Lambicus Dexterius

About the time I first started working with Ron Jeffries at Jolly Pumpkin he started making lambics and stashing them away in his funkiest barrels.

Five years later he is getting to release the first blend New Year's Eve 2009 at the Jolly Pumpkin Cafe and Brewery in Downtown Ann Arbor.

Here is a explanation of Lambicus Dexterius from the Captain himself.

Psenkova Cherry Mead served at the The Greening of Detroit's 20th Celebration.

Psenkova Cherry mead will be served at the Greening of Detroit's 20th Anniversary Celebration. The celebration is a dinner event to be held at Michael Symon's Roast Restaurant in Downtown Detroit. Psenkova has always loved Detroit and the achievements of The Greening of Detroit Organization over the past 20 years are magnificent. We are very proud to have been chosen to be part of a pairing menu for the event.

Here is an excerpt from The Greening of Detroit's website:
"The anniversary will begin on September 17, 2009 with our Greening of Detroit 20th Anniversary Gala. Iron Chef, Michael Symon, owner of Detroit’s Roast Restaurant at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel has graciously opened his doors to host this exclusive, party to benefit The Greening of Detroit. Chef Symon has invited world- renowned celebrity chefs to prepare a rare feast, featuring locally grown and raised food and recipes that will showcase the amazing talents of these culinary artists. Never before have these chefs come together to prepare a feast that focuses on the promotion of locally grown food, providing our guests with a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience unique dishes prepared by some of the world’s finest chefs. Celebrity chefs include: Michael Symon, Traci Des Jardins, Mary Sue Milliken, Marc Vetri and Takashi Yagihashi. Entertainment provided by Royal Garden Trio."

We look forward to tasting what these great chefs have in store. More details to follow.

Psenkova Cherry Mead featured in the Detroit Metro Times

Psenkova Cherry Mead:
BOTTOMS UP

So few fermented drinks capture the essence of their ingredients that finding one is cause for celebration, doubly so when those ingredients are local. Born of honey and cherries from Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, Psenkova Cherry Mead bursts with aromas of flowers and earth and time. Far from cloying, a sip starts mildly sweet with a hint of cherry tartness to turn pleasantly dusty toward the end. Or try the Peach Apricot Mead. Both are handcrafted in small batches at 45 North Vineyards & Winery.

Metro Times Detroit - September 2-8, 2009 PG. 42
http://metrotimes.com/food/story.asp?id=14322

Leelanau Brewing and Jolly Pumpkin at the 2009 Summer Beer Festival

The Michigan Summer Beer Festival put on by the Michigan Brewer's Guild is already upon us. The event is always a great time with over 50 Michigan breweries participating in the event. Leelanau Brewing Company will be representing the 2009 Summer Whaleback White aged for many weeks in our French Oak.

What's even more interesting is the line-up coming from Jolly Pumpkin.

The Captain has cooked up some fantastic firkins for the event, special release Jolly Pumpkin ales available at the Festival will be:

Perseguidor 4
Flanders style sour blend. Oak aged, cask conditioned & gravity dispensed.

Jipar
A new Norwegian style IPA brewed with Junper. Cask conditioned & gravity dispensed

Amberwheater
A new amber and wheat ale blend. Oak aged, cask conditioned & gravity dispensed.

Weizen Bam + Hibiscus
Refreshing farmhouse sour wheat beer with hibiscus added. Oak aged and cask conditioned & gravity dispensed.

Roja du Kriek
Amber Belgian style sour ale. Made with Michigan cherries. Oak aged, cask conditioned & gravity dispensed.

It makes me happy to know that Ron is out there making ales. Even happier that the Leelanau Brewing Company table is next to Jolly Pumpkin's at the festival.

Michigan Brewer's Guild 2009 Summer Beer Festival, July 24 and 25 2009.

Psenkova Medals from the 2009 Tasters Guild International Wine Competition

Psenkova Meads have been available in Michigan for only two months now. At the reccommendation of our winemaker Shawn Walters we sent bottles of our Psenkova Cherry Mead and Psenkova Peach-Apricot Mead to enter into the 2009 Tasters Guild International Wine Competition. The Tasters Guild International, is a Wine and Food Appreciation Society based in Grand Rapids, Michigan with administrative offices in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Washington D.C.

The Tasters Guild announced last week the results of its Twenty-Second Annual International Wine Judging held at the Secchia Institute for Culinary Education in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

"Forty experienced judges from around the country completed over 2,100 evaluations of wine from 36 states/provinces and 13 countries on April 29-May 2, 2009. The judging panels were comprised of a carefully selected mix of winemakers, retailers, wine writers, restaurateurs, and knowledgeable consumers. As part of the total wine evaluation process, nearly 40% of the wines entered were randomly chosen for reevaluation to verify the accuracy and fairness of medal consideration." "By sponsoring this wine judging event, it is the objective of Tasters Guild to give the consumer a reference point in choosing good, quality wine values," explains Tasters Guild President, Joe Borrello. "Tasters Guild recommends any judging results or tasting evaluations be used only as an informational guide in establishing personal preferences. However, with our reevaluation procedure, we take extra precaution to appraise the wines as accurately as possible."

Both Psenkova Cherry Mead and Psenkova Peach-Apricot Mead took medals in the competition.

Lamb Dinner at Michael Symon's Lolita in Cleveland

Lamb at Lolita

Last week I came down to Cleveland to facilitate a Lamb Dinner at Michael Symon's Lolita in Cleveland's Tremont District. The dinner was planned with John and Sukey Jamison's Lamb farm located in Latrobe, PA. The Jamison Farm is one of the only farms in the country who raises lambs from infancy to processing all on their own farm. The lambs are grass fed only. Lolita uses Jamison lambs to create some spectacular dishes.

A lamb menu was prepared to pair our beers from Jolly Pumpkin and Leelanau Brewing Company as well as a dessert paired with Psenkova Cherry Mead. The phenomenal meal was as follows.

1st course:
Lamb Heart Terrine and Lamb Sausage
Paired with: 2008 and 2009 Leelanau Petoskey Pale Ale

2nd course:
Tortelloni with merguez sausage, ramp leaves and pea tendrils
Paired with: 2009 Leelanau Brewing Good Harbor Golden Ale

3rd course:
Gyro w/ hand cut fries
Paired with: 2009 Jolly Pumpkin La Roja

Beer course:
2009 Jolly Pumpkin Biere de Mars
French style stock ale

Dessert:
Sheeps milk ricotta dumplings w/ apricot jam and minted strawberries
Paired with: Psenkova Cherry Mead

Thanks to Lolita and to Jamison Farms for the great dinner!

Leelanau Rosé creates new award in the Pacific Rim Competition

Aut viam inveniam aut faciam - I will either find a way or make one

"A rosé (From French: rosé, ‘pinkish’) wine has some of the color typical of a red wine, but only enough to turn it pink. The pink color can range from a pale orange to a vivid near-purple, depending on the grapes and wine making techniques." from wikipedia

The Leelanau Peninsula has long been known for it's natural beauty and in the past few decades Michigan's Little Finger Peninsula has emerged as a world-class wine region. Leelanau County is a peninsula that lies directly on the 45th parallel and is unique as a wine growing region because it is surrounded by Lake Michigan. When our Psenka famly moved to Leelanau County there were only two wineries in the whole County. I've been told there could be around 30 Small Winemakers Licenses in Leelanau County Michigan by mid 2009.

Locally we've known our Leelanau wine is among the best in the world for many years already. Our beaches and sunsets are among the best in the world and thus it make sense that our wines are too. The essence and character of our magnificent peninsula is embodied by Leelanau County's famous veteran wine maker Shawn Walters. Having grown up with Shawn in Leland Michigan, it is a joy to work with my childhood friend. Shawn crafts Psenkova wines from scratch using locally grown ingredients. Shawn is the wine maker for all Psenkova wines, including our Psenkova Cherry Mead and Psenkova Peach Apricot. Shawn also makes all the Northern Natural Organics wines that Sleeping Bear Trading Company represents.

While those of us who are familiar with Shawn's wines know their quality; it is still nice when the rest of the world agrees..

Read below for a letter to Shawn Walters in response to his entry of a Leelanau County, Michigan USA Rosé to the 2009 Pacific Rim Wine Competition:

"Hi Shawn,
Congratulations!
Your Pinot Noir Rose, 2008, Leelanau Peninsula was awarded the Best Pacific Rim Rose Wine at the 2009 Pacific Rim Wine Competition last week.
Your wine certainly knocked the feet out from under the judges and caused a great stir. They were so impressed by your wine that we were forced for the first time ever, to create a Best Pacific Rim Rose Wine category. Beautiful wine!
About 2000 wines were entered by close to 400 wineries, we had 54 Rose and Blush wines. Your wine competed against all of the reds which totaled 954 entries. It came in second to the Grand Champion and the judges were so upset at the lack of a Best Rose Award that it was agreed we had to create one. You have made history.
Yolanda Daly, Director
Pacific Rim Wine Competition"

See the 2009 Pacific Rim Wine Grand Champions.

A magnificent accolade to add to Shawn's trophys as well as a solid signal to the world to watch the wines from Leelanau County Michigan as here to stay.

Congratulations Shawn!

Bruisin' Ales - Asheville, North Carolina USA

Earlier in the month I got a call from Psenkova winemaker Shawn Walters. Shawn and his family were on vacation in North Carolina for the week and he had visited a kick-ass beer store that he had to tell me about. In Asheville North Carolina, the store is called Brusin' Ales.

On our way to the All About Beer Magazine World Beer Festival we were able to stop by and visit this awesome store. Easily one of the coolest beer stores in the USA, Brusin' ales writes on their website:
"Bruisin' Ales, Asheville's renowned beer only store, boasts over 700 brews from around the world (and around the corner). This small, colorful boutique shop in the heart of downtown is a treasure trove for beer lovers—specializing in Belgians, Belgian-style, select American craft brews, and the very best from around the world. Here you'll find rare brews, exceptional seasonals, and other hard-to-find limited releases. The unique bottle shop set-up allows customers to "Mix-a-Six."

I met Jason Atallah, Owner and Manager behind the counter in the busy store. Their selection of Belgians was formidable as well as small craft selections from around the USA. I can't wait to visit again.

Jolly Pumpkin - Nøgne-Ø - Stone Special Ale

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Nøgne-Ø and Stone Brewing Company collaboration brew.

Kjetil, Mitch and Ron brewing together again, this time at Jolly Pumpkin.

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

Nøgne-Ø

Stone Blog

Real Detroit Weekly features Psenkova Cherry Mead

Real Detroit Weekly features Psenkova Cherry Mead.

"Psenkova Cherry Mead

Mead has a long history- it's regarded as the ancestor of all fermented beverages, with its origin predating the cultivation of land. Psenkova Cherry Mead is a great example of why this beverage has persisted through the ages. The clean, pure taste of Michigan cherries brings the right amount of tartness to balance the subtle sweetness of the honey, creating a beverage with rare harmony. This quality is the result of negociant Charles Psenka's ambition to express Michigan's splendor through drink: he sourced the fruit and honey from small family farms in Leelanau County and has it handcrafted by world-class winemaker Shawn Walters in small batches. Find it at two of Detroit's finest resturaunts, Roast and Slows, or at your local beverage retailer.

-Jarred Gild"
Gild, Jarred. "Drink Up." Real Detroit Weekly [Detroit] 22-27 Apr. 2009: 12.

Download Psenkova Cherry Mead Shelftalker of this article.

Psenkova Peach Apricot Mead

Psenkova Peach Apricot Mead has been released to a few select retailers in Leelanau County, Traverse City and S.E. Michigan.

The back of the bottle has been graced by some Joa Psenka artwork instead of our usual statement about the origin of the fruit and honey. The story of the sketches follows.

The Feds were confused to no end about these meads that were created within a designated AVA (American Viticultural Area) specifically, Leelanau County Michigan. Even more confusing, Psenkova Peach Apricot Mead is made using only honey from our small Leelanau beekeeper and only fruit from Leelanau family farms. Compounding the quagmire, Psenkova Peach Apricot is technically a melomel, a mead combined with the addition of fruit.

Submitting the rear label of Psenkova Peach Apricot Mead with a simple explanation of our ingredients and their origin, we expected smooth sailing, but saw a few clouds on the horizon.
Our initial proposed declaration read: "Psenkova winemaker Shawn Walters uses only honey, peaches and apricots from Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula for our mead."
Denied. The Feds would not have it. Seems that the word Leelanau again was a problem.
We resubmitted the verbiage as thus: "Hand-crafted using only honey from a small Leelanau beekeeper and fruit from Michigan's Little Finger Peninsula and local winemaker Shawn Walters."
This the feds would not go for either.
It may seem interesting to point out that the word Leelanau already appears on our rear label legally because our meads are actually made in Lake Leelanau, Michigan. It was using the word Leelanau in the description that was taboo. We mentioned that our Cherry Mead label was approved with a very similar statement. They suggested that we did not mention that again.

The problem remains that I may not tell you on the bottle that the fruit and honey comes from Leelanau, because Leelanau County is a designated American Viticultural Area. I tried to explain that Psenkova meads are made with no grapes from Leelanau County, grapes are excluded from our melomels entirely, after all we were not making a pyment here. Psenkova Peach Apricot is only fermented honey and fruit, even after explaining that the honey and fruit is actually all from Leelanau County. Not only that, but our fruit and honey is bought directly from family farms that have operated in Leelanau County for over 100 years.
No luck.
One of the final submission attempts read: "The County that may not be named. It is against federal law for us to tell you where our winemaker Shawn Walters gets the fruit and honey."
We thought it might be a little cute, the Feds were not at all amused and expeditiously denied the label. In fact, they found several new things wrong with both the front and rear label that they had overlooked previously. Psenkova understands and appreciates the value of the AVA's guidelines, even when a good idea gets awry.

Finally decided to scrap the whole backside description entirely. The world would get a taste of some of my Family's art from my Aunt Joa's sketches she created for me specifically regarding honey, it's cultivation and processing. See the complete set of ten sketches online when our new psenkova.com launches soon.

Psenkova on Twitter

http://www.twitter.com/psenkova

Michael Symon's Roast, Detroit Michigan

Chef Michael Symon opened his first Michigan restaurant, Roast in the newly renovated Book Cadillac building in Detroit.

Newly opened but already famous for Executive Chef Jeff Rose's 'Beast of the Day' and in-house cured charcuterie. Roast was already awarded 2009 Restaurant of the year by the Detroit Free Press.
The carnivorous cuisine is perfectly suited for this native Detroiter.

While the Food Network Iron Chef has long been known for magnificent food, I was equally impressed with the beverage selection at Roast.

Roast's beverage book is easily among the best in the State. Covering all the venerable old wine bases but also offering a courageous eclectic selection of phenomenal obscurities you won't find elsewhere like Psenkova Cherry Mead by the glass.

"The slight chill brings out the acidity of the cherries. The subtle sweetness of the Psenkova Cherry Mead is a natural fit for lighter proteins like our roasted suckled pig, roasted goat or duck cassoulet." says the man behind the list, Joseph Allerton, Wine Director at Roast. Joseph is well on his way to becoming a Master Sommelier and has already turned Roast into another Detroit destination for gourmand imbibers.

I was drawn to the 'Death in the Afternoon' cocktail consisting of Henriot champagne with a splash of absinthe. Something I can easily imagine Papa drinking. Being that it was indeed the early afternoon, I opted for beer. Roasts beer list is formidable by any standard in the world, Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales on tap, vintage lambics and other rare beer gems can be found. The locally featured brews are among the highest rated in the world in their respective classes like Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales and Leelanau Brewing Company offering open-fermented, oak aged and bottle conditioned ales of character and distinction.

Being a connoisseur of burgers I was obligated to try the newly fabled Roast Burger. Cooked to temperature and served on an English muffin with thick bacon and an egg.

I suddenly found myself in love with the world as I sipped Leelanau Brewing Company's Petoskey Pale Ale and decided the Roast Burger is the Best Burger in Detroit.

Save room for Guinness Ice Cream.

Benjamin Franklin Never Talked About Beer.

The great old quote from Benjamin Franklin "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" is not a Benjamin Franklin quote at all. In fact the Colonial Playboy never mentions beer in any of his works. However wine is mentioned many times.

What Ben Franklin didn't say about beer

Of course, I know that while perhaps he didn't write the quote; Ben was thinking it.

Champane's Wine Cellars mention Psenkova Meads

The Detroit News
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Sandra Silfven
Taste Michigan wines galore

"The quality of Michigan wines has changed dramatically the last five to eight years," says Champane, who has a huge Michigan section, five-shelves deep, in his store. He says Rieslings, especially late-harvest, are the hot sellers along with fruit wines, followed by the usual European varietals.

Champane especially loves Charlie Psenkova's meads at Sleeping Bear Trading Co. in Glen Arbor, including his cherry-flavored mead, which is crafted by Shawn Walters, winemaker at Michigan's Forty-Five North, who also made a peach-apricot blend for him. "His meads are to die for," Champane says."

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090326/OPINION03/903260447/

Psenkova Acerglyn - Michigan maple syrup and Michigan Wildflower honey Acerglyn.

Acerglyn - by Psenkova
acer - a maple or related tree, with five-lobed leaves.
glyn - refers to it's mead roots. Mead is a fermented beverage made from honey, water and yeast.
Psenkova Acerglyn - Michigan maple syrup and Michigan Wildflower honey Acerglyn.

A collaboration between Psenkova and B. Nektar Urban Meadery.


Details:
Pitch Date: October 15th 2008
50/50 honey and maple syrup
Aged on Medium Toast New Hungarian Oak on 11/3/08 racked off oak 12/30/2008
3/16/2009 Racked and back sweetened with Grade A Amber Organic Michigan Maple Syrup.
Net yield:
Estimated bottle date: late March 2009, extremely limited release thereafter in 2009.
Bottled in 375ml Bellissima Antique green bottles.

a posse ad esse - 1st Release Psenkova Brand Cherry Mead

Psenkova Cherry Mead Released in Michigan

Over two years in its development, hand-crafted in small batches by world-class winemaker Shawn Walters using only honey from a small Leelanau County beekeeper and cherries from the Leelanau Fruit Company. Psenkova Cherry Mead is flush with subtle brilliance.

Where one can find Psenkova Cherry Mead in Michigan:

Restaurants:
Psenkova Cherry Mead is currently served at:

Slow's Bar BQ

Michael Symon’s Roast in Downtown Detroit.

Merchants:
Southeast Michigan:

Champagnes - Warren
Cost Plus Eastern Market Wine Shop – Detroit

Doug’s Party Time – Royal Oak

G & S Market – Royal Oak

Holiday Market – Royal Oak
Merchants Fine Wine - Dearborn
Oxford Wine Shoppe – Oxford Michigan
Papa Joe’s – Birmingham

Rainbow Liquor and Wine - Ferndale
Red Wagon Wine Shoppe - Troy

Simply Wine - Birmingham
Western Market – Ferndale

Westborne Market - Royal Oak

Royal Liqour - Royal Oak

Red Wagon Wine Shoppe - Rochester

Mid-Michigan:

Liquor Express - Bridgeport

Ideal Party Store - Bay City
Eastman Party Store - Midland
Pinconning Cheese Shop - Pinconning
Opperman’s Cork and Ale – Saginaw

Northern Michigan:
Michigan Traders - Cedar

Silver Tree - Traverse City
The Cherry Stop - Traverse City
Cedar City Market - Cedar
Barrels and Barrels – Suttons Bay
Bayside Market – Traverse City
Blue Goat – Traverse City

Cherry Stop – Traverse City
Silvertree Deli - Suttons Bay

Martha's Restaurant - Suttons Bay
Michigan Peddler - Suttons Bay
Hansen's Market - Suttons Bay
Omena Party Store - Omena

Scotts - Northport

Jack's Market - Traverse City
Leland Mercantile - Leland

The Cheese Shanty - Leland

Deering's Market - Empire

NJ's Market - Lake Leelanau

The Beverage Company - Traverse City

The Fort at Ponshewaing - Alanson

*This list is by no means complete, if you know someplace that should be added please let us know.

Psenkova Brand Meads are available from the Sleeping Bear Trading Company