A Beer Apart

I met up with a former professor earlier this week at the Winzerstube downtown Hudson, WI (note to all: they are amongst the only bars I’ve been to with KOSTRITZER on tap in the area. Check it out). As I devoured my delish black bier, known to be popular with the ladies for its eminent, velvety smoothness, my extremely urbane and well-traveled professor commented on his favorite beer of all time.

Now, this professor is Czech (i.e. the nationality with the highest beer consumption per capita in the world) and has tasted many beers in his day–so, as with matters related to literature, travel and liquor, I listened carefully.

“I’ve never seen it in America,” he began. “It’s all over eastern continental Europe, and I found it again at Dalkeith in Scotland.

“It’ll surprise you to find out…it’s not Czech or German. It’s Polish, and it’s called  Żywiec” (kind of like ZEEV-yetz).

It was with a little bit of hesitation and a lot of smugness that I answered, “Oh…spelled Z-Y-W-I-E-C? We have it 2 miles away…at Chicone’s.”

Z-Y-W-I-E-C has been brewed since 1856, originally by Archduke Albert, Duke of Teschen and his younger brother Karl Ferdinand, Archduke of Austria–it’s the Hapsburg crest and name that you still see on marketing for the beer (sans the ‘Hapsburg lip’…).

In addition, Żywiec  has won numerous awards including a Gold Medal at the 2007 World Beer Championships. They also seem to host quite a few events across the country–see their site–but none in my neck of the woods, alas. Not all of us are as privileged as the world of academia, with their sabbaticals and conferences and whatnot (jk, jk academics).

Needless to say, my professor was pretty astounded that Chicone’s Liquor Mart carried such an ‘illustrious’ brand. I think we need a new slogan:

Chicone’s Liquor Mart:

Bringing people and cultures together for over 25 years

Stillwater, Minn. — The laid-back style of downtown’s Ruby Begonia’s is an refreshing undertone amidst what amounts to a manic (and generally pretentious) downtown bar scene in Stillwater.  The second level is a chill, relaxing atmosphere, with blues-folk music and deep sink-into-the cushions couches,  and delicious high-end, high-quality cocktails.

It was here that I had my first taste of St. Germain, product of France.  It’s an all-natural artisanal liqueur made from elderflowers.  With the low sugar content, I was expecting something herbal-y, a la Escorial. The taste is much lighter and citrus, simple yet complex, quite literally the embodiment of “je ne sais quoi.”

Ruby Begonia’s served it up in a martini called “The Atomic:”  St. Germain with Grey Goose, topped with a touch of champagne.  Their website has more concoctions, which I’m more than content to try, slowly sinking into a couch downtown Stillwater.

St. Germain is available at Chicone’s Liquor Mart, just across the Mississippi River and off I-94 in Hudson, WI.   In case you need more convincing, check this outstanding write-up of this outstanding product.