Welcome to Sip Northwest’s Bar Tab, a weekly selection of what to drink in the Northwest now. Come on in, belly up to the counter and order a digital drink on us. This week, we look for refreshment during this heat wave, with ice cream-happy liqueur, BBQ-savvy Cab and more.
Central City Brewers + Distillers Red Racer Pale Ale | The pale ale from this border town-based brewery-distillery combo uses Mariss Otter barley imported from the United Kingdom and imported hops from Washington’s Yakima Valley to create a beer that is about as fusion-Canadian as they come. The aroma is very pleasant with a mixture of orange peel, floral notes, yeast and malts. With a slightly bitter pang — as comes with the hops-territory — the caramel malts and creamy head help to balance that pine-soaked bitterness nicely, making Red Racer a tasty and refreshing pale ale that blends the old and new worlds.
Willie’s Distillery Huckleberry Sweet Cream Liqueur | The rich creaminess of this fruity liqueur echoes the Montana-based distillery’s dedication to only use the best ingredients and “a good dose of heart and soul.” Bright pastel purple in color, the Huckleberry Sweet Cream liqueur is very clear about exactly what is in the bottle: huckleberry, cream and booze. The sweet fruit flavors of this liqueur would make it perfect to enjoy with ice cream, whether separately or even as a grown-up, boozed-upfloat.
Merridale Estate Cidery House Dry | Delightfully crisp and clean, this cider is as refreshing as it is tasty. A variation on the Cowichan Valley cidery’s popular English pub-style House Cider, the House Dry is slightly drier and less acidic than its cousin, making it a sessionable pint to pound during a match. Texturally and in the finish, the cider is comparable to the white wine made by Merridale’s many winemaking neighbors and, as such, would pair well with freshly cirtrus-dressed salads and roasted chicken.
Plumb Cellars 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon | Founded by a group of friends in 2006, the Plumb team has been churning out wines from its Walla Walla vineyard-winery ever since. Like the 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon, which is comprised of fruit from two of Washington State’s oldest vineyards, Gamache and Sagemoor. With savory, black fruit flavors hitting the nose from the glass, the deep red wine is fruit-forward with black currant and plum, finishing with a smoky, herbal flavor and soft, silky tannins. This wine yearns for BBQ.
