The results of last month’s Last Slinger Standing tryouts are in and the five competitors have been announced. It’s no easy task to get in the finals, as each bartender had just five minutes to craft a well balanced and tasty cocktail using a random spirit base and liqueur of…
Second Story Liquor Bar sits above Old Town Scottsdale’s Gelato Spot off of Scottsdale Road just north of Indian School. Tommy Plato owns both restaurants, but SSLB is clearly a labor of love. Pulling in the talents of Josh Bracher, a relatively young and very up-and-coming chef, in the kitchen…
Several months ago, I took part in a judging competition for a local craft beer festival. As often occurs at such ceremonies, we began the day by tasting a calibration beer — one brew, given to every judge, that helps beer-tasters adjust their scoring so it’s in line with everyone…
It’s getting to be that magical time of year when thoughts turn to egg nog. In recent years, I’ve seen a lot of discussion regarding proper egg nog making technique. To be specific, I’m talking about how long to let egg nog sit in the refrigerator before drinking it. Due…
Mark your calendars now, beer lovers, because you’re not going to want to miss this. Later this month New Times will host the NovemBEER Festival, the grande finale of the month-long celebration of all things carbonated and boozy. The event will go down on Saturday, November 22 at the Arizona…
You won’t find pumpkin spice syrup or any other artificial junk on Charlie Zeiler’s new Mix Up Bar cocktails menu. The Royal Palms’ bartender, instead, builds on classic recipes with new ingredients to make unique autumnal drinks. While discussing his new menu, Zeiler explains which ingredients he’s using this fall,…
Beer: Futures 10 Brewery: Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. Style: Saison ABV: 6.5 percent Musical accompaniment to this post Musicians and brewers commonly collaborate. Sometimes the beers that come from such unions are actually pretty good (New Belgium Clutch, brewed for the metal band Clutch; Cigar City Killsner, made for monster-rockers…
“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet.” I keep trying to tell myself that it’s always true. But let’s face it, sometimes you see a product with a name so horrible that you can’t bring yourself to try…
The Spot: Sushi Brokers in the Arcadia area of Phoenix 4419 E. Indian School Rd. Phoenix 602-515-5000 http://www.sushibrokers.com The Hours:Happy hour is everyday from 3 to 6 p.m. See also: Earnest: Happy Hour Report Card…
Beer: Pump[KY]n Brewery: Avery Brewing Co. Style: Imperial Porter ABV: 17 percent We are now in the thick of pumpkin-beer season. Beer labels, like leaves on trees, have shifted to shades of brown, black and orange. Pie spices and pumpkin puns can be found all over the place, and everyone…
The Spot: 20 Highland Tavern 4701 N. 20th St. Phoenix http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/service/20-highland-tavern The Hours: Happy hour is from 4 to 6 p.m. daily. See also:FEZ in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card…
Diving into the wild world of craft cocktails and mixology head first is one way to start learning more about them. You can also take one of a few different mixology classes here in town. However, for you bookworms out there, there’s a ton of great reads for beginners and…
Beer: Tricerahops Brewery: Ninkasi Brewing Co. Style: Imperial IPA ABV: 8 percent You are the one who soaks the malt in a jar, The waves rise, the waves fall. Ninkasi, you are the one who soaks the malt in a jar, The waves rise, the waves fall. You are the…
The other day when I was behind the stick, one of my guests ordered a drink that I haven’t made in a while, a Salty Dog. It’s one of those basic drinks that you learn early on as a bartender, then almost never make because hardly anybody orders them anymore…
November is just around the corner — wait, where did the time go!? — and you know what that means? Beer. The month-long NovemBEER is New Times’ annual celebration of craft beer and this time around we’ve got something big to announce. In addition to a series of style-focused beer…
The first thing that probably comes to mind when someone says the word sherry is its use in cooking. While the fortified wine does have its place in the kitchen, Stephanie Teslar is using it to mix up five different cocktails at Blue Hound Kitchen & Cocktails. If you’re not…
Before it was a beer style, it was a party. The first Oktoberfest celebration was held on October 12, 1810, but far from the drinking festival it’s become today, this first party was actually held to celebrate a wedding. Ludwig, Crown Prince of Bavaria (who’d later become King Ludwig I)…
In last week’s Last Call, I got to show off a punch recipe with a sanguine hue. It’s great for just about any variety of Halloween party you can imagine, especially one that leans more toward the sophisticated end of the Halloween party spectrum. However, there’s a lot of fun…
Over the weekend, if you haven’t heard, the city of Denver was swarmed with brewers and beer nerds celebrating the 2014 edition of the Great American Beer Festival, the largest celebration of American craft beer in the country. While a grand beer-tasting set up in the main hall of the…
On the first Sunday of every month, Cal Lundmark and Blaise Faber invite friends and acquaintances into their home, transforming the Encanto-area duplex into Desert Spoon. Don’t get any funny ideas, though: the events, which include a spirit tasting, class, three-course dinner, and a cocktail party to celebrate, aren’t some…
The Spot: Earnest 4991 S Alma School Rd #101 Chandler http://corkrestaurant.net The Hours: Happy Hour is 5 to 6:30 pm, Tuesday through Friday in the bar and lounge. See also: Arrogant Butcher in Phoenix: Happy Hour Report Card…
I’m more than a little excited that Halloween is almost here. Part of my excitement is that Halloween parties can be some of the most enjoyable soirées of the year. The mix of spooky kitsch and childhood nostalgia is irresistible. Of course, now that we’re grown-ups, our Halloween parties are…
