We drove up to Madison IN last week to buy cider, and for the first time got a close look at Thomas's recently completed outdoor area. Let's say merely that it provides several good ideas.
Showing posts with label Thomas Family Winery. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thomas Family Winery. Show all posts
Sunday, November 04, 2012
The new outdoor garden/patio at Thomas Family Winery.
We drove up to Madison IN last week to buy cider, and for the first time got a close look at Thomas's recently completed outdoor area. Let's say merely that it provides several good ideas.
Saturday, September 04, 2010
Varietal, bottle-conditioned scrumpies from Thomas Family Winery.
We’ve released a long-awaited series of varietal, bottle-conditioned ciders. These are classic scrumpies, with incredible focus on varietal apple flavor. These cider cultivars are distinct and easily appreciated! Gale’s Hard Cider Chieftan’s Blend Varietal Series comes in 22 oz bottles, hand-crafted, barrel-fermented, aged 5 years.
King David - Light yeast, tart apple flavors with a spicy, floral palate, lively astringence
Golden Russet - Pear skin, ripe fruit, orange/lemon flavors, strong tannins and good acidity
Hudson’s Golden Gem - Light yeast, pear & tree aromas, spicy talc, butterscotch
Goldrush - Lemony, yeasty, minerals and sweet perfume, tart & edgy
Winter Banana - Fruity, bark & flower, ripe bananas, rich earthy tannins
$7.99 each, or $34.99 per set!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Playing odds & ends catch-up.
It’s an odds and ends sort of day. Cognizant of my recent shortcomings of timeliness, I might try to back-post a few things if there’s time tomorrow.
I hated to miss the first Winterfest, which took place on Saturday night in Indianapolis. It was a wintertime beer festival staged by the Brewers of Indiana Guild (BIG), and from all accounts a tremendous success. Some day there’ll be time for involvement with the guild.
Some day. Really.
On Friday, a detachment of the NABC Bank Street Brewhouse project development crew enjoyed a drive to Madison, Indiana on a balmy January day. John, Jared, Gregg and I dropped in on the inimitable Steve Thomas at my favorite Indiana winery to score a keg of delish Scrumpy, and then after a few Gale’s Hard Ciders and cheese appetizers, we adjourned to Shipley’s for cheeseburgers and refreshments.
There was general amazement upon looking at the beer menu at this prototypical Indiana tavern and finding Little Kings Cream Ale on tap … but of course, it was a typo, and only bottles were available. I had two, anyway, resisting the impulse the entire time to throw them at road signs while seated indoors – such was the power of youthful instinct in the body of an older man.
The burgers are fine, indeed, and prepared the old-fashioned way right in front of you on the griddle behind the bar.
After lunch, we investigated the 605 Grill on Main Street, site of the late McQuiston’s, where a new owners are trying to make a go of a short bistro-style food menu and six good draft beers on weekend nights, with hopes to expand operations at some point in future. We’ll be placing an occasional keg of NABC beer there and hoping for the best in their efforts.
Saturday was highlighted by my buddy Jerry’s providential decision to score two fresh, genuine Havana cigars for a two-hour session at the Public House bar. We puffed and sipped on a gently aged (well, several months) bottle of Schlafly Biere de Garde, followed by a dessert beer of Struise Tsjeesus.
On Sunday, I met with Rita Kohn from Indy’s NUVO alternative newspaper, and she recorded me for an oral history project. It’s the second such taping I’ve done in a year, which leads me to conclude (a) I’ve become old, and (b) it’s time to write that damned book locked inside me.
I hated to miss the first Winterfest, which took place on Saturday night in Indianapolis. It was a wintertime beer festival staged by the Brewers of Indiana Guild (BIG), and from all accounts a tremendous success. Some day there’ll be time for involvement with the guild.
Some day. Really.
On Friday, a detachment of the NABC Bank Street Brewhouse project development crew enjoyed a drive to Madison, Indiana on a balmy January day. John, Jared, Gregg and I dropped in on the inimitable Steve Thomas at my favorite Indiana winery to score a keg of delish Scrumpy, and then after a few Gale’s Hard Ciders and cheese appetizers, we adjourned to Shipley’s for cheeseburgers and refreshments.
There was general amazement upon looking at the beer menu at this prototypical Indiana tavern and finding Little Kings Cream Ale on tap … but of course, it was a typo, and only bottles were available. I had two, anyway, resisting the impulse the entire time to throw them at road signs while seated indoors – such was the power of youthful instinct in the body of an older man.
The burgers are fine, indeed, and prepared the old-fashioned way right in front of you on the griddle behind the bar.
After lunch, we investigated the 605 Grill on Main Street, site of the late McQuiston’s, where a new owners are trying to make a go of a short bistro-style food menu and six good draft beers on weekend nights, with hopes to expand operations at some point in future. We’ll be placing an occasional keg of NABC beer there and hoping for the best in their efforts.
Saturday was highlighted by my buddy Jerry’s providential decision to score two fresh, genuine Havana cigars for a two-hour session at the Public House bar. We puffed and sipped on a gently aged (well, several months) bottle of Schlafly Biere de Garde, followed by a dessert beer of Struise Tsjeesus.
On Sunday, I met with Rita Kohn from Indy’s NUVO alternative newspaper, and she recorded me for an oral history project. It’s the second such taping I’ve done in a year, which leads me to conclude (a) I’ve become old, and (b) it’s time to write that damned book locked inside me.
Monday, June 30, 2008
NABC holiday hours, Victory beers on tap and Thomas cherry cider.
First, the holiday closing news.
NABC, Rich O’s and Sportstime will be closed this coming weekend (Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5). Since we’re always closed on Sunday, it’ll be a three-day break, with the annual employee picnic slated for Saturday.
Our last business day this week is Thursday, July 3. Get what you need by then, or do without …
Note that currently all three of the Victory Brewing beers cleared for sale in Indiana are pouring at the Public House: Hop Devil, Prima Pils and Golden Monkey.
Know also that for a short time (two kegs) we’ll be the only establishment outside of Madison, Indiana to be serving the Thomas Family Winery’s excellent Cherry Cider on draft. It’s the same as Gale’s Hard Cider, with cherries added; balanced between tart and sweet, and highly poundable during hot weather.
NABC, Rich O’s and Sportstime will be closed this coming weekend (Friday, July 4 and Saturday, July 5). Since we’re always closed on Sunday, it’ll be a three-day break, with the annual employee picnic slated for Saturday.
Our last business day this week is Thursday, July 3. Get what you need by then, or do without …
Note that currently all three of the Victory Brewing beers cleared for sale in Indiana are pouring at the Public House: Hop Devil, Prima Pils and Golden Monkey.
Know also that for a short time (two kegs) we’ll be the only establishment outside of Madison, Indiana to be serving the Thomas Family Winery’s excellent Cherry Cider on draft. It’s the same as Gale’s Hard Cider, with cherries added; balanced between tart and sweet, and highly poundable during hot weather.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Three things I learned during the past week.
Better stated, it's three things I already knew, but permitted a measure of reinforcment in my mind.
When the best beer available in the area that is billed as Millionaire’s Row is Heineken, and it is served in a can, it’s obvious that people don’t go to Churchill Downs to drink good beer. Or, for that matter, any casino.
The dialect spoken by locals isn’t German, and most Bavarian beer halls offer neither hamburgers nor ESPN on television, but Newport’s Hofbrauhaus is as authentic as might be hoped given the many differences in pork production between Kentucky and Franconia. The Weizenbock was brilliant.
The Thomas Family Winery in Madison is responsible for great wine, cider and even Sack (a variety of sherry), and even better, the Celtic ambience of its tasting room provides a contrarian’s favored change of pace from the usual winery chic.
When the best beer available in the area that is billed as Millionaire’s Row is Heineken, and it is served in a can, it’s obvious that people don’t go to Churchill Downs to drink good beer. Or, for that matter, any casino.
The dialect spoken by locals isn’t German, and most Bavarian beer halls offer neither hamburgers nor ESPN on television, but Newport’s Hofbrauhaus is as authentic as might be hoped given the many differences in pork production between Kentucky and Franconia. The Weizenbock was brilliant.
The Thomas Family Winery in Madison is responsible for great wine, cider and even Sack (a variety of sherry), and even better, the Celtic ambience of its tasting room provides a contrarian’s favored change of pace from the usual winery chic.
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Temptations on Frankfort Avenue and in Madison, Indiana.
It’s damned hard to be seated an arm’s length away from a pint of good ale and be listening to classic Irish music without immediately abandoning the day’s well-intentioned plans in favor of a lengthy, and often moveable, session.
This has happened to me twice in the past week, and both times I was somehow able to pull back from the brink and becoming submerged beneath a self-imposed fog of “craic.”
The first challenge came at the Irish Rover during lunch on Wednesday. The original Dubliners were on the CD player when my friend Roz and I entered. Matt Gould’s Cumberland Brews Cream Ale was pouring, and the fish cakes were suitably aquatic, although the huge mound of potatoes was left intact in favor of another pint. We stopped there and went to our respective homes to sort through bags of goodies from Lotsa Pasta. The decision to depart wasn’t an easy one, but discretion outranks spoiled refrigerator case chorizo on most steamy Ohio Valley afternoons.
Last night was the second hurdle, with Mrs. Curmudgeon accompanying me to Madison, Indiana, for two Friday family reunion events separated by three hours of down time, which we chose to spend at the Thomas Family Winery. The music greeted us just before Steve did:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry QuayAnd from Galway to Dublin townNo maid I've seen like the sweet colleenThat I met in the County Down.
A two-glass wine interlude followed, punctuated by conversation with a few of the regulars and a delectable sample of Greek-style barbecued lamb. Too soon thereafter it came time to make the short hop to Clifty Falls and the next activity, so I purchased a bottle of Pinot Grigio to take to the family’s “happy hour,” where it was quickly devoured.
There was no music at the gathering. Had there been, I’d have wanted to stay longer.
----
Unfortunately, there is bad news for beer lovers in the lovely but underserved city of Madison. McQuiston’s Malthouse has closed, and the fine restored building is for sale.
This has happened to me twice in the past week, and both times I was somehow able to pull back from the brink and becoming submerged beneath a self-imposed fog of “craic.”
The first challenge came at the Irish Rover during lunch on Wednesday. The original Dubliners were on the CD player when my friend Roz and I entered. Matt Gould’s Cumberland Brews Cream Ale was pouring, and the fish cakes were suitably aquatic, although the huge mound of potatoes was left intact in favor of another pint. We stopped there and went to our respective homes to sort through bags of goodies from Lotsa Pasta. The decision to depart wasn’t an easy one, but discretion outranks spoiled refrigerator case chorizo on most steamy Ohio Valley afternoons.
Last night was the second hurdle, with Mrs. Curmudgeon accompanying me to Madison, Indiana, for two Friday family reunion events separated by three hours of down time, which we chose to spend at the Thomas Family Winery. The music greeted us just before Steve did:
From Bantry Bay up to Derry QuayAnd from Galway to Dublin townNo maid I've seen like the sweet colleenThat I met in the County Down.
A two-glass wine interlude followed, punctuated by conversation with a few of the regulars and a delectable sample of Greek-style barbecued lamb. Too soon thereafter it came time to make the short hop to Clifty Falls and the next activity, so I purchased a bottle of Pinot Grigio to take to the family’s “happy hour,” where it was quickly devoured.
There was no music at the gathering. Had there been, I’d have wanted to stay longer.
----
Unfortunately, there is bad news for beer lovers in the lovely but underserved city of Madison. McQuiston’s Malthouse has closed, and the fine restored building is for sale.
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