We can't let the Big Game get here before we empty the prize cabinet, tap more specialty kegs, and taste some wine. Here's a quick summary of the weekend events.
In Lawrenceville, we have our regular free wine tastings tonight, from 4-6pm, and tomorrow, from 2-4pm. Tonight's specialty tapping, at 5pm, is Dogfish Head American Beauty. And tonight's free raffle drawing is for a pair of tickets to the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles home opener. No purchase is necessary to enter the raffle, but you must submit your entry in person.
On Saturday, in addition to the wine tasting, the 5pm specialty tapping is Dogfish Head Worldwide Stout Vintage 2012. The evening comes to a close with a raffle for a Jason Avant autographed Philadelphia Eagles football.
Sunday, while you're taking care of the last-minute details before settling in to watch the game, we'll offer you a few reasons to stop in at Joe Canal's. From 1-3pm, we're giving away hot dogs (while supplies last), and we're also having a visit by two Philadelphia Eagles cheerleaders. And we're raffling off one last autographed Philadelphia Eagles football. The store will remain open until 7pm, as susal.
Things are just as busy at our Woodbridge store. The regular wine tastings have a football theme, and will be held from 4-6pm tonight, and 1-3pm tomorrow. There will be TWO specialty tappings at 6pm tonight, Founders Imperial Stout and Sly Fox Pale Ale Firkin. Tonight's free raffle prize is a portable Yuengling grill.
Saturday will include the regular wine tasting, and the 6pm specialty tapping will be
Weyerbacher Insanity Vintage 2012. That ends the Big Game Growler series. Saturday night wraps up with a free raffle drawing for an Antonio Cromartie autographer NY Jets helmet.
There will be food to whet your Big Game appetite on Sunday, as we'll have a food truck featuring sliders (while supplies last) from 1-3pm. But the final free raffle drawing, being held at 5pm, might be the best. We're raffling off a pair of tickets to the New York Giants 2014 home opener. As in Lawrenceville, the Woodbridge store will remain open until 7pm, as usual.
Even though the Big Game will be history, Joe Canal's will still be here, offering amazing values on exceptional products. And as soon as we clean up all of the displays from the Big Game, we'll move on to helping you prepare for Valentine's Day!
Friday, January 31, 2014
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Sparkle for the Big Game
The Big Game is the ultimate sensory experience. Even non-sports fans
want to know everything about the game, or maybe just the commercials. And very few of us will get to
watch the Big Game from one of the suites at MetLife Stadium. You can,
however, sip champagne like you're there.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge have very limited quantities of BEAU Joie Brut Champagne. This champagne will be featured in the suites at MetLife Stadium for the Big Game on Sunday, so even if you're not at the game, you can take your palate there.
BEAU combines supreme quality with impeccable, cutting-edge design. BEAU is made from the highest quality wine - 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, naturally derived from the finest grapes in Epernay, France.
This unique, zero-dosage champagne has none of the added sugars common in other champagnes. BEAU's true, uninhibited flavors rise through to the palate, boasting the perfect balance of dryness and sweetness, resulting in a clean, crisp taste from start to finish. This lack of added sugars makes BEAU a perfect match to all foods and desserts.
The bottle is wrapped in a 100% copper (made of 100% second-generation scrap, made into functional artwork) suit of armor that was inspired by the armor worn by the Knights that protected the Kingdom. This copper suit of armor keeps the bottle colder, longer, which eliminates the need for a table-side ice bucket.
BEAU Joie Brut is available in limited quantities for only $89.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge have very limited quantities of BEAU Joie Brut Champagne. This champagne will be featured in the suites at MetLife Stadium for the Big Game on Sunday, so even if you're not at the game, you can take your palate there.
BEAU combines supreme quality with impeccable, cutting-edge design. BEAU is made from the highest quality wine - 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, naturally derived from the finest grapes in Epernay, France.
This unique, zero-dosage champagne has none of the added sugars common in other champagnes. BEAU's true, uninhibited flavors rise through to the palate, boasting the perfect balance of dryness and sweetness, resulting in a clean, crisp taste from start to finish. This lack of added sugars makes BEAU a perfect match to all foods and desserts.
The bottle is wrapped in a 100% copper (made of 100% second-generation scrap, made into functional artwork) suit of armor that was inspired by the armor worn by the Knights that protected the Kingdom. This copper suit of armor keeps the bottle colder, longer, which eliminates the need for a table-side ice bucket.
BEAU Joie Brut is available in limited quantities for only $89.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Tasting with the Stars
Having the opportunity to taste great wines is one of the good things about this job. Our wholesale suppliers offer large-scale portfolio tastings annually, and other trade groups have tastings throughout the year. Few other industries have professional development opportunities that are as tasty.
It is, of course, necessary to distinguish "tasting" from "drinking". If you're a professional, attending a tasting event to improve your own palate while learning more about your portfolio, then "tasting", spitting out the wine, is what's required. Really, when there are a few dozen participating wineries, each offering samples of two or three different wines, "drinking" would render you unable to stand before too long, let alone be able to evaluate the nuances of the wines.
That's the background to my experience at the Benvenuto Brunello tasting event in New York City on January 27. Hosted by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the Italian trade group for Brunello producers, the tasting was pegged to the release of the 2009 vintage Brunello and 2012 Rosso. And with very few exceptions, that's what was available for tasting among the 50 or so participating wineries. And, no, that is not a complaint!
There was something of a mix of vintages and styles for the Brunello's. Some 2008's were also available for tasting, as well as some Riserva-level wines from 2004. Quite a few participating wineries had notes stating that they were "looking for an importer," so nearly everyone there was shopping for something!
I was prepared for a long day of tasting, although the crowds presented a challenge at times. The event was held at Gotham Hall, which is at Broadway and 36th Street. While it didn't impact the tasting, ESPN was setting up their music stage in the street right in front of the building, and their TV studio was one block south, also right in the middle of Broadway.Since the game is in New Jersey, some Super Bowl-related activities had to be in New York. I guess.
Entering the ballroom, you found the wineries were arranged more-or-less alphabetically, which gave Banfi the first table on the right. Since we carry about a dozen different Banfi products, including their Grappa, they were on my to-taste list. I was fortunate enough to have visited the Banfi winery in Tuscany, and tasted pretty much everything there. Here, I sampled the Brunello's, and they certainly started me off the right way.
At Joe Canal's, we carry Banfi wines starting at under $10. Especially in this weather, those everyday red wines will help thaw you out.
My strategy for events like this is to first taste wines that we already carry. I want to be as conversant as possible about our brands, and sometimes speaking with the rep will give me some added insights. It can mean circling the room a few times, working my way through the crowds, but it's worth the effort.
Still on my first pass, I next encountered our rep from Folio wines. Paul tasted me through his wines, and also talked up another Italian wine, Dal Forno Romano, in addition to their other wines. The Frescobaldi Giocondo Brunello was one of my top wines of the day.
This is as good a place as any to talk briefly about the process by which many products get to the shelves at Joe Canal's. Our team of buyers evaluates the products before approving them for sale at the stores. The team works exclusively for Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, so they also know the similarities and differences of the shoppers at the two stores. Maybe my palate is just aligned really well with theirs, or maybe they're good at their jobs, but with one exception, my favorite wines of the day were wines that we already carried. And the one that we didn't carry is one of the wineries looking for an importer.
I didn't have the opportunity to get pictures of the fruit & cheese trays that the organizers had set in the middle of the tasting area. The area was always crowded when I went past, and I never saw the displays looking anything other than picked-over. But you needed a bit of a palate-cleanser as you went through the tasting. Most wineries did have small bits of bread at their tables, and many offered olive oil samples as well.
The contest was very close, but my favorite wine of the day was the Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello, 2008, pictured above with our sales rep, Amy Ezrin. It's in stock in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge for only $49.96 in the Bottle Club®. Wine Spectator rated it 94 points, saying, "Aromatic, suave and silky, boasting aromas and flavors of flowers, cherry, strawberry and leather, all boosted by bright acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. Refined and long, with a lingering finish of mineral and spice. Best from 2016 through 2035. 700 cases imported." It was drinking beautifully at the event, and now I have to run over to the store and grab a bottle for myself. Considering that this wine hasn't scored under 90 points since about 1995, the Sassetti team knows how to make a great wine.
While this event was limited to people in the trade, there are similar events throughout the year that are open to the public. Some are listed on web sites like Local Wine Events, others are in Wine Spectator, and you can search the web as well. Being able to taste so many different wines is a great way to improve and expand your palate, while having a great time. And it might be on a smaller scale, but don't forget that Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge offer wine tastings nearly every Friday and Saturday. Our web site has a specific page devoted to our weekend wine tastings, and we also have special guest tastings during the year. For details about these and our other tastings, please consult our main Events page.
By and large, the Rosso's were drinking well. The Brunello's, beyond the few that were my clear favorites, showed a lot of promise, and are definitely worth buying, provided you can cellar them, or aerate/decant for drinking soon. But now I need to find a big plate of pasta.
It is, of course, necessary to distinguish "tasting" from "drinking". If you're a professional, attending a tasting event to improve your own palate while learning more about your portfolio, then "tasting", spitting out the wine, is what's required. Really, when there are a few dozen participating wineries, each offering samples of two or three different wines, "drinking" would render you unable to stand before too long, let alone be able to evaluate the nuances of the wines.
 |
| Benvenuto Brunello |
That's the background to my experience at the Benvenuto Brunello tasting event in New York City on January 27. Hosted by the Consorzio del Vino Brunello di Montalcino, the Italian trade group for Brunello producers, the tasting was pegged to the release of the 2009 vintage Brunello and 2012 Rosso. And with very few exceptions, that's what was available for tasting among the 50 or so participating wineries. And, no, that is not a complaint!
 |
| Amy Ezrin, about to pour Sassetti |
There was something of a mix of vintages and styles for the Brunello's. Some 2008's were also available for tasting, as well as some Riserva-level wines from 2004. Quite a few participating wineries had notes stating that they were "looking for an importer," so nearly everyone there was shopping for something!
I was prepared for a long day of tasting, although the crowds presented a challenge at times. The event was held at Gotham Hall, which is at Broadway and 36th Street. While it didn't impact the tasting, ESPN was setting up their music stage in the street right in front of the building, and their TV studio was one block south, also right in the middle of Broadway.Since the game is in New Jersey, some Super Bowl-related activities had to be in New York. I guess.
 |
| Banfi |
At Joe Canal's, we carry Banfi wines starting at under $10. Especially in this weather, those everyday red wines will help thaw you out.
My strategy for events like this is to first taste wines that we already carry. I want to be as conversant as possible about our brands, and sometimes speaking with the rep will give me some added insights. It can mean circling the room a few times, working my way through the crowds, but it's worth the effort.
 |
| Paul Costilla, Folio Wines |
This is as good a place as any to talk briefly about the process by which many products get to the shelves at Joe Canal's. Our team of buyers evaluates the products before approving them for sale at the stores. The team works exclusively for Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge, so they also know the similarities and differences of the shoppers at the two stores. Maybe my palate is just aligned really well with theirs, or maybe they're good at their jobs, but with one exception, my favorite wines of the day were wines that we already carried. And the one that we didn't carry is one of the wineries looking for an importer.
I didn't have the opportunity to get pictures of the fruit & cheese trays that the organizers had set in the middle of the tasting area. The area was always crowded when I went past, and I never saw the displays looking anything other than picked-over. But you needed a bit of a palate-cleanser as you went through the tasting. Most wineries did have small bits of bread at their tables, and many offered olive oil samples as well.
The contest was very close, but my favorite wine of the day was the Sassetti Livio Pertimali Brunello, 2008, pictured above with our sales rep, Amy Ezrin. It's in stock in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge for only $49.96 in the Bottle Club®. Wine Spectator rated it 94 points, saying, "Aromatic, suave and silky, boasting aromas and flavors of flowers, cherry, strawberry and leather, all boosted by bright acidity and firm, well-integrated tannins. Refined and long, with a lingering finish of mineral and spice. Best from 2016 through 2035. 700 cases imported." It was drinking beautifully at the event, and now I have to run over to the store and grab a bottle for myself. Considering that this wine hasn't scored under 90 points since about 1995, the Sassetti team knows how to make a great wine.
While this event was limited to people in the trade, there are similar events throughout the year that are open to the public. Some are listed on web sites like Local Wine Events, others are in Wine Spectator, and you can search the web as well. Being able to taste so many different wines is a great way to improve and expand your palate, while having a great time. And it might be on a smaller scale, but don't forget that Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge offer wine tastings nearly every Friday and Saturday. Our web site has a specific page devoted to our weekend wine tastings, and we also have special guest tastings during the year. For details about these and our other tastings, please consult our main Events page.
By and large, the Rosso's were drinking well. The Brunello's, beyond the few that were my clear favorites, showed a lot of promise, and are definitely worth buying, provided you can cellar them, or aerate/decant for drinking soon. But now I need to find a big plate of pasta.
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
New Stuff for the New Year
Every year in mid-January, a number of our wholesale distributors close for a week. For that time, we don't get any products from them, let alone new items. But it's a good opportunity for all of us to get our storage areas in order, following the business of the holiday season.
Thank goodness that's all behind us, so we can continue rolling out new products.
For the Scotch lovers out there, we're now stocking the Springbank 9 Year Old Gaja Barolo cask. Springbank is one of the few distilleries left in Campbelltown, and this whisky marries their complex and rich spirit with a fine wine cask, adding flavor and nuance. Limited production means limited availability, and it's priced at $97.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Speaking of Barolo, we also just received very limited quantities of the 2004 Azelia Riserva Barolo Voghera Brea. This received 97 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "A seductive red, this boasts a pure bouquet of cherry and cherry jam
flavors. Rich and expressive, unfolding on a bed of firm, supportive
tannins, with lively acidity and a long, lingering aftertaste of fresh
cherry, tobacco and mineral notes. Best from 2015 through 2033. 350
cases made." It's produced from vines that are more than 75 years old, and released after 6 years in the cellar. This fine wine is currently in the Bottle Club® at $104.99.
Due to arrive any day now is the 2012 Butter Chardonnay, from Jam Cellars. This wine has an ethereal creaminess on the palate, woven with smooth vanillin
scented oak. Tropical flavors of pineapple and honeydew intertwine
delicately on the mid pallet and linger on to the finish. Priced at only $14.89 in the Bottle Club®, we will also have limited quantities of the Butter.
Also due to arrive within the next day or so is the 2008 Santa Rita Triple C, from Chile. It rated 93 points from Wine Spectator, placing #47 in the 2013 Top 100. Their review: "A powerful red, with a surplus of dark plum, blackberry and dark currant
flavors that are pure and focused, wrapped in layers of vanilla and
cream. The long finish is filled with dark chocolate and wild herb
notes. Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon and Carmenère." Our regular price is $34.99, and it will be on sale in the Bottle Club® for only $29.99.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are your best bets during the Big Game week, and all through the year.
Thank goodness that's all behind us, so we can continue rolling out new products.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are your best bets during the Big Game week, and all through the year.
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Still the Wine Kept Comin'
We've talked before about the great new products that we have the opportunity to share with you, our loyal customers. Sometimes, we get an exceptional wine and we want to talk about it a bit more.
One of our wholesale suppliers specializes in finding smaller producers of higher quality wines. That can mean traveling widely, to meet those producers in their vineyards. One of their most recent discoveries is Domaine des Perelles.
Upon opening the wine, you'll find an attractive bouquet of peach, pear, hazelnut, and Asian spice. It's smooth, silky, and velvety textured with nice mouth-watering fruit. Vivid and bright fruit including spiced pears, white peach, acacia flowers, and maple infused lychees, with just the right touch of limestone minerality, will enchant your palate. This wine has a particularly nice, clean finish.
This Pouilly-Fuisse is exclusive to our stores, as we acquired the entire (small) USA allotment for this vintage. Enjoy this now with fish, chicken or salads, and save a second bottle for summer, when a chilled white wine is perfect for the deck or pool.
The 2012 Domaine des Perelles Pouilly-Fuisse carries a regular retail price of $27.99, but is available for only $23.96 in the Bottle Club®.
And if you know the musical homage in the title of this post, please leave your answer in the comments section.
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Celebrate Australia Day Today at Joe Canal's!
Today is Australia Day, commemorating the first landing in Australia by Captain Arthur Phillip in 1788. We can't think of a better way to celebrate than by visiting Joe Canal's. Let us explain.
Australians celebrate this day much like we celebrate the 4th of July. So while we're not exactly seeing barbecue weather here in New Jersey, we can still enjoy the bounty of Australia. We carry so many wines from Australia that both stores devote an entire section to the choices. Whether you prefer the casual and inexpensive labels like Yellow Tail or Little Penguin, step-up brands like Penfold's or Mollydooker, or fine wine like Glaetzer Amon-Ra, we have an Aussie wine for you.
I don't know whether they still teach this in our schools, but Australia was first used by the British as a penal colony. In that time, crime was so bad that the jails, particularly in London, were filled beyond capacity. The solution was "Punishment by Transportation," because the trip to Australia was lengthy and brutal.
Soon enough, a list of 19 Crimes was put into effect, which you can see here:
Of course, since we're still in the pre-Big Game stage, Joe Canal's has raffle drawings in both Lawrenceville and Woodbridge today. Please visit our website for the full details. Today's drawings are at 5pm, and no purchase is necessary. Lawrenceville will also continue their Big Game specialty tappings at 5pm, bringing Dogfish Head Olde School into the Growler station.
Whether it's Australia Day or the Big Game, our celebration means good things for you. Please stop in to Joe canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge today!
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Raffle Prizes as an Antidote to Snow!
As we look out the office window mid-day today, we see it's finally gotten around to snowing. The weather report indicated that we'd get an inch or two of snow today, which shouldn't be enough to deter you from stopping in to Joe Canal's, New Jersey's wine & spirits Superstore.
In case you need an extra reason to visit Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge, let me give you five extra reasons instead.
Both Lawrenceville (2-4pm) and Woodbridge (1-3pm) will have their regular Saturday wine tastings. Click for the tasting menu at both stores. The menu at Woodbridge includes one of the Downton Abbey wines.
Today we're also continuing our pre-Big Game activities with 9:00pm raffle drawings at each store.
In Lawrenceville, the prize is this 32" TV. Sorry, but the beer is not included.
And in Woodbridge, the prize is this Sam Adams Fire Pit. That's pretty tempting, given the weather lately!
For our daily raffles, tickets are only collected on the day of the drawing, so the more days that you visit our stores, the more chances you have to win! No purchase is necessary to participate in the drawings. Follow the links for the complete prize list and Rules for Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.
Our fifth extra reason is today's specialty tapping in Lawrenceville. Our Big Game specialty tappings started a few days ago in Lawrenceville, and will begin on Monday, January 27 in Woodbridge. In Lawrenceville, today we're tapping Stone Double Bastard.
Tomorrow, each store will raffle off a Big Game catered party for 10. So there's a head start on your reasons to visit Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge tomorrow!
In case you need an extra reason to visit Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville or Woodbridge, let me give you five extra reasons instead.
Both Lawrenceville (2-4pm) and Woodbridge (1-3pm) will have their regular Saturday wine tastings. Click for the tasting menu at both stores. The menu at Woodbridge includes one of the Downton Abbey wines.
Today we're also continuing our pre-Big Game activities with 9:00pm raffle drawings at each store.
In Lawrenceville, the prize is this 32" TV. Sorry, but the beer is not included.And in Woodbridge, the prize is this Sam Adams Fire Pit. That's pretty tempting, given the weather lately!
For our daily raffles, tickets are only collected on the day of the drawing, so the more days that you visit our stores, the more chances you have to win! No purchase is necessary to participate in the drawings. Follow the links for the complete prize list and Rules for Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.
Our fifth extra reason is today's specialty tapping in Lawrenceville. Our Big Game specialty tappings started a few days ago in Lawrenceville, and will begin on Monday, January 27 in Woodbridge. In Lawrenceville, today we're tapping Stone Double Bastard.
Tomorrow, each store will raffle off a Big Game catered party for 10. So there's a head start on your reasons to visit Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge tomorrow!
Friday, January 24, 2014
Taste, Win, Taste, Win
We've got a busy weekend for you at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Weekends are for relaxing? Not if we have anything to say about it.
Let's talk about what's happening in our Lawrenceville store first. The busy starts this afternoon at 4pm, with our free wine tastings. Click to see the available selections, which range from the everyday to special occasion wines.
Friday also continues our Big Game specialty Growler tappings. At 5:00pm, we'll tap a keg of Weyerbacher Quad. From the brewery tasting notes: "Big and delicious, QUAD is an elegant dark ale. Rich with complexity and flavor, try savoring it with a fine dinner. You also might enjoy it as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to a dessert, but QUAD stands alone quite well. We recommend enjoying QUAD in a brandy snifter or wineglass so you can drink in the aroma of this fine ale."
And as if that wasn't enough, we also have our raffle drawing tonight at 9:00pm. The prize is this DeSean Jackson autographed Philadelphia Eagles helmet.
His hand-writing might be iffy, but the #10 is perfectly clear.
In Woodbridge, we also have a full agenda. Tonight, we start with our weekly wine tasting, from 4-6pm. Click to see the available selections, which includes the Downton Abbey Blanc.
We also have our regular 5pm Friday night tapping. We're continuing with Founder Brewing as our brewery of the month, and we're tapping a keg of Centennial IPA.
Tonight wraps up in Woodbridge with a raffle drawing, with the prize being an Antonio Cromartie autographed NY Jets football helmet.
No purchase is necessary for any of our Big Game week raffle drawings. The complete list of drawing dates, prizes and Official Rules for Lawrenceville can be found here, and for Woodbridge, here.
That was all just Friday. Wait 'til you hear about the rest of the weekend! We'll keep you updated here, on our Facebook pages, and in our Twitter feeds.
Let's talk about what's happening in our Lawrenceville store first. The busy starts this afternoon at 4pm, with our free wine tastings. Click to see the available selections, which range from the everyday to special occasion wines.
Friday also continues our Big Game specialty Growler tappings. At 5:00pm, we'll tap a keg of Weyerbacher Quad. From the brewery tasting notes: "Big and delicious, QUAD is an elegant dark ale. Rich with complexity and flavor, try savoring it with a fine dinner. You also might enjoy it as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to a dessert, but QUAD stands alone quite well. We recommend enjoying QUAD in a brandy snifter or wineglass so you can drink in the aroma of this fine ale."
And as if that wasn't enough, we also have our raffle drawing tonight at 9:00pm. The prize is this DeSean Jackson autographed Philadelphia Eagles helmet.
In Woodbridge, we also have a full agenda. Tonight, we start with our weekly wine tasting, from 4-6pm. Click to see the available selections, which includes the Downton Abbey Blanc.
We also have our regular 5pm Friday night tapping. We're continuing with Founder Brewing as our brewery of the month, and we're tapping a keg of Centennial IPA.
Tonight wraps up in Woodbridge with a raffle drawing, with the prize being an Antonio Cromartie autographed NY Jets football helmet.
No purchase is necessary for any of our Big Game week raffle drawings. The complete list of drawing dates, prizes and Official Rules for Lawrenceville can be found here, and for Woodbridge, here.
That was all just Friday. Wait 'til you hear about the rest of the weekend! We'll keep you updated here, on our Facebook pages, and in our Twitter feeds.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Beer Flavored Jelly Beans And Other Important Developments
In just a couple of days this week, we were able to grab an assortment of news stories that are worth reading, covering topics from jelly beans to beer. Why wait? Let's dive right in.
1. Craft beer, or Crafty beer? This story talks about beers that we carry at Joe Canal's, like Yuengling and Magic Hat, and one of my personal favorites (Straub's) that we cannot get in New Jersey. The Brewers Association has rules about what is craft, versus what is crafty. This article explores why five brewers that you might think qualify as craft, simply don't.
2. Pennsylvania discovers natural wine. We generally find any discussion of wine to be interesting. The downfall of this article is in the lack of detail. The reader is directed to look for wines from specific importers, rather than the wine brands. That's a bit of a challenge, in that a shopper would have to check the front and back label of every bottle of wine, and even that's no guarantee. We have a much better idea. If you're looking for natural wines, ask one of our team members at Joe Canal's. We've already done the homework.
3. NJ Wines Win in CA! In the annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition,NJ wineries did very well. Sharrott Winery, Bellview Winery, and Old York Cellars each won a Gold Medal.
4. A Funeral Home with a Wine Cellar. There's video at the link. You really just have to read and watch for yourself.
5. Beer-Flavored Jelly Belly. Saving the most important story for last, of course. But they do want to be clear: there is no alcohol in this product.
When there's news about our industry, we're happy to share the information.
1. Craft beer, or Crafty beer? This story talks about beers that we carry at Joe Canal's, like Yuengling and Magic Hat, and one of my personal favorites (Straub's) that we cannot get in New Jersey. The Brewers Association has rules about what is craft, versus what is crafty. This article explores why five brewers that you might think qualify as craft, simply don't.
2. Pennsylvania discovers natural wine. We generally find any discussion of wine to be interesting. The downfall of this article is in the lack of detail. The reader is directed to look for wines from specific importers, rather than the wine brands. That's a bit of a challenge, in that a shopper would have to check the front and back label of every bottle of wine, and even that's no guarantee. We have a much better idea. If you're looking for natural wines, ask one of our team members at Joe Canal's. We've already done the homework.
3. NJ Wines Win in CA! In the annual San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition,NJ wineries did very well. Sharrott Winery, Bellview Winery, and Old York Cellars each won a Gold Medal.
4. A Funeral Home with a Wine Cellar. There's video at the link. You really just have to read and watch for yourself.
When there's news about our industry, we're happy to share the information.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Stop In & Win!
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are doing the touchdown dance! We're celebrating the fact that the Big Game is being played in New Jersey, but you'll be the winner!
Here's what we mean. Every day until the Big Game, each store will have a drawing (no purchase necessary, must be 21 or older; click for the Official Rules) for cool prizes or opportunities to purchase some extremely hard-to-find products.
We're showing you just a few of the items being raffled. Follow the links below for the full list for each store.
Friday, January 24, in Lawrenceville: DeSean Jackson Autographed Phila. Eagles helmet
Saturday, January 25, in Woodbridge: Sam Adams Fire Pit
Tuesday, January 28, in Lawrenceville: Justin Tuck Autographed NY Giants helmet
Friday, January 31, in Woodbridge: Portable Yuengling Grill
Saturday, February 1, in Lawrenceville: Jason Avant Autographed Phila. Eagles football
Please visit the Lawrenceville store Big Game page for all the detail on the events and activities there. And please visit the Woodbridge store Big Game page as well. Don't miss the food and the fun at Joe Canal's!
Here's what we mean. Every day until the Big Game, each store will have a drawing (no purchase necessary, must be 21 or older; click for the Official Rules) for cool prizes or opportunities to purchase some extremely hard-to-find products.
We're showing you just a few of the items being raffled. Follow the links below for the full list for each store.
Please visit the Lawrenceville store Big Game page for all the detail on the events and activities there. And please visit the Woodbridge store Big Game page as well. Don't miss the food and the fun at Joe Canal's!
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
This Might Not Wait
We're giving fine wine enthusiasts a reason to stop in at Joe Canal's before the snow shuts New Jersey down. Since we've all grabbed our bread, eggs and milk, the next necessity is wine. And we have a great choice back in stock.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge will have a very limited quantity of Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere St. Emilion 2010, which was Wine Spectator's 2013 Top 100 wine #2. This beauty rated at 96 points on Wine Spectator, and 94 from Wine Advocate.
Château Canon La Gaffelière is a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion. Its 19.5 hectare vineyard is located on the southern part of the lower slopes surrounding the historical and picturesque town of Saint-Emilion. For the past twenty years it has produced some of the most admired wines of the region, sumptuous and yet elegant.
From the Wine Spectator review : "This takes the power of the vintage and puts it in its pocket for later, preferring instead to let mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit strut its way forward, enlivened with roasted wood spice and supported by suavely but thoroughly embedded iron-tinged structure. Should cruise for two decades. Best from 2016 through 2035. 4,500 cases made."
The regular price of this Bordeaux is $144.99, but it's currently on sale at $124.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge will have a very limited quantity of Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere St. Emilion 2010, which was Wine Spectator's 2013 Top 100 wine #2. This beauty rated at 96 points on Wine Spectator, and 94 from Wine Advocate.
Château Canon La Gaffelière is a Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Emilion. Its 19.5 hectare vineyard is located on the southern part of the lower slopes surrounding the historical and picturesque town of Saint-Emilion. For the past twenty years it has produced some of the most admired wines of the region, sumptuous and yet elegant.
From the Wine Spectator review : "This takes the power of the vintage and puts it in its pocket for later, preferring instead to let mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit strut its way forward, enlivened with roasted wood spice and supported by suavely but thoroughly embedded iron-tinged structure. Should cruise for two decades. Best from 2016 through 2035. 4,500 cases made."
The regular price of this Bordeaux is $144.99, but it's currently on sale at $124.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Monday, January 20, 2014
More Big Game Cocktails
Now that the teams are set for the Big Game, we thought we'd help with some themed cocktails. Products from the Denver area (Coors/Coors Light, Blue Moon, Breckenridge beer or Breckenridge Bourbon, Great Divide beer) or Seattle area (Chateau Ste. Michelle or Snoqualmie wines) are easily found on our shelves, and certainly make a statement about team loyalty. But let's go one step further and create cocktails.
With Denver playing Seattle in the Big Game, we wanted to offer some cocktail recipes that would be relevant. Denver will be the visitors on February 2nd, so that recipe will be first:
The Bronco
Ingredients
1 part Boulaine or Walker Blue Curacao
2 parts Vodka (I prefer Tito's, but choose what you like)
4 parts Orange soda
Method
Fill glass with ice
Pour in vodka
Pour in Orange soda
Top with Blue Curacao.
Voila! Blue and orange, like that Denver football team.
The Russellmania
 |
| image Genevieve Alvarez / The Seattle Times |
Maybe this is really a "Hawktail"
Mix into a glass with ice
1 ounce Jim Beam Jacob's Ghost White Whiskey
1/2 ounce Blue Curacao
1/2 ounce fresh lime juice
Garnish with lime wheel dipped in sugar and espresso grounds.
This cocktail gets you the main color of that Seattle team, with taste of another thing that Seattle is known for.
Please let us know in the comments which team you'll be rooting for in the Big Game!
Friday, January 17, 2014
Big Game Big Beer Night in Woodbridge
Beer is an important part of any Big Game event, and we're here to help the craft beer aficionado in the run-up to February 2nd. Our Big Game Big Beer Night in Woodbridge will be January 29, and here are the details.
We are going to raffle off the opportunity to buy some extremely allocated, painfully hard-to-find beers, beginning at 6pm on January 29. Raffle winners will have the opportunity to purchase one bottle of:
Terrapin Cinnamon Rolled Wake and Bake
Terrapin White Chocolate Moohoo
Fifty Fifty Eclipse (only 3 bottles to raffle)
Founders Sweet Repute (2 bottles to raffle)
Firestone Velvet Merkin (3 bottles to raffle)
Stone Crime (2 bottles to raffle)
Brooklyn Black Ops (2 bottles to raffle)
Sam Adams Utopias (1 bottle to raffle)
Only one raffle win per person.
We will also have limited quantities of these beers available for purchase, first come, first served, one bottle per person limit:
Dogfish Head 120 Minute
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Vintage 2012
Great Divide Old Ruffian Vintage 2012
Dogfish Head Olde School Vintage 2012
Sierra Nevada Narwhal Vintage 2012
No purchase is necessary to participate in the raffle. You must be 21, with valid ID (if requested) to participate in the raffle or to sample any alcoholic beverage. The agenda is subject to change without notice.
We are going to raffle off the opportunity to buy some extremely allocated, painfully hard-to-find beers, beginning at 6pm on January 29. Raffle winners will have the opportunity to purchase one bottle of:
Terrapin Cinnamon Rolled Wake and Bake
Terrapin White Chocolate Moohoo
Fifty Fifty Eclipse (only 3 bottles to raffle)
Founders Sweet Repute (2 bottles to raffle)
Firestone Velvet Merkin (3 bottles to raffle)
Stone Crime (2 bottles to raffle)
Brooklyn Black Ops (2 bottles to raffle)
Sam Adams Utopias (1 bottle to raffle)
Only one raffle win per person.
We will also have limited quantities of these beers available for purchase, first come, first served, one bottle per person limit:
Dogfish Head 120 Minute
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Dogfish Head World Wide Stout
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine Vintage 2012
Great Divide Old Ruffian Vintage 2012
Dogfish Head Olde School Vintage 2012
Sierra Nevada Narwhal Vintage 2012
No purchase is necessary to participate in the raffle. You must be 21, with valid ID (if requested) to participate in the raffle or to sample any alcoholic beverage. The agenda is subject to change without notice.
Thursday, January 16, 2014
This Just In: Downton Abbey Wines!
While the staff is readying the stores for all of our Big Game promotions, the buyers are making sure that your requests are being fulfilled. And at the top of the request list right now are the Downton Abbey wines.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are now carrying the Downton Abbey Claret (Bordeaux red) and Blanc (Bordeaux white). Fifth-generation winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong has created a collection of finely balanced, elegant wines that are eminently drinkable.
The Claret is an elegant, dry wine made with grapes from the renowned Entre-Deux-Mers (“between two seas”) region of Bordeaux, France. Here, sun-drenched vineyards on well-draining limestone and clay soils are situated between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Warm days and cool evenings provide optimal growing conditions for the slow ripening of grapes and excellent flavor development.
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec were blended together in crafting this wine. Fruit was sourced from premium vineyards in the eastern part of Entre-Deux-Mers, a terroir particularly well-suited to these varietals. The wine was made using traditional vinification practices: Each varietal was vinified separately including temperature-controlled macerations of 4-5 weeks for maximum extraction of flavor and color. The wines were then aged an additional nine months prior to final blending.
With a deep purple color, this wine reveals gorgeous scents of wild berries including blackberries, raspberries and black currants in the glass. Additional spicy notes and hints of violet are contributed by the Malbec. On the round, well-balanced palate, more ripe fruit flavors merge seamlessly with velvety tannins from the Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend gives added freshness, backbone and age-worthiness to this authentic Bordeaux bottling.
The Blanc is an elegant, dry version made with grapes sourced from the famed Entre-Deux-Mers (“between two seas”) region of Bordeaux, France. Here, sun-drenched vineyards on well-draining limestone and clay soils are situated between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, creating ideal grape growing conditions featuring warm days tempered by the cool evenings.
A blend of Muscadelle and Semillion from the northern part of the region was used in crafting this wine. Grapes were harvested at the perfect moment of ripeness for maximum aromas and flavors. Ferments took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to harness even more bright fruit characters and freshness. Following fermentation, the juice underwent maturation on fine lees to add richness and complexity to the final blend.
The wine is a lovely pale yellow color. On the expressive nose, classic notes of tangerine lead to more citrusy notes and delicious flavors of apricots on a harmonious, crisp palate. The wine is perfectly balanced offering roundness on the palate complimented by a refreshing, lingering finish.
These great new wines are available for only $12.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Also new to our stores is the Nugan Third Generation Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our newest Australian red, Nugan is dense red in appearance with a youthful crimson hue. Sweet aromas of cherry and red berry fruit melded with mint and delicate allspice nuances. Sweet flavors of blood plum and mulberry with overtones of earth and spice tantalise the palate.
Nugan is perfect with red meat dishes. Try it with roast lamb or gourmet sausages.
Scoring 89 points from IWC makes the $8.99 Bottle Club® price even more impressive. This is a great value wine.
We already carry several wines from Four Vines. We've just added their 2010 Biker Zinfandel.
Exceptional Zinfandel from Dusi and Preston vineyards + bold additions of Grenache (8%), Tannat (6%), Mourvedre (5%), Syrah (3%) and a splash of Petite Sirah (2%) keep this vintage storming through a gauntlet of aromas and flavors.
On the nose, legendary blackberry aromas mix with cherries, plums, menthol, white pepper, and a touch of meaty black olives. The palate follows with boysenberries and smoky char to balance the fruit. Four Vines didn't pull any punches here. And we like it that way. Biker rocks!
The 2010 Biker scored 90 points from Wine Spectator: “Ripe and Zesty, with distinctive aromas of raspberry and smoky cracked pepper that lead to plush, briary flavors of black cherry, anise and sage. Drink now through 2016. 7,000 cases made.” - TF
Four Vines Biker is only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge are now carrying the Downton Abbey Claret (Bordeaux red) and Blanc (Bordeaux white). Fifth-generation winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong has created a collection of finely balanced, elegant wines that are eminently drinkable.
The Claret is an elegant, dry wine made with grapes from the renowned Entre-Deux-Mers (“between two seas”) region of Bordeaux, France. Here, sun-drenched vineyards on well-draining limestone and clay soils are situated between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers. Warm days and cool evenings provide optimal growing conditions for the slow ripening of grapes and excellent flavor development.
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec were blended together in crafting this wine. Fruit was sourced from premium vineyards in the eastern part of Entre-Deux-Mers, a terroir particularly well-suited to these varietals. The wine was made using traditional vinification practices: Each varietal was vinified separately including temperature-controlled macerations of 4-5 weeks for maximum extraction of flavor and color. The wines were then aged an additional nine months prior to final blending.
With a deep purple color, this wine reveals gorgeous scents of wild berries including blackberries, raspberries and black currants in the glass. Additional spicy notes and hints of violet are contributed by the Malbec. On the round, well-balanced palate, more ripe fruit flavors merge seamlessly with velvety tannins from the Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend gives added freshness, backbone and age-worthiness to this authentic Bordeaux bottling.
The Blanc is an elegant, dry version made with grapes sourced from the famed Entre-Deux-Mers (“between two seas”) region of Bordeaux, France. Here, sun-drenched vineyards on well-draining limestone and clay soils are situated between the Garonne and Dordogne Rivers, creating ideal grape growing conditions featuring warm days tempered by the cool evenings.
A blend of Muscadelle and Semillion from the northern part of the region was used in crafting this wine. Grapes were harvested at the perfect moment of ripeness for maximum aromas and flavors. Ferments took place in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks to harness even more bright fruit characters and freshness. Following fermentation, the juice underwent maturation on fine lees to add richness and complexity to the final blend.
The wine is a lovely pale yellow color. On the expressive nose, classic notes of tangerine lead to more citrusy notes and delicious flavors of apricots on a harmonious, crisp palate. The wine is perfectly balanced offering roundness on the palate complimented by a refreshing, lingering finish.
These great new wines are available for only $12.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Also new to our stores is the Nugan Third Generation Cabernet Sauvignon.
Our newest Australian red, Nugan is dense red in appearance with a youthful crimson hue. Sweet aromas of cherry and red berry fruit melded with mint and delicate allspice nuances. Sweet flavors of blood plum and mulberry with overtones of earth and spice tantalise the palate.
Nugan is perfect with red meat dishes. Try it with roast lamb or gourmet sausages.
Scoring 89 points from IWC makes the $8.99 Bottle Club® price even more impressive. This is a great value wine.
We already carry several wines from Four Vines. We've just added their 2010 Biker Zinfandel.
Exceptional Zinfandel from Dusi and Preston vineyards + bold additions of Grenache (8%), Tannat (6%), Mourvedre (5%), Syrah (3%) and a splash of Petite Sirah (2%) keep this vintage storming through a gauntlet of aromas and flavors.
On the nose, legendary blackberry aromas mix with cherries, plums, menthol, white pepper, and a touch of meaty black olives. The palate follows with boysenberries and smoky char to balance the fruit. Four Vines didn't pull any punches here. And we like it that way. Biker rocks!
The 2010 Biker scored 90 points from Wine Spectator: “Ripe and Zesty, with distinctive aromas of raspberry and smoky cracked pepper that lead to plush, briary flavors of black cherry, anise and sage. Drink now through 2016. 7,000 cases made.” - TF
Four Vines Biker is only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Big Game Big Beer Night in Lawrenceville
Beer is an important part of any Big Game event, and we're here to
help the craft beer aficionado in the run-up to February 2nd. Our Big
Game Big Beer Night in Lawrenceville will be Thursday, January 30, and here are the
details.
We are going to raffle off the opportunity to buy some extremely allocated, painfully hard-to-find beers, on January 30. The program will start at 6pm, and the drawing will begin at 7pm. Raffle winners will have the opportunity to purchase one bottle of:
Sam Adams Utopias, Vintage 2013 (1 bottle to raffle)
Only one raffle win per person.
We will also have limited quantities of these beers available for purchase, first come, first served, one bottle per person limit:
No purchase is necessary to participate in the raffle. You must be 21, with valid ID (if requested) to participate in the raffle or to sample any alcoholic beverage. The agenda is subject to change without notice.
The Big Game Big Beer Night is free to attend, but due to space limitations, your RSVP (name and phone number) is requested by January 29. Please email tcarver@joecanals.net or ldaly@joecanals.net to reserve your place.
We are going to raffle off the opportunity to buy some extremely allocated, painfully hard-to-find beers, on January 30. The program will start at 6pm, and the drawing will begin at 7pm. Raffle winners will have the opportunity to purchase one bottle of:
Terrapin White Chocolate Moohoo
Terrapin Cinnamon Rolled Wake n Bake
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Goose Island Barleywine
Goose Island Rye
Founders Sweet Repute
Stone Crime
Stone Punishment
Only one raffle win per person.
We will also have limited quantities of these beers available for purchase, first come, first served, one bottle per person limit:
Fifty Fifty Eclipse (All barrels)
Firestone AnniversaryNo purchase is necessary to participate in the raffle. You must be 21, with valid ID (if requested) to participate in the raffle or to sample any alcoholic beverage. The agenda is subject to change without notice.
The Big Game Big Beer Night is free to attend, but due to space limitations, your RSVP (name and phone number) is requested by January 29. Please email tcarver@joecanals.net or ldaly@joecanals.net to reserve your place.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Sipping Like You're In A MetLife Stadium Suite
The Big Game is the ultimate sensory experience. Even non-sports fans want to know everything about the game. And very few of us will get to watch the Big Game from one of the suites at MetLife Stadium. You can, however, sip champagne like you're there.
New to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge is BEAU Joie Brut Champagne. This will be featured in the suites at MetLife Stadium for the Big Game on February 2nd.
BEAU combines supreme quality with impeccable, cutting-edge design. BEAU is made from the highest quality wine - 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, naturally derived from the finest grapes in Epernay, France.
This unique, zero-dosage champagne has none of the added sugars common in other champagnes. BEAU's true, uninhibited flavors rise through to the palate, boasting the perfect balance of dryness and sweetness, resulting in a clean, crisp taste from start to finish. This lack of added sugars makes BEAU a perfect match to all foods and desserts.
The bottle is wrapped in a 100% copper (made of 100% second-generation scrap, made into functional artwork) suit of armor that was inspired by the armor worn by the Knights that protected the Kingdom. This copper suit of armor keeps the bottle colder, longer, which eliminates the need for a table-side ice bucket.
BEAU Joie Brut is available in limited quantities for only $89.99 in the Bottle Club®.
New to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge is BEAU Joie Brut Champagne. This will be featured in the suites at MetLife Stadium for the Big Game on February 2nd.
BEAU combines supreme quality with impeccable, cutting-edge design. BEAU is made from the highest quality wine - 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, naturally derived from the finest grapes in Epernay, France.
This unique, zero-dosage champagne has none of the added sugars common in other champagnes. BEAU's true, uninhibited flavors rise through to the palate, boasting the perfect balance of dryness and sweetness, resulting in a clean, crisp taste from start to finish. This lack of added sugars makes BEAU a perfect match to all foods and desserts.
The bottle is wrapped in a 100% copper (made of 100% second-generation scrap, made into functional artwork) suit of armor that was inspired by the armor worn by the Knights that protected the Kingdom. This copper suit of armor keeps the bottle colder, longer, which eliminates the need for a table-side ice bucket.
BEAU Joie Brut is available in limited quantities for only $89.99 in the Bottle Club®.
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Countdown to the Big Game, Lawrenceville Style!
Here's a quick look at the free events and activities at our Lawrenceville store in the days leading up to the Big Game! Please read
to the end for all of the important details.
Tuesday, January 21: Recliner Chair Raffle
Wednesday, January 22: Bicycle Raffle
Thursday, January 23: Recliner Chair Raffle
Friday, January 24: Autographed Philadelphia Eagles Helmet Raffle
Saturday, January 25: 32" TV Raffle
Sunday, January 26: Catered Big Game Party for 10 Raffle (Details TBA)
Monday, January 27: Canopy/Tent Raffle
Tuesday, January 28: Justin Tuck Autographed NY Giants Helmet Raffle
Wednesday, January 29: Bicycle Raffle
Thursday, January 30: Allocated Beer Release, 6pm; $15 Sam Adams Utopias pours (while supplies last). See details here.
Friday, January 31: Raffle for 2 tickets to the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles Home Opener
Saturday, February 1: Autographed Philadelphia Eagles Football Raffle
Sunday, February 2: Appearance by two Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders, Free Hot Dogs, 1pm-3pm; Autographed Philadelphia Eagles Football Raffle.
Official Rules: You must be 21 or older to enter any raffle or sample any alcoholic beverage. We reserve the right to request proper ID that conforms to the laws of the State of New Jersey (Valid Drivers License from any US State or Territory, Valid Passport or Valid US Military ID). Lack of proper ID may result in your disqualification. No purchase is necessary to enter. You must enter each raffle separately, and you may enter as many different raffles as you wish. One entry per raffle per person. You do not need to be present to win. Entries will only be accepted in the store. Void if prohibited by law. Agenda is subject to change without notice.
We will collect and draw the raffle tickets separately each day. For example, to enter to win the Philadelphia Eagles tickets, you must submit an entry form only on Friday, January 31. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
The raffles on Sunday, January 26 and Sunday, February 2 will be drawn at 5pm. All the other raffles will be drawn at 9pm. The decisions of the Store Manager are final.
Tuesday, January 21: Recliner Chair Raffle
Wednesday, January 22: Bicycle Raffle
Thursday, January 23: Recliner Chair Raffle
Friday, January 24: Autographed Philadelphia Eagles Helmet Raffle
Saturday, January 25: 32" TV Raffle
Sunday, January 26: Catered Big Game Party for 10 Raffle (Details TBA)
Monday, January 27: Canopy/Tent Raffle
Tuesday, January 28: Justin Tuck Autographed NY Giants Helmet Raffle
Wednesday, January 29: Bicycle Raffle
Thursday, January 30: Allocated Beer Release, 6pm; $15 Sam Adams Utopias pours (while supplies last). See details here.
Friday, January 31: Raffle for 2 tickets to the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles Home Opener
Saturday, February 1: Autographed Philadelphia Eagles Football Raffle
Sunday, February 2: Appearance by two Philadelphia Eagles Cheerleaders, Free Hot Dogs, 1pm-3pm; Autographed Philadelphia Eagles Football Raffle.
Official Rules: You must be 21 or older to enter any raffle or sample any alcoholic beverage. We reserve the right to request proper ID that conforms to the laws of the State of New Jersey (Valid Drivers License from any US State or Territory, Valid Passport or Valid US Military ID). Lack of proper ID may result in your disqualification. No purchase is necessary to enter. You must enter each raffle separately, and you may enter as many different raffles as you wish. One entry per raffle per person. You do not need to be present to win. Entries will only be accepted in the store. Void if prohibited by law. Agenda is subject to change without notice.
We will collect and draw the raffle tickets separately each day. For example, to enter to win the Philadelphia Eagles tickets, you must submit an entry form only on Friday, January 31. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
The raffles on Sunday, January 26 and Sunday, February 2 will be drawn at 5pm. All the other raffles will be drawn at 9pm. The decisions of the Store Manager are final.
Countdown to the Big Game, Woodbridge Style!
Here's a quick look at the free events and activities at our Woodbridge store in the 13 days leading up to the Big Game! The Bourbon Bowl and Allocated Beer release are detailed at our web site. Please read to the end for all of the important details.
Tuesday, January 21: Bacardi Gazebo Tent Raffle
Wednesday, January 22: Coby 15" TV Raffle
Thursday, January 23: Golf Bag Raffle
Friday, January 24: Autographed NY Jets Football Raffle
Saturday, January 25: Fire Pit Raffle
Sunday, January 26: Catered Big Game Party for 10 Raffle (Details TBA)
Monday, January 27: Shiner Bock Corn Hole Game Raffle
Tuesday, January 28: Bourbon Bowl, 6pm
Wednesday, January 29: Allocated Beer Release, 6pm (TBA); $15 Sam Adams Utopias pours (while supplies last)
Thursday, January 30: Golf Bag Raffle
Friday, January 31: Portable Yuengling Grill Raffle
Saturday, February 1: Antonio Cromartie Autographed NY Jets Helmet Raffle
Sunday, February 2: Slider Food Truck, 1pm-3pm; Raffle for 2 tickets to the 2014 NY Giants Home Opener
Official Rules: You must be 21 or older to enter any raffle or sample any alcoholic beverage. We reserve the right to request proper ID that conforms to the laws of the State of New Jersey (Valid Drivers License from any US State or Territory, Valid Passport or Valid US Military ID). Lack of proper ID may result in your disqualification. No purchase is necessary to enter. You must enter each raffle separately, and you may enter as many different raffles as you wish. One entry per raffle per person. You do not need to be present to win. Entries will only be accepted in the store. Void if prohibited by law. Agenda is subject to change without notice.
We will collect and draw the raffle tickets separately each day. For example, to enter to win the NY Giants tickets, you must submit an entry form only on Sunday, February 2. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
The raffles on Sunday, January 26 and Sunday, February 2 will be drawn at 5pm. All the other raffles will be drawn at 9pm. The decisions of the Store Manager are final.
Tuesday, January 21: Bacardi Gazebo Tent Raffle
Wednesday, January 22: Coby 15" TV Raffle
Thursday, January 23: Golf Bag Raffle
Friday, January 24: Autographed NY Jets Football Raffle
Saturday, January 25: Fire Pit Raffle
Sunday, January 26: Catered Big Game Party for 10 Raffle (Details TBA)
Monday, January 27: Shiner Bock Corn Hole Game Raffle
Tuesday, January 28: Bourbon Bowl, 6pm
Wednesday, January 29: Allocated Beer Release, 6pm (TBA); $15 Sam Adams Utopias pours (while supplies last)
Thursday, January 30: Golf Bag Raffle
Friday, January 31: Portable Yuengling Grill Raffle
Saturday, February 1: Antonio Cromartie Autographed NY Jets Helmet Raffle
Sunday, February 2: Slider Food Truck, 1pm-3pm; Raffle for 2 tickets to the 2014 NY Giants Home Opener
Official Rules: You must be 21 or older to enter any raffle or sample any alcoholic beverage. We reserve the right to request proper ID that conforms to the laws of the State of New Jersey (Valid Drivers License from any US State or Territory, Valid Passport or Valid US Military ID). Lack of proper ID may result in your disqualification. No purchase is necessary to enter. You must enter each raffle separately, and you may enter as many different raffles as you wish. One entry per raffle per person. You do not need to be present to win. Entries will only be accepted in the store. Void if prohibited by law. Agenda is subject to change without notice.
We will collect and draw the raffle tickets separately each day. For example, to enter to win the NY Giants tickets, you must submit an entry form only on Sunday, February 2. There will be no exceptions to this rule.
The raffles on Sunday, January 26 and Sunday, February 2 will be drawn at 5pm. All the other raffles will be drawn at 9pm. The decisions of the Store Manager are final.
Namaste!
We're welcoming the first Namaste of the year.
Namaste is a witbier bursting with good karma. It's made with dried organic orange slices, fresh-cut lemongrass and a bit of coriander, so this Belgian-style white beer is a great thirst quencher.
Originally, Namaste was brewed at the Dogfish Head pub in Rehoboth Beach in conjunction with their Italian friend Leo from Birra del Borgo. It was a tribute to friends at 3 Fonteinen brewery in Belgium, who had devastating production loss (1/3 of their annual production) in 2009.
Food Pairing Recommendations: Roasted turkey, Caesar salad, pasta with cream sauce, goat cheese. Because good beer goes very well with good food.
Comparable wine: Gewurztraminer
ABV 4.8
BU 20
Namaste scored an overall 94 points on RateBeer. It's recommended that Namaste be served in a tumbler.
Monday, January 13, 2014
Fireball Cocktails
Fireball Cinnamon Whisky is now an established category leader. With it's hot & sweet cinnamon burn, the flavor has wide appeal. It's also a very affordable whisky that appeals to men and women.
About a month ago, we posted a couple of Fireball cocktail recipes. We were asked to post more, so here are some suggestions for you to include in your Big Game party, or anytime.
About a month ago, we posted a couple of Fireball cocktail recipes. We were asked to post more, so here are some suggestions for you to include in your Big Game party, or anytime.
Firish Cream
Ingredients
3 parts Fireball Whisky
1 part Bailey's Irish Cream
Method
Combine both ingredients in a shaker. Add ice, shake, then strain into a highball glass.
Caribbean Fireball
Ingredients
1 part Fireball whisky
1 part Coconut Rum
2 parts mix of pineapple, orange and banana juice
Method
Shake with ice and strain into a highball glass, or simply serve over ice.
Cinnamon Toast
Ingredients
1 oz Fireball whisky
1/4 oz Rum Chata
1/4 oz Smirnoff Caramel Vodka
Method
Shake and pour over ice in a rocks glass, top with ginger ale, garnish with cinnamon stick.
Please enjoy responsibly.
Friday, January 10, 2014
Weekend FTW!
Weekends are always the busiest days for us at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. The busy work week doesn't leave much time to relax, so we all need to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the weekend. While the expected rain on Saturday will slow things down a bit, it still will be 50 degrees warmer than Tuesday, so I think we can agree that it's a decent trade-off.
We're also warming up for the Big Game, with the championship game being played in New Jersey for the first time. Please keep checking our emails, social media, web site and this blog to stay current on our activities. There will be special appearances, extra tastings, specialty Growler tappings, free food, and so much more. And with the holidays behind us, we're back on schedule with our regular weekend wine tastings.
In Woodbridge, we have a wine tasting tonight, from 4-6pm. You can find the tasting menu here: http://www.jcanals.com/winetastings.php. We'll also have a tasting from 1-3pm on Saturday, with the same wines.
At 5pm tonight, we'll also tap a Founders Porter at the Growler Station. That will remain at the Growler Station until it kicks, so come in early.
Over in Lawrenceville, our Friday wine tasting will also run from 4-6pm, while our Saturday tasting will be 2-4pm. And instead of Friday tappings, we'll tap a specialty keg every day leading up to the Big Game at 5pm, starting Thursday, April 23. Please note that our Lawrenceville store will close at 4pm this Sunday, January 12, for inventory.
As always, our friendly, helpful staff are around to assist you.
Don't forget to follow us on Twitter:
@jcanalslawrence
@jcanalsiselin
We follow back!
Like us on Facebook:
Joe Canal's Discount Liquors of Lawrenceville, NJ
Joe Canal's Discount Liquors of Woodbridge, NJ
We're also warming up for the Big Game, with the championship game being played in New Jersey for the first time. Please keep checking our emails, social media, web site and this blog to stay current on our activities. There will be special appearances, extra tastings, specialty Growler tappings, free food, and so much more. And with the holidays behind us, we're back on schedule with our regular weekend wine tastings.
In Woodbridge, we have a wine tasting tonight, from 4-6pm. You can find the tasting menu here: http://www.jcanals.com/winetastings.php. We'll also have a tasting from 1-3pm on Saturday, with the same wines.
At 5pm tonight, we'll also tap a Founders Porter at the Growler Station. That will remain at the Growler Station until it kicks, so come in early.
Over in Lawrenceville, our Friday wine tasting will also run from 4-6pm, while our Saturday tasting will be 2-4pm. And instead of Friday tappings, we'll tap a specialty keg every day leading up to the Big Game at 5pm, starting Thursday, April 23. Please note that our Lawrenceville store will close at 4pm this Sunday, January 12, for inventory.
As always, our friendly, helpful staff are around to assist you.
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Joe Canal's Discount Liquors of Lawrenceville, NJ
Joe Canal's Discount Liquors of Woodbridge, NJ
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