More New Products Just In

New Product Announcements

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Zamba Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec - Zamba is the national dance of Argentina. The Zamba lyrics are composed to celebrate the beauty of Argentina and its magnificent women. It is a majestic dance which is performed by couples who circle each other elegantly waving their white handkerchiefs. Zamba Cabernet Sauvignon was created to showcase the incredible wines of Argentina that are available at a great price. It is a full-bodied red wine packed with flavors of black cassis that finishes smooth and rich. Zamba Malbec is full-bodied with flavors of red cherries.

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Astica Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec - Astica means "flower" in the native Indian language in Argentina and this wine was made in their honor. The Cabernet Sauvignon has a ripe blackberry aroma with a smooth round fuity palate, ideal to drink with grilled meats, roast and full-flavored dishes. The Malbec has all the tipicity; red color with violet hues and very sweet in the mouth. It pairs well with grilled meats but also with pasta and mild to spicey cuisine.

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Allendorf Reisling - Back by popular demand, this German Riesling is a classic. It is great for sipping or for picnics.

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Ommegang Three Philosophers Ale - This ale is created by blending a rich, malty, Belgian-style with authentic Kriek, a classic cherry-lambic from Belgium. This Quadrupel is cultured yet wild. Pour slowly so as to not disturb the yeast sediment but with enough vigor to create a luxurious head and release the sumptious bouquet.

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Steamworks Diablo Ale - 22 ounce bomber. A generous amount of Mt. Hood hops gives the Diablo a sweet cereal aroma that masks its deceptive nature. Brewed in Durango, Colorado.

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Campo Viejo Gran Reserva - This red wine from Spain is aged 24 months in oak casks and 36 months in the bottle. It's a wine with great structure and elegance with a long lingering finish. Great with roast meat or meats with sauces, stews, and cheeses.

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Santa Julia Torrentes - Torrentes is a uniquely Argentinian white grape. This wine is a floral, crisp wine that embodies pleasure. It has ripe flavors of citrus and peaches with a spicey finish. Made with organically grown grapes.

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Amica's Amber Ale - Salida's own Amica's brewery recently started bottling their beer in six-packs. A few weeks ago we got in their Ute Trail Pale Ale and now we also have their Amber Ale. Support our local brewery and pick up a six-pack of either of their ales the next time you're in the store. See you then!

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The Hottest Wine Around - Portugal's Madeira

by Lindsay Alston

Madeira wine is in fact a family of wines that derive in the Madeira Islands of Portugal. The many wines that are produced using the methods that have been in general use for centuries can be made use of in a number of different ways. Some types of Madeira wine are ideal for cooking, while others are more suitable for use with desserts or as an aperitif. Madeira wine may be prepared to be a sweet wine or a dry wine. In all cases, the wines are equipped by a process that helps the complete product to enjoy a long life without reducing the flavor or the aroma of the wine. In each case, the fortified wine goes through a process of vinification that is relatively unique to the fermenting process used in other parts of the world. The end result is that Madeira wine tends to have a unique flavor and bouquet that make it popular in many places around the world.

Madeira wine is prepared with brandy during fermentation to raise its alcoholic content to 18-20 percent. Madeiras, varying from dry to sweet, originate their individual, rich character from the volcanic soil of the island's vineyards and from a distinctive process of aging in baking rooms for many months after fermentation. This accelerated aging process was undertaken after the discovery that the wines gained from the prolonged heat of storage that they underwent during tropical voyages. Madeira is also aged in oak casks, and wines of different ages may be blended before bottling.

The temperate marine climate and warm winters are perfect for grape and all kinds of growing. Madeira has some of the tallest sea cliffs in the world and farmers must scratch out their agriculture on manmade terraces. Much like in the port manufacturing Douro Valley, these steep heights no doubt play a role to the strength and concentration of the ripened grape, revealing the plants to powerful sunlight but always having the cooling sea breeze to temper the effects of extended radiation.

In general, Madeira can be divided into four separate and very different drinks, named after the four varieties of grape from which they come. These range from the dry, nutty Sercial to the rich raisiny Malmsey, or Malvasia as it is otherwise known. In between you have the medium-dry Verdelho and the medium-rich Boal. Like many wines, Madeira can be drunk with specific foods and at different stages of a meal. Sercial is considered an aperitif, while Verdelho is a perfect assistant to Soup, especially Turtle soup. Boal and Malmsey are both believed to be dessert wines but Boal is exceptional with fruit, nuts or chocolate, where Malmsey is generally considered a digestif.

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Lindsay Alston is an expert author for ClassicWines.com specializing in Madeira.

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Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol

Book Review

Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol, by Iain Gately. A spirited look at the history of alcohol from the dawn of civilization to the twenty first century. For better or worse, alcohol has helped shape our civilization. Throughout history, it has been consumed not just to quench our thirsts or nourish our bodies but also for cultural reasons. It has been associated since antiquity with celebration, creativity, friendship, and danger, for every drinking culture has acknowledged it possesses a dark side.

In Drink, Iain Gately traces the course of humanity’s 10,000 year old love affair with the substance which has been dubbed “the cause of—and solution to—all of life’s problems.” Along the way he scrutinises the drinking habits of presidents, prophets, and barbarian hordes, and features drinkers as diverse as Homer, Hemmingway, Shakespeare, Al Capone, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson. Covering matters as varied as bacchanals in Imperial Rome, the gin craze in 17th century London, the rise and fall of the temperance movement, and drunk driving, Drink details the benefits and burdens alcohol has conveyed to the societies in which it is consumed. Gately’s lively and provocative style brings to life the controversies, past and present, that have raged over alcohol, and uses the authentic voices of drinkers and their detractors to explode myths and reveal truths about this most equivocal of fluids.

Drink further documents the contribution of alcohol to the birth and growth of the United States, taking in the war of Independence, the Pennsylvania Whiskey revolt, the slave trade, and the failed experiment of National Prohibition. Finally, it provides a history of the world’s best loved drinks. Enthusiasts of craft brews and fine wines will discover the origins of their favorite tipples, and what they have in common with Greek philosophers and medieval princes every time they raise a glass. A rollicking tour through humanity’s love affair with alcohol, Drink is an intoxicating history of civilization.
Order from Amazon.com - Amazon Kindle edition here

What's New This Week

New Product Announcements

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Cloudy Bay Chardonnay - The Cloudy Bay vineyards are located in the Marlborough region, at the northern end of New Zealand's South Island. Grown under ideal conditions, the vines produce intensely flavored fruit with distinctive varietal character. This is a complex, full bodied wine with ripe fruit and subtle smoky oak. It has gotten very high marks from wine reviewers around the world.

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Paringa Shiraz - Approaching the end of its 2000 mile course from snow fields to the sea, the Murray river feeds the lush vineyards of South Australia that produce 50% of the country's wine. From these sun drenched fertile soils, the Hickinbotham's Paringa vineyards make this uniquely Australian wine.

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Left Hand Imperial Stout - 22 ounce bomber. A black ale made with pure Rocky Mountain water.

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1800 Reserva Silver Tequila - This exceptional 100% de Agave silver tequila has a clean smooth taste that is best enjoyed straight. An excellent sipping tequila.

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Cazadores 100% de Agave Tequila - This 100% blue agave from the highlands of Mexico is double distilled and expertly developed by 79 artisans. It is aged in small American white oak casks for a distinctive, rich bouquet and amber color. This tequila is slowly fermented to classical music to relax the yeast and ultimately produce a more harmonious taste.

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Amicas Ute Trail Pale Ale in 6-packs!

New Product Announcements

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Estes Park Stinger Wild Honey Wheat - This beer is brewed with pure Colorado honey at 7522 feet in altitude.

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DeBeque Canyon Red Fox Merlot - Red Fox Vineyards is a small producer of premium Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Temperanillo grapes, located in Palisades, Colorado, in the heart of the beautiful Grand Valley. This single-vineyard Merlot is light and clean with toasty oak aromas.

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DeBeque Canyon Reserve Merlot - Aromas of blackberry, cherry, and coffee. Well-integrated tannins from four years of barrel aging. Lingering finish. An excellent choice with beef, lamb, and wild game.

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DeBeque Canyon Chardonnay - Refreshing crisp flavors of tropical fruit and a hint of pear and apple. Good acidity for a tangy finish. Unoaked.

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McManis Barbera Red Table Wine - From four generations of family farming comes a truly delicious red table wine.

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St Pauli Non-Alcoholic Beer - We've expanded our selection of N.A. beers to include this popular brew imported from Germany. Brewed in strict accordance with the German Purity Law of 1516.

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Sign up for our monthly newsletter to get a coupon each month for a special savings. Go to the right column for the sign-up box.

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Salida's own Amicas Brewery's
Ute Trail Pale Ale
is now available in six-pack bottles
at Roxy's!

Some Beer News

Industry News

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New Chinese Beer Law
A new Chinese law prohibits Air Force pilots from drinking alcoholic beverages at lunch while at work.

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Barley Growers Get Beer Update From Coors
Peter "PJ" Coors of the Coors brewing family told Montana barley growers Friday that this has been a record year in what has been a stable business, with rapidly escalating fuel and fertilizer costs, rising grain prices and megamergers among brewers.

"The world's changed from this time last year for all of us," Coors said. "They're going to still be talking about 2008 20 years from now. The number two brewer and the number three brewer merge, and the number one gets bought out."

During a tour of a grain elevator and Montana State University's Southern Ag Research Center near Huntley, Coors said the July 1 merger of Coors Brewing of Golden, Colo., with Miller Brewing Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., will save money. For example, each truckload of beer will travel 300 fewer miles.

Then he shook his head at the latest shake-up announced Monday, plans by Belgium's InBev to pay $52 billion for Anheuser-Busch, creating the world's largest beer-brewing company.

"When MillerCoors announced our merger last October, Auggie Busch (chief executive) sent out an e-mail saying that they (Coors) will be distracted for a while and now is the time to attack," he said. "We're going to return the favor and take advantage of the possible confusion in the Anheuser-Busch ranks."

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Meet the New King of Beers
Boston Beer CEO Jim Koch is as surprised as anyone that his company is now the country's No. 1 independent, publicly-traded brewery. Click to read an interview with him.

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Taking Out the Trash in Missouri

Factoid

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Did you know that anyone under the age of 21 who takes out household trash containing even a single empty alcohol beverage container can be charged with illegal possession of alcohol in the state of Missouri? Source: Missouri Revised Statistics (311.325).

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Dusseldorf German Alt Bier: a Taste of Class in a Glass

by Shawn Burgy

Northern Dusseldorf German Alt Bier is a very tasty and satisfying beer. a loose translation of Alt Bier would be Old Beer. It is said to be one of the oldest styles in Germany. Rumored to be a beer before Germany had access to Lager yeast. It is a lot like a big malty English Bitter. It tends to have much more hop bitterness than does an English Bitter. It's big on malt and how it is brewed. Very few examples of Dusseldorf Alt Bier can be found in the US.

The only way that I have had Alt Bier is by brewing it myself. It is a very tasty and easy beer for the homebrewer to make. Normally this beer would be brewed using a decotion mash. However you can make a very good Alt Bier by using single infusion mashing.

Gravity for Alt Bier is between 1.046 - 1.056 original gravity. Most are hopped between 25-40 IBU's, All dependent upon the gravity.Always hopped with German noble hops. These usually being Spalt, Hallertau Mittelfrau and sometimes Tettnanger.

Typically made with a Pils base and colored with roasted malt or dark crystal. May include small amounts of Munich or Vienna malt. Noble hops. usually made with an attenuating ale yeast.

This is one beer that you don't want to steer wrong yeast wise. My suggestion is Wyeast 1007 German Dusseldorf Ale. It gives it the perfect big creamy head. Also the perfect degree of malt flavour.

Subtle malty, sometimes grainy aroma. Low to no noble hop aroma. Clean, lager character with very restrained ester profile. No diacetyl.

Fairly bitter yet balanced by a smooth and sometimes sweet malt character that may have a rich, biscuity and/or lightly caramelized flavor. Dry finish often with lingering bitterness. Clean, lager character sometimes with slight sulfur notes and very low to no esters. Very low to medium noble hop flavor. No diacetyl.

Most Alt biers produced outside of Dusseldorf are of the Northern German style. Most are simply moderately bitter brown lagers. Ironically "alt" refers to the old style of brewing (i.e. making ales), which makes the term "Alt Bier" somewhat inaccurate and inappropriate. Those that are made as ales are fermented at cool ale temperatures and lagered at cold temperatures (as with Dusseldorf Alt).

If you can find them, commercial examples would be, DAB Traditional, Hannen Alt, Grolsch Amber, Alaskan Amber, St. Stan's Amber, Schmaltz' Alt

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I have been brewing since the craze in the 90's, I stuck to it. Now I'm sharing what I know with you. So give the site below a visit today. It will be evolving and growing with many resources for the new and old brewer alike. The Brewmeister, "Where it's a pleasure to Brew" -Shawn Burgy

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Roxy's Bottle Shop has Alaskan Amber in stock if you want to sample an alt beer.

More New Products

New Product Announcements

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Rene Junot Red - 1.5 liter bottles. This French red table wine is made from a careful blend of 20% syrah, 40% Grenache Noir, and 40% Carignon grapes. Ruby red in color with a delicate aroma of fresh cherries and raspberries. Luxurious notes of cinnamon and pepper with a spicy finish.

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Patron Silver 100% de Agave Tequila - This has been a very popular item for us and we now also carry it in the .375 liter bottle size.

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Goldschlagger - We now also carry this cinnamon schnapps liqueur in the .375 bottle size.

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Green Flash Trippel - This Belgian Style Ale has rich pale malt flavors and a solid base for zesty Styrian Golding and Czech Saaz hopping. Trappist ale yeast contributes the fruity, spicy profile of classic monk-brewed Belgian ales. A luscious, fiery, golden brew.

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We now carry cloth gift bags for bottles that are handcrafted right here in Salida, Colorado.

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Coldstream Hills Pinot Noir - This wine was made using a range of fermentation techniques, including whole branch inclusion, followed by nine months maturing in French oak. Attractive character of dark cherry, plum, and blueberry are evident with integrated toasty oak.

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Steamworks Third Eye Pale Ale - Just like the super-hoppy English Ales that originated in the early 1800's, the Pale Ale's larger grain bill produces plenty of residual sweetness. The Third Eye is one of our most heavily hopped beers, with a nice, light, copper color. It's a hophead's delight!

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Top Ten Alcohol Consuming Nations

Factoid

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Top Ten Alcohol Consuming Nations - from a World Health Organization report in absolute gallon consumption per capita.

1. Portugal, 2.98
2. Luxembourg, 2.95
3. France, 2.87
4. Hungary, 2.66
5. Spain, 2.66
6. Czech Republic, 2.64
7. Denmark, 2.61
8. Germany, 2.50
9. Austria, 2.50
10. Switzerland, 2.43

Notice how the United States isn't even on the list? The U.S. comes in 32nd on the list, consuming an average 1.75 absolute gallons of alcohol per capita. By absolute gallons they mean only the actual alcohol within a drink. So a gallon of wine doesn't count as a gallon. Only the amount of alcohol within the wine counts towards an absolute gallon.

English Bitter - the Style

by Shawn Burgy

English Bitter is one of the most satisfying of styles. To the homebrewer this can be one of the easiest styles of beer to make. Bitter as a style has many different tastes and surprises. Most are usually bittersweet and hoppy. English Bitter gets this from generous supply's of British noble hops.

The hops of which I speak are Challenger, Wye Target, Fuggles and the most prestigious of them all East Kent Golding's. There are many regional takes on this style as well. One of the more famous was Boddingtons Bitter. This beer was once a staple of the Greater Manchester area before Inbev bought them out. Sadly, the Strangways Brewery in Manchester has since been shut down.

This was a very good example of an English Bitter that was once respected by me. Another example of this style was Mansfield Bitter. Again sadly the brewery in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire has since closed. It's no longer a staple of Mansfield where it's adored across the Midlands. Very few examples of true English Bitter are available in the states.

There however are many examples of Pale Ale across the board. English Bitter is included in the Pale Ale family. There are actually three category's for English Bitter.

There's Ordinary Bitter with a gravity between 1.035 - 1.040. I like my Ordinary Bitter between 1.038 and 1.040. Usually hopped with 25-35 IBU's. Then there's Special/Best Bitter with gravity's between 1.040 - 1.048. Hop IBU's around 25-40. Also there is Extra Special Bitter or ESB for short. Gravity's usually between 1.048 - 1.060. This usually gets generous IBU's around 30-50+.

Respectively they're almost always malty and bittersweet. Usually the flavours don't change much between the three examples. The higher gravity beers tend to accentuate the flavorful British malt.

Grain wise you want to seek out a very good floor malted British two-row barley. My favorite malts in this case are Thomas Fawcett Marris Otter and Halcyon. This is a family owned malting company in West Yorkshire. Examples of beers made with Thomas Fawcett malts are Theakstons Old Pecuiler, Bass Pale Ale. Just to name a few. Be sure to use good fresh British hops as well.

So try making them and make them your own. I think you will be impressed.

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I have been brewing since the craze in the 90's, I stuck to it. Now I'm sharing what I know with you. So give the site below a visit today. It will be evolving and growing with many resources for the new and old brewer alike. The Brewmeister, "Where it's a pleasure to Brew" -Shawn Burgy

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The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty

Book Review

The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty, by Julia Flynn Siler. The New York Times bestseller, now in paperback: a scandal-plagued story of the immigrant family that built—and then lost—a global wine empire Set in California’s lush Napa Valley and spanning four generations of a talented and visionary family, The House of Mondavi is a tale of genius, sibling rivalry, and betrayal. From 1906, when Italian immigrant Cesare Mondavi passed through Ellis Island, to the Robert Mondavi Corp.’s twenty-first-century battle over a billion-dollar fortune, award-winning journalist Julia Flynn Siler brings to life both the place and the people in this riveting family drama. A meticulously reported narrative based on more than five hundred hours of interviews, The House of Mondavi is a modern classic. Julia Flynn Siler writes for The Wall Street Journal from San Francisco. She is a former London-based staff writer for the Journal and BusinessWeek, and has written for The New York Times. She is a graduate of Brown University, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, and Columbia’s Graduate School of Journalism.

Order from Amazon.com.

New Products in This Week

New Product Announcements

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Avery Fifteen Anniversary Ale - A refreshing tart, funky, farmhouse ale brewed with black mission figs, hibiscus flowers and white pepper.

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Kona Longboard - We have had several customer requests for Hawaii's signature beer so we've brought it in.

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In other beer additions we now carry Coors Light 16 ounce cans in an 18-pack in addition to 6-packs. Also we now carry Corona in cans in both 12-packs and 6-packs. And we've also brought in Budweiser Select in 12-pack cans.

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Herding Cats Chardonnay/Viognier - Looking for a wine that all your finicky friends will enjoy? This South African blend of 90% Chardonnay and 10% Viognier achieves the perfect balance of crisp apple and toasty oak, with a satisfying finish.

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Black Swan Shiraz - Available in a 4-pack of .187 millileter bottles. From South Eastern Australia.

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Oyster Bay Merlot & Oyster Bay Pinot Noir - New Zealand's Oyster Bay Savignon Blanc and Chardonnay have been big sellers for us so we've brought in their Merlot and Pinot Noir. And they are just as delicious!

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Lagunitas Sirius - This special edition beer from California's Lagunitas Brewery is described as a "silky high-gravity cream ale."

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Sunday Liquor Sales Across Colorado

Industry News

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Yesterday was the first Sunday of legal liqour sales in the State of Colorado. Here is a sampling from around the state of articles written about Sunday liquor sales:

Coloradans Tap Into Sunday Sales - The Denver Post
Historic Sunday in Colorado - Denver Daily News
Liquor Store Owners Will Grin and Bear the New Sunday Law - Longmont Daily Times
Never On Sundays No More - Vail Daily News
Taking Back Sunday - The Colorado Daily
Sunday Liquor Sales Begin in Colorado - Montrose Daily Press
Liqour Stores Mark Historic Day - Glenwood Springs Post Independent
Businesses Prepare For New Sunday Liquor Sales - Canon City Daily Record

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What are your opinions of Sunday liquor sales? Click on the "Comments" link below to leave your comment.

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More Exciting New Products

New Product Announcements

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Salvation - A Belgian style golden ale from Avery Brewing Company. Full of fruity aroma and hoppy complexity with a soft light palate. Brewed with pure Rocky Mountain water, imported Belgian malted barley, Belgian candy sugar, Styrian Goldings hops, and authentic Belgian yeast.

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Karma Ale - Avery Brewing Companies' summer seasonal is back! Handcrafted in Boulder, Colorado.

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La Vis Dipinti Pinot Griggio - A crisp and delicious Italian white wine.

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Menhir N.Zero - This scrumptous red wine from Italy delivers notes of wild blackberries and ripe plum on the nose with a concentrated and velvety long finish.

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Fonseca Ruby Port - This fine young port is made from grapes grown on the steep terraces of the Douro Valley of Portugal. A full young fruity port, which is best served at room temperature and can be enjoyed with a meal or on its own.

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Santa Rita 120 Merlot - Superb quality and craftsmanship are the hallmarks of Santa Rita, one of Chile's most admired and innovative wine estates. This merlot has a deep red color, with violet reflections and ruby hues. Fragrant aromas of fresh strawberry, plum, and vanilla are complemented by a hint of dried herbs. Its sweet, well-rounded flavor, rich in fruity undertones, is enhanced by soft tannins and a pleasing note of oak.

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Charamba Vinho Tinto - This red wine from the Douro Valley of Portugal is a velvety, fruity wine with great character and an intense bouquet.

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Kuhl Reisling - Just a drop of Riesling will "kuhl" you down on a hot summer day and "kuhl" the fire on your palate after a spicey meal. Scents of flowers and citrus on the nose are followed by crisp flavors of lime, honey and slate all balanced out by a bright acidity and lingering finish full of fruit and stone. The perfect German sipping wine.

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Zipang Sparkling Sake - Sweet yet refreshingly light. made with only rice, water, and yeast. It contains no sulfites or preservatives, and is naturally carbonated. Imported from Japan.

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Our Daily Red - This delicious California organic red wine has no sulfites added and is USDA certified organic. From the Nevada Wine Guild.

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Bacardi Classic Mojito - Experience the ultimate premixed mojito cocktail prepared with Bacardi Superior Rum.

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(Ooops) Carmenere Merlot - Although Merlot and Carmenere grapes look alike, Carmenere is something in between a Merlot and a Cabernet Sauvignon. Carmenere has great depth of deep-purple color, a jammy-fruity aroma, and soft tannins, just like Merlot, but it also has more complexity and earthiness, like a Cabernet. With its ruby glow, this cheeky little red from Chile with blackberry and oak flavors has an aroma of leather and vanilla. It's superb with red meat, or tomato pasta dishes.

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Firestone Sauvignon Blanc - From the Santa Ynez Valley in California's Santa Barbara County, this wine boasts crisp flavors of guava, melon, and passion fruit with hints of citrus and lemongrass.

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Fat Tire - We announced that New Belgium Brewing Company was going to put out their flagship brew, Fat Tire, in cans. Well, they are now in stock, chilled, and ready for your summer adventures.

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Big Fat Fun

Chief Hooligan Craft architect Greg Amidon

The Hooligan Craft in the FIBark Parade

Testing the weight of the craft (and the tensile strength of Chris' noggin).

Carrying the craft down to the water.

Pulling the water-filled craft out of the river.

Hooligan craft pilots Chris and Simon

Team Roxy's Hooligan Craft was the hit of the Hooligan Race at this year's FIBark. Though never tested, the craft proved just barely sea-worthy enough to win the race! Of course, the object of the Hooligan Race is not to come in first but rather second. But first place comes with extensive bragging rights. Greg and Roxanne Amidon have not yet officially announced their intentions for next year's Hooligan Race. They do, however, wish to extend their heartfelt gratitude to all of Roxy's customers who brought in wine corks to help build the craft. The craft will be on display at the store for the rest of this week.

The Billionaire's Vinegar

Book Review

The Billionaire's Vinegar: The Mystery of the World's Most Expensive Bottle of Wine , by Benjamin Wallace. It was the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold. In 1985, at a heated auction by Christie’s of London, a 1787 bottle of Château Lafite Bordeaux—one of a cache of bottles unearthed in a bricked-up Paris cellar and supposedly owned by Thomas Jefferson—went for $156,000 to a member of the Forbes family. The discoverer of the bottle was pop-band manager turned wine collector Hardy Rodenstock, who had a knack for finding extremely old and exquisite wines. But rumors about the bottle soon arose. Why wouldn’t Rodenstock reveal the exact location where it had been found? Was it part of a smuggled Nazi hoard? Or did his reticence conceal an even darker secret?

It would take more than two decades for those questions to be answered and involve a gallery of intriguing players—among them Michael Broadbent, the bicycle-riding British auctioneer who speaks of wines as if they are women and staked his reputation on the record-setting sale; Serena Sutcliffe, Broadbent’s elegant archrival, whose palate is covered by a hefty insurance policy; and Bill Koch, the extravagant Florida tycoon bent on exposing the truth about Rodenstock. Pursuing the story from Monticello to London to Zurich to Munich and beyond, Benjamin Wallace also offers a mesmerizing history of wine, complete with vivid accounts of subterranean European laboratories where old vintages are dated and of Jefferson’s colorful, wine-soaked days in France, where he literally drank up the culture.

Suspenseful, witty, and thrillingly strange, The Billionaire’s Vinegar is the vintage tale of what could be the most elaborate con since the Hitler diaries. It is also the debut of an exceptionally powerful new voice in narrative non-fiction. Benjamin Wallace has written for GQ, Food & Wine, and Philadelphia, where he was the executive editor. He lives in Brooklyn.Order from Amazon.com.

Hooligan Craft is Here!

Team Roxy's Hooligan Craft is currently on display at the store. Come take a good close look at it before it is put in the river this coming Saturday at FIBark's Hooligan Race. And no, the beer isn't going down the river. The craft will be piloted by the mysterious unidentified "Cork Man." Greg and Roxy will be watching safely from shore. You can also see the craft in the FIBark Parade. But if you come down to the store this week you can see it up close and personal and, if you are so inclined, you can even count how many corks were used to build it.

New Products Received in the Last Week

New Product Announcements

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Sexto - The name of this blended red wine from Spain means "sixth" in Spanish. It was the sixth grape added to the blend--the obscure Lledoner Pelut Noir--that made all the difference. Sexto captures the traditional taste of Spain with a decidedly modern twist. The blend breaks down to: 33% Barancha, 30% Carignan, 20% Tempranillo, 6% Lledoner Pelut Noir, 6% Cabernet Savignon, and 5% Syrah.

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Herradurra Silver Tequila - Casa Herradurra, founded in 1870, is one of the oldest and most respected producers of tequila. Produced in the heart of Mexico's tequila region, in Amatitan, Jaliso, Tequila Herradurra is 100% blue agave tequila carefully crafted using traditional methods. The result is a tequila with a wonderfully smooth agave flavor of uncompromising quality. Casa Herradurra is proud to have been named 2007 Distiller of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine, the first tequila distiller to win this prestigious award.

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Bud Light Lime - Just in time for summer, this is Budweiser's new premium light beer with 100% natural lime flavor.

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Marinella Marsala Sweet - Marinella excels in the kitchen and in your glass. Drink it chilled as an aperitif or dessert wine, or on the rocks as a cocktail. Indispensable for making Zabaglione. Award-winning Marinella has rich, nutty, aromatic flavors that rank it with the finest wines of Europe.

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Spaten Pils - This pilsner beer is the newest addition to our extensive bomber collection.

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Lindeman's Bin 55 Shiraz Cabernet - Founded by Dr. Henry Lindeman in 1843, Lindeman's has consistently crafted award-winning wines. From South Eastern Australia, this wine is 60% Shiraz and 40% Cabernet Savignon.

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Finest Call Premium Sweet and Sour Mix - In a one liter bottle, this is one of the best Sweet and Sour mixes available.

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Tequila Rose - An indulgent strawberry cream liqueur with a splash of tantalizing tequila. Now available in a .375 liter bottle.

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Santa Rita Carmenere - Superb quality and craftsmanship are the hallmarks of Santa Rita, one of Chile's most admired and innovative wine estates. This wine comes from the Rapel Valley, one of the finest wine producing regions in the world. On the palate, its soft savory tannins are dominated by its lush fruit and spice characteristics. A sensational well rounded and lingering wine.

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Santa Rita Organic Tempranillo - A fresh young wine with ripe black fruits, raisins, figs, and plum marmalades. Hints of vanilla and tobacco give character and a long finish. Of intense violet color with ruby accents. Great with pastas and red meats, Cajun dishes, or spiced flavors.

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A Recipe Collection--Top 5 Most Requested Summer Drinks

by Sandee Lembke

When most people host summer parties, they usually have the basic alcoholic beverages, like beer and wine, but rarely do you see a host offer a selection of really special summer drinks. I have perfected my list of offerings over the years and now I share my "Top 5 Most Requested Summer Drinks" with you (in no particular order).

Number One Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Limoncello Mint Lemonade

1/2 cup lemonade concentrate, 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves, 1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice, ice cubes, 1/4 cup Limoncello (lemon liqueur), 1/2 cup club soda, Lemon slices, and mint for garnish

In a small pitcher, "muddle" mint leaves together with lemonade concentrate and lemon juice. Muddle means to bruise the leaves so they release their flavor. I use the end of a wooden spoon. Stir in ice cubes, Limoncello and club soda and pour into 4 glasses. Top them off with a lemon slice, a sprig of fresh mint and an umbrella.

Makes 4-10 oz. drinks.

Number Two Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Pomegranate Blueberry Martini

Made with 1/2 juice so not as strong as most martinis.

1/2 part vodka, 1 part pomegranate mix (I use "Rose" brand), 1 part pomegranate blueberry juice (I use "Tropicana" brand), Orange slices for garnish.

Shake ingredients with ice for 1 minute in a martini shaker. Pour into some martini glasses and garnish with an orange slice. Crisp and refreshing!

Number Three Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Pineapple Bleu

2-oz. Hypnotic Liqueur, 1-oz. Grey Goose Vodka, Splash of pineapple juice, Lemon twist for garnish

Shake together Hypnotic, vodka and ice until chilled. Pour into a martini glass, top with pineapple juice and garnish with a lemon twist and an umbrella.

Number Four Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Sangria Punch

This one is great for summer barbeques because you can easily make it a pitcher at a time or can serve it from a punch bowl.

1 lemon, 1 lime, 1 orange, 1-1/2 cups rum (spiced rum works well too), 1/2 cup white sugar, 1 (750 milliliter) bottle dry red wine, 1 cup orange juice. Chill the fruit, rum, orange juice and wine. If desired, make ice cubes out of the orange juice. This is a good way to keep drinks icy cold without diluting them. Slice the lemon, lime and orange into thin rounds and place in a large glass pitcher. Pour in the rum and sugar. Chill in refrigerator for 2 hours to develop the flavors. When ready to serve, crush the fruit lightly with a wooden spoon and stir in the wine and orange juice (cubes if you made them). Adjust sweetness to taste.

Number Five Most Requested Summer Cocktail--Fruited Brandy Punch

This one has become a favorite at my home and a lot of the parties I attend, most likely because everyone loves it and you can make a huge amount and serve it in a punch bowl.

1/2 part brandy (I use Christian Brothers brand), 1 part lemon-lime soda, 2 parts fruit juice (Cranberry-Peach blend is my favorite), 1/2 bag frozen fruit (Blueberries and strawberries look great), 1 fruited ice ring (see recipe below), slices of lemons, limes and oranges, if desired.

Mix fruit juice and frozen fruit together in a nice punch bowl or container. Pour in lemon-lime soda, gently stir and then float an ice ring on top (see recipe below). Rather than spike the punch, I serve the brandy on the side so my guests who prefer non-alcoholic punch can drink it too.

To make ice ring:

Pour 1-2 cups of the juice mixture from above into a Bundt pan or another mold. Add some of the fruit and/or fresh citrus slices. Freeze overnight.

Just before serving, set the pan into some hot water to loosen the ice ring and then turn it into the punch bowl. It makes a really beautiful presentation, cools the punch and since it's made with juice, it will not water down the punch. Perfect!

This recipe can easily be altered so you can serve it from a Drink Fountain which is really gaining popularity lately. Just leave out the fruit and the ice ring.

So, now you have five classic summer cocktails to WOW your guests with. They will be so surprised when you hand them one of these special summer drinks instead of the usual beer and wine.

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Sandee Lembke from Theme Party Queen.com Theme-Party-Queen.com invites you to visit her site for more great theme party ideas and recipes.

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