Latest and Greatest

A lot of new products came in while we were away, so let's get right to the reviews.

Bolla Pinot Grigio. Not a new product, but we did arrange for a special purchase of the 1.5 liter size. That allows us to pass savings along to you.

One sip will express why this varietal has become so popular within the last few years. From its beautiful pale straw color to its amazing crisp and lively taste of lemons, limes, peaches and melons, this light, dry wine is infinitely satisfying. Pair Bolla Pinot Grigio with seafood, white meat, sauced pastas and grilled vegetables. It also makes an ideal aperitif.

$12.69 in the Bottle Club®.

Philippe Girard Sancerre. The Domaine Philippe Girard is located in Verdigny, one of the most renowned wine villages of Sancerre. Wine has been grown on the estate since the time of the French Revolution in 1789. However, the wine was consumed only by the family itself or allocated to really good friends. This changed with Marius Girard in the 1960s. He began to bottle the wines, found customers and sold Girard Sancerre with great success. Today’s generation owns 16 acres of Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. The siblings know each parcel in their vineyard and produce amazing, terroir driven wines. The 2013 Philippe Girard Sancerre has notes of peaches and stone fruits. Mineral and flint notes show up on the crisp, clean finish. Pair with fresh goat cheese, shellfish and vegetable tarts. Drink now.

Only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®.

2013 Ridge Vineyards Ponzo Vineyard Russian River Valley Zinfandel. 93% Zinfandel, 7% Petite Sirah. Thinking a bit ahead, remember that Zinfandel is a perfect red for the Thanksgiving table. This Zin is sensuous and exotic, rich, and well-structured. Bursting aromas of ripe cherries and rich plums jump forward out of the glass. The palette follows with bright cherry fruit, exotic pepper and thyme spice, and some clay/earth notes. The acidity lends complexity to the rich, sweet fruit, and carries the wine through to a solid finish.

Only $28.49 in the Bottle Club®. We have a very limited allocation of this wine, so get yours today!

Marcel Hugg Pinot Blanc. Alsace has some high-value, modest cost wines, and this is a perfect example of that dynamic. A dry white wine, supple and virile. The Pinot Blanc grape produces a balanced and well made wine, round and vigorous, with a pleasing freshness; a clean cut wine which can be enjoyed whenever a dry white wine is called for.

Only $10.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Look also for the Marcel Hugg Reserve St. Jean Riesling 2014, at only $11.96 in the Bottle Club®. This is a dry white wine which is both full bodied and fruity. Riesling is a proud and elegant wine, with a distinguished bouquet and exquisite flavor. It complements the finest food and its superb with fish and shell fish.

Papa's Inspiration

We're pleased to introduce two new additions to the Canal's Family Selection (CFS) portfolio. All of our CFS spirits offerings are hand-selected from the barrel for your enjoyment. These are available in limited quantities, but are also affordably priced. Look for Papa's Pilar 90 Day and 120 Day Rum. These start as great rums, then are re-aged in ex-bourbon barrels for added flavor and complexity.

Rum was once a noble spirit. It was served aboard warships, rationed to visionary explorers, and used to sustain the Founding Fathers as they plotted revolution. Rum was consumed by men who understood that you only get one shot at life. Standing still, they’d say, was a waste of valuable time.

Ernest Hemingway was this type of man – an adventurer who lived life to the fullest. He indulged us with glimpses of a vibrant life by stitching together distant cultures, passions, and people using the power of the written word. Inspired by his appetite for adventure, we’ve proudly created a super-premium rum: Papa's Pilar. 

It is a spirit born of multiple rums hand-selected from the Caribbean, Central America and Florida. The rums are then brought to the U.S.A. and married together in our unique Solera aging and blending process.

Rum might be served in laid-back cocktails, but its history is anything but relaxed. George Washington demanded it be served during his presidential inauguration. American soldiers drank it as they toasted to Cuban liberation after the Spanish-American War. It was the “wets” drink of choice during Prohibition. Rum represents a strong spirit of American rebellion. We think you should be able to taste that spirit in every sip.

Papa's Pilar Limited Edition Dark Rum, Canal's Family Selection, Re-Aged 90 Days. Complex notes of vanilla, coffee beans and honey, with hints of creme brulee. The taste is intricately flavorful - light sweetness mixed with hints of bourbon and oak. Full viscosity lends to a mouth feel full of almond, pecan and dried apricot. It finishes with growing spice, coupled with a nice balance of sweet. Available for $39.99.

Papa's Pilar Limited Edition Dark Rum, Canal's Family Selection, Re-Aged 120 Days. Elaborate layers of Caribbean spices, chocolate and coffee, with hints of sherry and port on the nose. The taste is intricately flavorful - sophisticated layer after layer of spice forward, complimented by walnut, vanilla, sherry and port. The finish has robust dry spice with oak, balanced with a lingering sweetness. Available for $44.99.

That's Random

Your blogger has plenty of things to inform you about, as we're still catching up from the pile that accumulated during our vacation.

Internet Orders for Store Pick Up

This feature is now live for our Woodbridge store. We expect a few hiccups as we start this, so please bear with us as we work to improve your Joe Canal's experience. The Store Pick Up process will allow you to securely place your order from your mobile device or computer and pick it up in the store. This is a great time-saving device. Please note that our usual procedures (such as age verification) will remain in place.

Mixology Monday

David Rudd is the assistant store manager in Woodbridge, and is our resident Mixologist. His featured cocktail for this week is the Black Hole Sun Cocktail.

"I really dig a brunch cocktail that has a little more moxie than a mimosa – which is just about anything (and this one has bourbon in it).  2 oz bourbon (go for Elijah Craig 12yr), ½ oz cold brewed coffee, ½ oz simple syrup, 2 dashes orange bitters, 1 dash Angostura bitters and 1 dash chocolate bitters.  Build in a cocktail glass with ice and garnish with a lemon peel."

#romansgotthis

We wanted to thank everyone who participated in our recent #romansgotthis after hours event in Woodbridge. In brief, one of our employees was seriously injured in a hit-and-run incident. With the support of the community, we recently held a fund-raiser, to help with his extensive medical bills. Below are pictures from the event.

Joe Canal's Night at Dad' Hat Rye Whiskey

Great whiskey is made within a short distance of our Lawrenceville store. Join us for this all-new event. Space is limited to 25 people!

The registration fee is $15, and includes:

The tour of the Dad's Hat distillery

A tasting of Dad's Hat whiskey

Cocktail (shorty pour)

Barrel tasting

Joe Canal's rocks glass

Sign up today by calling 609-520-0008! Please note that transportation is not included; you must get to and from Dad's Hat on your own.

Autumn Weekend Grab Bag

If you subscribe to our email newsletters, you'll see a new format later today. The emails will have a cleaner look, and will be much easier to read on your mobile device. We still have a few tweaks coming to the HTML, but we think it's a big improvement. Please let us know what you think.

Store Events

It's the weekend, so we have events on the schedule. Please click here for the full agenda.

New Products

Cold Spell Mint Whiskey. Cool mint is the new hot shot. It’s time for a new take on the bold, challenge shot! Introducing Cold Spell – the intense mint whiskey that combines the bold taste of whiskey with an intense cool mint flavor. Brace yourself for the Cold Spell! Only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Wyoming Whiskey. The idea is a simple one: create a traditional bourbon in an untraditional place. The Big Horn Basin offers everything needed to make great bourbon. The corn, wheat and barley are grown in Kirby, Byron, Thermopolis and Riverton.

And the water is unrivaled. A mile below the distillery lays the Madison

Formation, which includes a massive limestone aquifer from where the water is sourced. Access to this pure water resource is an important reason why the distillery is located where it is.

Small Batch Bourbon Whiskey. Color: medium amber. Nose: moderate fruit and floral, light caramel and vanilla with a hint of oak. Body: moderate. Palate: vanilla, caramel, sweet fruit, and slight oak. Finish: mild with smooth finish.

Limited availability, at $44.99.

And because we enjoy Fine Wine as well...

Wayfarer Pinot Noir, Fort Ross-Seaview Wayfarer Vineyard 2012. Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, February 2014: "Dark cherries, red stone fruits, menthol, flint and sweet spices all race out of the glass as the 2012 Pinot Noir Wayfarer Vineyard shows off its personality. Exotic and vibrant on the palate, the 2012 dazzles from the very first taste. The combination of sumptuous fruit and Sonoma Coast minerality is simply compelling. What a beautiful wine this is. The 2012 is power and class personified."  Wine Enthusiast: 94 points. Wine Spectator: 92 points. $89.99 in the Bottle Club®.

And the winery tasting notes: This blend of the vineyard’s 12 prize clones yields a wine of complexity and completeness, the culmination of a far-reaching journey. This wine possesses a beautiful ruby color with aspects of garnet. Vibrant aromas of red cherry, strawberry and raspberry mingle with layers of crushed violet and rose petal, fresh mint and forest floor. New French oak adds even greater complexity with hints of vanilla bean and toasted bread. The entry of the wine is supple and generous and balances with its firm structure. A harmonious blend of the site’s diverse clones, a panoply of red fruits unfurls on the palate with an emergence of cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry, framed by silky tannins and lifted by bright acidity and mineral undertones. This is a restrained, concentrated wine that opens magically with each sip. The complexity of floral notes and wild red berries lingers on the palate with a lasting finish.

Wayfarer is the Sonoma Coast project of Pahlmeyer. Also ask for the 2012 Wayfarer Chardonnay. Both are available in extremely limited quantities.

Ripped From The Headlines

CA wildfires are under control, and harvest resumes. Click here for the story.

Hey, you may have heard that the Pope is in our area. Grab a Malbec or Torrontes from his native Argentina to enjoy while watching the coverage.

Have a great weekend!

Back to Blogging

Your blogger is back from an extended break. There were daily pre-written posts in our absence, but we're back to work now.  Since it's Thursday, this seems like a great time to update you on our upcoming events, especially since some additions were announced today.

Events in Lawrenceville

We have our regular wine tastings this weekend. The tasting menu will be posted a little later today, so please consult our main Events page for details.

Ladies Night Out will be held after hours on Sunday, October 18. Details are coming soon, but you should save the date for now.

We're hosting a tasting of Shock Top Pumpkin on October 23, from 5-7pm.

October 23 is also the date for an all-new event. We're hosting Joe Canal's Night at Dad's Hat Pennsylvania Rye Whiskey Distillery. Yes, great whiskey is distilled in Bristol, PA, a short distance of our Lawrenceville store, and this is your chance to taste and tour the way the general public can't. Please click here for details on this unique event.

We're also thinking about the holiday gift-giving season. First on the schedule is a Johnnie Walker Blue Label Bottle Engraving on Saturday, December 12, from 2-4pm.

To stay current with all of our activities, please click here to visit our website Events Calendar.

Events in Woodbridge

We've just added two tasting dates for Sean Minor wines. Sean Minor makes delicious, quality wines that continually exceed your expectations. The first date is October 10, from 4-6pm, and then again on December 4, also from 4-6pm.

Since it's Thursday, it's also New Brew Thursday, where we offer a sampling of several different new products. Please click here for more information.

Don't miss our weekend wine tasting, 4-6pm on Friday, and 1-3pm on Saturday.

Next weekend, we'll celebrate Oktoberfest in style. On Saturday, we'll have special tastings and tappings throughout the day. Click here for details. On Sunday, we're hosting an after-hours Oktoberfest extravaganza. Click here for those details.

Ladies Night Out comes to Woodbridge on Sunday, October 25. Details will be posted shortly.

And we're also starting our holiday prep work. We've scheduled the Johnnie Walker Blue Label engraving for Saturday, December 5, from 2-4pm.

As always, to see what is on the schedule, click here for our website Event Calendar.

Catching Up

Regular readers of this blog know that we usually feature several new products on Wednesdays. As it happens, your blogger has been away for a few days, so any products we might have previewed here could (in the case of craft beer, anyway) have easily been sold out by the time this post was published.

Our recent posts have been written in advance, and we're about out of fresh information. Your blogger returns tomorrow, and we'll be back to our regular posting schedule.

Otherwise, don't forget to follow us on the other social media platforms:

Lawrenceville Facebook

Lawrenceville Twitter

Woodbridge Facebook

Woodbridge Twitter

The Good Kind of Lazy

Named for the creek that meanders through it, Lazy Creek Vineyards is located in the heart of bucolic Anderson Valley, Mendocino County. Known as the second oldest vineyard in the valley, Lazy Creek was established in the early 1900s by the Pinolis’, an Italian family who began their American odyssey by farming plum orchards and vineyards.

Fast-forward to the summer of 2008, Don and Rhonda Carano discovered Lazy Creek and immediately fell for its considerable charms, as it recalled their first foray as grape growers on a small Alexander Valley ranch they purchased in 1979. Owning and operating Lazy Creek Vineyards since 2008 has truly been a personal labor of love for them, an inspiring daily reminder of why they remain in the wine business today. It’s about the beauty and respect for the land; as Mark Twain said, “buy land, they are not making it anymore.” And Don and Rhonda are also owners of Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery.

Our “Lazy Day” Pinot Noir comes from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County where warm, sunny days and cool, foggy mornings and nights create the ideal microclimate for producing this wine. This sustainably-farmed Pinot Noir has attractive aromas of plum, raspberry, a hint of licorice and toast. Lush flavors of bright red cherry and plum, with a nice touch of spice on the finish are perfect complements to round out this medium-bodied, easy-drinking wine.

Enjoy with with braised meats, fowl, veal, salmon, lobster, prawns, and dishes with creamy sauces and spicy seasonings. Medium-textured soups and stews also pair nicely.

Regularly priced at $39.99, this is available in the Bottle Club® for only $29.96.

Because We Have To, Not Because We Want To

Autumn officially starts this week, and although your blogger would prefer to stay in summer, that's not an option. Since we've been selling Oktoberfest and pumpkin beers for a while, we have had some time to get used to the idea. We think a couple of cocktail recipes would also help with the transition.

Stone Wall

This updated version of a Stone Wall mixes rum with ginger beer and apple cider for a refreshing cocktail.

One 1-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
1 1/2 teaspoons Simple Syrup
1 1/2 ounces Angostura 5 year old rum
1 1/2 ounces apple cider
Ice
1 1/2 ounces chilled Crabbie's ginger beer
1 lime wedge
1 slice of apple

In a cocktail shaker, muddle the ginger with the simple syrup. Add the rum and cider; fill the shaker with ice and shake well. Strain into an ice-filled rocks glass and top with the ginger beer. Garnish with the lime wedge and apple slice.

Hard Cider Sangria

Instead of wine, this juicy sangria is made with hard cider spiked with lemon juice and apple brandy.

1 cup quartered and thinly sliced unpeeled green, yellow and red apples
1 navel orange—quartered and thinly sliced crosswise
1 cup apple juice, chilled
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup Laird's Apple Jack
two 12-ounce bottle Smith & Forge hard apple cider, chilled
Ice

In a pitcher, combine the apples with the orange, apple juice, lemon juice and brandy. Just before serving, add the hard cider. Serve in tall glasses over ice.

Cheers!

Customer Appreciation Grab Bag

We like to think that we worked hard to become New Jersey's leading wine, beer and spirits Super Store. The fact is that our hard work turned your shopping experience into something pleasant and worthwhile, and we're grateful that you keep coming back to Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

It's one thing for our store staff to say "thank you" when you've made a purchase. This weekend, we're saying "thank you" in as many different ways as we can.We'll have extra tastings, prizes and unscheduled events over the course of this weekend, all to offer an extended "thank you" for your continued patronage.

Below are the scheduled events. There will be other events added, and there will also be prizes and additional specials.

Customer Appreciation Weekend in Lawrenceville

Saturday, noon, we're tapping our Brix City Brewing kegs.

Saturday, 2-4pm Free tasting, Elysian Brewing AND Live broadcast, 94.5 WPST

Sunday, noon-2pm Eagles Kickoff Event, including an appearance by the Bud Light Girls and free hot dogs.

Customer Appreciation Weekend in Woodbridge

Friday: 2-4pm, a special tasting of Papa's Pilar Rum and Angel's Envy Canal's Family Selection Bourbon.

5-7pm, a tasting comparison, Caymus Cabernet 2013 vs. Caymus Special Select Cabernet 2012

Saturday: At noon, we're tapping Brix City Brewing kegs.

2-4pm, we're tasting Grey Goose VX and Remy Martin XO.

6-8pm, a tasting of Amstel Radler

Sunday: At noon, we're tasting Amstel Radler.

4-6pm, we're tasting Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2010 vs Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2011, and also Quinto do Vesuvio Porto 1994.

6-8pm, a tasting of Amstel Radler.

The above schedules are subject to change without notice.

Customer Appreciation Weekend

At Joe Canal's, we make it a point to say "thanks" after every purchase. But that's not really enough, so we block out an entire weekend to offer a huge "Thank You" to everyone who chooses to shop with us. New Jersey is a very competitive marketplace, and you've helped make us one of the biggest-volume retail wine, beer and spirits stores in the state.

At noon on Saturday, in both stores, we'll tap kegs of Brix City Brewing, and there will also be a few bottles available for sale.

Events in Lawrenceville

It will be busy on Saturday, from 2-4pm. Inside, we're hosting a tasting of Elysian beer. The Elysian was founded in 1995 in Seattle. From the very first day, Elysian has honored the efforts of other brewers and brewing cultures.  Outside, it's a live broadcast by 94.5 WPST, with their usual assortment of fun, games and prizes.

Stop in on Sunday, noon-2pm for the Eagles Kickoff event. We're providing free hot dogs (while supplies last) and an appearance by the Bud Light Girls. The Eagles have their home opener that day, 4:25pm kickoff vs. the Cowboys.

Events in Woodbridge

You could say that we're actually starting our Customer Appreciation Weekend tonight, with our New Brew Thursday. On New Brew Thursday, we showcase up to four new products. This event will happen every Thursday, 6-8pm, unless otherwise noted. Like our weekly wine tastings, samples will be available free to those 21 or older, with valid ID.

The official start to Customer Appreciation Weekend, of course, is Friday. Your blogger's favorite part will be the tasting comparison of the 2013 Caymus Cabernet versus the 2012 Caymus Special Select. You can't go wrong! Click here for the full Friday agenda.

We have to play "can you top this" all weekend long, and Saturday will not disappoint. We will have a tasting of Grey Goose VX on Saturday, and we will also have a tasting of Remy Martin XO, among other events. Click here for the full Saturday agenda.

Our Sunday events will include a taste comparison between Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2010 vs Chateau Guiraud Sauternes 2011. Click here for the full Sunday agenda.

Please note that the above schedules are subject to change, without notice.

Mid Week Delivery Alert

Here's our opportunity to introduce a few more new products.

2011 Ego Bodegas Fuerza

90 points from Wine Advocate: "The 2011 Fuerza is mainly Monastrell with 25% Cabernet Sauvignon fermented traditionally and aged 12 months in barriques. The nose shows a mixture of esparto grass, Mediterranean herbs, paprika and tree bark over the core of black cherries. The palate is quite savory, with fine, although abundant tannins that would do better with some powerful meat dishes."

Only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®.

If you're looking for an outstanding, highly rated wine at a value price, you may want to spend more time with our Spanish wines. Up next is another example of this trend.

2009 Castillo de Maluenda Punto Y Seguido

91 points from Wine Advocate: "The 2009 Punto y Seguido came from 50-year-old estate vineyards and spent 11 months in French oak. Wood smoke, black cherries, mineral, and Asian spices lead to a slightly more structured wine that will evolve for another 2-3 years and drink well through 2024. This seamless offering is all about pleasure."

Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

                                Martinelli Winery Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel 2013

The 2013 Giuseppe & Luisa Zinfandel has a very forward nose of candied cherries, raspberries, earl grey tea and earthy notes. The palate is juicy and dense with flavors of

raspberry and bright red cherry fruit with spicy notes.

93 points from Vinous Media. Extremely limited availability. $64.99 in the Bottle Club®.

As always, we have more new items arriving than we can preview in this blog. Please see any store associate for additional information or assistance in locating any new product in our stores.

The Phantom on the Shelf

Bogle Vineyards has been one of California wine’s most reliable growth drivers for more than a decade, consistently posting double-digit gains and earning a total of 14 consecutive Impact “Hot Brand” awards along the way. Last year, the Bogle brand surpassed the 2-million-case mark on 13.8% volume growth, according to Impact Databank. Bogle Vineyards national sales manager Sam Bon reports that volume growth accelerated to 19% in the first half of 2015. Bon predicts that Bogle will reach roughly 2.5 million cases by the end of the year.

Phantom, Bogle’s mysterious apparition of ripe berry and relentless spice, returns to haunt wine lovers.  Full of concentration and intensity, this wine will tease, tantalize and linger long after the last sip is gone.

A symphony bewitches your senses immediately:  juniper berry and spice, with just a wisp of toasted coconut hinting at the American oak aging.  Sparkling rubies catch the light and tempt your first sip. Juicy plums and brawny blackberries are succulent and intoxicating, as the full bodied structure takes hold.  Abundant, yet ripe tannins round out the palate, yet don’t overpower the red cranberry fruit. Aged for 24 months in 1 and 2 year-old American oak, Phantom exits with an enthralling and passionate finish. Petite Sirah 41% - Zinfandel 31% - Cabernet Sauvignon 20% - Merlot 8%.

Welcome the winery ghost into your home again with this latest vintage…before it vanishes again.

Summer Can't End Yet!

We have a Monday Night Football double header tonight, and we do not live by beer alone. David Rudd is the Assistant Store Manager at our Woodbridge location, and he is also our resident mixologist. He suggests these end-of-summer cocktails to help us with the change of seasons.

Caribena

Now is the time to snatch the last few moments of summer and milk them for all they’re worth. This cocktail will help. Combine 2 oz of Puerto Rican white rum (Bacardi™ Superior is a perfect choice), 4 oz coconut water, ¼ oz each simple syrup and fresh lime juice in an iced cocktail shaker. Shake and strain into a Collins glass filled with ice. Squeeze a lime wedge into the drink and drop it in the glass. The tangy sweetness will help you ease your way into autumn…

Rum Old-Fashioned

Experimenting with classics is fun. Try switching out the foundational spirit in one of your favorites. In this twist on an old-fashioned, using rum and a roasted pineapple syrup, you almost feel like a very erudite pirate.  2 ½ oz of dark rum (I like the Lost Spirits Navy Rum), 2 tsp of roasted pineapple syrup and 2 dashes of Angostura™ bitters stirred together with ice.  For the syrup: cube pineapple and bake at 400F for 30 minutes.  Transfer to a large pot and add 2 ½ cups of sugar and 1 cup of water.  Boil, cover, and simmer for 10 minutes.  Strain and cool.  Keeps for up to a week.  Now, walk the plank.

Friday Grab Bag

Welcome to the weekend. Here's what's going on at Joe Canal's.

In-Store Events

As we discussed, both stores have their regular wine tastings this weekend. Starting next Friday, it's Customer Appreciation Weekend, three days and dozens of ways for us to thank you for making us New Jersey's leading wine, beer and spirits SuperStore.

Click here for information about events in Lawrenceville.

Click here for information about events in Woodbridge.

New Products

Robert Storey Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. One of the top offerings of the year, do not miss this great Estate Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon from Burgess Triere Vineyard and their signature hillside estate on Howell Mountain. Napa Valleys Burgess is one of our most requested Cabernets and this wine from their Estate Vineyards and a great vintage is one of the most incredible offerings yet from wine industry icon Robert Storey.

Only $24.96 in the Bottle Club® for a Napa Valley Cabernet.

Ripped from the Headlines

Heineken has acquired a 50% stake in Lagunitas Brewing Company, one of the U.S. market’s biggest and fastest-growing craft brewers. According to Heineken, the deal—which is expected to close in the fourth quarter—will give the Dutch brewer a “strong foothold” in the craft brewing segment, while providing Lagunitas with the means to expand internationally. While the price wasn’t disclosed, last month Reuters reported that the Petaluma, California-based Lagunitas was exploring the sale of an equity stake that would value it at around $450 million.

Led by Impact “Hot Brand” Lagunitas IPA, Lagunitas is on pace to grow by nearly 50% this year, Tony Magee—who founded the craft brewer in 1993—recently told SND. Such progress would put Lagunitas around the 1-million-barrel threshold. Magee will continue as Lagunitas executive chairman.

With demand rising rapidly, Lagunitas has been in expansion mode of late. Little more than a year after opening a brewery in Chicago, Lagunitas—the sixth-largest craft brewer in the country, according to the Brewers Association—recently began building its third brewery, in Southern California.

Courtesy Shanken News Daily.

Busily Quiet, or Quietly Busy?

Our summer schedules are over, and everyone is finally back to work or school. We do welcome everyone back from the Jersey shore, or wherever else you spent the summer. We'll have a somewhat low-key weekend, before getting to Customer Appreciation Weekend, starting September 18.

We're actually having a pre-weekend event in Woodbridge. Tonight is New Brew Thursday. We offer samples of up to four new brews, 6-8pm every Thursday.

We'll also have a wine tasting at both stores over the coming weekend. In Lawrenceville, our Friday tasting hours are 4-6pm, and 2-4pm on Saturday. Here's what we're tasting:

Domaine La Colombe Coteaux Varois en Provence Rosé 2014: Jubilant red strawberries jump from the glass on this cheerful rosé. The Coteaux Varois is a smaller appellation in the center of Provence. Composed of Cinsaut and Carignan growing in chalky soils, this ultra-fresh wine has fine structure and a fruity profile. A touch of grape tannins on the finish means this is great with a meal, especially alongside pesto, vegetables, herbed chicken, and prosciutto. Don't let summer end before you enjoy this rosé!
Regular Price: $11.99
Bottle Club® Price: $9.96

Robert Storey Chardonnay: This is a well-balanced wine, exhibiting aromas and flavors of ripe tropical fruit, pear and crushed almonds, with hints of vanilla and light, sweet oak on the finish. Pairs well with chicken dishes, seafood, or just sipping.
Regular Price: $22.99
Bottle Club® Price: $16.96

Coat & Badge Merlot: A medium-full bodied Merlot offering flavors of ripe dark cherries, plum, earth and a touch of cocoa with fresh acidity. Well balanced and approachable. A great new find from Washington!!
Regular Price: $16.99
Bottle Club® Price: $13.96  

Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon: Aromas of black cherry fruit and caramel on the nose. Concentrated fruit flavors dominate, with ripe fleshy plum, cherry, spice and a hint of dusty oak, ending with a soft, graceful finish.
Regular Price: $20.99
Bottle Club® Price: $15.98

In Woodbridge, our Friday tasting hours are also 4-6pm, while our Saturday hours are 1-3pm. Here's what's on the tasting menu:

Peter Mertes Riesling Spatlese 2013: Peter Mertes' Spatlese Riesling offers a breezy balance of sweetness and acidity perfect for relaxing at the end of the day. Enticing notes of green apple, melon, and citrus are balanced by a hint of minerality on the palate.
Regular Price: $9.49
Bottle Club® Price: $8.29

The Pinot Project Pinot Grigio: This beautiful Italian Pinot Grigio will stand tall and promises to drink above its weight class at an everyday price point. This wine shows the purity of Pinot Grigio at its core – pears and citrus, unoaked to enhance the unadulterated fruit qualities.
Regular Price: $11.99
Bottle Club® Price: $9.96

Hess Select Cabernet Sauvignon: Aromas of black cherry fruit and caramel on the nose. Concentrated fruit flavors dominate, with ripe fleshy plum, cherry, spice and a hint of dusty oak, ending with a soft, graceful finish.
Regular Price: $20.99
Bottle Club® Price: $15.98

Mocali Brunello di Montalcino 2010: "The mix of cherry, strawberry, eucalyptus and juniper flavors is focused, building to an excellent finish. This is well-structured and lingers on the earth- and mineral-laden finish. Best from 2019 through 2035. 4,150 cases made." - Wine Spectator, 94 points.
Regular Price: $38.99

Bottle Club® Price: $34.99

Don't Forget the Opener

Don't take your corkscrew or other bottle opener for granted. While twist-off bottles are common in every area, you just never know when you'll need an opener. We do sell an assortment of openers and corkscrews, which will help you access some of our newest products, like these:

Revel Stoke Pumpkin Spiced Whisky

Revel Stoke Pumpkin Spiced is made with a blend of rye, corn, and barley malt that is triple distilled in copper stills.  The whisky is aged for three years in charred white oak barrels.  Natural pumpkin spice flavors are then infused before bottling at 70 proof.It pours to a golden Chardonnay color.  The aroma is nutmeg, clove, and allspice with an eggnog backing.  The sweet whisky entry has vanilla flavor. Nutmeg arrives and is joined by clove and allspice.  It fades with spicy cinnamon, vanilla, and whisky taste with a mild burn on the back of my throat.  Revel Stoke Pumpkin Spice finishes with a mild sting and natural pumpkin spice taste.

Available in 750ML and 50ML.

Failla 2013 Hudson Vineyard Chardonnay, Napa Valley

This is the fourth vintage producing Chardonnay from one of Lee Hudson’s most prized blocks on his multi-faceted ranch. Ehren’s winemaking offers a fresh and delicate display of one of California’s finest Chardonnay sources. Aromatics contain classic Wente notes - citrus, apple blossom and honeysuckle, while the palate is focused and pure. This wine showcases Hudson’s natural intensity while maintaining Failla’s grace and elegance allowing for serious cellar potential with this bottling. Lay a few bottles down and watch the evolution over the next 10 years.

94 points from Wine Enthusiast. Only 500 cases were produced. We received only one case, and it's available in Woodbridge. $49.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Failla 2013 Estate Vineyard Chardonnay, Fort Ross-Seaview

Vine maturity has come to full fruition at our Gualala Ranch Estate Vineyard as we find this to be one of the most complete bottlings yet. Chemistry, aromatics and flavor profile are all on point with a complex nose dominated by savory notes as hints of coastal bay, hazelnut and bee pollen pave the way for a wine of tremendous texture and a sappy, dense finish. This wine is classic in every way.

92 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "A citrusy style, with spicy green apple, pear and melon notes amid the ripe fig and honeysuckle details. Gains richness and depth, and should benefit from some cellar time. Long and persistent on the finish. Drink now."

Only 345 cases were produced. We received only one case, and it's available in Lawrenceville. $41.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Yards Cicada

Our first dry hopped Belgian-style IPA, we brew Cicada with a classic Belgian yeast strain and local wildflower honey, making it a truly indigenous ale. Subtle bubble gum notes from the yeast balance a smooth, caramel maltiness. Both citrus and earthy flavors round out this full-bodied, complex beer. Our buzzworthy brew will leave quite the impression on you, just like its namesake, which engulfs the mid Atlantic region every 17 years. 8.5% ABV, 60 IBU's. In 750ML bottles.

Punkin Chunkin

Dogfish Head is among the pioneers in the craft beer industry. As they put it, "Ever since the summer of 1995, we have been brewing, cooking, selling and talking everything beer. It's our pasttime, our passion, our life. Since the beginning, we have always wanted to bring original beer, great food and local music to the Rehoboth Beach area."

Labor Day is safely behind us now, so it's time for Punkin Ale! Those summer days are coming to an end and it’s time for pumpkin everything.

A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, brown sugar and spices. As the season cools, this is the perfect beer to warm up with.

Punkin Ale is named after the seriously off-centered southern Delaware extravaganza Punkin Chunkin (check out the Discovery Channel videos of Punkin Chunkin; you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made its debut as it claimed first prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Contest. Yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business!

Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale, with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air!

Since its debut, we've brewed Punkin Ale each and every fall. It is released right around Sept. 1 each year. When you find it, grab some extra because it's usually gone by Thanksgiving.

Tasting Notes: Malty, pumpkin, caramel, brown sugar.

Food Pairing Recommendations: Turkey, roasted duck, lamb, stuffing, dessert dumplings, sharp cheddar.

Holiday Weekend Grab Bag

We have to pack enough information into today's post to last you until Tuesday. Please note that both of our stores will be open 9am to 6pm on Monday. So let's get started then.

In Store Events

Our blog post yesterday spotlighted all of the upcoming events at both stores. Click here for that post. Customer Appreciation Weekend is coming soon, so that post will help you plan ahead.

Added since yesterday's post: We are tapping a half-keg of Not Your Father's Root Beer at our Lawrenceville store at 9am on Friday. This summer's most intriguing beverage, freshly tapped for the holiday weekend. While supplies last.

New Products

Fort Collins Farm Dog Farmhouse Ale. Because not every fall seasonal includes pumpkin. A woman (and man’s) best friend, Farm Dog is a refreshing and mildly spicy ale with a distinctive yellow-orange hue and a thick rocky white head. Fruity, citrus esters  and peppery yeast are supported by a soft, sweet malt character. 7.0% ABV, 24 IBU's. Limited availability.


Chateau Malartic Lagraviere Pessac-Leognan 2012. 94 points from Wine Advocate: "This large estate of 131 acres has been run brilliantly by a Belgian family, the Bonnies since their acquisition a number of years ago. The quality of the white and red have soared to exceptional heights, and this is certainly still one of the more realistically priced wines of Pessac-Lèognan and classified crus. The

2012 is a beauty, with a dense ruby/purple color, a fabulously plush, opulent texture and medium to full-bodied flavors of cassis, spicy earth and blueberry. Quite rich, yet light on its feet, this is an absolutely textbook Pessac-Lèognan, with wonderfully velvety tannins. Drink it now, or drink it in 25 years. This is a brilliant wine." This also rated 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, 92 from Wine Spectator, and 91-92 from James Suckling.

$36.99 in the Bottle Club®. We have previously carried this wine, but this is a new vintage.

Founders reDANKulous. reDANKulous Imperial Red IPA is a no frills, bold 9.5% ABV India Pale Ale. It pours a pleasing burnt amber with some sweetness due to the

Caramalt and roasted barley used in the malt bill. But hops are the true headliner in this elaborate sensory experience. The spicy, piney, tropical complexities of Chinook, Mosaic and Simcoe hops hit you right away with their dank aroma—and they stick around. Take a sip to have your palate simultaneously walloped and caressed in all the right places. Combined, the hops take the beer to 90 IBUs. It’s not just ridiculous. It’s reDANKulous.

750ML Bottles. This is an allocated item. Please contact a manager to see what remains available.

                      Ripped from the Headlines

As submitted to the US Patent Office, eight inventions relevant to beer drinkers. Click here for the story. Of course, we ask you to please enjoy responsibly.

Have a fun and safe Labor Day weekend. See you Tuesday!

Fresh Events, Including Customer Appreciation Weekend

We're short on snappy subject lines, but we're long on in-store events. Here's what's coming up at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge over the next few weeks. First, please note that both stores will be open from 9am to 6pm on Monday, Labor Day.

Events in Lawrenceville

Due to the holiday, there will be no scheduled events this weekend. We return to our regular wine tasting schedule the following weekend, which means 4-6pm on Friday the 11th, and 2-4pm on Saturday the 12th.

Customer Appreciation Weekend will be September 18-20. We will have additional tastings (and more) on the schedule, along with unannounced events. A tasting of Elysian Brewing is set for Saturday the 19th, 2-4pm. The Eagles Kickoff event is Sunday the 20th, from noon-2pm, and that includes free hot dogs and a visit from the Bud Light girls.

Another hot event is on October 3; we're hosting a dinner event that will feature Neshaminy Creek Brewing. Click here for details.

Click here for the Lawrenceville Event Calendar.

Events in Woodbridge

Even with the additional shoppers for the holiday weekend, we will have tastings and more. We will have our regular wine tasting on Friday, 4-6pm. Click here for the tasting menu.

On Saturday, we're hosting a tasting and etching of Don Julio Teuila, from 2-4pm.

And if you're staying local for the weekend (or coming home early), stop by on Sunday, from 2-4pm, as we'll have a free hot dogs, courtesy of Bud Light.

Beginning Thursday, September 10, we're instituting New Brew Thursday. We will introduce (with a tasting) up to four new beers, ales or ciders every Thursday, from 6-8pm. This is an open-ended program, happening every Thursday until further notice.

On the 11th and 12th, we're back to our regular wine tasting schedule. The Friday hours are 4-6pm, and 1-3pm on Saturday.

The big event of the weekend is our #romansgotthis Benefit, after hours on Sunday, September 13. Roman Stefaniw is an employee who was critically injured by a hit-and-run driver. Click here for a news report from nj.com. This benefit event will help Roman and his family with their huge medical bills. Please click here for details of the event, and how to help.

Roman Stefaniw, not dressed for Joe Canal's

In Woodbridge, Customer Appreciation Weekend will also be September 18-20. We've just posted much of our schedule, click on the date to see what's on the agenda for that day:
September 18
September 19
September 20
In addition, TBA are free soft pretzels, free hot dogs, and an appearance by radio station WDHA.

In case that agenda isn't full enough, we're having a two-day Oktoberfest celebration on the first weekend on October. Click here for details on Saturday, 10/3, where we'll be tapping and tasting throughout the day. Click here for details on our Joe Canal's Oktoberfest, which will be after hours on Sunday, 10/4.

Look also for Ladies Night Out, after hours in late October. Click here for the Woodbridge Event Calendar.