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VOLUME
3, ISSUE
1, JANUARY 2008
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Pilsner Beer – Crisp and Clear
In an era of specialty microbrews, a traditional pilsner
beer may be what your palate is craving. Pilsners are characterized by a light,
golden hue and are well-hopped in aroma and flavor. They are lighter in body
than most beers, thus making them popular among a wide variety of beer drinkers.
The pilsner-style beer was developed in the 1840s in the
province of Bohemia. In that age, top-fermented beers had become very poor in
quality. In an attempt to remedy the situation, the citizens of Pilsen built
their own brewery which they called “Burgess Brewery” in 1839. They intended to
follow the Bavarian style of brewing, which involved the storage of beer in cool
caves using bottom-fermenting yeasts. The German term for this process was
“Lager.” This brewing style improved the beer’s clarity, flavor and shelf life.
In later years, modern refrigeration allowed many breweries to produce pilsner
beer.
Modern pilsner beer varies from region to region. Czech
pilsners, such as Pilsner Urquell, tend to have a lighter flavor. German styles,
such as Beck’s and St. Pauli Girl, tend to have a bitter or earthy character.
Dutch (Heineken) and Belgian (Stella Artois) pilsners have a slight sweet taste.
Pick up a Pilsner beer today. You may just find a favorite
in a sea of microbrews.
By Greg Keehr, Assistant Liquor Operations Director and
Manager of Edina Liquor - Grandview.
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A History Lesson in Municipal Liquor
Many people often ask me, “What is a municipal liquor
store?” They don’t realize that there is a distinct difference between Edina
Liquor and the privately owned stores around the metropolitan area. In an
attempt to clear up some of the confusion, I am going to give you a brief
history lesson on how and why the City of Edina became a municipal liquor
operator.
After prohibition was repealed in the early 1930s, the
Minnesota Legislature granted cities the option to control the sale of alcohol
through local government regulation. Many cities took this opportunity to
regulate alcohol sales at the retail level instead of relying on private
retailers. As a result, many cities became municipal liquor operators.
The initial motivation for many cities was to control and
monitor the sale of liquor, beer and wine -- not necessarily to profit from it.
After time, cities began to realize the economic benefit provided by these
municipal liquor stores. Cities were able to use the revenue to help with their
budgets and to fund additional programs.
The fact that our municipal governments control alcohol
sales at the retail level makes Minnesota unique. Other states -- 19 to be exact
-- retain that control at the state level. For example, Pennsylvania controls
the distribution of liquor and wine at the wholesale level and the retail level.
Here in Minnesota, municipalities must purchase liquor, beer and wine from
private wholesalers.
Edina has maintained its municipal liquor operation since
the early 1950s, when residents voted in favor of the proposal. Along with
generating income for the City, the regulation of alcohol sales remains one of
the City’s most important goals. Input from residents is greatly valued in the
process, as can be evidenced by the fact that the sale of keg beer has been
restricted at the request of our residents since 1984.
Edina Liquor owes its success to the support of our
residents and customers. Over the past four years, we have generated close to $4
million in net income, all of which goes back to the City of Edina budget. As
always, we thank you for your support as we strive to be the best municipal
liquor operator in the state.
Steve Grausam is the Liquor Operations Director. He can
be reached by sending an email to
sgrausam@ci.edina.mn.us
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Borsao Tres Picos Garnacha 2006: Robert Parker
refers to this wine as “cherry pie in a glass.” It has a deep ruby color along
with the aroma and flavor of kirsh liquer. $14.99
Montecillo Crianza Rioja 2003: This red is one of
our most popular Spanish wines. It has an aroma of mature fruit balanced with a
touch of oak. It is medium-bodied with a long finish and flavors of cherry and
blackberry. Try it with cheese, grilled salmon and tuna. $10.99
Martin Codax Albarino 2006: Fairly new to Edina
Liquor, this bright and slightly sparkling Spanish white has lemon nuances. It
stands out for its unique blend of intensity, elegance and complexity and pairs
well with lighter dishes such as salads, baked fish and lighter cheeses.
$14.99
Jacob’s Creek Reserve Shiraz 2004: This 2004 reserve
Shiraz scored over 90 points and has been a big hit. It shows concentrated
cherry and blackberry fruit with spice and black pepper notes. Drink now or
cellar for up to 10 years. $12.99
Geyser Peak Sauvignon Blanc 2006: This wine has been
a store favorite for some time. It is aged in 100 percent stainless steel and
has an explosive aroma brimming with lemon, lime and citrus blossom. A
fruit-forward wine with crisp acidity, this wine is great with oysters and all
shellfish as well as salads, light fish and chicken dishes. $14
Dave Tomko is Assistant Manager of Edina Liquor – Southdale.
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Spain Has Long History of Producing Fine Wine
California, Washington, Oregon, France, Australia and Italy
-- wines from these regions dominate the shelves of almost every wine retailer
and represent the highest percentage of the wine sold in this country. However,
one region that tends to be overlooked is Spain, which has a long history of
producing fine wine.
Spain is the third largest wine producer in the world
behind Italy and France. Spanish wines are classified by the region in which
they are produced. These regions are known as Rioja, Ribera del Duero, Priorato,
Cava and Penedes.
Rioja is the best-known wine region in Spain. Tempranillo
and Garnacha are Spain’s most widely produced grapes. Rioja wines are labeled by
the number of years they are aged: Crianza wines are aged for at least two
years, Reservas are aged three years and Gran Reservas are aged for at least
five. Other regions also use these classifications, but do not age their wine to
these standards.
Spain is also known for its fortified wines, including
sherry, which is produced in the southern region of Jerex. The palomino grape is
the most widely used grape in sherry production. Sherry has many categories,
including Fino, Amontillado and Cream.
So, the next time you are in the mood to stray from the
norm, give a Spanish wine a try.
By Greg Keehr, Assistant Liquor Operations Director and
Manager of Edina Liquor - Grandview.
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