Slashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.comSlashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.com/media/feedlogo.gifSlashfoodhttp://www.slashfood.comen-usCopyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Craft Brewers Create 'Royal Virility Performance' Limited-Edition Beerhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/craft-brewers-create-royal-virility-performance-limited-editio/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/craft-brewers-create-royal-virility-performance-limited-editio/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/20/craft-brewers-create-royal-virility-performance-limited-editio/#commentsFiled under: ,

Royal Wedding 'Royal Virility Performance' BeerPhoto: BrewDog Beer


All the Royal Wedding food-related hoopla is just about at its boiling point (though props to the Papa John's employee that created this "beauty"), but finally, something...more stimulating. The folks at craft beer company BrewDog, known for other beer-related stunts such as the world's strongest beer and beer served in taxidermed animals, have created a limited edition "Royal Virility Performance" beer with "Viagra, chocolate, Horny Goat Weed and 'a healthy dose of sarcasm'." Only 1,000 bottles will be made, and the beer will ship on April 28, the day before the Royal Wedding. BrewDog explains:

With this beer we want to take the wheels off the royal wedding bandwagon being jumped on by dozens of breweries; The Royal Virility Performance is the perfect antidote to all the hype. A beer should be brewed with a purpose, not just because some toffs are getting married, so we created something at our brewery that will undermine those special edition beers and other assorted seaside tat, whilst at the same time actually give the happy couple something extra on their big day...There is more to brewing and tasting beer than putting a royal wedding label on it, so we're showing everyone just how ludicrous it is.


BrewDog claims they have sent Prince William a complimentary bottle.

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]]>BrewDogCraft beerfeaturedroyal virility performance beerroyal weddingSlashfood EditorWed, 20 Apr 2011 15:00:00 ESTBlind Tasters Can't Tell Cheap Wines From Expensivehttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/blind-tasters-cant-tell-cheap-wines-from-expensive/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/blind-tasters-cant-tell-cheap-wines-from-expensive/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/15/blind-tasters-cant-tell-cheap-wines-from-expensive/#commentsFiled under: ,

wine tastingPhoto: weelibrarian, Flickr


People can't tell the difference between cheap and expensive wine, says psychologist Richard Wiseman after conducting a survey of 578 drinkers at the Edinburgh International Science Festival, reports The Guardian. The participants sampled a variety of red and white wines in a blind taste test with prices ranging from about $6 to $50. The results concluded that people could only tell the difference between cheap and expensive white wines 53% of the time, and 47% of the time for red wines.

In other words, it's about the same percentage as if they merely guessed. The Claret was the hardest to pinpoint, with only 39% getting it right, despite the price tag differences of about $5 for one bottle and $23 for the other. The Journal of Wine Economics backs up Wiseman's findings. Its 2008 study, "Do More Expensive Wines Taste Better?" reported that:
Individuals who are unaware of the price do not derive more enjoyment from more expensive wine. In a sample of more than 6,000 blind tastings, we find that the correlation between price and overall rating is small and negative, suggesting that individuals on average enjoy more expensive wines slightly less.
Maybe it's time to add some swill wine to that expensive Bordeaux collection.

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]]>blind wine tastingcheap winewine tastingSlashfood EditorFri, 15 Apr 2011 17:00:00 ESTThe Best Bottles Of Wine Under $7http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/13/the-best-bottles-of-wine-under-7/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/13/the-best-bottles-of-wine-under-7/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/04/13/the-best-bottles-of-wine-under-7/#commentsFiled under:

wines under $7Photos: Daniel Slaughter, Flickr; darktek13, Flickr


Don't let Trader Joe's brainwash you into thinking their Two-Buck Chuck is the only game in town when it comes to inexpensive wine. There are plenty of affordable bottles out there that aren't utter plonk. Over at The Huffington Post, Alex Milling has compiled a list of some of her favorite wines for everyday occasions. They made not be the best wines you've ever had, but that's not the point -- what's important is that they certainly won't be the worst.

Get the list after the jump.

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]]>cheap wineinexpensive winewine under 7Slashfood EditorWed, 13 Apr 2011 16:00:00 ESTCabs Not From Napa - Wine of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/25/cabs-not-from-napa-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/25/cabs-not-from-napa-wine-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/25/cabs-not-from-napa-wine-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Root: 1 Wine CabernetPhoto: Root: 1 Wine

More often than not, Cabernet Sauvignon is associated with Napa, just as the Switzerland is linked with chocolate, and Vermont or Wisconsin with artisan cheese.

But I thought it might be fun to look at other wine-growing regions around the world where Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are grown. One advantage to looking outside of Napa is that the Cabs cost much, much less. (It's difficult to find a quality Napa Cab under $30.) This is true from the state of Washington to Mendoza, Argentina.

Here are six juicy Cabs that I recently sipped and fell in love with -- and none are from Napa.

Continue reading Cabs Not From Napa - Wine of the Week

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]]>cabernetcabernet sauvignonNapa ValleyKristine HansenFri, 25 Mar 2011 17:00:00 ESTNYC Bartender Breaks World Record: 1,003 Cocktails in One Hourhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/23/nyc-bartender-breaks-world-record-1-003-cocktails-in-one-hour/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/23/nyc-bartender-breaks-world-record-1-003-cocktails-in-one-hour/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/23/nyc-bartender-breaks-world-record-1-003-cocktails-in-one-hour/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo: YouTube

While many of us awaited the fate of the Hendrix wives on last Sunday night's final episode of "Big Love," Sheldon Wiley was on his own high-octane multiples mission. The New York City-based mixologist whipped up 1,003 cocktails to break the Guinness World Record for the most cocktails made in an hour. The previous record of 937 cocktails was held by German mixologist Matthias Knorr. "I wanted this record to be about more than just speed," Wiley said via a press release. "I wanted to exemplify the integrity and craft of cocktails."

In what we can only politely presume was a blatant Rambo reference, Wiley wore a bandage cloth wrapped around his head as he double-fisted bottles of flavored vodka and mixers in - where else? -- the Empire State Building's Empire Room. He used four ingredients in each cocktail (three is the minimum Guinness World Records requirement), including dozens of fresh fruit juices and several Monin Gourmet flavored syrups, as well as eight flavors of 360 Vodkas. That schizophrenic selection of ingredients may seem like unnecessary sensory overload, at least until you realize which two corporations were the event's sponsors. Hint: It wasn't an orange juice company.

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]]>featuredguiness book of world recordsworld record cocktailsJenn GarbeeWed, 23 Mar 2011 13:00:00 ESTWine in a Pouch?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/21/wine-in-a-pouch/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/21/wine-in-a-pouch/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/21/wine-in-a-pouch/#commentsFiled under: ,

Indulge Wines, eco-friendly pouches of winePhoto: Indulge Wines


If you're nostalgic for those fun Capri Sun pouches you sipped as a kid, you might be interested in the new package wine package vintners are trying out in an effort to be eco-friendly.

Indulge Wines, headquartered in Buellton (Santa Barbara County), California, recently rolled out two 1.5L wines packaged in an "Astrapouch": a 2009 Sauvignon Blanc, North Coast; and a 2009 Pinot Noir, Central Coast. Although right now they're only available in California, by summertime, wine-drinkers nationwide will be able to purchase the portable pouches. (Each pouch is the equivalent of two 750mL wine bottles.)

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]]>Indulge winesIndulgeWinespouch winePouchWineKristine HansenMon, 21 Mar 2011 16:00:00 ESTNew Pepsi Bottle Is 100 Percent Plant-Basedhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/16/new-pepsi-bottle-is-100-percent-plant-based/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/16/new-pepsi-bottle-is-100-percent-plant-based/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/03/16/new-pepsi-bottle-is-100-percent-plant-based/#commentsFiled under: ,

Pepsi's new plant-based bottle designPhoto: PepsiCo / AP Photo

Earth Day may not be for another month, but the folks at PepsiCo are celebrating early. The company has just announced that it has developed the world's first 100-percent plant-based PET bottle.

For those not wholly versed in enviro-speak, PET is short for polyethylene terephthalate, a.k.a. a type of plastic--or to hardcore tree-huggers everywhere, "All that is crazy and absurdly wrong with a consumer-driven society in overdrive."

Indeed, to look at the lowly plastic soda bottle, it can be hard to believe that such an eminently ubiquitous, forgettable and throwaway item could ever have become so socially and politically charged. But then again, it's precisely its unseemly propensity to pop up even the most unexpected of places that has made it increasingly loathed. After all, nothing spoils your eco-bliss like an empty Mountain Dew bottle washing against your ankles in the surf.

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]]>pepsipepsi bottlepepsi green bottleJason BestWed, 16 Mar 2011 15:00:00 ESTNarragansett Porter - Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/28/narragansett-porter-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/28/narragansett-porter-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/28/narragansett-porter-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Narragansett porter canPhoto: stevegarfield, Flickr

In this day and age retro beer brands are all the rage, with drinkers sucking down Schlitz and PBR like they're going out of style -- again. But nostalgia is not enough for me to overlook one glaring fact: These beers don't taste all that great.

So you can understand my trepidation when, last summer in Connecticut, I stumbled across a six-pack of lager tall boys from Narragansett. I was attracted to the can's classic look and $6.99 price tag. Instead of a cheap, watery lager, I was rewarded by a rich, crisp flavor. What was Narragansett, and why was it so good?

New England's Narragansett was born in 1890, and within 25 years it became the region's largest lager brewery. Over the decades, Narragansett became the de facto beverage for New Englanders, even serving as the Boston Red Sox's official beer. In the seventies, though, the company was sold. The Rhode Island brewery was later shuttered, and production shifted to Indiana. Quality suffered. By 2005, the brand seemed destined for death. Then along came Mark Hellendrung, the former president of Nantucket Nectars. He and investors bought the brand and, over the last five years, have set about restoring Narragansett to its lofty perch.

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]]>featuredNarragansettNarragansett beerJoshua M. BernsteinMon, 28 Feb 2011 17:00:00 ESTHeater Allen Coastal -- Beer of the Weekhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/heater-allen-coastal-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/heater-allen-coastal-beer-of-the-week/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/22/heater-allen-coastal-beer-of-the-week/#commentsFiled under:

Heater Allen BrewingPhoto: Heater Allen Brewing

When it comes to craft beer, "lager" might as well be a four-letter word. Rebelling against Coors and their watery kind, microbrew drinkers gravitate toward bold, super-bitter IPAs and potent imperial stouts aged in bourbon barrels. In turn, the crisp, elegant lager has been discarded like dishwater.

I also fell into that camp. Why sip a simple lager when a battalion of crazily flavored craft beer awaited my mouth? Give me hops, or give me death! On my recent trip to Portland, Oregon, plenty of hoppy brews tickled my taste buds. But I also found a lager that made me appreciate the unfairly maligned style.

The swoon-worthy beer was crafted by McMinnville, Oregon's Heater Allen Brewing, the hop-crazed state's only all-lager brewery. "If there hadn't been this huge hole in Oregon, I wouldn't have tried to launch the brewery," owner and brewer Rick Allen told me when I was researching my beer book. I heard rave reviews about his lagers, including the dark, slightly smoky Scwarz; crisp, golden Pils; and the malty Dunkel. But hadn't tried any Heater beers till last week, when I cracked the bottle of Coastal I'd brought back to Brooklyn.

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]]>beerfeaturedHeater Allen BrewingOregon beerJoshua M. BernsteinTue, 22 Feb 2011 15:00:00 ESTWhite House Happy Hours: What Do Our Presidents Drink?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/21/white-house-happy-hours-what-do-our-presidents-drink/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/21/white-house-happy-hours-what-do-our-presidents-drink/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/21/white-house-happy-hours-what-do-our-presidents-drink/#commentsFiled under: ,

President Barack Obama wine choicesPhoto: Charles Dharapak / AP Photo


On Presidents Day this year, we fully expect a little bit of imbibing to take place at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Every U.S. president has had his vice -- James Buchanan would reportedly trek to a distillery each Sunday to purchase a gallon-sized jug of whiskey. It's also been reported that JFK did not serve lemonade, water, or even beer, aboard the presidential yacht -- instead, he turned to daiquiris.

And Barack Obama is no exception. On the heels of his "beer summit" in July 2009 where he chugged mugs of beer with two others on the Rose Garden patio, and following White House tradition, he and Michelle ensure that flutes of Domaine Chandon's sparkling wine (Blanc de Noirs, $22) are poured at all state dinners and other White House receptions.

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]]>Barack ObamaMichelle ObamaMoet ChandonPresident Obamapresidents dayPresidentsDayWhite HouseKristine HansenMon, 21 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST"Kiss Me Kate" Brew a Tribute to Kate Middletonhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/18/kiss-me-kate-brew-a-tribute-to-kate-middleton/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/18/kiss-me-kate-brew-a-tribute-to-kate-middleton/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/18/kiss-me-kate-brew-a-tribute-to-kate-middleton/#commentsFiled under: ,

Kate Middleton Royal Wedding beerPhoto: Castle Rock Brewery

Planning a wedding is enough to drive any normal couple to drink, much less the successors to the royal throne.

Thus, we won't fault Prince William and princess-to-be Kate Middleton if they need to sand away their stress with a cool pint of beer -- or four. If that's the case, the couple should order a keg of the aptly named Kiss Me Kate, a commemorative brew crafted by Nottingham, England's Castle Rock Brewery.

"Kiss Me Kate will be elegant, tasteful and British to the core," head brewer Adrian Redgrove said of the pale ale, which will be released about a month before the April 29 wedding.

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]]>BeerfeaturedKate MiddletonKiss Me KateRoyal Weddingroyal wedding beerroyal wedding detailsJoshua M. BernsteinFri, 18 Feb 2011 14:00:00 ESTDigestif Liqueurs: Digestion Is in Sessionhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/digestif-liqueurs-digestion-is-in-session/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/digestif-liqueurs-digestion-is-in-session/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/digestif-liqueurs-digestion-is-in-session/#commentsFiled under: ,

Bitter Truth E**X**R digestive liqueurPhoto: The Bitter Truth

Every day, I'm pummeled with press releases touting "innovative," "thrilling" beverages that promise to change the way I get drunk. Largely, I hit delete. Yet every blue moon, my curiosity is piqued. Case in point -- a recent missive touting the creatively punctuated E**X**R, "a digestive liqueur that blurs the lines of conventional wisdom."

Oh, really? But I put a sock in my cynicism once I saw the elixir's pedigree. It's crafted by the Bitter Truth, makers of a marvelous line of cocktail bitters, including a killer celery creation that has a home in my bar. (Seriously, it is the goodness, especially in a gin and tonic.) E**X**R, the release continued, is "at once velvety smooth and clean, aromatic and herbaceous." It could tart up a pre-dinner Manhattan (not my cup o' tea) or be savored "neat after a rich meal to aid digestion." Sold! Since I like to eat till my belly resembles a bowling ball, I requested a sample.

In my lifetime of overeating, I've become intimately acquainted with digestifs. To move food along, I'll often tip back a taste of Fernet Branca, Italian Averna or maybe even Jägermeister -- yes, that black nectar began as a wind-me-down, not a pick-me-up.

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]]>Bitter TruthdigestifsFeaturedJoshua M. BernsteinWed, 16 Feb 2011 15:00:00 ESTBevshots Quiz Part Two: Can You Identify These Alcohol Photos?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/bevshots-quiz-alcohol-photos/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/bevshots-quiz-alcohol-photos/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/16/bevshots-quiz-alcohol-photos/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photo Courtesy of BEVSHOTS


In January, we posted our first BevShots Quiz -- and the response was overwhelming. Turns out people like alcohol trivia almost as they like to belly up to the bar.

In case you missed it last time, here's the deal: The folks at BevShots have taken your favorite beverages -- cocktails, beer, wine and non-alcoholic drinks -- and put them under the microscope. How do they do it? Research scientist Michael Davis of Florida State University crystallizes the cocktails on a lab slide, then photographs them using a camera attached to a light microscope.

Want to see more? Head over to BevShots.com, where you can browse through their entire collection and even purchase the photos (one of these hanging over the bar sure beats that old "dogs playing poker" standby).

Ready for round two? Take our quiz after the jump.

Continue reading Bevshots Quiz Part Two: Can You Identify These Alcohol Photos?

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]]>BevShotscocktailsDrinks QuizSlashfood EditorWed, 16 Feb 2011 11:30:00 ESTStanley Tucci Pours Wine for Celebs on "Vine Talk"http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/10/stanley-tucci-pours-wine-for-celebs-on-vine-talk/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/10/stanley-tucci-pours-wine-for-celebs-on-vine-talk/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/10/stanley-tucci-pours-wine-for-celebs-on-vine-talk/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Stanley Tucci hosts wine talk showPhoto: VINE TALK / Eduardo Patino


What happens when actor Stanley Tucci (Big Night, Julie and Julia), choreographer Tommy Tune, "Top Chef" judge Gail Simmons, and author Stephen Dubner (Freakonomics) uncork a bunch of Chiantis and start swirling? An episode of "Vine Talk," Tucci's weekly wine-tasting talk show debuting on PBS April 7. Slashfood joined the taping this week at New York's WNET studios.

Recalling Jon Favreau's "Dinner for Five," "Vine Talk's" weekly half-hour chat-and-sip-a-thon features guests the likes of Julianne Moore, Kyle MacLaughlan, Nathan Lane, Daniel Boulud, Marcus Samuelsson, Joe Bastianich, Patricia Clarkson, and Penn Badgley. Tucci picks a different wine region each week, pours for the whole audience, and then, over drinks, they discuss.

Ray Isle, wine editor of Food & Wine magazine, and the show's resident expert, gives us our assignment: "Taste all six wines, and pick a favorite." (The audience, along with the panel, determines the best wine of the bunch each week.) And in case you think this is all sip and spit, Isle adds, "We haven't given you anything to spit into, so don't spit on your neighbor." In other words, swallow and enjoy the vino.

Continue reading Stanley Tucci Pours Wine for Celebs on "Vine Talk"

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]]>stanley tuccivine talkwine tastingKaren DanickThu, 10 Feb 2011 15:00:00 ESTDo You Live in America's Drunkest City?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/07/do-you-live-in-americas-drunkest-city/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/07/do-you-live-in-americas-drunkest-city/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/07/do-you-live-in-americas-drunkest-city/#commentsFiled under: ,

drinks, drunkest cities in AmericaPhoto: Thomas Hawk, Flickr


A tipple is one thing, but some U.S. cities have a problem with the bottle. Using factors DUI arrests, liver disease dealths and binge drinking stats, Men's Health crunched the numbers to find America's Drunkest City. Who won the dubious honor? Fresno, California, which received an "F" from the magazine when it comes to its drinking problem. We definitely won't say "cheers" to that.

Want to see if your town belongs in rehab? Check out the full list from Men's Health.

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]]>Drunkest CityMens HealthSlashfood EditorMon, 07 Feb 2011 15:00:00 ESTSuper Bowl Drinks: Green Bay Packers & Pittsburgh Steelershttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/05/team-cocktails-for-the-superbowl/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/05/team-cocktails-for-the-superbowl/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/05/team-cocktails-for-the-superbowl/#commentsFiled under:

Cocktail Photos Courtesy Heather Greene; Helmets: AP Photo



Looking for an alternative to beer during the big game? Check out these high-octane cocktails from Scotch whisky expert Heather Greene. We've got two drink recipes for each team, so throw on your favorite jersey and raise a glass.

Pittsburgh Steelers - Blood and Turf
This variation of the classic Blood & Sand cocktail represents the Steelers' ability to push the ball over the goal line.

3/4 oz Glenfiddich 12
3/4 oz Lillet Rouge
3/4 oz Pear liquor
1oz Lillet Rouge

Shake over ice and strain into martini glass. Garnish with orange.

Get more cocktail recipes after the jump.

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]]>green+bay+packer+drinksgreen+bay+packers+drinksgreenbaypackerdrinksgreenbaypackersdrinksSuper BowlSuper Bowl Cocktailssuper+bowl+drinkssuperbowl+cocktailssuperbowlcocktailssuperbowldrinkswhiskey cocktailswhisky cocktailsSlashfood EditorSat, 05 Feb 2011 12:00:00 ESTSuper Bowl Wines: What To Pair with Your Favorite Snackshttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/04/super-bowl-wines-what-to-pair-with-your-favorite-snacks/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/04/super-bowl-wines-what-to-pair-with-your-favorite-snacks/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/04/super-bowl-wines-what-to-pair-with-your-favorite-snacks/#commentsFiled under: ,

super bowl wine pairing menuPhoto: cogdogblog, Flickr


Beer is considered game-day imbibing but really, it's okay to sip wine too. Here is your guide to pairing wine with typical Super Bowl snacks -- from bowls of hot chili to bags of potato chips. And because we know you might be buying for a crowd, all of the recommended wines are budget-friendly (costing no more than $15 a bottle).

Layered taco dip
This is a complex dish, with layers of guacamole, chopped lettuce and tomatoes, corn kernels and spicy-hot taco meat or refried beans. An equally complex wine to help you wash it all down is key. Ditch the Napa Cabs and try a something from a new, up-and-coming Cabernet Sauvignon region: Chile.
Our budget pick: Vina Aquitania 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, Valle del Maipo, Chile

Pizza
Syrah's peppery notes bring out the acidic nuances in a pizza's tomato-based sauce.
Our budget pick: J. Lohr Winery 2006 South Ridge Syrah, Paso Robles, California

Continue reading Super Bowl Wines: What To Pair with Your Favorite Snacks

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]]>snackssuper bowlwineKristine HansenFri, 04 Feb 2011 16:00:00 ESTPairing Beer With Your Chinese New Yearhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-years-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-years-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/02/02/chinese-new-years-beer/#commentsFiled under:

Tsingtao beer for Chinese New YearPhoto: hakaider, Flickr


With the Year of the Rabbit right around the corner, it's the perfect time to break out the chopsticks and dive into some delicious Chinese food. But which Asian beers best complement your pile of pot stickers? Here, find beers paired with some of our favorite dishes from KitchenDaily's Chinese New Year menu and other standbys -- General Tso's and wonton soup, anyone?

Black Bass with Chili Sauce and Scallions
The crispy entree's spicy-sweet heat (fans of General Tso's chicken take note!) is best matched with a prickly, thirst-slaking pilsner such as Tsingtao, which boasts a bit of lingering malt sweetness. The low, 4.8 percent ABV means you can easily kick back two or three. Tsingtao would also snuggle up nicely with a hot-and-sour soup.

Pork and Scallion Dumplings
These plump, juicy specimens are best served with a beer that'll cut through the rich and fatty juices. I like the Sapporo Premium Beer, a fizzy and food-friendly Japanese brew that closes light and crisp. Sapporo won't rock your world on its own, but it's a fine addition to a dinner table.

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]]>Asian beerChinese New YearHarbinHitachino Nest White AleSapporoTsingtaoJoshua M. BernsteinWed, 02 Feb 2011 12:00:00 ESTBevshots Quiz: Can You Identify These Alcohol Photos?http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/26/bevshots-alcohol-photos-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/26/bevshots-alcohol-photos-quiz/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/26/bevshots-alcohol-photos-quiz/#commentsFiled under: ,

Photos Courtesy of BEVSHOTS / WENN


A chilled Martini is truly a work of art. But the chemist/photographers behind the company BevShots have taken that idea to the microscopic level. Research scientist Michael Davis, of Florida State University, crystallizes cocktails on a lab slide, then photographs them using a camera attached to a light microscope. According to Davis, the light is polarized, resulting in these wild images of, say, a Tequila Sunrise or a Margarita. Oh, and you can buy the photos to memorialize cocktail hour 24-7. (Davis also made the images into ties, in case you want to sport your Guinness at the office.)

Think you really know your drink of choice? Take our quiz after the jump and find out.

Continue reading Bevshots Quiz: Can You Identify These Alcohol Photos?

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]]>quizsciencespiritsSlashfood EditorWed, 26 Jan 2011 13:00:00 ESTThe Nose Knows Beerhttp://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/14/identifying-aromas-of-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/14/identifying-aromas-of-beer/http://www.slashfood.com/2011/01/14/identifying-aromas-of-beer/#commentsFiled under: ,

sniffing beerPhoto: Tojosan, Flickr


When it comes to identifying the aromas of beer, the scientific community has spoken: Your nose is no good.

While trained sniffers -- both men and, increasingly, women -- have long helped assure quality control in brewing, the scientists claim human noses are slow to assess scents, they're subjective, easily fatigued and require pretty expensive upkeep. What, you think those Kleenex are going to pay for themselves?

Instead, in a review published in Trends in Food Science & Technology, scientists from Spain and Iran (hardly global brewing powerhouses, mind you) offered an alternative to a human schnoz: an electronic nose. "The demand for electronic noses in brewing is growing because the versatility and ease of operation of these instruments make them suitable for quick and accurate analysis of beers or for monitoring quality in the production process," the scientists wrote.

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]]>beerbrewingelectronic noseJoshua M. BernsteinFri, 14 Jan 2011 16:00:00 EST