Discovery Wine Club

Groucho Marx might not have wanted to belong to any club that would have him as a member, but that’s because he’d never heard of the France 44 Discovery Club.

We created the Discovery Wine Club because we wanted you to get as excited about wine as we are. Every other month our wine staff hand-selects six different red wines from around the world and puts together a dynamic case for you—two bottles of each wine—complete with tasting notes, producer information, pairing suggestions, and cellaring advice.

Discovery Club members enjoy this unique program for a variety of reasons: some of them are seasoned enthusiasts who have been learning about wine for years, some are new to the wine world and simply want to learn, and some just appreciate a case of wine pre-selected for them without any hassle or fuss. But the common thread is that they all enjoy discovering new grapes, regions, styles, and producers.

If you’re intrigued by a bi-monthly, curated case of wine that is both delicious and educational, our staff is ready to answer any questions and bring you through the easy sign-up process. Here’s how it all works:

  1. Sign up with a France 44 staff member by providing your name, contact information, and a valid credit card. There are no sign-up fees and no obligations. Every other month, you’ll be automatically charged for a case of wine ($198 + tax). If you’re a Club 44 member, you’ll receive 3% back on all Discovery Club purchases.
  2. On the second weekend of each odd month (January, March, May, July, September, and November) you’ll get an email from us telling you when your case is ready to be picked up. In non-pandemic times, you’ll be able to taste the wines at our Discovery Club tasting bar the weekend of each monthly release.
  3. Pick up your case in-store or via Curbside Pickup and enjoy learning about the wines from our virtual tasting notes videos and printed information inside your case.

Ready to learn more? Click HERE for more information and to get started on becoming a Discovery Club member! Even though January’s release has come and gone, we still have a few cases left if you want to get in on the fun now. Watch our January virtual notes video HERE to get a glimpse of what to expect!

New Beer Resolutions

2020 sure was a doozy.  I could list all the reasons why, but I’m guessing that you are quite familiar.  Having normal life pulled out from underneath us was not something that (hardly) anyone could have predicted if asked just one year ago.  It’s been a tough adjustment for everyone.  Because life during a pandemic has cut down on our typically expansive freedoms, it’s been easy to feel stuck in a rut.  Maybe you have been stuck in a beer rut too–falling back on the comfortable and familiar over something new and unknown.  That’s perfectly okay!  BUT–it is a new year–and I know that everything didn’t just magically get better, but it does feel like we have a cleaner slate than before.  So now is a great time to mix it up a bit and go outside your comfort zone, maybe try a new beer style that you are unfamiliar with. Here are some situational recommendations to consider if you are feeling spontaneous.

Do you like Kettle Sours? (e.g. Fair State Roselle, Pryes Royal Raspberry)

Try: Funk Factory Meerts American Lambic — $11.99/750ml

A perfect introduction into the world of spontaneously fermented beers. Levi Funk of Funk Factory Geuzeria in Madison, Wisconsin has been leading a movement of traditionally-made lambic beer here in the Midwest. Producing beer in this fashion is extremely time consuming and filled with mystery. First, Funk Factory sources locally brewed turbid mash wort from a handful of breweries, then ferments it spontaneously in a coolship. The beer is then racked into french oak foeders, where it continues to ferment and develop. After many months or even years, the beer is blended (and sometimes re-fermented on fruit) before continuing to condition in the bottle. Meerts is considered the brewery’s session beer. Its name is actually a reference to the meerts/bière de mars style that is now nearly extinct in its home of Belgium and France. Meerts is made from the less sugar-concentrated, second runnings of wort. It ferments for a “short” three months in large oak foeders before conditioning in the bottle. Beautiful and delicate, it features prickly acidity, gentle carbonation and an enticing funk.

Do you like maltier American beers? (e.g. Bell’s Best Brown, Deschutes Black Butte Porter)

Try: Brasserie d’Achouffe McChouffe Belgian Brown Ale — $11.99/4pk

If you’re the type of beer drinker who enjoys amber ales, brown ales, or porters, try adding some yeast-driven flair with a Belgian brown or dubbel. McChouffe has a more robust body than LaChouffe but goes down just as easy with the help of candi sugar. Many Belgian brewers use candi sugar to add strength to their beers but increase their drinkability. Please note this doesn’t add sweetness! McChouffe has an aromatic character of clove, coriander, anise and dark fruit. On the palate it has a soothing combination of aniseed, licorice, toffee, and molasses. The finish has a balanced bitterness and tingle from the carbonation.

Are you a Pils-nerd?

Try: Früh Kӧlsch — $10.99/4pk Can

A regional specialty from Cologne, Germany. Kölsch was first produced as a reaction to the growing pilsner movement. Local ale breweries wanted to compete with pilsner and lager beer without completely losing their heritage. Kölsch is essentially an ale/lager hybrid, fermented with ale yeast at warmer temperatures then conditioned cold like a lager. Früh has a noble hop character similar to pilsner with floral and grassy notes, but is a tad more subdued. Its medium-light body shows hints of vanilla and a faint fruitiness from the ale yeast. Kölsch is a great style to mix it up with if you are stuck picking the same lagers.

Love hazy IPAs but need a little break?

Try: Indeed Hop Dab IPA — $10.49/4pk Can

Let’s just put it out there: hazy IPAs are awesome, but can sometimes get a little tiring. The style that has become a behemoth in today’s beer world is almost unrecognizable from the IPAs we grew up on. Sometimes I like to go back to my roots and pour myself an IPA that I can see through, something with a dank, piney citrus aroma and a whack of bitterness. This IPA does the trick. Freshly-lit herb aromas carry to the palate with hints of berry, citrus and pine. The base of pure, honest maltiness supports a firm bitterness that leaves you wanting more.

Hit stout season too hard and looking for a substitute?

Try: Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock — $12.99/4pk

Is your palate feeling a bit fatigued from dense, chocolate-y, roasty stouts but you are still craving a wintery beer? Give doppelbocks a try. Doppelbock, a “double bock”, is a strong dark lager from Germany that oozes maltiness but isn’t overly sweet. The style has been referred to as liquid bread because of its full character and ability to satiate fasting monks during lent. Ayinger has been brewing their doppelbock since 1878. Celebrator brings waves of toffee, caramel, coffee and dark fruit flavors. It is somewhat reminiscent of a tootsie roll. What a delight!

Bubbles for the New Year

There was a lot of uncertainty to deal with this year and everything we thought we knew got turned on its head. But as the end of 2020 draws near, it’s comforting to remember that through all the uncertainty, we know that hope is on the horizon and that we still have the certainty of a brand-new year to look forward to.

You know what else you can be certain of? Bubbles! Our staff are avid bubbles drinkers year-round, but there’s no better time to wax poetic about our favorites than on New Years’ Eve-Eve. Whether you’re celebrating by yourself with a bowl of Cheez-Its and a Netflix marathon or with an elaborate spread with your “pod,” we’ll set you up with the perfect sparkler to ring in 2021. Read on to learn about some of our favorite picks this year!

Hild Elbling Sekt Brut | $19.99 | Germany – Even though this bubbly is German, the region it comes from (the Upper Mosel) has more in common with Champagne and Sancerre than the rest of Germany. These vineyards have swaths of limestone, which contributes to the bright, zingy acidity that is the hallmark of this wine. It has just enough ripe pear and apple flavors to provide delicious balance and a crisp, clean finish.

Paul Nicolle Cremant de Bourgogne | $29.99 | France – This newcomer to the Minnesota wine scene caught us all by surprise this year. Paul Nicolle is rooted just outside of the town of Chablis, where the family makes unoaked Pinot Noir (not Chardonnay!) with an incredible vivacity for this cremant. It’s Extra Brut, meaning it has less than 6g/L sugar added, resulting in a high acid, mineral-driven, racy sparkler.

Ca’ del Bosco Franciacorta | $34.99 | Italy – Ca’ del Bosco can easily fit into Italy’s sparkling wine royalty. With one of the most technologically advanced wineries in the entire country, they have perfected the Champenoise method with their estate-grown Chardonnay along with touches of Pinot Nero and Pinot Bianco. It was aged for 25 months on the lees, giving it a gorgeous texture along with refreshing fruit and acidity. One of the best values of the year for us!

Marc Hebrart Premier Cru Brut Rose Champagne | $64.99 | France – We’ve known and loved Marc Hebrart for years. One of the steadfast “farmer fizz” bottles available in our market, it’s been one of the most consistently delicious bottles we’ve tasted year in and year out. This gorgeous pale pink Champagne is actually mostly Chardonnay which adds to the regal finesse it has, but is given its pretty color and delicate red fruit flavors from Pinot Noir.

Billecart-Salmon Brut Sous Bois Champagne | $79.99 | France – Billecart-Salmon has been a France 44 darling from the very beginning. The Sous Bois is the clear choice if you’re looking for a full-throttle, wrap-yourself-up-in-bubbles Champagne: it’s vinified entirely in oak, giving the wine an extra brioche-and-toffee richness. Beautifully intense fruit notes are balanced by a crystalline acidity, giving this classy Champagne a satisfyingly long finish. This is the year of Treat Yo’self, and there’s no one that deserves this bubbly treat more than you do.

You don’t have to choose sparkling wine to celebrate! Here are two off-the-beaten path options that still pair perfectly with a new year.

Duvel Ale | $12.99/750ml or $14.99/4pk – Dry, racy and bountifully carbonated–perfect for New Year’s Eve. A true “devil” of a beer for its well-hidden strength, Duvel is a forefather of the Belgian Golden Strong Ale style. Its distinct character is derived from a century-old Scottish yeast strain used by the brewery and delicate Slovenian and Czech hops. Secondary fermentation in the bottle gives this beer voluminous foam, lifting herbal hop and pear brandy-like aromas to the nose. It has a lively palate perfect for pairing with richer, cheese-driven celebration fare.

Isastegi Sagardo Naturala Cider | $8.99/750ml – The opposite of what you’d expect for NYE, this cider is “still” and features no carbonation at all! Cider from the northern Basque region of Spain is unique and delicious, and Isastegi is a textbook example of this. Fermented from over a dozen varieties of local apples, it is blended in large oak barrels before being bottled fresh. Aromas of ripe green apple, zippy citrus, cider vinegar and barnyard funk preface a similar palate with delicate minerality and a streak of acidity. It is best served the traditional way: one sip’s worth poured from height into a wide glass, drink, repeat.

Whatever 2020 gave or took from us, let’s raise a glass of bubbles to old memories, new beginnings, and the certainty of time moving forward. Cheers!

Merry Christmas, Ya Filthy Virus: What to Drink when Home Alone this Holiday Season 

written by Chaz

There is no reason to inform you about what you already know: COVID-19 is awful, and so many more things that come with it. 2020 is not the year we envisioned, but France 44 still firmly believes we still have reason for some holiday cheer. Hope is around the corner, and we believe there are many reasons to celebrate. The snow is coming, people are finally done debating if Die Hard is a Christmas movie (I really hope), and there are plenty of fun new libations to try here are France 44.

Wine

Marc Hebrart Cuvée de Réserve Champagne

Nothing quite adds to the holiday spirit as Champagne does. Marc Hebrart has long been one of our favorite producers of Champagne. The Cuvée de Réserve is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay and spends about 2 years aging on the lees to add complex notes of almond and brioche. This is a bright and balanced Champagne that bats well above its price point.

Poggio Antico ‘Lemartine’ 

Lemartine is a rich and hearty Tuscan blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Petit Verdot. It is loaded with bold blackberry and currant flavors.  Leather, oak, and spice round out the palate.  Grippy tannins are present on the finish making this a great pairing with a hefty cut of beef!

Domaine Laroche ‘Saint Martin’ Chablis

Saint Martin is a blend of some of Domaine Laroche’s best vineyards throughout Chablis. It offers bright acidity and notes of green apple, citrus, and chalk. This wine’s acidity and flavor profile make it very food friendly. Try it with oysters, seafood, and lemon herb chicken.

Spirits 

Tattersall Bottled in Bond Bourbon: France 44 High Rye Single Barrel 

Our friends at Tattersall have waited four years to deliver us this fantastic bourbon, feature a mash bill of 55% yellow corn, 35% AC Hazlet Rye, and 10% malted rye. Minnesota white oak barrels, Minnesota grains, and aged just over four years in Minnesota, this is through and through a true Minnesota whiskey. This single barrel has big emphasis on black pepper, graham cracker, and nice dried fruit. Following the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897, this four-year-old bourbon sits at 100 proof, just where we like our bourbon.

Vikre Amaro Superiore 

Up in Duluth, Vikre has been working on a new bartender series. To kick it off, they have brought us a new amaro bitter liqueur. Distilled with water from Lake Superior, this amaro is crafted to be used like Campari or a classic sipping amaro. Citrusy marmalade topped with nutmeg and cinnamon flavors remind us of home baked goods. The finish is balanced with pleasant herbaceous bitterness. A beautiful bottle label and wonderful spirit inside, this is a fantastic liqueur for everybody this season.

Dashfire Hard Coffee Canned Cocktails 

Dashfire came out with six different canned cocktails in 2019, which were a huge success last year. This year, they have partnered with Five Watt Coffee to bring us three new coffee cocktails, perfect for the morning, afternoon, or after dinner. Bourbon Cold Brew Coffee has notes of chicory and vanilla. The Golden Latte uses rum, espresso, cream, and a few other flavors to bring out sweet nutmeg goodness. And finally, the Rum Café Mocha (the liquor team’s favorite of the three) is rum, cacao cream, and espresso, the mocha is chocolate perfection in a can.

Beer 

The beer world has only grown more complex in the last year. It seems every time we promote a beer, it flies off the shelf before most people can buy it. We did our best to choose beers with higher quantities at the time of publishing, but these all still come in limited quantities.

Great Lakes Christmas Ale 

This beer has been around since 1992, almost three decades. Every year, Great Lakes delivers a fantastic Christmas Ale to drink during the cold winter nights around the fire. Honey, ginger, and cinnamon spices all permeate through this beer. It pairs perfectly with roast duck, spiced holiday desserts, and of course, another Christmas Ale. We only have six packs available, so you might as well grab two if you can.

Drekker Ectogasm 

If you have any family coming home for the holidays, more than likely somebody will be going to be a big hazy IPA drinker. Drekker Ectogasm is one of our most popular hazy IPAs in the cooler, and beers overall. Tropical fruit burst out of this can with citra and mosaic hops, and the oats create a pillowy soft feel. Whether you are a big fan of new school beer or not, this beer will certainly be one of the first to go in the fridge.

Indeed Pils (Pils Pils Pils Pils Pils Pils Pils) 

A classic German lager but with a brand-new recipe in a brand-new package from a great brewery, Indeed is bringing old world beer to a new world audience. The hops resonate throughout this beer, making it one of the hoppier lagers with some juicy citrus notes, but this is a true classic, delivering clean, crisp, refreshing flavor. Perfect for someone used to Coors Light and the New England IPA fan.

With that, we wish you a Happy Holidays. Enjoy this season with the ones you love, and watch out for those Wet Bandits!

Scotch Gift Guide

It is officially December 2020, and we have made it through the year. The spirits team at France 44 has officially decided Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the cocktail of December. Single Malt Scotch usually spends a decade in the barrel, slowly turning into a fantastic, flavorful, and complex whisky. Even if you know nothing about Scotch, you know it is the king spirit of the world. For good reason.

But now that December is here, and gift giving abounds, what Scotch should you buy? Most people know Macallan, Lagavulin, and Laphroaig (and the prices to match their reputation), but what are the other 100 bottles doing on the shelf? So we created a guide to find lesser known, unique, and just as delicious Scotch for your Whisky loving gift receiver. Whether they love light fruit and vanilla, or big peat and smoke, we can guide you in the right direction.

These are a few off the beaten path options that we love.

GlenAllachie 12 Year – $57.99

GlenAllachie is one of the few remaining independent distillers still standing in Scotland. This scotch is newer to a lot of people, but it is very well worth knowing. Aged for 12 years in Pedro Jiménez and Oloroso sherry casks, as well as Virgin oak casks, this expression has rich notes of vanilla, dark fruit and oak.

Kilchoman Machir Bay – $59.99

Kilchoman brands themselves as the farm distillery of Islay, growing all their own barley through the spring and summer to begin malting and distilling after September harvest. This peated style is made up of 90% bourbon cask and 10% sherry cask aged whiskey. Featuring notes of vanilla and peat on the nose, dried fruit on the palate and a smoky finish. This bottle comes with two branded lowball glasses.

Benriach 10 Year – $44.99

Three cask matured for at least ten years in bourbon barrels, sherry casks and virgin oak, to create layers of luscious orchard fruit and sumptuous honeyed malt and toasted oak. At less than $50, this is the perfect introduction to the classic Speyside style. This scotch contains all the flavor you want in a single malt at half the price.

Benriach 12 Year Horizons – $59.99

One of the few triple distilled whiskies from Scotland. This expression is first matured in ex-bourbon casks and then is finished in Oloroso sherry casks. The palate is smooth, creamy and nutty with subtle dried fruit notes. Unfortunately, this scotch is being discontinued. We will not have this scotch for next year, but fortunately, we have more than enough for the season. Get it while you can!

Port Askaig 110 Proof – $59.99

A classic example of Islay Scotch, this peated whisky is aged exclusively in American oak, adding some spicy notes with the smoky peat. It is bottled at 110 proof to retain as much flavor as possible, this is the scotch to quote “put hair on your chest and then burn it all off”. The perfect balance of smoke and sweetness. This bottle also comes with two branded Glencairn glasses. Believe us when we say, a scotch drinker can never have enough Glencairn glasses.

2,000 Years of Wine Tradition Gets a Facelift at France 44

written by Dustin

France 44 would be remiss if we didn’t share our new treasure trove of German wines with you. Over the past year our market had lost one of the most famous German wine importers that had serviced the US for over 40 years. We worked tirelessly to get any news of what happened to these wines, phone calls, emails, the ever so important Zoom calls, and now we have finally found a new life line to bring us back some of our favorites.

Last week, we were lucky to land 14 new German wines. The, all important, and fan favorite Frtiz Muller Rose has reclaimed its spot in our rosé section. The Von Buhl Bone Dry Riesling and Rosé are now smiling back at us from their once empty shelf spaces. If you have never tried any of the aforementioned wines, you must, but please do not look over some of the other house favorites that have come back.

German wine is and always has been historically known for Riesling. Riesling once rivaled the storied wines of Champagne and Bordeaux in demand amongst world leaders, it has been known to be one of the most versatile food wines, and has a history of making some of the most age worthy wines of all time. The grape itself gets a bad rap due to the possibility of it having a high residual sugar content. But please, look no further, we have brought in several dry expressions for those who love a crispy white wine!

Maximin Grunhaus Riesling Monopol Mosel, Germany $25.99/ bottle

“A blend of fruit from the three grand crus that opens with clear, aromatic mango fruit and, after a while, lots of flinty notes of crushed stones. Silky, pure and enormously salty on the palate, this is a stunning, complex, tensioned and almost challenging Estate Riesling with lingering salinity and immense complexity and charisma.” – Wine Advocate

Becker Family Pinot Blanc Pfalz, Germany $21.99/ bottle

Looking past just Riesling there are many other white wines produced throughout Germany. Unfortunately, many of these other expressions of white wine are scarcely imported throughout our country. Lucky for you we have acquired wines from a small estate called Friedrich Becker Family. The winery specializes in pinot noir, pinot gris, and an exquisite pinot blanc.

“Prominent notes of toasted barrel and nut accent crisp white plum and grapefruit here. It’s a briskly composed and easy-drinking but elegant Pinot Blanc made completely dry.” – Wine Enthusiast

Meyer-Nakel Estate Pinot Noir Ahr, Germany $39.99/ bottle

One of the many hidden treasures of German wine is pinot noir. Sharing a close border to France, Germany has a history of making pinot noir that some suggest could rival its neighboring red Burgundies. Just like many of the non-riesling white wines, pinot noir is ever so difficult to procure in the US. These wines embody the vigor and opulence of world class expressions of pinot noir and are definitely worth a try.

“Bright and tangy, delivering black cherry, currant and raspberry fruit on a juicy profile. The long, spicy finish echoes sweet berry and toasty oak notes.” – Wine Spectator

Drink Local!

The holiday shopping season officially commenced last Friday. Small Business Saturday and Small Brewery Sunday were friendly reminders to shop local businesses over the weekend, but continued support will be most needed in the coming months.

We are entering winter amidst an untethered pandemic, and yet another (rightfully) consequential shutdown. As tough as that is, many of your favorite food, beverage, and service providers will continue to face an uphill battle through the core of winter. Indoor dining and drink service will return to a mitigated-state at best. From a brewery’s perspective, with bars and restaurants closed or offering curbside-only service, the kegs aren’t flowing, thus a large portion of sustaining production volume is simply being lost.

*cue the Sarah McLachlan music*

But in all seriousness–There are many faces behind the pint in your glass. Minnesota’s breweries support thousands of families and annually inject over $2 billion into the local economy. This amazing local beer scene was not built on greed but a joy of sharing a craft, a hobby, and yes, a pint. So please consider who you are supporting with your own hard-earned money through this holiday season and beyond. It’s as easy as buying a few growlers, gift cards, merch or what have you! And definitely stop by the beer cooler for some local goodness next time you’re in the neighborhood. I, for one, would like to make it to the other side of this with our local food and beverage (especially beer!) culture intact.

Check out some recent local favorites that are stocked in our cooler now. Cheers!

Falling Knife Cumulonimbus Fruited Sour Ale – $14.99/4pk Can

Take your taste buds on a tropical vacation this winter with this pink guava, pineapple and passionfruit-infused kettle sour. Light and fresh body with a nectar-y core and tart, bright finish.

Modist Campfire Jeans Smoked Helles Lager – $11.99/4pk Can

The latest iteration in Modist’s lineup of oak-aged lagers. This helles features the beautiful simplicity of pilsner malt with a dash of Beechwood-smoked malt for a campfire jean aroma and just enough smoke in balance with the biscuity malt character.

Barrel Theory Rain Drops NEIPA – $10.99/750ml Crowler

Barrel Theory has gained widespread respect and acclaim over the last few years for crazy delicious hazy IPAs and absolutely decadent stouts. A BT flagship, Rain Drops bursts with juicy aromas from Citra and Mosaic hops. Silky smooth, softly sweet malt and combines perfectly with a tropical hop character and seamless bitterness.

Bad Weather Ominous Double Brown Ale – $10.99/6pk Can

A personal wintery favorite. Ominous has a wholesome nutty, bready malt character. A bit of candi sugar brings a Belgian-like undertone with notes of dried fruit and plum.

A Holly, Jolly Curbside

We have had great success with our curbside program, which we implemented in March (doesn’t that seem like a lifetime ago?). With the holidays coming up, and Covid cases on the rise, we implore you, our dear customers, to consider moving to our curbside model in order to limit bodies in the store and any potential exposure to our other valued customers, as well as our essential employees who make this ship run.

The curbside process is smooth and efficient. Every time you call us, you are connected to a local industry expert on our phone team (restaurant professionals, wine reps, France 44 staff, etc). 45 minutes later, your order is ready! You get to stay warm and cozy in your car while we bring your order outside to you.

There are many other ways to shop with us, as well. For more detailed orders or personal shopping appointments (done over a video service, or telephone call) we have implemented a service-driven Concierge Appointment. Orders can also be placed online here and are ready within the same 45 minute window after you hit Send! We offer next-day local delivery Monday-Friday for $15 or more depending on the delivery location and details (note that someone 21+ with ID must be home to receive the order). These are such wonderful options we instituted for our customers and we have had great feedback on how much these gestures are appreciated.

The 7 easy curbside steps are:

Step One:  Call us at 612-925-3252 (or place an order online).

Step Two:  Tell the phone personnel you’d like to start a curbside order.

Step Three:  List off the items in your order (note the Cheese Shop is online orders only).

Step Four:  Allow a minimum of 45 minutes for order processing (you may pick up at your convenience until closing time, or even next day if you run late).

Step Five:  Drive to France44 and park in a designated Curbside Pickup spot outside the front door.

Step Six:  Call the Curbside staff at 612-978-1061 with your last name and parking spot number.

Step Seven:  Pop your trunk or open your back door for product delivery!

We sincerely value the support that our customer base has shown us these last 8 months. It is because of our vibrant community that we have weathered this storm together. Please consider using our remote shopping options to continue enjoying our fine provisions, and to support our hardworking staff by reducing foot traffic in the store. For anyone choosing to shop in store, please remember that mask wearing is mandated by Governor Walz, and please limit your shopping party to 1 person from your household.

May you all stay happy and healthy during this time!

Stout Season

written by Bennett

I’m calling it. Yes, it is unofficially the official start to stout season. This past weekend was one final hoorah of basking in the sun’s warmth, unburdened by layers of fleece and micro puff. But now, as we slip and slide into winter’s chilling grasp, like some sort of herd mentality it is the beer drinker’s natural instinct to reach for the dark beer in the fridge. Something comforting, warming, smooth. Something like an imperial stout. Have you tried one? These big, bold, unctuous concoctions that pour dark as a moonless night sky are the perfect evening beverage to cozy up with by the fireplace on a cold wintry evening.

Imperial stouts have become very popular seasonal offerings from American craft brewers since the style first really took off here in the early ‘90s. But they owe their heritage to the 18th century porter brewers in England, and a certain Russian empress. During this era the English were at the vanguard of dark beer brewing—brown ales, porters and “stout” porters were widely consumed in Britain’s pubs. Czarina Catherine the Great, the new leader of an expanding Russian empire, had reached a commercial treaty with the Brits in 1766. An unusual side effect of this agreement was Catherine’s development of taste for London stout.

Commerce between the countries was bolstered by regular shipments of “extra stout” porter from Henry Thrale’s brewery in Southwark to Catherine’s Russian imperial court. This sturdy, high-gravity brew likely reached around 12% abv and was well-hopped to balance the intense roasted malt character. Because of its relation to the imperial court, this style became known shortly thereafter as imperial stout.

While shipments to Russia and the Baltic region eventually diminished with world war, the style was kept alive by a handful of brewers in England and northern Europe. Its re-emergence to the mainstream came alongside the dawn of craft beer in America. Inspired by beers such as Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout from Britain, early craft brewers like Sierra Nevada, North Coast and Bell’s (to name a few) began brewing their own Americanized version of the style. Generally higher in alcohol and hopped to a higher degree, these American imperial stouts were the foothold for what is now a widely popular craft beer style.

Today you can find almost any imaginable variation of the imperial stout style, ranging from purist brews that tip the cap to history to an everything-but-the-kitchen-sink approach. One thing for sure is that imperial stouts still offer some of the most complex, intriguing flavor profiles available in craft beer.

Surly Darkness ’20 Russian Imperial Stout – $19.99/750ml

Very arguably the most popular imperial stout brewed in Minnesota. Drinking a snifter of Surly Darkness is like a rite of passage for any self-respecting Minnesota craft beer drinker. For many years the only way to obtain bottles was to attend Darkness Day or patiently wait for your liquor store’s small annual allocation. These days it is easier to find, but no less delicious. Bold,

roasted coffee and chocolate notes with an undercurrent of dark cherry and raisin and a decisively bitter finish.

Fair State / Barrel Theory Soft Pants Wood-Aged Imperial Pastry Stout – $6.49/16oz Can

Two local stalwarts got their mash paddles wet with this French toast-inspired imperial stout. This decadent brew features notes of vanilla, chocolate, French toast and warm baking spices. It’s sweet, boozy and delicious!

Alesmith Speedway Stout – $13.99/4pk 16oz Cans

A stout who’s numerous variants absolutely dominated Ratebeer and Beeradvocate top beer lists for years is still one of the best. Rich aromatic coffee notes from local roasters and intense waves of chocolate flavors are tempered by a smooth, creamy mouthfeel.

Wild Mind Winter’s Edge ’20 Imperial Stout – $13.99/750ml Crowler

Inspired by Mexican hot chocolate. Madagascar vanilla beans, cinnamon and ancho chiles contribute to a wonderful interplay of sweetness and warming spice. Brownie-like malt flavors are accented by a smoky spice and subtle raisin-y undertone.

Evil Twin Even More Jesus Imperial Stout – $12.99/4pk 16oz Cans

Like an iron fist in a velvet glove. Even More Jesus packs a prodigious punch of dark chocolate, coffee, dark fruit and muscovado sugar. The 12% abv is all too well-hidden, so be careful with the Jesus!

Is this list not long enough for you? Come ask a beer staff and we can show you tons of other great options for this style!

Absinthe Minded

written by Chaz

Absinthe is a lesser-known spirit with a well-known aura of mystery. The preferred drink of Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and Vincent Van Gogh, it has conjured a devout yet specific following historically. This liquor has actually only been legal for 20 years in America and is still confusing to many today. Why? Let’s take a trip.

 

What is Absinthe

Although at France 44 we keep absinthe in the cordial section, actual absinthe is a stand-alone liquor with no added sugar, generally high ABV, and contains three defining botanicals. Typically, absinthe runs anywhere from 90 – 148 proof, but many sit approximately between 120-130 proof, one of the highest ABV items you can find on a shelf. The main botanicals are star anise, green fennel, and the enigmatic wormwood. Artemisia absinthium, the scientific name for wormwood, is where absinthe derives its name, but also its centuries of misinformation. Wormwood contains a ketone, thujone, which in higher doses can lead to muscle spasms and convulsions. For years, wormwood and thujone were associated with THC and other cannabinoids. With some help from wine makers and other anti-absinthe bodies of power, the general public came to believe wormwood consumption would induce hallucinations. However, the amount of thujone in absinthe never approaches the toxicity level it takes for any of the adverse effects to take place. The notoriety, accompanied with propaganda and bad science, ultimately leading to a world abstinence from the “Green Fairy”.

The Green Hour

Most accounts mark absinthe’s invention sometime around 1790 by either Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, or the Henriod Sisters. Regardless, the wormwood botanical elixir was sold as a medicinal cure, and the drink began to catch on in the 19th century, with the Henriod Sisters starting the Pernod Fils distillery. The second half gave way to an explosion in absinthe drinking. Absinthe, due to its anti-establishment nature of high ABV and misunderstood botanicals, became the symbol of European bohemianism. Bohemianism was a movement of aesthetics, artists, and counter-culturists who poked the eye of the mainstream. Five o’clock was renamed the “Green Hour” in France, because behind wine, absinthe was becoming the drink of choice for many. French wine makers and the law makers began to take notice, and action.

Bad science made people believe absinthe contained toxic levels of thujone inside, causing hallucinations, seizures, and death. Looking back, we see how horribly inaccurate this is. Reports of 19th century absinthe containing lethal levels of thujone have been disproven, and any outrageous or immoral actions could be closer associated with the loose social values of its main drinkers and the high ABV (absinthe drinks easier than 60% ABV). In Edgar Degas portrait L’Absinthe, the melancholy patrons drinking the green drink were vilified by art critics and considered a ghastly portrait of its real drinkers. By the 20th century, laws to ban the drink for its dangerous levels of thujone were introduced. By 1915, America, France, and England had banned the drink. How closely this was followed is questionable, especially with the ease of movement of distilleries to Czechoslovakia and Spain, but for the next 100 years, absinthe struggled to stay around and became a faint infamous drink of another era.

The Return of the Green Fairy

Fast forward to 2007. Absinthe is illegal in America and other parts of Europe, but not impossible to find across the Ocean. The growing cocktail scene in America makes people reopen old cocktail books from before 1900. While anise liquors to replace absinthe were available, people wanted to true thing.  Lucid Absinthe Superiore negotiated with the USDA to keep thujone levels to a low level in the absinthe, and other countries soon followed. In 2007, France and the United States had both lifted their ban, and for the first time in 95 years, absinthe was available for sale in America. In the years prior, St. George spirits in California had been distilling and experimenting with absinthe (distillation was legal, sale was not). When the ban was lifted, St. George released the first American made absinthe in almost a century. 12 years later, more imports have been coming and craft distilleries in America are beginning to experiment more and more.

Although some bad science and lore still follows absinthe in 2020, its comeback is something to note. With a better understanding of chemistry, less judgment on what people drink, the green fairy is here to stay and clear you head.

Absinthe to try after reading; 

Pernod Absinthe 136 proof Liqueur

St. George Absinthe [200 ML bottle]

Two James Absinthe Nain Rouge