Pick Your Own (PYO) Fruit, and Blackberry Cordials
For my birthday day, I decided, for reasons I don’t really know why, to go pick apples. Actually, I do know why, it is something we used to do in NY all the time and I missed that about Maryland. In researching all the orchards around town (well, mostly outside of town), we came across Larriland farms, an orchard that actually has many excellent functions, either for kids or people my age. Multiple fields of apples, hay rides, barn house full of country-produced goods and wares, this was exactly the place I wanted to go to. Later in this article I will discuss what I have done with some of the fruits I picked, in turning them into cordials, both blackberry and raspberry cordials. Read more
Jack’s Bistro, the hidden gem
September 29, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
By Greg B. I’ve basically lived in Baltimore for 8 years now, but only been outside of the college bubble for 4. In this time I had never heard of Jack’s Bistro, potentially because I rarely ate in Canton, but also for reasons I am not quite sure. This was a great restaurant with interesting atmosphere and a great menu. I strongly urge people to take a night out once and eat here. The food was very elegant, not overpriced and yet also well portioned, the beer list was tremendously varied and interesting, and the special deals this place puts forth are something not to miss!
Clipper City Brewing Company
There probably are not enough accolades I can give to the Clipper City Brewery line of beers, employees and, basically everything related to them. But I sure am going to try. Located in an, easy-to-get-to-if-you-know-where-you’re-going location, just south of Baltimore city, on weekends you can visit for a tour of the facility. Reserve tickets online, and $5 will get you a pint glass with a logo of the brewery and a few beer tokens to try the beers. This is an excellent opportunity to try them out, pre-tour. I have to say hello and thanks for the great time to the people we met, Chris, Chris, Mackenzie and Alec. Mackenzie was manning the door upon entry, Chris and Chris working the bar and helping with knowledge on the tour, and Alec giving an excellent tour filled with information, which I’ll get into now!
Otter Creek Brewery
September 21, 2008 by Greg · 4 Comments
I tasted some beers they had available at the Perfect Pour on Saturday and wanted to give you all a run down, since fall is upon us and this is classic beer drinking time, everyone needs to be properly informed on what to drink!
Sotto Sopra Wine Tasting
I realize this is a bit late in coming, but I finally found my list of wines from that evening and as best I can remember them, I figured I should write something, at the very least! The first of the monthly, 1st Thursday Tasting events at Sotto Sopra went off very well, with a large crowd, interesting people, along with good wines and good foods. I’m looking forward to October’s wine tasting!
Annapolis Homebrew Tasting
September 17, 2008 by Greg · 3 Comments
I have to give a tip o’ the hat to Shar, for organizing this little fiesta. He arranged several of his friends to get together, bring some food and their home brews and drink and talk about beer. Rarely in the history of mankind as a more simple, yet elegant and functional idea been had. This having been said, the tasting went extremely well, and I feel (without spilling all the beans already!) that another one should be in the works for a few months from now, after more beer has been brewed. Read more
Homemade Catawba Wine, part 2.
August 27, 2008 by Greg · 4 Comments
A good wine has a nice balance of flavor, color and aroma, though many factors contribute to the ‘flavor’. The mouth-feel of the wine, the bitterness, sweetness, how sour it tastes or how these flavors work together (Is there umami flavor in wine?). In order to contribute to the sour or sharp aspect of a wine, the proper acidity must be maintained and in order to do so, some simple chemistry must be done, with ease from an acid titration kit
