choice for adventurers with the curiosity to discover what lies over the horizon.

First New Elite Brewery of 2011

The pride of Humboldt County, Mad River Brewing is in th' house!
Tasty beers, great pricing and lots of awards.

Spread the Madness!