Hello, reader. I knnola-irish-channel-stout (1)ow you normally come to Jessica and me for terrific wine suggestions, and that you have come to rely on our always spot-on vino recommendations. But not this week. This week, I’m drinking beer. Why? Because it’s delicious. And sometimes it’s ok to put down the liquid art that is wine and indulge in the ancient, homey goodness that is beer. Good beer, that is. Personally, I love big flavors, the kind you get from stouts and porters. One I’ve particularly adopted as my go-to nice weather beer is the NOLA Irish Channel stout. Brewed in New Orleans, it celebrates the Irish heritage that laces itself into the city’s culture. It’s a heavy, full-flavored brew, rich with espresso, chocolate, and caramel flavors. The finish is a little nutty, just enough for it to make a great pairing with mashed potatoes, hearty soups, and even Thanksgiving dinner! I recommend a buttery, aged cheddar and Dropkick Murphys. – Candace

Unlike Candace, I’m sticking with wine this week. I’m beyond excited about a new wine we have in the shop. It’s a non-vintage, red blend from Babcock Winery called Soulstruck “Free Spirit” Red. Babcock is a great, high-end producer which specializes in Pinot Noir and Syrah that usually retail starting at $35. But the great thing about Soulstruck (which is only $14.50) is that the grapes used in this “kitchen sink blend” come from the same vines that yield their top shelf labels. I’m calling it a kitchen sink blend, because you could say they threw everything into this wine except the kitchen sink. It’s composed of Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Mourvedre, Petit Verdot, Merlot, Grenache, Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Viognier spanning vintages 2007 to 2012. It may seem odd that a red blend should have so many white grapes in the mix, but this wine pulls it off with ease; it’s complex, smooth, well structured, and just plain delicious. It begs to be drunk with some bacon maple horseradish goat cheese from Haute Goat Creamery out of Longview and with Tame Impala’s Lonerism. – Jessica