Welcome back 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: here are our recommendations of what to splash in your glass this week.
Elk Horn Brewery and Cider House Redic Dry | Residents of Eugene, Oregon, this family-owned and-operated gastropub, brewery and ciderhouse is located in the heart of what they call “campus culture.” Plenty of seating and humble hospitality will draw you in, and when it does, order the Redic. This super-dry sip has a flavor and aromas of ripe golden apples with an almost perfume of a barrel age or apple brandy. This cider fits in with the overall atmosphere and is perfect as a summertime sip, whether barbecuing or simply when cashing out on much needed relaxation.
Tamarack Brewing Co. Hat Trick Hop IPA | Another notch on the increasingly long belt of breweries in Missoula, Montana, this flagship India pale ale has heavy malt aromas which bounce up and out of your cup, framed with piney hop notes. The flavor plays into the creamy malts as well, providing a smooth texture and flavors of light green tea and honey, with a bit of tangy grapefruit hops. Best pairs alongside foods with a touch of heat for a kick you’ll be ready to gladly accept again in the future. Crafted in a way to up the alcohol for better keeping, this brew comes in at 6.8 percent ABV.
Milbrandt Vineyards 2014 Traditions Merlot | Coming out of Washington’s greater Columbia Valley (and from estate vineyards through the massive region), this sip has rich flavors with a fruit-forward, yet dry complexion. A bouquet of black cherry and red currants push onto the surface, with ripe plum following mocha and espresso notes. The fine-grained tannins lingers leaving a hint of vanilla in the finish. Cooking with this wine brings an entirely new element to select dishes. Try using a bottle to make Butch Milbrandt’s Poached Pear with Wine Reduction Sauce, a holiday favorite of the winery’s.
Chambers Bay Distillery Greenhorn Bourbon | Crafted on land, aged on the ocean. Traditional methods paired with incorporating all of the natural resources the Pacific Northwest has to offer, this distillate is a local from head to toe. Fermented with the distillery’s own proprietary wild yeast strain harvested from a local apple orchard, distilled with harvested Cascade mountain water and using the power of the sea to age the barrels on one of their floating boathouses which resides on the Puget Sound, this spirit is truly unique Northwest craft. With flavors of wood spice, vanilla bean and subtle caramel flavor profile, this bourbon is finely tuned and deserves a spot on a shelf in your liquor cabinet.
