Author Archives: waywardwine

About waywardwine

Follow Wayward Wine (WSET3) to tour the world's exciting vineyards, breweries, and distilleries, while discovering new drinks.

Thirsty Thursday: Uehara Brewery Forest Spirit Sake Junmai Ginjo

Posted on July 2, 2015 by waywardwine

Sake. I love it but rarely do I splurge on it. Yet with summer’s heat, something chilled, refreshing, yet deceptively high in alcohol sounds perfect (next time Fino Sherry, I promise).

This Thirsty Thursday our glasses travel to Japan. Uehara Brewery began in 1862 amidst upheaval in Japan. Commodore Perry had shelled Japan into trade with the US eight years prior. Centuries of Shogunate and Samurai rule were crumbling. Smelly Westerners ran rampant in the streets. Famine, unemployment, riots, and hysteric movements raged throughout: good time to start a brewery. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged history, Japan, rice, rice wine, sake, travel, Uehara Brewery, wine | Leave a comment

Nazis and Kolsch Beer: DAY 162 Berlin to Cologne aka Koln

Posted on June 29, 2015 by waywardwine

Before our EU Austerity Drinking Tour leaves Berlin, we take the Metro to the end of a line. The 1936 Olympic Stadium provides our destination.

Although 76 years old, it looks strangely clean and modern: normalized into a tourist site and sporting venue. Swastikas have been stripped and chiseled away. Yet fascist elements remain, including master race discus throwers and their…well… master race testicles. Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged 1936 olympics, Cologne, German beer, Germany, Hitler, Koln, Kolsch, Lager, Nazi, travel, wine | 1 Comment

Monthly Wine Writing Challenge #18 (#MWWC18)

Posted on June 25, 2015 by waywardwine

Originally posted on the drunken cyclist:
Last week, Aaron of Wayward Wine won the Monthly Wine Writing Challenge #17 (#MWWC17) and just like all winners of the Challenge, his “reward” was to choose the theme for the following Challenge (in this case #MWWC18). A…

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Museum Island Part 2: Julius Caesar, Rauchbier, and Nefertiti

Posted on June 22, 2015 by waywardwine

We wake to a sleepy Berlin after Christmas. Everything remains closed. Dead soldiers strewn the streets:
We’re proud of you Berlin.

So we head back to Museum Island. Yesterday’s festivities included altars and gates from Pergamon, Miletus, and Babalon (see post). Today, sculpture and Egypt:

First we get distracted by gladiator armor, Trojan replicas, and, well, *ahem* a Babylonian hat that is clearly not over-compensating for anything: Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, Beer, Berlin, dinosaur, Egypt, Julius Caesar, Museum Island, Nerfertiti, rauchbier, smoked beer, Tiye, travel | 2 Comments

Thirsty Thursday: Beaujolais Done Right: Stephane Aviron Chenas 2011

Posted on June 18, 2015 by waywardwine

This Thirsty Thursday, I melt into a gelatinous ball of sweat and irritability. Summer’s heat pushes me to white, rosé, and sparkling wines. But I’m already bored. A low tannin, light red that could handle a slight chill sounds perfect. … Continue reading →