Club Clink

I have to say that the Fourth of July may be my favorite holiday. Everything about it seems to have been crafted exclusively for the red-blooded, beer-loving patriot in all of us.  Take my recipe for standard July 4th celebration for example – some barbeque, a lake or pool, great friends and family – then add in a little country music and garnish with some apple pie. And of course, an American-crafted beer such Yuengling, one of my personal favorites. Sprinkle in some fireworks by responsible adults and the day is complete. This year, my all-America Fourth of July was...

I like it hot. It’s been a long, sizzling summer so far, and I’m loving it. I’m not a girl for air-conditioning. I like it sultry and sweaty, with a refreshing, iced cocktail to cool me down. Light rum is a great spirit for the hot summertime, and what else but the cocktail that was created for sweltering, sexy, Cuban nights: the mojito. From my bartender point of view, they are messy, time-consuming, overall kind of a pain to make, and way too many customers order them. But as a sweaty consumer craving something thirst-quenching, I think they are perfect....

Summer is all about enjoying a drink on the patio (or lanai if you’re fancy). We checked in with all three of our experts to find out what their favorite summer drinks are. Ben. This is my go-to summer drink for chilling at the lake. I usually mix up a batch in an extra large lemonade dispenser or even a nice clean cooler – anything with a handy spout. It’s super easy to make and perfect for sharing with friends.   Ben’s Summer Beer Add 3 bottles of a wheat beer – I prefer Blue Moon Start with a pitcher of...

The great thing about wine is that it's made to be enjoyed with food. Finding the right pairing of food and wine enhances the flavor of both. Today I’m sharing five of my favorite wine and food pairings. But remember, there is no hard and fast rule of what to drink with what. So this is a good starting point for you to enjoy wine with food...or all on its own! Pinot Noir is great for dishes with earthy flavors. Recipes made with ingredients like mushrooms and truffles taste great with reds like Pinot Noir and Dolcetto, which are light-bodied...

I’ve traveled a lot. Still, the one journey I haven’t yet figured out how to make happen is a trip to Westeros. For those who might not be familiar with this place, Westeros is the mythical continent at the center of the Game of Throne books and the hit HBO series by the same name. It’s a brutal, uninviting place and chances are pretty good that I wouldn’t last long trying to backpack my way through the Seven Kingdoms. Still, I’m drawn into the idea of getting to know the characters of this world. I’d love to share a beer...

Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a whiskey girl; specifically bourbon with a high wheat mash bill. However, seeing as today is National Cognac Day, I’m going to spend some time talking about Cognac, aka “the king of brandies.” For those who don’t know, whiskey is basically distilled beer and brandy is distilled wine. In the 11th century, Dutch merchants bought wine from the Cognac area of France. They soon discovered that distilling the wine made it much easier to transport, as it lessened the volume. Once the distilled wine reached its destination, they would simply add water again...