Quoth The Elder, "Furthermore"

It's a great time for beer lovers in the Upper Midwest. Not only can we read about Minnesota's glorious brewing past in the new book Land of Amber Waters, but we can enjoy the present with great local beers from Summit, Surly, and Flat Earth among others.

But we shouldn't limit our taste buds to Minnesota brews only. The Badger State is brewing up more than cheese, brats, serial killers, and inebriated Packer fans these days. Recently, I've had the pleasure of enjoying a couple of excellent examples of Wisconsin beer at its finest.

Rush River Brewing Co. just started selling their beer in bottles and it's now available at a selected liquor stores here in the Twin Cities. I've mentioned their Unforgiven Amber Ale before, but I'll say it again: this is indisputably the best red I've ever quaffed. So much flavor, so much taste. They also make a Bubblejack IPA that is a rich, hoppy dream.

A couple of weeks ago, I was offered a sample of Furthermore Beer at a local liquor store. The salesman explained that their Three Feet Deep Stout was made with peat just like it the ol' country (Ireland). Peaty? Why that sounds like one of the more common characteristics of Scotch. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Thankfully, probably not. But if you were you would realize what a killer combination a glass of Three Feet Deep Stout and a healthy draught of Single Malt Scotch make. A sip of this, a sip of that. Heaven on earth baby.

These beers and a couple of more have been added to the Beer Ratings Page, which now features ratings of well over three-hundred brews from around the globe. The Recommended Reads and the Chihuahua Orphanage Page have also been recently updated.

Last but not least, a rare wine pick. Believe it or not, I actually discovered this particular wine on a Northwest flight this summer. Yes, not everything about flying is negative. It took a while to find it around here, but it was worth the hunt.

Memsie Red from the Water Wheel Vineyard is an Aussie blend that goes for about fifteen bones a bottle. I'm not a wine snob like JB Doubtless by any means, but I know what tastes good and this a fine little wine.