Author: Rick Lyke
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Beyond Beer -
SidebarsEssential Liquors for the Home Bar
May 2, 2014 - Rick Lyke There are six types of liquor that are the cornerstone of any good home bar: scotch, bourbon, vodka, gin, rum and tequila. Here are my picks for three brands in each category to consider: Scotch: For mixed drinks you need a blended Scotch like Dewar’s that can also be consumed straight. The range of flavors... View Article -
SidebarsShopping List for the Home Bar
May 2, 2014 - Rick Lyke There are a variety of bar condiments and ingredients needed before you even think of reaching for that bottle of whiskey. Here is a quick shopping list that you can use to stock up your home bar. But keep in mind you can go crazy trying to stock everything. Much of the shopping list depends... View Article -
Beyond BeerCraft Whiskey Barrels Forward
November 1, 2013 - Rick Lyke Could the next big thing in beer actually be whiskey? We are not talking about the use of former bourbon barrels for aging beer. That trend is well-established. We mean the real 90-proof variety. Some think that breweries might just propel the craft spirits sector—and whiskey in particular—through the roof. According to the Brewers Association,... View Article -
Beyond Beer - Full Pints
America’s Next Great Grapes
September 1, 2013 - Rick Lyke California earned its place on the world wine stage at the Judgment of Paris in 1976 when, in a blind tasting, French judges selected both a Californian white and a red over wines from their country. Not only was this a major hit to the French psyche, it also signaled to the world that Americans... View Article -
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A Fresh Twist on Poolside Cocktails
July 1, 2013 - Rick Lyke It is that time of year. The days are longer. Temperatures are rising and the humidity sticks to your skin. Mercifully, the pool is open. And the blender is working overtime. Just like my beer-ordering habits, the cocktails I consume change from season to season. When summer rolls around, tropical cocktails, blender drinks and fresh... View Article -
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What’s in Your Glass?
June 11, 2013 - Rick Lyke This column has always assumed that lovers of great beer stray on occasion. It doesn’t mean we love beer less. If you are feeling a bit guilty about stepping out on beer, open your beer fridge and say these six words: “It’s not you, beer; it’s me.” -
Beyond Beer - Full Pints
50 Shades of White
May 1, 2013 - Rick Lyke Wine lists used to be fairly predictable. A few sparkling wines, some chardonnay, perhaps one or two other whites, then a bunch of reds. Cabernet Sauvignon. Merlot. Pinot Noir. Syrah. Zinfandel. Bordeaux. Chianti. With a little luck even a brunello, a tempranillo or a malbec. -
Beyond Beer - Full Pints
Rum Running
January 1, 2013 - Rick Lyke Rum is a tropical spirit that conjures up white sand beaches, salty ocean breezes and cocktails with names that sound as if they were created by Isaac, the bartender on the Love Boat. It’s not surprising that rum’s development is linked to the sea. While making alcohol from sugar cane goes back hundreds of years... View Article