WEEK 96-- Have you EVOLVED?

This has got very little to do with the real "theory of evolution" by Charles Darwin--if anything,  it's only kinda playfully relevant.

We all know or seen or been through this familiar scene--a guy walk in to a craft beer place, had a beer or maybe two, and decided it's something really interesting, something worth exploring further and started to become a craft enthusiast.

We also would see a guy walk in--had 1 or 2 beer--and that's the last time you will ever see him at a craft beer bar--because he decided that's not what he like, and that's it--back to usual usual big factory beers.

达尔文《进化论- THEORY OF EVOLUTION》说的是从简单生物演化成复杂有智慧的人类进程理论。

放在啤酒的世界，也蛮有趣适用。

所有经历过从完全不知道有CRAFT BEER存在，到开始接触喝过一些不同类别啤酒，从此一头栽进浩瀚啤海的啤迷朋友都懂得这是怎么一回事。

在喝啤酒人“进化”过程中，能决定一个人是只好奇喝上几口然后就转身喝回自己熟悉的单调无趣大厂啤酒，又或者是会自动进一步探索的决定性因素有几个，不过，最关键的莫过于是不是碰上“通关”的“进化啤酒”（EVOLUTION BEER）。

There's a few factors influencing the above scenario--whether a guy decidedly go with or go against craft beer---but we shall only focus on 1 deciding factor here--that 1 beer( or more) that will change someone's stereotype/wrong assumption about beer(you may add mead to that list too)

Let's call that ONE beer( or more) as EVOLUTION beer.

Not to sound complicated or technical(there's nothing technical in this blog anyway)---Evolution beer is a beer(or more) that would taste so awesome--so nice--that a person would be feeling so contented--so happy he/she chose that beer.

More importantly-- it will be a beer that changed perception or open up palate/new imaginations/level of appreciation.

In many ways--Evolution beer( or mead) is something that will sent someone from just a passer-by/ curious drinker to the road of no return of becoming a Geek.

如果我们把大厂啤酒想象为城门外遍地垂手可得的野花杂草，那CRAFT BEER就是关在城门内不太为人知的秘密花海，只有踏进城门之内的喝酒人才有机会发现什么是CRAFT BEER的变化多端美好世界。

这样说或许有点武断，不过，事实是，所有新人，在喝上第一杯或最初几杯CRAFT BEER的开始，所有从喝大厂啤酒或看广告得来的所谓啤酒认知基本全部废掉，味蕾不适应或感官被震撼又或是觉得难喝死了等感受都是正常现象。

因为那样，有的人会掉头就走回到自己熟悉的单调无趣大厂啤酒怀抱。

不过，一旦碰上对的啤酒，特别是让人“通关”的“进化啤酒”，那就基本已经双脚踏在不归路上，是的，如果你还没喝过CRAFT BEER，这是所有啤迷的共同认知，一旦发现这个浩翰啤海的美好，就不可能再回头去喝那种淡出鸟来的无趣啤酒。

I can remember the early days few years back--when i thought i was kinda already "advance" than most of my friends by drinking the big factory beers from German/Belgium--that's until when i finally had my first Rochefort 8.

To use "blown away" sounds cliche--maybe i was not blown apart but it was a real palate opener/eye opener--that was a beer that made me wonder what the hell just happened....

什么是“进化”啤酒？

很简单，就是喝了能让你惊艳，惊叹，觉得幸福，感觉美好，从此开窍变成啤迷的啤酒。

这是“进化”啤酒最奇妙的功能。

个人经验，从当初懵懵懂懂喝啤酒，到有点开窍，第一支“进化”啤酒是比利时的修道院酿坊作品ROCHEFORT 8号瓶子，当时自以为“比其他人懂”，因为已从最基本淡无味大厂啤酒喝到一些德国比利时“较有味”大厂啤酒，不过，一喝到8号瓶子这样的CRAFT 级别啤酒，根本就是懵掉，想象不到原来啤酒可以是这样丰富多层次，而且应该慢慢品尝感受不同温度变化带来风味演化，那种美味和幸福感完全不是冷飕飕快饮的所谓啤酒可以比拟，这是绝对全新啤酒境界。

As we move on--there's definitely more Evolution beers awaiting to be discovered--i would say in every different "stage of drinking" or "palate improvisation"--we all need different Evolution beer to hit up the palate and wake up the senses in order to go up another level in terms of appreciation ability--it's a beautiful journey and surely an enjoyable one.

对任何新朋友来说，在最开始阶段，是不是能碰上对味“进化”啤酒很重要，这是能决定味蕾开不开窍的重要时刻。

当然，开始阶段，因为味蕾感官接受度不高，对一些朋友来说，像8号瓶子也未必是每个人都能接受或喜欢的啤酒风格/味道，不过，只要敞开视野，就一定会找到自己喜欢的啤酒类型，也肯定会遇上让自己鉴赏力和味蕾功力提升的“进化”啤酒。

在喝CRAFT的路上，“进化”啤酒无处不在，无论是新朋友或资深啤迷朋友，只要是愿意尝试不同类别风格啤酒的，都会在不同阶段碰上开拓味蕾新世界的“进化”啤酒，而这正是CRAFT BEER世界最美好一面，因为世界某个角落总会有某位酿酒师在试着让自己的或疯狂或简单想法变成啤酒（或蜜酒）等着有心人品尝。

你碰上过什么样的“进化”啤酒？

What's perhaps 1 or some of your EVOLUTION BEER?

WEEK 95-- LEARNING BEER THE CHINESE PROVERBS WAY

First newspaper column post of 2017--went a little retro here--a few Chinese Proverbs/Idioms to look at what's happening with some of the craft scenario--especially with newbies/ curious drinkers...

It basically means someone who endured hardship/bitterness trying to achieve something would eventually taste the fruits of their labour/sweetness of success...

To use such "motivating" phrase for beer tasting is a little playful but it also kinda reflect the very real scenario happening all over any craft beer places in the world when first time drinker/very new newbies trying out beers heavily influenced by use of HOPS.

这句话听起来怪老土的。

用在不习惯craftbeer味道变化新世界的新朋友，还蛮贴切的。

喝惯普通大厂啤酒的大多数人不会知道啤酒花（HOPS）是什么一回事，第一次接触craftbeer，无论是易喝的Pilsner或Pale Ale 都会感受到啤酒花作用，有人会说“比一般大厂啤酒香”，再来"好像有点苦"，当然，要是喝IPA的话，会第一口就"好苦"。

每个人对不同食物味道喜好厌恶是不一样的，苦涩味普遍来说最不讨好，不少人会选择避开，所以，当大多数人开始喝到用较大量真材实料啤酒花酿造类别风格啤酒时会觉得难以接受，甚至还“味蕾震撼”是容易理解的事。

其实，喝较偏向啤酒花苦涩味啤酒就像吃东西一样，所谓苦涩难接受，有时只因为自己预先心理设限闹别扭而扩大了初接触的排斥感。

已过当初“受不了苦”阶段的朋友会了解什么是啤酒味道层次带来的“苦尽甘来”，这是很贴切的形容词，只要味蕾适应了啤酒花最初带来的苦涩，就能领略到什么是啤酒花的甘香，还有融和酿造过程中所有材料的甘甜。

The truth is --majority of so called beer drinkers/beer lovers who just gulp on their big factory monotonous-lager have NOT A CLUE WHAT HOPS is. 

It is so common to hear cries of "bitter" "too bitter" "yakks" when new people have their first sip of "bitter beers"--it can be a American Pale Ale, even a hopped up version of Pilsner--and if it's an IPA--expect all hell to break loose in that poor guy/girl's palate...

But all of us who've been through that initial "palate shake" would know--that so called bitterness is just very initial reaction of the poorly advised palate( first pounded by big beer commercial ad campaign/then dull senseless by the tasteless actual brew)

If you think craft beer is bitter--that's very likely not true--it's only a temporary stage where your palate is still raw/green/uninformed or misled--you will eventually taste the "sweetness" of beers you once considered too bitter to swallow--if you keep trying the right beers and varieties in the WWW of craft beer.

This is quite an ancient story--when a bad guy try to be king himself--to find out which are the guys on his side--he brought a DEER to the palace and showed the young king--pointing to the deer saying its a HORSE....

so what has deer or horse got to do with craft beer?

It's simple--as we live in a quick finger world now--anyone and everyone can just post on social media whatever crap it might be whenever they like--or dislike a certain beer.

大家基本都知道这句话意思。

在craftbeer的世界，不同风格类别啤酒很多，不过，这里要说的不是喝着A类型啤酒然后错指为B类型。

要说的是一个比较常发生在一些新朋友或“好奇宝宝”的现象。

有时候常会听看到某些人在酒吧或社交媒体发表类似这样评语\意见:-

“IPA? 很苦的，有什么好喝？”

“STOUT--比黑咖啡难喝，好像喝药材汤那样，怪怪的。”

“CRAFT BEER 又贵又不好喝，喝啤酒罢了嘛，还是大厂啤酒便宜好喝。”

“MEAD？蜜糖酿的，一定甜死人不赔命。”

The point is--it's all right to say anything you like/might among friends--but once comments is on social media--and it's a wrong one or misguided one or simply brainless one--then it affects the craft community, however small it might be.

how many times have we seen/heard these:-

"ohh--so bitter--why people like IPA?"

"stout is like drinking chinese herbs--so thick and bitter"

"craft beer is expensive and weird--i prefer my usual big factory lager"

"mead is brewed with Honey? ohh...cannot--must be sweet til die"

Those words--some came from people who have actually took a few sip or drank a glass--some came from people who NEVER had it but only assuming or from hearsay.

虽都是个人意见，也可能是所谓消费者喝后感，不过，一旦这些个人意见变成社交媒体讨论点，就不只是朋友间随便说那么简单了。

Craftbeer不像大厂啤酒那样直截了当，就算同一类啤酒也有风味层次区别的酿品。这种情况下，只是喝过一两瓶可能自己都不太清楚什么啤酒类别风格就随意下负面定论的"消费者"其实跟指鹿为马的乱说没区别。

举一个实际发生例子，之前在一个美国啤酒论坛内看到几个人因为对某支啤酒意见不同，在FB对上了，其中一句话是这样的 "当你像我那样喝过超过4万各种不同类别啤酒之後，那时才来讨论吧。"  当然，这句话可能是炫耀，夸大或气话，虽然喝的多不代表一定懂的比较多，不过，肯定会比只粗略或好奇喝过三五瓶就随便下定论的人懂得多。

喝craftbeer的确有味蕾训练这回事，那是无论怎么上网看资料或看书都没办法替代的。

下次，如果你想在社交媒体打负面定论时，或许应该深呼吸十次後再想想，自己的味蕾真的对那支啤酒的味道层次/类别风格有所领会？

The problem with these group of newbies/curious drinkers or "opinion leaders" is that--what they are saying or commenting on social media is NOT THE TRUTH--it's almost like pointing to a deer and saying it's a horse.

These people should learn how to calm down--not trigger happy on social media--learn how to appreciate varieties of beers--get to the basic of things--and just enjoy the "palate shake" process--because palate training is needed to better the appreciation level--and that's NOT a process where any amount of reading up on internet or books can replace--you need to drink and taste and feel--that's the best way to train up palate( though reading can help but only so much if you don't actually drink).

Remember--the next time when you "think" a certain beer style is not for you , or a certain beer would taste wrong--don't say it loud on social media--go have a few taste first --then sip it again say a year or two later--see what your palate tell you....

Which bring us to this old saying--"one can always find something new in an old subject matter/otherwise very familiar matter".

Personally i find this quite interesting--the same beer--drink it now and few years ago/ few years later can taste vastly different( not because of brewing changes--strictly about palate matter only)--or it would still taste familiar, with maybe some new nuances to be discovered.

有时候，同一支啤酒，今天喝，跟相隔一二三年後再喝，可能会有截然不同感受。

那种感受可以是绝对两极化，也可能是曾经熟悉味道中有新感受。

这样的经验，不少啤迷朋友都经历过。

抛开不同时候酿酒造成差异不说，在酒质一样情况下，相隔一段时间喝会感觉不同的原因很简单，个人味蕾功力，啤酒鉴赏力，对啤酒不同类别风格或同一风格但不同酿坊啤酒都有更进一步认识，因为那样，很可能会对某一支以前觉得“好喝到不行”的平庸啤酒哑然失笑，也可能对以前觉得“很难喝”的啤酒有全新认识而对自己当时的无知觉得不好意思之余也庆幸没有在品酒路上停滞不前。

温故知新听起来就是老土，也可能是一些致力追逐UNTAPPD勋章需要不断尝新酒朋友不会做的事，不过，从新发掘一支已喝过啤酒的美好或不足之处，会是有趣动作。

It is quite humbling to find out certain beers taste much better than when first tasted--due to lack of knowledge/appreciation level/ untrained palate or simply being ignorant.  

At the same time feeling funny/slightly embarrassed to think so highly of certain beers drank in early days--"ohh--that's the fxxking best IPA i ever had"--and then you discover the level of beers like Focal Banger or Pilny the Elder( just saying)

What would be some of the beers you felt horrible at first but tasting so good now?  and some which you thought so highly/heavenly of that it's "down to earth" now( i kinda wanted to say down the drain:)....

2016 Most Surprising MEAD--a list from PATTY CHAPMAN

2016 has just gone by--and the list earlier was about "memorable beer & mead"--invited Patty to write her list for 2016 and got the list this morning focusing on mead only--which is a nice thing--Patty is definitely passionate about Mead--it's a pleasure to look at someone who has been enjoying mead in more ways than we could here in ASIA--though Mead is still something very new, relatively unknown and short in supply here--no harm "getting ahead of ourselves" at times :)

CRAFT 级别蜜酒在美国本土不算很多人知道，亚洲更是没什么人知道，也没什么供应，这张清单算是延续2016年最有印象啤酒/蜜酒记，不过用另一个方式呈现，PATTY是很多蜜酒爱好者知道是谁的超级爱好者，主持论坛也写酒评，这是她的个人“最有惊喜蜜酒”清单。

Here's the list in Patty's own words and all pics from her Insta( with consent--well--except a certain Jon Snow pic)

1.Lavender​ ​Mead​ ​by​ ​Honey​ ​Girl  

This​ ​was​ ​a​ ​late​ ​entry,​ ​only​ ​sampling​ ​this​ ​one​ ​at​ ​a​ ​share​ ​in​ ​mid-December,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​was​ ​such a​ ​stunner,​ ​that​ ​we​ ​all​ ​were​ ​wondering​ ​where​ ​this​ ​meadery​ ​came​ ​from,​ ​why​ ​no​ ​one​ ​in​ ​the Carolinas​ ​was​ ​talking​ ​about​ ​them​ ​and​ ​how​ ​we​ ​could​ ​get​ ​more.​ ​​ ​It​ ​doesn’t​ ​hit​ ​you​ ​in​ ​the face​ ​with​ ​either​ ​honey​ ​or​ ​lavender,​ ​but​ ​has​ ​just​ ​enough​ ​of​ ​each​ ​to​ ​be​ ​pleasant, refreshing,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​great​ ​pairing​ ​for​ ​a​ ​number​ ​of​ ​cheeses​ ​(we​ ​were​ ​having​ ​a​ ​great parmesan).​ ​​ ​I​ ​would​ ​have​ ​loved​ ​to​ ​swing​ ​by​ ​when​ ​we​ ​visited​ ​the​ ​Raleigh-Durham​ ​area over​ ​the​ ​summer,​ ​but​ ​it​ ​will​ ​have​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​must-stop​ ​on​ ​a​ ​future​ ​trip.

PATTY接近年底才喝到的“不懂哪里冒出来”的新酿坊作品，均衡的薰衣草香和蜜糖,令人愉快.

2.Heritage​ ​Raspberry​ ​by​ ​Schramm’s​ ​Mead (pictured​ ​right) 

This​ ​was​ ​an​ ​on​ ​site​ ​only​ ​item​ ​for​ ​their​ ​3rd​ ​anniversary​ ​party​ ​this​ ​year.​ ​​ ​This​ ​was​ ​not​ ​the Schramm’s​ ​Raspberry​ ​available​ ​in​ ​bottles,​ ​which​ ​is​ ​like​ ​peak​ ​of​ ​season​ ​raspberries dipped​ ​in​ ​honey.​ ​​ ​This​ ​was​ ​drier,​ ​and​ ​yet​ ​somehow​ ​more​ ​raspberry​ ​in​ ​your​ ​face.​ ​​ ​It​ ​waso​ ​intensely​ ​raspberry​ ​that​ ​I​ ​desperately​ ​wanted​ ​a​ ​bottle​ ​to​ ​see​ ​how​ ​it​ ​would​ ​develop over​ ​time,​ ​but​ ​alas​ ​I​ ​had​ ​to​ ​settle​ ​for​ ​the​ ​one​ ​glass​ ​because​ ​there​ ​were​ ​so​ ​many​ ​great things​ ​pouring​ ​over​ ​the​ ​course​ ​of​ ​the​ ​weekend,​ ​but​ ​that​ ​one​ ​really​ ​stuck​ ​out​ ​(and​ ​I​ ​am sure​ ​everyone​ ​you​ ​ask​ ​will​ ​tell​ ​you​ ​something​ ​different​ ​was​ ​their​ ​favorite).

美国蜜酒界鼎鼎大名的酿坊3周年特酿--只能在当时现场喝到, 满满覆盆子香味, 让PATTY有即刻找一瓶的冲动。

3. Hamlet​ ​Honeymoon​ ​by​ ​Ring​ ​of​ ​Fire  

This​ ​isn’t​ ​new.​ ​​ ​In​ ​fact​ ​it​ ​is​ ​very​ ​old.​ ​​ ​And​ ​the​ ​meadery​ ​closed​ ​it’s​ ​doors​ ​years​ ​ago.​ ​​ ​But occasionally​ ​I​ ​see​ ​people​ ​post​ ​ISOs​ ​for​ ​it,​ ​and​ ​frankly,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​really​ ​excited​ ​to​ ​try​ ​it.​ ​This​ ​is an​ ​important​ ​object​ ​lesson​ ​in​ ​“hype​ ​does​ ​not​ ​equal​ ​good.”​ ​From​ ​everything​ ​I​ ​had​ ​heard​I was​ ​expecting​ ​something​ ​resembling​ ​good,​ ​but​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​the​ ​bottles​ ​were​ ​sealed​ ​with the​ ​best​ ​corks​ ​for​ ​long​ ​term​ ​aging.​ ​In​ ​other​ ​words,​ ​drink​ ​em​ ​if​ ​you​ ​got​ ​em.

这是一家已关闭酿坊造的蜜酒，是常会看到蜜酒迷寻找/求购的瓶子--PATTY的感想“被追捧瓶子不一定好”--然后，如果你找到，快快喝-因为瓶子看来没有盖到很紧。

4. Portuguese​ ​Blindfold​ ​by​ ​Superstition​ ​Meadery  

Let’s​ ​take​ ​some​ ​honey,​ ​and​ ​add​ ​candi​ ​sugar…​ ​and​ ​if​ ​that​ ​isn’t​ ​enough,​ ​let’s​ ​toss​ ​it​ ​in​ ​a Black​ ​Tuesday​ ​Barrel.​ ​​ ​Everything​ ​in​ ​me​ ​says​ ​this​ ​should​ ​be​ ​unbearably​ ​sweet,​ ​and​ ​pour out​ ​of​ ​the​ ​bottle​ ​like​ ​syrup.​ ​​ ​I​ ​think​ ​my​ ​initial​ ​reaction​ ​when​ ​I​ ​read​ ​the​ ​description​ ​for​ ​his was​ ​“Y​ ​tho?”​ ​Again,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​wrong.​ ​​ ​While​ ​this​ ​is​ ​a​ ​fairly​ ​sweet​ ​mead,​ ​a​ ​few​ ​ounces​ ​at​ ​a time​ ​actually​ ​has​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​of​ ​nuance.​ ​​ ​Somehow​ ​through​ ​all​ ​that​ ​the​ ​Black​ ​Tuesday​ ​Barrel comes​ ​through​ ​as​ ​a​ ​nearly​ ​salty-savory​ ​touch​ ​that​ ​accents​ ​the​ ​richness​ ​of​ ​the​ ​drink​ ​and makes​ ​the​ ​whole​ ​thing​ ​taste​ ​like​ ​some​ ​kind​ ​of​ ​drinkable​ ​salt​ ​caramel.​ ​It​ ​was​ ​a​ ​real standout​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Guild​ ​Gathering.

这是一瓶听起来（蜜糖-加糖果-再放入"黑色星期二"黑啤桶陈)就让人觉得一定甜死人的酿品,不过, 虽然甜, 少量喝其实会发掘很多细节, 感觉像盐过的焦糖!

5. Vanguard​ ​by​ ​Wild​ ​Blossom 

Vanguard​ ​was​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​first​ ​2016​ ​releases​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Wild​ ​Blossom​ ​club.​ ​While​ ​most​ ​folks ears​ ​perked​ ​up​ ​at​ ​the​ ​other​ ​bottle​ ​in​ ​the​ ​release,​ ​S’mores​ ​Bochet​ ​(pictured​ ​right),​ ​I​ ​was​ ​all over​ ​this​ ​one.​ ​​ ​It​ ​was​ ​inexpensive,​ ​an​ ​early​ ​expansion​ ​of​ ​Wild​ ​Blossom’s​ ​barrel​ ​program(beyond​ ​the​ ​longtime​ ​favorite​ ​Sweet​ ​Desire),​ ​and​ ​​ ​it​ ​hits​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​right​ ​notes​ ​in​ ​the semi-sweet​ ​range.​ ​​ ​I​ ​could​ ​drink​ ​it​ ​all​ ​day​ ​if​ ​they​ ​had​ ​made​ ​more​ ​than​ ​one​ ​batch.

这是酿坊会员计划的特酿--而且是不太受人注意的其中一瓶,PATTY特爱这“遗珠”，

6.FOMO​ ​by​ ​MisBeehavin​ ​Meads​ ​(pictured​ ​left) 

This​ ​oak-aged,​ ​coffee,​ ​buckwheat​ ​mead​ ​is​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​of​ ​a​ ​flavor​ ​departure​ ​for​ ​MisBeehavin.​ ​​ ​I have​ ​been​ ​enjoying​ ​having​ ​access​ ​to​ ​refreshing,​ ​drier​ ​meads​ ​close​ ​to​ ​home,​ ​but​ ​the flavors​ ​of​ ​oak,​ ​coffee​ ​and​ ​buckwheat​ ​are​ ​a​ ​bit​ ​aggressive​ ​for​ ​a​ ​dry​ ​profile,​ ​so​ ​I​ ​am​ ​glathey​ ​decided​ ​to​ ​go​ ​sweeter​ ​on​ ​this​ ​one.​ ​​ ​Despite​ ​the​ ​name,​ ​I​ ​was​ ​expecting​ ​the​ ​house profile​ ​going​ ​in,​ ​and​ ​was​ ​blown​ ​away​ ​with​ ​the​ ​richness​ ​and​ ​complexity.​ ​​ ​While MisBeehavin​ ​hasn’t​ ​shied​ ​away​ ​from​ ​experimenting​ ​with​ ​unique​ ​flavors,​ ​they​ ​have​ ​tended to​ ​be​ ​friendlier​ ​to​ ​drier​ ​profiles,​ ​but​ ​this​ ​one​ ​is​ ​a​ ​great​ ​cool​ ​weather​ ​treat.

充满木桶，咖啡和麦荞香味的强化甜味版本蜜酒，浓郁复杂，适合凉爽天气喝的美味酿品。

7. Aronia​ ​Berry​ ​by​ ​Rushford​ ​Meadery 

This​ ​was​ ​the​ ​first​ ​Aronia​ ​berry​ ​anything​ ​I​ ​had​ ​ever​ ​had,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​first​ ​mead​ ​I​ ​had​ ​from Rushford​ ​(possibly​ ​their​ ​first​ ​release,​ ​if​ ​I​ ​recall​ ​correctly).​ ​​ ​This​ ​one​ ​immediately​ ​reminded me​ ​of​ ​a​ ​dry​ ​black​ ​currant.​ ​​ ​I​ ​knew​ ​right​ ​away​ ​that​ ​it​ ​was​ ​something​ ​special,​ ​and something​ ​I​ ​would​ ​want​ ​to​ ​pair​ ​with​ ​a​ ​meal​ ​in​ ​the​ ​future.​ ​​ ​The​ ​strong​ ​tannic​ ​flavor​ ​will​ ​age well​ ​and​ ​stand​ ​up​ ​to​ ​rich​ ​foods.​ ​I​ ​look​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​future​ ​releases​ ​from​ ​this​ ​small Wisconsin​ ​meadery​ ​as​ ​they​ ​grow​ ​their​ ​program.

来自一家新酿坊，喝起来像是干涩口感的黑加仑子蜜酒，让PATTY一喝就想到下次配搭食物。

8. Goober​ ​Vitis​ ​(previously​ ​Goober​ ​Grape)​ ​by​ ​Garagiste​ ​Meadery 

​(apparently​ ​I​ ​almost​ ​never​ ​take​ ​pictures​ ​of Goober​ ​Grape​ ​despite​ ​having​ ​had​ ​it​ ​several​ ​times)
While​ ​not​ ​the​ ​first​ ​nut​ ​mead​ ​I​ ​had​ ​ever​ ​heard​ ​of​ ​or​ ​consumed,​ ​it​ ​was​ ​the​ ​first​ ​one​ ​that made​ ​me​ ​think​ ​I​ ​needed​ ​to​ ​have​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​more​ ​nut​ ​meads​ ​in​ ​my​ ​life.​ ​​ ​When​ ​I​ ​initially​ ​received a​ ​bottle​ ​from​ ​the​ ​first​ ​batch​ ​as​ ​an​ ​unexpected​ ​gift,​ ​I​ ​captioned​ ​it​ ​with​ ​“got​ ​a​ ​present​ ​frm the​ ​future,”​ ​which​ ​said​ ​a​ ​lot​ ​before​ ​I​ ​ever​ ​even​ ​tasted​ ​the​ ​stuff.​ ​​ ​Based​ ​on​ ​the​ ​lineup​ ​that followed​ ​with​ ​Goober​ ​Fraise​ ​and​ ​Goober​ ​Razz​ ​(as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​other​ ​new​ ​and​ ​different​ ​nut meads​ ​coming​ ​from​ ​elsewhere),​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​I​ ​am​ ​the​ ​only​ ​person​ ​who​ ​thinks​ ​this​ ​way. Looking​ ​forward​ ​to​ ​the​ ​surprises​ ​Garagiste​ ​has​ ​in​ ​store​ ​when​ ​they​ ​officially​ ​open​ ​their doors​ ​in​ ​2017.

坚果类蜜酒，是让PATTY觉得必须多找到这类蜜酒的第一支，收到这瓶意外礼物时还没喝过就在照片打下了“来自未来的礼物”这行字，

9.Blueberries​ ​everywhere 

Blueberries​ ​are​ ​notoriously​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​work​ ​with,​ ​as​ ​the​ ​cost​ ​to​ ​flavor​ ​ratio​ ​has​ ​long​ ​been considered​ ​not​ ​worth​ ​it.​ ​​ ​At​ ​the​ ​beginning​ ​of​ ​the​ ​year​ ​I​ ​would​ ​have​ ​had​ ​to​ ​stretch​ ​to​ ​name more​ ​than​ ​three​ ​blueberry​ ​meads​ ​total,​ ​and​ ​now​ ​I​ ​can​ ​name​ ​multiple​ ​meaderies​ ​that make​ ​multiple​ ​blueberry​ ​meads.​ ​​ ​We​ ​have​ ​come​ ​a​ ​long​ ​way​ ​in​ ​a​ ​year.​ ​​ ​And​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a wide​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​what​ ​is​ ​available.​ ​I​ ​think​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​solid​ ​hour​ ​where​ ​we​ ​drank​ ​nothing but​ ​blueberry​ ​drinks​ ​(mead,​ ​eisbock​ ​and​ ​lambic,​ ​but​ ​mostly​ ​mead)​ ​at​ ​my​ ​birthday​ ​party. What​ ​a​ ​time​ ​to​ ​be​ ​alive!

蓝莓是出了名难搞，超贵的酿酒食材，2016 年初，PATTY要想破头才能列出三个蓝莓蜜酒，到现在，用蓝莓酿蜜酒，啤酒，果酸啤酒的已很多，活在当今真好。

10.Understanding​ ​Honey​ ​by​ ​Schramm’s​ ​Meadery 

Someone​ ​asked​ ​me​ ​to​ ​describe​ ​this​ ​mead​ ​after​ ​sampling​ ​it.​ ​​ ​“You​ ​know​ ​nothing,​ ​Jon Snow.”​ ​This​ ​mead​ ​challenges​ ​everything​ ​you​ ​think​ ​you​ ​know​ ​about​ ​traditional​ ​meads.​ ​​ ​It is​ ​a​ ​blend​ ​of​ ​rich​ ​and​ ​flavorful​ ​honeys.​ ​​ ​When​ ​you​ ​start​ ​to​ ​think​ ​of​ ​“wildflower”​ ​as​ ​eneric and​ ​not​ ​unique,​ ​Understanding​ ​honey​ ​is​ ​a​ ​boquet​ ​of​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​best​ ​things.​ ​​ ​The​ ​closest​ ​I ever​ ​came​ ​to​ ​really​ ​getting​ ​it​ ​was​ ​when​ ​I​ ​did​ ​a​ ​large​ ​honey​ ​tasting.​ ​​ ​The​ ​most​ ​well regarded​ ​monofloral​ ​honeys​ ​just​ ​did​ ​not​ ​stack​ ​up​ ​next​ ​to​ ​a​ ​well​ ​harvested​ ​wildflower honey.​ ​​ ​My​ ​current​ ​favorite?​ ​Italian​ ​Piedmont​ ​honey​ ​from​ ​high​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Alps.​ ​​ ​Zingermans carries​ ​it​ ​in​ ​their​ ​webshop​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​some​ ​Italian​ ​websites​ ​for​ ​those​ ​who​ ​can　read/translate​ ​Italian. 

 “JON SNOW--你什么都不知道'－这是喝后感。这是一瓶挑战你所有对传统蜜酒认知的酿品，是融合所有蜜糖美好的一瓶。最近喜欢上的另一个版本是来自意大利的酿品。