In 1984, as a kid growing up in the suburbs, the beginning of summer meant playing sports with friends, swimming in the town pool and going to baseball games with my dad. Summer was also synonymous with many family gatherings at our house. Almost every weekend we’d have family and friends over to grill and sit outside on our deck and enjoy the warm summer evenings. I can remember my brother and I having to go to bed long before the last guests left our house.

Fast forward about twenty-five years and we still have those wonderful family gatherings that I relished when I was younger. Only now they are at my house and there is a new generation of young ones running around. A few weeks ago we had some family and friends over for dinner and I decided to buy some Widmer Hefeweizen. I’ve had this beer many times before and really enjoy it especially when it is hot outside. Read the rest of this entry »

Several years ago I was sitting in a café in Paris, France and after a long day of sightseeing was in the mood for a crisp, refreshing beer. I wanted something distinctly European and so I ordered a Leffe, which I was not so familiar with at the time. The waiter arrived with the signature chalice-shaped glass and I could hardly wait to grab the golden honeyed brew with slight frothy head from his tray. This lightly spiced Belgian ale was ever so sweet with a subtle caramel and clove aroma and wonderful creamy mouth feel – it totally “hit the spot”.

After a week of travel filled with breathtaking sights and many memorable meals I just couldn’t stop thinking about how delicious that beer was that afternoon. Two age-old questions were looming: was Leffe widely available in the US so that I could find it locally and would it taste as good as it did that afternoon in Paris? Read the rest of this entry »

After a long winter (well, not so long in Austin, TX) there is nothing like the first time you fire up the grill and invite friends and family over to enjoy great food and wine. From sparkling wine and crisp aperitif-style whites that pair so well with appetizers and salads to well-balanced and hearty reds that complement a variety of grilled foods, our Summer Top 10 has something for every palate and pocketbook. Here are some of my favorites to uncork your summer!

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