Crisp, Bubbly American Summer

Boston may be a port city but in the everyday hustle and bustle…when do we get to enjoy the water?  Do we Bostonians ever get out on the water?  Most of us can answer that with a disappointed no.

When the days get longer and the temperature starts to to rose I begin to daydream of blue waters and crisp white sails.  I may not be able to hop on a sailboat and dead out to sea, but I certainly can continue the fantasy when I open up a bottle of Domaine Chandon Brut Classic’s Limited Edition of American Summer.

The look of the bottle IS the picture of summer: A trio of red, white and blue give the feel of looking at the mainsail of a sloop in Boston Harbor.  This refreshing sparkler that is crisp, lively and made in the Methode Traditionelle (Classic Champagne Method) that allows a second fermentation in the bottle.  In doing so, the wine gives aromas of green apple, cinnamon, lime and vanilla that lead to flavors of tropical fruit, pears and a hint on toast.

Chandon is comprised of the three classic Champagne grapes of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.  Grown in some of California’s finest appellations: Yountville, Carneros and Mount Veeder, Chandon’s sparkling wines are Pinot Noir heavy due to the structure and body the grape gives to the wine.  Chardonnay adds delicacy with the tropical fruit and pear notes and the Pinot Meunier offers nutty and earthy flavors.

Pinot Noir

Chardonnay

Pinot Meunier

Most people save their bubbly for special occasions, but with Domaine Chandon’s competitive price…there is no need.  Drink this one whenever the mood strikes!  Ceasar Salad, Fried Calamari, oyster, or sushi are the perfect compliments to Chandon’s Brut Classic.  But really any salty, creamy or nutty foods will go great with this summer quaffer.

She’s Hired!

As I sit here with a small kitten on my lap, I can’t help but think: awwwww, I missed having company in the office.

Sofia arrived on Wednesday morning to take her post as the Bauer store kitty and since a store can be a scary place for one tiny kitten, she spent the day in the office with me.  After we closed at night, she was allowed to explore the store on her own and now she is ready to meet you.  This little love bug loves people and loves to play!

Like her predecessors, Sofia is enjoying the front window:

Sofia captivating Donna with her cuteness

Getting into the Patron a little young....

Look at those whiskers and ear tufts!

We have had a lot of people asking us where she came from and we are proud to say that she was a rescue.  Sofia was being fostered at  MSPCA-Angell with two wonderful women, Amy first and then Laura, in their offices.   Laura had heard through the grapevine (Thanks Alex!!!) that Gris had passed away and contacted us to say that if we were ready, she had the perfect kitten to take Gris’ post in the store.  Of course, we were all feeling the sting still of losing Gris, but it only took one photo of Sofia to see that though we were broken hearted, we missed having an in-store cat.  Off we went to MSPCA-Angell to visit and we saw that this kitten was special.  Sofia’s beauty and charm won Howie and me over the moment we met her and she has only grown more charming since she arrived at Bauer.

For those of you who receive our email newsletters have already heard me say this, but I don’t mind repeating myself.  A big thank you goes to the MSPCA-Angell’s Adoption Center’s Director, Amanda.  She, along with Laura and Amy, made bringing  Sofia home to Bauer as easy as possible.  Thankfully, they know that not every perfect home is a traditional home!

Ethan and Sofia

Sofia gets a big hug from Lynn

Getting to know Keith

Claiming the laptop as hers

 

An Ancient Beverage Brought Back to Life

What do Sophocles, Virgil, Dante, Sir Walter Scott, Yeats, James Frazer, a myriad of Norse writers, sacred texts, and fairy tales all have in common?  Mead.  Yes, mead.  All of these writers and texts reference mead as medicine, a drink for heroes, warriors and royalty alike, as a river that runs through paradise comprised of it  and is considered a source of wisdom.

The history of mead may go back as far as 8,000 years.  Research has shown that the oldest known meads were created on the Island of Crete (wine was not yet created even!).  The ancient philosophers saw mead as a way to gain the wisdom they needed for their writings. Mead was the drink of the Age of Gold.  In fact, the Greek’s word for drunk is translated to “honey-intoxicated.”   The ancient Greeks called mead, Ambrosia, or Nectar. It was believed to be the drink of the gods, and was thought to descend from the Heavens as dew, before being gathered in by the bees. Because of the believed ties to the gods, it is easy to see why the ancient Greeks believed mead to have magical and sacred properties. The Greeks believed that mead would prolong life, and bestow health, strength, virility, re-creative powers, wit and poetry. The bees themselves, we are told by Virgil’s Georgics are driven to the sky to honor the goddess Aphrodite. And, the prophetess’ at Delphi are suspected of drinking mead made from a honey from slightly toxic plants in order to induce their prophetic states, and visions of the future (courtesy of Sky River).

You may be reading this wondering why I am harping on the history of mead.  Quite simply, this is a drink that was almost obliterated from society.  It seems that over the last few decades, mead was relegated to consumption at Renaissance Fairs.  Forgotten about in everyday consumption, mead was only a reminder of an ancient past, mostly remember as a drink of Medieval ages.  Mead came dangerously close to being something that was only read about but no longer made.  So it pleases me to tell you that we have three new varieties of mead at Bauer for you to try.

Honeymaker mead, out of Portland, Maine, was founded in 2007 with an eye on innovation, the environment and a re-introduction to this ancient beverage.  Handcrafted in small batches, Honeymaker’s mead is known for its exceptional clarity and lightness.

Although Honeymaker has many different varieties, we chose our favorite three to share with you:

Howie’s favorite-Honeymaker Dry Hopped Mead ($17.99).  A medium-to-full bodied mead to be enjoyed all year round.  During the aging process, Honeymaker introduces fresh whole leaf Cascade hops and this yields a unique, floral, herbaceous flavor.  Bright tart, citrus fruit and a wildflower aroma is followed by a complex flavor of grapefruit, pine and sun-soaked grass.

John’s favorite- Honeymaker Lavender Mead ($17.99).  This one is medium-to-full bodied as well with a foundation of wildflower honey.  Honeymaker ferments this mead in the spirits of French botanical aperitifs.  It is aromatic and semi-sweet with the iconic scents of summer.  Locally grown English lavender imparts brilliant floral notes that is balanced out by a crisp minerality.  Lavender mead is creamy with a round finish that leaves citrus and pineapple on your palate.

Corinne’s favorite- Honeymaker Blueberry Mead ($21.99).  Rose-hued, this mead balances the delicate elements of honey from Maine’s most pristine farmlands with the tart notes of wild coastal blueberries.  It’s medium-bodied, crisp and refreshing-ideal for these late summer evenings or even a taste of harvest during the long winter months.  It is perfect with a slight chill.