Join us at Julia's Garden Charity Wine Event this Friday!

Welcome to Cork’s weekly newsletter. Well I guess Summer isn’t here yet after all. I’m kind of regretting putting my air conditioners up 2 weeks ago when it hit 80. Oh well, I’m sure it will warm up again soon and let’s not forget the Pirates season opener is just 1 week away. OK…the Sox open up next week too. I’m going to try and get into the Red Sox again and I won’t bore you with Pirates talk all summer. But is it just my fondness for Tito Francona or is Valentine just a tough guy to warm up to? I’m sure once the season starts, I’ll get hooked again but it’s going to take a full year to erase last year’s debacle.

Let’s talk about Cork’s for a bit and the tasting we’re sponsoring for Julia’s Garden Charity Wine Event. It is this Friday from 7 to 9 PM and I hear there are just a few tickets left. You can check out the details and order tickets here www.gardenwinetasting.com . We have 7 wine tables…4 liquor tables…and 4 beer tables for this event. I’d like to thank the vendors for giving up their Friday for this worthy charity. Here is a glimpse at what they will be pouring…Mimosa …New Hemisferio wines from Argentina… Nachtgold… Sofia… Nine Walks… New Ensemble White and Red… Allegrini… Alan Scott… Prendo… Red Newt…Four Bears…Milbrandt…Viu Manent…Canella Bellini…Folie-a-Deux…Bogle…La Linda… Amalaya… Barefoot… Polka Dot… Da Vinci… Las Rocas… Apothic Red… Flying Winemaker… Shannon Ridge… Stray Dog… Diablolique infused Kentucky Bourbon… Cabin Fever Maple Whiskey… Diep 9 Genever… Drink Skinny Margarita Mix… Sam Adams… Newport Storm… Mayflower… and Angry Orchard Ciders.

I know not all of you can attend this event and some of you were disappointed we weren’t having our usual big wine tasting here at Cork’s. But we were asked to be the sponsor for this event and thought we’d try something a little different this time. But we are still getting new wines in for the Easter Season every day and I’ve asked the vendors that aren’t participating in this tasting to lock in a Friday night in April, May, or June to taste their “Spring” wines here at Cork’s. But have no fear - we will still have our big Customer Appreciation Day tasting event this Summer, our 2 big Football season Beer Tastings…and a big fall Grand Wine Tasting.

I don’t think Marc has a beer tasting lined up this week. But I know he has some lined up for Thursday nights as we head into the Summer beer season. I’m really not sure what’s new in the beer world these days so here is Marc our Beer Mgr. for a few words on what’s new in Cork’s Beer Land:

This week we received a few things on my radar. First is the new Harpoon 100 Barrel Series, Catamount Maple Wheat, described as a crisp wheat ale, mildly hopped with Willamette hops. The addition of pure Vermont maple syrup used in the beer comes from Baker Farm in East Dummerston and Scrag Mountain Sugar House in Waitsfield. The maple sweetness and body of this beer showcases one of New England’s most beloved traditions. Next we have two new beers from Pretty Things. This pairing is part of an historical brewing project that features two different beers of the same style brewed 107 years apart. Grab one of each and do a side by side comparison to see how the Mild style has evolved over time. Lastly, we still have a few bottles of the newest limited release of Dogfish Head 75 min IPA. This beer is a blend of 60 and 90 min IPAs that is insanely dry hopped and bottle conditioned with maple syrup. Maple syrup? Sure, why not? I guess you can’t make “off centered ales for off centered people” if you’re not dumping maple syrup into an IPA. Nonetheless, it’s a tasty beer so grab it while you can!

Well we started with the sports takes so let’s end on one as well. Here’s hoping the Bruins can ride this recent upswing into their Cup defense which is right around the corner. And as woeful and old looking as the Celtics have looked they are just ½ game out of 1^st place in the East. You never know…KG, Ray, and the Truth may have one last gasp run left in them. Have a great weekend and we’ll see you soon.

Robert