Thursday Happy Hour: Cocktail Recipes, Drinks, Music, and Good Times

Cucumber Sweet Tea

2010-03-11T15:19:02-08:00

The last time I was in Austin, I drank a ton of iced tea. To bring me a little closer to the South by Southwest festivities, I've invited some friends over to play on the guitar, giggle over the #sxsw Twitter stream, and sip a new tea drink: we call it Cucumber Sweet Tea. And it's simply addictive.

Lodi Zinfandel

2010-03-10T12:49:31-08:00

We've chosen to drive the 7+ hours north because the trunk can hold many more bottles of wine than a suitcase. Buying wine from the hands that sealed it is somehow magical. And Lodi zins are our special treat. Here's what we discovered.

Kern River Citra Double IPA

2010-03-05T18:41:06-08:00

East coast or West coast, about this time of year everyone is itching for spring. And a string of rainy days had made that itch worse here in San Diego. Sipping a tastes-like-the-outdoors citrusy beer somehow makes it better.

Grapefruit Fizz

2010-03-04T19:07:13-08:00

My dad used to have a tree or two in his yard in the desert, and my sister and I would weave in and out of the branches to fill paper sacks of the sweetly floral fruits. Tickled. Over grapefruit. This is what I'm thinking as I sip a Grapefruit Fizz and the headlights swoop across the windows ...

2007 Rudolf Müller Eiswein (Ice Wine)

2010-03-03T13:37:18-08:00

The thaw is here. And it couldn't come any sooner. I am more than ready to toast the beginning of the end of this icy season by opening a bottle of Rudolf Müller Eiswein and munching on crostini with my sweetie.

Lindemans Gueuze Cuvee Rene

2010-02-28T20:58:41-08:00

So before I left Wisconsin, my host and I shared an almost champagne-split-sized bottle of an almost-champagne-tasting beer – Lindemans Gueuze Cuvee Rene. The Cuvee Rene, a Belgian brew, was actually a touch fruitier and sweeter than most of the other gueuze I’ve had.

Cranberry Thyme Crush

2010-02-25T16:45:50-08:00

Somehow, a drink in hand, any drink, makes chatting with strangers easier. Drinks and "what do you dos" should come even more easily at the nonsponsored evening networking mixer, right, considering there is alcohol involved. But I was disappointed. Lucky for me, G was busy crushing fresh cranberries for my arrival home

Blason de Bourgnogne Crémant Rosé

2010-02-24T20:01:36-08:00

Monica prepared theatre-style popcorn on her stovetop. And I poured the bubbly: Blason de Bourgnogne Crémant Rosé. Pink with flavors of berries, this dry sparkling wine is the perfect for a celebratory movie night in.

New Glarus Cran-bic

2010-02-19T13:44:13-08:00

Sorry, Cracked Wheat, but this lambic style ale may be my new New Glarus favorite. I just can’t resist a little bit of berry.

Rosemount Shiraz 2007

2010-02-17T20:42:26-08:00

One sip of an intense and fruity Rosemount Shiraz, and the craving hit me: baby back ribs, creamy coleslaw, and cornbread muffins.