The Chinese New Year and the Drinks of China

You know I like a good party and what better time to party than the celebration of a New Year. Though I have never been to China, I chose to take this opportunity to celebrate the Chinese New Year and take a look at the Drinks of China.

The Chinese New Year is a “spring festival” marking the end of the of the winter season – we can all celebrate that! This year is the Year of the Dragon (or “Long”) which will not be celebrated again until February 10, 2024. This fifteen day celebration is strongly based on traditional cuisine, but traditional Chinese alcoholic beverages are also enjoyed.

The Chinese word that refers to all alcoholic beverages is “Jiu,” meaning "alcoholic beverage" or "liquor". The same Chinese character is also used in Korean (pronounced “ju”) and in Japanese, where it is pronounced “sake” or “shu.”

The two main varieties of Chinese alcoholic (rice grain based) beverages are Bai Jiu (distilled beverages) referred to as "white liquor" (usually clear liquids) and “Huang Jiu” (fermented beverages) is referred to as "yellow liquor” (usually beige or reddish-brown in color).  Chinese alcoholic beverages are traditionally warmed before being consumed as warming the liquor allows for release of its aromas without losing too much alcohol.

Baojing (Bái Jiǔ), (60% ABV) is a hand-crafted spirit which is slowly matured for 12 months exclusively in terra cotta pots that allow the spirit to breathe as it ages. Their signature drink for the New Year is the “Dragon Royale” which is 1 part Baojing, 1 part raspberry liqueur, a squeeze of lemon and lime juice and simple syrup.

Zhejiang Gu Yue Long Shan Shaoxing Wine Co., Ltd is the most popular producer of Huang Jui beverages in China. Most of their rice wines are used in traditional Chinese cuisine, but can be consumed straight. The company’s products are sold in 30 international countries including the US, Canada and Europe.

Grape Wine (often called "grape liquor"), although not a traditional product, was first produced around 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty. Increased production has become more prevalent since 1900 as a result of increased Western influences. 90% of wine consumed in Asia is red.

Dynasty Fine Wines Group Ltd. has produced wines in Beijing since 1980 specializing in dry reds and whites. Their Dry Red Wine is a combination of blended varietals with a cabernet backbone producing a robust body. Their Dry White Wine is a blend of Italian Riesling, Muscat, and Carginan which produces a bright full bodied taste.

Chinese Beers are mostly pale lagers. Other styles are occasionally found, such as Tsingtao’s dark beer. Beer has been around for nine thousand years in Asia and recent studies have shown that beer production and consumption occurred in small villages as far back as 7000BC. Modern beer brewing was not introduced into China until the end of 19th century when breweries were set up by Germans, Czechoslovakians and Russians.

Harbin Beer is a Pale Lager that has been produced at the Harbin brewery since 1900. This 4.9% ABV beer is produced with European and Chinese hops and German yeasts. The brewery was named after a Russian immigrant who started the brewery to “feed” the thirst of Russians who were working on the rail systems in China.

Tsingtao Brewery Co.,Ltd was originally founded in 1903 by an English – German conglomerate. Today, the company is now owned by the People’s Republic of China after the civil war. The brewery produces a traditional hopped pilsner (4.7% ABV), a dark beer (5.2% ABV), and a “green” beer (4.5% ABV) which includes Spirulina, a nutritional supplement for good health.

Raise a glass and toast in the Chinese New Year!

Ultimate "Black Stuff 6-Pack": Mid-Atlantic Stouts

Stouts are perfect for the cold chill of winter. Lately, the weather has been ever changing in Washington, DC, and has gone from 60 degrees one day to snow the next. One thing’s for sure: unlike the uneasy weather patterns, it is easy to find good sipping stouts full of hints of chocolate and coffee when the weather finally decides to act like it should.

The Mid-Atlantic region has some great breweries that seem to pop up every day. For this entry, I decided to focus on the stouts from this region – ranging as far south as North Carolina and as far north as Delaware.

While driving the other day, my GPS decided to act stupid and took me to an empty lot. After making a wrong turn, I found a high end wine, beer and cheese shop called Red, White and Bleu in Falls Church, VA. I picked up a mixed six pack of stout.

 “Which one are you going to try first?” the clerk asked.

“All of them,” I replied.

I hope you enjoy these stouts for 2012 as part of the Perfect 6 Pack of the Black Stuff (Mid-Atlantic).

EVO – Lucky 7 Porter, Evolution Craft Brewing Co., Delmar, DE, 5.8% ABV

This porter is rich and full flavored with notes of chocolate, coffee and smoke. Lucky 7 pours blackish brown with a mocha head. It is very roasty on the nose, with a deep smokiness to it that is softened somewhat by sweeter malty notes of chocolate and caramel. There is also some green citrus present here that blends in with the smokiness of the malts.

Milk Stout, The Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery, Farmville, NC, 5.7% ABV

This stout pours out a nice dark brown almost black color with a mild head of beige foam that quickly faded to a thin lace. Duck-Rabbit has made several dark beers and the smell is always one feature of the beer that I can always count on being amazing. This beer has a nice sweet milk chocolate and coffee with cream smell. The taste starts off with milk chocolate (almost like chocolate milk), followed by coffee flavor with a very mellow sweetness.

“Fifteen” Smoked Imperial Stout, Weyerbacher Brewing, Easton, PA, 10.8% ABV

Fifteen is a Smoked Imperial Porter and is not a shy ale. This stout is an intense, full-bodied, smoked beer. Fifteen, which gains its name from the 15years that Weyerbacher has been brewing, pours very dark with a tan head and a sweet nose which is not carried through in the beer itself. It has a rich flavor profile balancing notes of dark roast, burnt toast, and spices with a deep earthy aroma of smoke and wood. Smoke is mild up front but comes through strongly at the finish.

 

Black Lightning, DuClaw Brewing Co., Aingdon, MD, 6.4% ABV

This medium-bodied, American Black Ale brings a full bodied, roasted malt flavor with an aroma and finish of American hops. This ale lives up to its name pouring black in color with a khaki head to it. On the palate you will find faint citrusy hops and a touch of sweet pineapple. A bit of pine and herbal hop character is there in addition to some molasses type sweetness and roasted malt. The finish is somewhat strong on the roast with maybe even some licorice.

Porter, Port City Brewing Company, Alexandria, VA, 7.5% ABV

This smooth, full-bodied porter pours black with a rich and almost creamy tan head. The aromas are sweet and dark followed by chocolate notes that range from ultra dark to milky sweet. There is a hint of roasted coffee beans towards the middle of the palate. The combination of cocoa and coffee is evident throughout and enjoyable while drinking this high ABV, slow sipping beer.  

Coffeehouse Stout, Williamsburg Aleworks, Williamsburg, VA, 5.4%ABV

Pouring espresso black with a thin tan head, this stout brings forth a magnificent wave of fresh coffee aroma from dark roasted Guatemala Antigua beans. There is a little bit of chocolate and roasted malts which surround the coffee and creates a rich and smooth body and coffee and light chocolate on the palate. Even with a low ABV, the body is pretty good. This beer is extremely drinkable for a coffee stout with a great coffee aroma and flavor.

Honorable Mention:

Lubrication American Black Ale, Clown Shoes (Brewed by Mercury Brewing Co.), Ipswich, MA, 6% ABV

This beer comes from the East Coast, but from a little further north than the Mid-Atlantic region. The brewer is Clown Shoes, but the beer is brewed out of Mercury Brewing in Ipswich. Lubrication is also referred to as a Black IPA (India Pale Ale) and is dark brown to pitch black with a somewhat thin head. You will definitely pull out the spruce-like characteristics of IPA hops. The aroma is dry (almost chalky) with predominantly bitter chocolate on the nose. The taste is bone dry with bitter chocolate and even cocoa notes which creates a dose of bitter hops at the end.

Peak XV Imperial Porter – Black Diamond Brewing Co,  Concord, CA, 8% ABV

This is a shout out to the left coast which is obviously far from the Mid-Atlantic region. This porter is deep brown (almost black) in appearance with little tan head. The nose gives off dark, chocolate malt with vanilla wafting over and some cocoa. The taste starts thick with caramel then dark chocolate kicks in and vanilla lightens up the flavor profile, thus creating balance to the heavier flavors. It has a sweet backbone by the end of the pint.

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Liqueur for the New Year

We all know that the New Year brings on New Year’s resolutions. Certainly it is easy to say that one of my resolutions is to travel more and another is to continue to write epic novels, but I decided to entertain the resolution of giving up my favorite “go to” liqueur for a year and see what else is out there on the market.

With the temperatures finally dropping to blistery levels in Washington last night, I decided to write about a couple of liquors that will warm your soul and/or take you away from the blustery conditions.

If you don’t know, my “go to” liqueur is Grand Marnier – which is why it is not included below. I’m sure it will be a challenge!

Glayva (Pronounced: Gle Mhath)

35% ABV (70 Proof)

Origin: Scotland

This liqueur, first produced by Whyte and Mackay Ltd. in Leith, Scotland (Glasgow), is marketed with the slogan 'Best Liqueur in the World'. Glayva (Gaelic for “very good”) was first produced by Ronald Morrison (a whiskey merchant from Edinburgh) in 1947.

Glayva’s flavor comes from a blend of aged Scotch whiskies combined with herbs, anise, honey, cloves, almonds, and citrus fruits. Its deep, gold color and distinctive flavor of exotic spices (from the Far East), tangerines (from the Mediterranean), cinnamon and honey combine well with the smokiness of the Scotch whiskeys.

Today, Glayva is produced and bottled by The Glayva Liqueur Company in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Baerenjager (Pronounced: Bear-en-Yager)

30% - 45% ABV (60 – 90 Proof)

Origin: Germany

This honey based liqueur, with a backbone of vodka, is produced in Steinhagen, Germany, by the Teucke & Koenig Company. Gaining its name from “Bärenfang” or “Likör, der Bienenhonig enthält” (which translates from German to ‘liqueur which contains honey’), Baerenjager is now made with honey from nectar. The original recipe called for honey from honeydew which created a bitter aftertaste.

Bärenfang liqueur was first developed in eastern Prussia in the 15th century. Bärenjäger is the first commercial brand of this type of liquor and is now widely exported, and therefore the name “Bärenjäger” is commonly used outside of Germany. There are other producers of Bärenfang in Germany, but their products are less often available in other countries.

Baerenjager (which translates to “Bear Hunter”) is the perfect cordial for coffee and hot drinks as well as on its own.

Mill Six

35% ABV (70 Proof)

Origin: Holland

It may be difficult to think of tropical drinks during the cold, winter months, but they may help take your mind away from snow and more towards sand. Distilled in Schiedam, Holland, Mill Six is a premium citrus liqueur which has been family-owned since 1977.

This super premium liqueur is created by combining Dutch grains, the essence of blood oranges, and the peels of exotic citrus fruits from around the world. Being small batch distilled, Mill Six is able to cultivate one of the smoothest liquors in the world.

With its tropical aroma and fresh taste, Mill Six is the ideal citrus liqueur for martinis, straight up or on the rocks, or in the ever popular margarita.

Kahlua Cinnamon Spice

20% ABV (40 Proof)

Origin: Mexico

Kahlua Cinnamon Spice, made by Kaluha in Veracruz, Mexico, is a blended liqueur of Arabica coffee, traditional Mexican spices and rum. The distillery created this new flavour to idolize ‘Cafe de Olla’ (traditional Mexican coffee made with roasted coffee, cinnamon and Mexican dark–brown sugar (called Piloncillo).

This liqueur reminds me of standing in a local Starbucks as patrons pass with high octane coffee, topped with whipped cream and powdered with a film of cinnamon. If that’s your thing, you will love it.

Coffers drinkers will find a smooth, coffee experience that can be enjoyed on its own or in their favorite coffee drinks.

As always, thank you for reading and sharing. Swig Knowledge finished 2011 with over 4,500 followers in 120 countries throughout the World. I hope we can keep it going in 2012 with new book coming out (this month) based on the blog!