AprilMay Grab Bag

April went by pretty quickly, and we'll hope that the weekend doesn't move as quickly. With the 3rd Annual Art Show & Wine Tasting at our Woodbridge store on Sunday night, we think that's a perfect way to close the weekend. You don't have to be a regular shopper at our Woodbridge store to attend the Art Show, and proceeds benefit David's Touch, a charity that delivers hope and joy to children at their greatest time of need. Admission is only $10. Click here for more information on the Art Show & Wine Tasting.

Speaking of events, we detailed the upcoming schedule for both stores in our blog post yesterday. Click here for that post.

New Products

We go in-depth with new craft beer every Tuesday in the Craft Beer Corner. Click here for the latest post.

Acre Twenty One Merlot. Warming aromas of ripe dark cherries, cedar & tobacco followed by a medium-bodied palate filled with ripe dark fruits balanced by round tannins. Enjoy with burgers or on its own. This new addition to the Acre Twenty One portfolio is only $9.97 in the Bottle Club®. From Washington.

Cedilla Liqueur de Acai. Cedilla Açai Liqueur is created with hand-picked Organic Sambazon Açai berries from the Amazon, macerated and blended with the highest quality alambique Cachaça. A rich fruity flavor with complex chocolate, spice, and berry notes.

Wine Enthusiast, 88 points: "New to the U.S. market, Cedilla is made by infusing cachaca with acai berries grown in the Amazon region. Intense, plummy color with a sweet grape-soda aroma and flavor balanced out by a tartness on the finish and a faint cinnamon note. It goes down easy straight up, but would also be good mixed with sparkling wine or gin-or possibly cachaca."

The Açai Caipirinha
2 oz Leblon Cachaça
1 oz Cedilla
½ oz simple syrup
6 lime wedges

In mixing glass, muddle the limes and simple syrup. Add Cedilla and Leblon Cachaça. Fill with ice, shake well and pour all into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lime wedge.

New Belgium Slow Ride Session IPA. Kicking back and relaxing with a session beer requires little more than a couch, some free time, and a few pals. SLOW RIDE SESSION IPA is up for this easy-going challenge, starting with a pour of sheened gold and plenty of fluffy, white foam. A blend of eight hop varieties, led by exotic Mosaic and Nelson Sauvin, twist together brilliant tropical scents of melon, peach, lime and grapefruit for a vividly fruity aroma. The flavor mirrors the aroma, while balancing a malty-sweet yet clean start and hoppy bitterness in the back. Light bodied and extra quaffable, this sessionable India Pale Ale brings the finish line to you. 4.5% ABV, 40 IBU. Currently available only in Woodbridge.

VISUAL: Clear, but with all dry-hopped beers, expect a very slight sheen on this light golden beauty.
AROMA: Lots of fruit up front with orange and lemon citrus, apricot, blueberry, mango and papaya; floral and some cedar complement in the background.
FLAVOR: Juicy, fruity sweetness up front and balanced with a clean hop bitterness.

Lazos Malbec. A fresh palate of ripe raspberry, blueberry & plum with hints of truffle, mocha & vanilla. Velvety tannins are balanced with a hint of spice & toasted oak. Pair with ribs or BBQ chicken. Only $8.97 in the Bottle Club®.

                                                  News You Can Use

It's only six days until Cinco de Mayo, making this weekend the perfect time to shop. You know the beer choices: Corona, Modello, Dos Equis, Presidente. We have plenty of Tequila choices as well, including Camarena, Siete Leguas and Milagro, along with Cuervo and Patron.

Don't pass up the delicious tequila and coffee liqueurs, which are perfect for after dinner or after the party. We carry several Patron Cafe selections, as well as the new Cafe Del Mar. You don't even need the excuse of Cinco de Mayo to enjoy these.

Have a great weekend!

Weekend Preview

Most Thursday's, we like to give you a little something to look forward to, and preview our in-store events for the coming weekend. We do have the best store events in New Jersey, and your participation is what makes them so. 

Don't miss the Harley-Davidson raffle, starting in June. Our Woodbridge location is one of only four stores in New Jersey that will have a brand-new Harley-Davidson motorcycle on display during the month of June. That bike will be raffled off at the end of the summer, and we will accept raffle entries at both stores. We'll post more information as soon as it becomes available.

Here's a look at what's coming up at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Events in Lawrenceville

It's a wine plus weekend in Lawrenceville. On Friday, we welcome back Robert Cavanaugh, who will present his Beaujolais educational tasting program. Beaujolais wines are ideal for the summer, especially because they can be served when slightly chilled. It's also a perfect wine for your weekend BBQs. This event runs 5-8pm, and is free. Click here for complete information.

On Saturday, we'll have our regular wine tasting, from 2-4pm.  

With more than 20 events currently on our calendar, you can be sure that there's something for everyone. Let's look at next Saturday, for just one example. We're hosting a "Netflix and Chill" tasting, featuring the wines

of Charles Smith. 

One of the most innovative houses in operation today, the Charles Smith Wines portfolio includes K Vintners, Wines of Substance and Charles & Charles. That special tasting runs from 2-4pm, so you can still get home in time to watch the Kentucky Derby.

Looking a little further ahead, we have bottle engravings on the schedule, just in time for Father's Day and college graduations. For a complete listing of our upcoming events, please click here.

Events in Woodbridge

It's another very busy weekend at Joe Canal's in Woodbridge. We start on Friday with a special tasting of Habarita Cocktails. Habarita habanero craft margarita mixes are made with real fruit juices and natural flavors. The calendar says that Cinco de Mayo is next week, so this sampling event is at the perfect time. Click here for more information.

Look for our regular wine tasting on Saturday, from 1-3pm. Click here for the tasting menu.

The biggest event of the weekend, of course, is Sunday's 3rd Annual Art Show and Wine Tasting, to benefit David's Touch.

The Art Show is an exclusive opportunity to get up close and personal with some of New Jersey's hottest artists and purchase directly from the artists. We'll have some great wines available for sampling and there will also be snacks for you. Tickets are only $10.

This is an after-hours event, running from 7:30-9:30pm. Begun in 2009, the mission at David’s Touch is to spread David’s contagious smile by delivering hope and joy to children at their greatest time of need. Click here for more information about David's Touch.

Next weekend, we have a double celebration of the Kentucky Derby, with Mint Julep samplings on Friday and Saturday, along with a Leinenkugel's tasting on Saturday.

There are more than 20 events currently on the schedule in Woodbridge. For the complete listing, click here.

Nothing Old, Something New

We're really going for plural with "new," but we couldn't keep the wedding theme, so we'll just leave it as an almost mixed metaphor. Today, we'll take a look at some of the newest arrivals at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge. Yesterday's post was the Craft Beer Corner. where we introduced several newly-arrived craft beers. Click here to review that post.

Chateau Puyanche Francs Cotes de Bordeaux Blanc 2014. 90 points from Wine Enthusiast. "This 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon blend has hints of toastiness and spice along with ripe yellow fruits. It is still young, the texture coming together with acidity and spice mixing with the fruitiness. Drink this fragrant wine from the Arbo family's tiny 3.7-acre vineyard from 2016." Only $13.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Platinum 7X Vodka. Distilled seven times for exceptional purity and a smooth, polished finish, Platinum 7X Vodka has raised the bar on what it means to be smooth. This is an American-made vodka (from grain) with a smooth, clean and crisp style. Sip it chilled or enjoy it in a cocktail. Available in 750ml and 1.75L sizes.

Bodegas El Nido "El Nido" Jumilla 2013. The grapes for this wine are made from 12 Ha -29.65 acres- of Cabernet Sauvignon vineyards and 32 Ha -79 acres- of very old Monastrell, with a very low yield. The grapes are harvested with small baskets to prevent bruising. The bunches are brought to triage tables where the best ones are selected. It spends 24 months in French and American new oak barrels where it gets a very typical complexity.

Glass-staining purple. Explosive, alluring scents of blueberry, boysenberry, pipe tobacco, licorice and vanilla bean. Lush and broad but juicy and firmly built, with suave candied dark fruit flavors accented by sexy floral and Asian spice qualities. Finishes broad, juicy and impressively long, with echoing boysenberry and spice notes.The blend is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Monastrell.

Food pairings: Rice, pasta, (noodles, spaghetti, macaroni), vegetables, mushroom, stewed meat, sausage, pork, roast meat, red and/or white meat with sauces, grilled meat, short or medium cheeses. Only 4 bottles available per store. $106.99 in the Bottle Club®.

Epic Brewing Sour Apple Saison. Sweet, yet dry and tart, apples spiced with coriander, grains of paradise, anise, nutmeg, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger. There is no wrong way to enjoy this Saison Belgian Style Farmhouse Ale! Serve in a pint or tulip glass. Pair with savory and fatty meats, salads, and tart desserts. Limited availability, in 22oz bottles.

The Cold Corner

Your blogger will admit to being a baseball fan, where third base is called the "hot corner." We may like beers that are "hot" sellers, but we generally want a cold craft beer. And if the weather is finally

staying warm, today's six pack plus of new brews will pair perfectly with the outdoor season. Here's what's new at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Sixpoint Jammer. The Mad Scientists kept tweakin' that Jammer till it rocked so hard. Bygone brewers, repping the Sixpoint star, provided the concept and our friends at Jacobsen Salt hooked us up with the key ingredient. It's salty, it's sour, and it's slammin'. It's Mad Science. 4% ABV, 16 IBU's. In 6-pack, cans.

Fort Collins Brewer's Lunchbox Variety Pack. It's the year round lineup in a 12-pack of 12oz cans!

-Red Banshee: Created with German malts for a rich, nutty sweetness while noble hops provide an herbal spiciness. A strong, bitter backbone balanced by an intense maltiness and moderate caramel notes. Pair with mac & cheese or creme brulee. 5.3% ABV, 37 IBU's.

-Major Tom's Pomegranate Wheat: Tart pomegranate hits you first, but is quickly balanced out by the residual sweetness from the malted barley and wheat. Provides a slightly sweet tart finish. Enjoy with steamed mussels or lemon meringue pie. 5.1% ABV, 34 IBU's.
-Far Away IPA: A moderately high bitterness refreshes the palate. Exotic tropical fruit nose, juicy piney  body and slight cracker malt presence. Pair with carne asada or carrot cake. 6.5% ABV, 70 IBU's.
-Shot Down Chocolate Stout. A blend of caramel, bittersweet chocolate, select roasted malt flavors and a heavy dose of oatmeal results in a rich, creamy mouthfeel. Moderate alcohol and restrained bitterness round the sweetness. Pair with pork mole or cinnamon

coffee cake. 5.8% ABV, 31 IBU's.

Horny Goat Tango Delta Tangerine IPA. This citrus bomb starts off as a light bodied IPA brewed with craft hops and malts.  It then goes all renegade on your palate, with the addition of fresh tangerine juice that adds a slight sweetness to complement the bold hop presence. 6.8% ABV, 69 IBU's. 4-pack, cans.

Big Muddy Vanilla Stout. A traditional Milk Stout infused with pure Madagascar vanilla. Subtle vanilla flavor throughout with roasted notes and a slightly sweet, smooth finish. 6% ABV. In 22oz bottles.

Epic Brewing Brainless® Belgian-Style Golden Ale. Brainless® Belgian-Style Golden Ale has a rich and complex malt flavor balanced with a little bit of spicy noble hops and strong influences of fermentation esters from the Belgian yeast used. Various Belgian-like Rock Candies, hops and grains are employed to express variations within the style. Deceivingly drinkable, some liken these ales to the Devil sneaking up on you, so consume responsibly. In 22oz bottles.

Glassware: Tulip. Food Pairings: Spicy foods, seafood, fatty meats, and fruity desserts.

Kuka Ginger Mango IPA. An extremely refreshing session IPA offering bold mango sweetness in the aroma and spicy ginger mingling with bitter hop to calm

your nerves and excite your senses. 5.2% ABV. Very limited availability. In 4-pack, bottles.

All of the usual caveats apply: Products are in limited supply, so please call before making a special trip for any one item.

Nuts and Bolts

We know that our stores can be a little overwhelming for a new shopper, so every now and then we like to step back and offer some updates, tips and pointers for everyone. This is one of those days.

Online Ordering. This was probably the most requested subject in the last couple of years, and it's now available at both stores. This time-saver is pretty simple. Log onto your account at www.jcanals.com, select your items, checkout, and the order will be ready for you, usually within 24 hours or less.  Get to the store, go to Customer Service and pick up your order.

Social Media. We've recently started posting on Instagram, while we've been on Facebook and Twitter for some time. Click to find us:

Lawrenceville Facebook
Lawrenceville Instagram
Lawrenceville Twitter

Woodbridge Facebook
Woodbridge Instagram
Woodbridge Twitter

Woodbridge tasting area, with floor displays

Wine, Beer and Spirits Tastings. You'll notice that we've moved the tasting locations at both stores. This allows for better traffic flow in the stores, and better access to the tastings. In Lawrenceville, we're usually at or near Customer Service. In Woodbridge, we're in the middle of the store.

Weddings and Events. Did you know that Joe Canal's can help you with beverage selections for your wedding, college graduation party, or other special event? Our experts can help you select the best products for your budget, as well as the right amount of beer, wine or spirits, based on your guest list. Click here for more information in Lawrenceville, and click here for Woodbridge.

Harley-Davidson Raffle. We're about a month away from the display being set. In the month of June, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be on display inside Joe Canal's in Woodbridge. Throughout the summer, that bike will also be on display at only three other locations in New Jersey. At the end of the summer, that bike will be raffled off. We will accept raffle entries at both stores, but the bike will only be displayed at our Woodbridge location. We will post more about this promotion as the information comes in.

Shelves. How we arrange the products on the shelves is, we think, a common-sense approach. Wine, in general, is arranged by country, then region. French wines, for example, are all in one section, with Bordeaux, Burgundy, and the Rhone regions side-by-side. Bordeaux, for one, is then further divided into appellations like St. Emilion, Medoc, etc. The same applies to the other regions.

It's likely that we carry more wines from California than any other area. We divide CA wines by varietal, since that's the way most people will shop.

Racking system

In the aisles, we have regular shelf displays, floor displays, and what we call "racking," where our fast-selling wines are available. The racking lets us display full cases below the wine bottles, for self-serve shopping. Since a case of wine weighs about 40 pounds, our staff members will be happy to help place a case in your shopping cart.

Spirits are grouped by category. All the Scotch whisky is in one place, and vodka is in another, and so on. Craft beer is next to the national beer brands. Our refrigerated cases hold both beer and wine. We have smaller refrigerated units for cheese and meat products.

We hope this brief primer/reminder is helpful. Please don't hesitate to ask us questions.

The Warm Weather Grab Bag

We hope the weather is going to finally stay warm. We want to sit outside and enjoy our summer beer. For now, we'll sit at our desk and get you up to date with Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

General Information

Kevin Saunders

Wine Manager Kevin Saunders has transferred from Lawrenceville to Woodbridge. Kevin is professional and knowledgeable, and we know you'll enjoy working with him in Woodbridge every bit as much as he'll be missed in Lawrenceville.

The Jewish holiday of Passover starts tonight. For information about Passover wine and vodka (distilled from potatoes), please click here.

Our Woodbridge location is one of only four stores in New Jersey that will have a brand-new Harley-Davidson motorcycle on display in June. That bike will be raffled off at the end of the summer, and we will accept raffle entries at both stores. We'll post more information as it becomes available.

Store Events

We detailed our upcoming events in yesterday's blog post. Click here for that information. We especially want to direct your attention to the Art Show and Wine Tasting in Woodbridge on May 1. That special after hours event will benefit David's Touch. Click here for more information.

New Products

Château de La Chaize Beaujolais Rosé. The Rosé Château de La Chaize is the youngest sibling of the winery that dates to the 17th century, also made from the Gamay grape: elegant, sophisticated, a huge success to be enjoyed all year-round. The wine is a pale, bright pink. Seductive floral aromas, soft and round on the palate, very fruity and fresh. Very limited availability - our total allocation was a mere 30 bottles between the two stores. Only $15.99 in the Bottle Club®. Look for this in the Burgundy section.

Funk Brewing Double Citrus IPA. A dry imperial India Pale Ale with a crisp malt backbone that exhibits a slight honey character which helps to balance the hop profile of pine, orange and lemongrass. 8% ABV, 80 IBU's. Very limited availability.

Ripped from the Headlines

Today marks the 500th Anniversary of Reinheitsgebot, the German Beer Purity law. It's the world’s oldest food and drink legislation still in force today. Click here for the story.

Prost! Have a great weekend!

Filling the Schedule

We've added a number of new events to our calendar recently, reinforcing our claim that we hold the best store events in New Jersey. There are tastings, bottle engravings and more already scheduled, and, as always, more to come. Here's a look at what's coming up at Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville and Woodbridge.

Events in Lawrenceville

It's something of a low-key weekend in Lawrenceville. We have our regular wine tastings set for Friday, 4-6pm and Saturday, 2-4pm. But we're also sending some love to the craft beer community, with a Goose Island tasting on Saturday, from noon-2pm. We'll feature Goose Island's Four Star Pils on Saturday. This golden-hued pilsner has a light, fresh body and clean finish. Bright, refreshing carbonation mingles with German and American hops to give this pilsner a unique Goose Island spin.

Next weekend's events will include a Beaujolais wine seminar and tasting, featuring industry expert Robert Cavanaugh. Beaujolais is a great summer wine for a couple of reasons. First, it pairs very well with burgers and grilled chicken. It's also best enjoyed with a slight chill, making it a light and refreshing red for hot summer days and nights.

A little further ahead, we have a few custom bottle engraving events. Whether you choose wine bottles (June 4), The Macallan (June 11) or Johnnie Walker Blue Label (June 18), these thoughtful items make great gifts for a birthday, college graduation or Father's Day.

Click here to see the complete Event Calendar for Lawrenceville.

Read on to the end to hear about the Harley-Davidson promotion!

Events in Woodbridge

There will be double tastings on both Friday and Saturday in Woodbridge, so plan on multiple visits! On Friday, we will have a wine tasting at the usual times, 4-6pm. Because of the other tasting, the wine selections will be limited. Click here for that tasting menu. Starting at 6pm, we will offer samples of two new cream liqueurs, Brown Jug Bourbon Cream and Cinnabon Cream. These delicious new items are great in cocktails or coffee, on ice cream, or in baked desserts! Click here for details.

Our Saturday wine tasting will be a little earlier than usual, running from noon-2pm. We will again have limited selections, due to the other tasting. Click here for Saturday's wine tasting menu.

Also on Saturday, from 2-5pm, we're offering samples of a tasty new product, Smirnoff Sourced Vodka. These new vodkas are flavored with real fruit juice. We are carrying all three flavors, but we are only able to sample the Grapefruit and Cranberry Apple.

The big, upcoming event is our 3rd Annual Art Show and Wine Tasting, after hours on May 1. We'll feature the work of local artists (available for purchase!), and the proceeds will benefit a local charity called David's Touch. Click here for complete details on the Art Show and David's Touch. Admission is only $10.

The Kentucky Derby is run on first Saturday in May, and we'll offer samples of Mint Juleps to celebrate. It's a great cocktail to make at home, too. In addition to our strong assortment of tastings, we have engraving events scheduled on May 14 (wine bottles) and June 18 (click here for info), as well as a gift wrapping and sampling event for The Macallan on June 17 (click here for info).

Click here for the complete Event Calendar for Woodbridge.

Harley-Davidson

We don't have complete details yet, but here's what we do know. For the month of June, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle will be on display inside Joe Canal's in Woodbridge. Throughout the summer, that bike will also be on display at only three other locations in New Jersey. At the end of the summer, that bike will be raffled off. We will accept raffle entries at both stores, but the bike will only be displayed at our Woodbridge location. We will post more about this promotion as the information comes in.



                                                                                                                             

Decks, Grills and the Jersey Shore

Because we've been gaining readers recently, it's time for the reminder about seasons. Craft beer seasons run ahead of the actual seasons by about 2 months. That's why we featured mostly summer seasonals in yesterday's Craft Beer Corner. We've also noted that our rose wines have been arriving in force; they are best enjoyed in the warm weather. To get the best choice of summer-friendly craft beer and wine, we recommend you shop at Joe Canal's soon!

Today, we'll take a look at some of the newest seasonal products to arrive, as well as some standard items.

Domaine La Colombe Coteaux Varois en Provence Rose 2015. We've carried this wine for a while, as a Provence rose is tough to beat. This is light-colored, with a very expressive nose, fruity on the palate, and possessing great finesse. Goes well with fish and grilled meats. It is also often appreciated as a delightful aperitif. 50% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Only $9.96 in the Bottle Club®.

Lagunitas Equinox. A creamy, pale oat ale hopped up with a huge charge of Equinox and Simcoe hops for a piney, eucalyptus, cedar, sprucey, forest blast. First brewed in 1995...brewed today in a time of change. 8% ABV, 50 IBU's. Available in 22oz bottles only.

Chateau Fontenil Fronsac 2005. 92 points from Wine Advocate. Their review: "From the home estate of Dany and Michel Rolland, the 2005 Fontenil has an opaque, thick ruby/purple color. Dense plum, black cherry, blackberry and cassis fruit jump from the glass of this full-bodied, terrific Fronsac, which is one of the appellation’s stars of the vintage. Long, rich, young, and capable of lasting another 15-20 years, this is one of the candidates for Wine of the Vintage in Fronsac. This wine actually needs another several years of bottle age."

A blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, the WA team tasted this wine in 2006, 2008, and 2015. They rated it consistently, going from an initial 90-92 points, to 90+, and finally ending at 92. Also rated 91 points by Wine Spectator. Only $25.99 in the Bottle Club® .

Weyerbacher IPA Project #1. The first IPA release of this series, IPA #1, features a blend of classic hops, Centennial and Cascade, along with new varieties, Calypso and Equinox. This 5.5% ABV IPA has citrus and floral notes that meld into citrus and tropical flavors with an herbal undertone that ties it all together. Very limited availability.

Chateau Grand Mayne St.-Emilion 2010. 92 points from Wine Spectator. Their review: "A dark, lush, enveloping style, with flavors of fig paste, blackberry preserves and hoisin sauce forming an impressive core, while smoldering tobacco and charcoal notes entwine themselves around it. The finish is long and fleshy. Best from 2015 through 2027. 4,500 cases made."

This also rated 94 points from Wine Enthusiast, 92 from James Suckling and 90 from Wine Advocate. $45.99 in the Bottle Club®.

B. Nektar Stupid Man Suit. A limited availability mead.

Appearance - Ruby red, bright & clear with a slightly fizzy, off-white head that lingers on the rim.
Aroma - Sweet & bold, ripe berries complimented by crisp, tart apples.
Experience - Crisp apple and cherry forward. The sides of the tongue garner the tartness of dry apple and unripened berries while a mild sweetness rounds and balances. Medium body with a dry, refreshing finish.

Pair with cheeses like gouda and chevre, pork chops, chicken salad, mushroom risotto and light pasta dishes.

Feels Like Summer

Yesterday's weather should convince everyone that it's time to grab your summer seasonal craft beers, while they're still available. Your blogger picked up a 12-pack over the weekend, so we've taken our own advice.

As always, the summer seasonals are here in limited quantities, for a limited time, so please call the store to verify availability if you're heading out only for one particular beer. We do, of course, have plenty of alternatives.

Weyerbacher Wit. Wit, 4.6% ABV, is a crisp and hazy Belgian-style Wit. Coriander, orange peel, grains of paradise and star anise give a light spiciness to the aroma. This refreshingly crisp wheat ale finishes with just a hint of tartness. Wit is ready to be enjoyed throughout spring and early summer!

Wit is great with lighter seafood dishes and steamed mussels. Also pairs with fruity, light desserts, or spreadable cheeses like Marscapone or goat cheese.

Left Hand Good Juju. A light ale brewed with organic ginger to create a spicy aroma and unique flavor.

A little Juju voodoo – fresh ginger kisses the lithe malty body, copulating with the hop in this pale ale ancestor. Emancipate yourself from the dead of winter, none but the vernal equinox can free the light. A refreshing frivolity. Hey mon. Shuccha fwangaa! Better a witch doctor than a trouble maker. Quit yor' bitchin' an' get to witchin'.

Enjoy with Pad Thai, Ginger cookies, or sesame crusted ahi tuna salad. 4.5% ABV, 20 IBU's.

Baxter Brewing Summer Swelter. Our first unfiltered offering, Summer Swelter Ale is the perfect warm weather beer! Summer Swelter Ale is light and refreshing while still keeping your taste buds interested. The malt base features a hefty dose of wheat for a big, fluffy head and a soft, round body, yet keeps the beer drinkable even during the dog days. The light malt character is more than balanced by a blend of citrusy American hops, giving Swelter a crisp bitterness without being overpowering. The hoppy citrus aroma complements the ingredients that make this beer so unique: lemon and lime peel, Kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass provide an subtle yet unmistakable floral nose and just a touch of bracing tartness, taking the refreshment of Swelter to the next level.

Pairs well with Lobster, Fresh Fish, Shellfish – Fried, Broiled, or Raw; Green Salads, Curried Chicken Salad, Burgers and Hot Dogs, Italian Ice...Did we mention lobster?

Great Divide Whitewater Hoppy Wheat Ale. Whitewater is an American wheat ale built for exploration. The bold hop profile adds complexity to this crisp, balanced ale, while hints of citrus, light floral notes, and a satisfying bitterness leave a perfect reminder of trails climbed and rapids subdued. Whitewater is the perfect complement to any adventure.

Pair with Cumin-spiced lamb, steamed clams, roasted zucchini, Pecorino Romano, grilled pineapple. 4.9% ABV.

Two Roads Espressway Cold Brew Coffee Stout. In a process unique to Two Roads, we mixed a locally-roasted Ethiopian/Sumatra blend of beans with a rich oatmeal stout under pressure (like espresso but without the steam) using our German-built “Brewnik” device. The mixture is steeped for several days resulting in a true, cold-brewed coffee stout. Hop on the Two Roads Espressway! 6.5% ABV.

Neshaminy Creek Highwater Hefeweizen. Our version of an authentic Bavarian wheat beer. Brewed with nearly 60% white wheat, Pilsen malt, and a touch of Munich for color and flavor, we

ferment this beer with an authentic German Hefeweizen yeast that gives it a distinctive fruity banana flavor and aroma matched with a light spicy clove finish. German Hallertau and Tettnanger hops are used exclusively in this brew making this beer as truly German and authentic as possible for a beer brewed outside of Munich. 5.2% ABV, 10.8 IBU's.

We hope this little six-pack of craft beer has whetted your appetite. Stop in to see all of our new products.

Art and Wine

To many people, wine is art. Two different people can take the same raw material and create two very different results. Was I talking about wine or art there? Both, actually, showing the common factors between the two. In our world, art and wine exist side-by-side, and appreciating one can help with the other. At Joe Canal's in Woodbridge, we're bringing Art and Wine together for a special benefit event on Sunday, May 1.

Our 3rd Annual Art show is after hours that day, 7:30pm to 9:30pm. This is the event that everyone talks about all year. Our Art show is an exclusive opportunity to get up close and personal with some of New Jersey's hottest artists and purchase directly from the artists, themselves. No middle man. No dealers. This event is a must-attend for any art lover. There are no "other" vendors to get distracted by; this is an art show for the art community. Designed to be a one-of-a-kind event that sits at the nexus of art culture, philanthropy, and wine - we invite you to come and explore.

We're scheduled to pour some of our newest wines. These include:

Moonbeam Sweet Riesling. This Washington state Riesling is moderately sweet and bursting with peach and apricot flavors. Similar in style to an Auslese, it pairs well with creamy cheeses, fruit, seafood, and spicy Asian dishes. And it's an outstanding value!

James Wyatt Untamed Red Blend. Full-bodied with a warming nose of plum, raspberry, baking spices and oak. Well balanced with ripe fruit flavors, natural acidity and integrated tannins. This classic GSM (Grenache/Syrah/Mourvedre) blend has been aged for nine months in oak. Pairs well with game, lamb, grilled vegetables.

Eaglewood Rutherford Cabernet Sauvignon. A full-bodied, structured Cab Sauv offering flavors of ripe dark cherries and blackberries with strong spice undertones. This needs some time to breathe, so please decant for at least an hour. I would recommend buying some for the cellar because this will reward you greatly in a few years. If you liked Ridgeline you will love this!

Proceeds from the Art Show will benefit David's Touch. David's Touch believes that the gift of a toy is more than just a present around the holidays. It lifts the spirit of children and encourages smiles on their faces when they need it the most. Toys allow doctors and nurses to create unbreakable bonds with their patients. You see, toys are more than just characters or cartoons filled with batteries and movement – they are small priceless lifelines that each recipient is eternally grateful for.

Admission to the Art Show is only $10. Click here for more information about the event and about David's Touch, which is posted on our website.

#TeamDavidsTouch