Shop Small Business Monday-Locally Sourced Imbibing

    

Kens QA

      I'm still replying to comments, but I a very appreciative that my test is negative. I'm still feeling achy, and have the sore throat and cough, but it has not gotten any worse sine Thursday, so I guess it is an allergy/cold combo. I took a Benadryl before bed and slept pretty soundly a least 7 hours. Big help today I'm sure. For a few weeks I've was trying to think of Monday as a  self care, spruce up kind of post, and then  meandered into  small and local businesses, still in the vein of sprucing up our lives.  I'm sticking with that thought and in doing so,  leaning into sourcing out local means for sticking up on holiday beverages of the adult variety. In the US, from October with pseudo Oktoberfests to Halloween, heading into Thanksgiving, and then two days of  Christmas and gatherings leading up to the holiday, culminating in New Years eve and bowl games, a lot of alcohol may be purchased.

     This year could be different as lockdowns are happening in Europe and the UK, and in the US the  health experts are trying to get people to stop the large or even  smallish gatherings outside of  small bubbles of people. And different could mean a lot less  purchasing of beer, wine , and spirits. Why not use this  time then instead of focusing on the best deal to  target purchases towards small and local suppliers or producers. Local and small is in the eye of the beholder, but I'll start first in my  hometown.

     We have a local brewery who not only have a few brews and now hard seltzers and Kombuchas that we enjoy, they are a nice family and friend business that right form the get go orientated themselves  sinto a community gathering spot. They hosted music  weekends, and free trivia on Wednesdays', sponsored community uns, and hosted Beer Choirs!  Now you liley don't live where I live, but I'm guess there is a local brewery near you. Here's a few resources to help you find them.

Brewers Association the Official brewery directory Internationally and US

Beer Month Club with a list of breweries by state

     Admittedly, I know nothing about the making of spirits, but  distilleries for whiskey and other alcohol are popping up in new  places also many with tasting rooms. On route to my daughters college we see a sign for a tasting room and we both give ourselves a look, and say  "maybe next time!" My older daughter is partial to a bit of whiskey and I can't say I don't like a good Vodka  Collins now and then, particularly at the holidays. 

     I plan to host Thanksgiving with all the details this year, including having both red and white wine  for our sit down dinner. Now one doesn't think Minnesota when you think wine, but surprisingly both Minnesota and Wisconsin have a few vineyards  and local  producers that do a pretty fair job of turning local grapes into  bottles that I enjoy imbibing. For those of you within driving distancing of  southeast and western Wisconsin, check out the Great River Road Wine Trail which takes you from St Paul and potentially as far south as Iowa if you choose, explore local vineyards often with tasting rooms before you buy. Of  course things  might be very different this year but bookmark for  future if not the righ ttime. Regardless, you can possibly see where thee  regionally produced wine might  sold. I am partial to a few as they have fond memories in my family. We know of others not on the map, like the one we went to on vacation and bought a bottle for our anniversary.

     Of course those of you out west, or in Europe, or  other known wine producing regions might have  extensive options on your doorstep, so I  encourage you to see who might be the small producer-the one where the family has perhaps had their hands in the making for generations and still do, and production hasn't moved to mass industry production,or the small start-up or new  owner trying to get  their own foothold established. I'm not espert, so consider this a discussion about local sourcing and use your own knowledge to find your local and small options.  I did an ole google search and found a few  interesting links on the subject.

Sonoma Small Boutique wine exploration, if you are in the area or can look in shops for brands.

Wine Cellar Door has tips and links and maps to 200 UK wineries. 200! I have so many things to do when I have the  ability, time, and money to travel again. 

     I couldn't' even begin to figure out what a decent link to France or other parts  of continental Europe might be, but if anyone wants to link resources like the directories above for a more global perspective, please do. For me to figure out would just be displaying my ignorance.  I don't want to forget other parts of the world  as I have had some might good South African and Israeli produced wines. Which brings me to my final points, finding  small business suppliers.

      We were in a wine club for about four years through a semi-local wine bar, veteran and locally owned. Each month he and his team hosted a tasting.meet up night and brought in speakers with knowledge of the wines being served that evening. He brought in wines from all over the world, but with an eye to those that were ethically sourced, and usually small production. We stopped the club about 18 months ago as we were just unable to get to the meetups, which was the main reason we wanted to be in the club, but it is still one of my favorite places to go for dinner and drinks-once we can again of course.

      If you are unable or don't want to find your  drink of choice directly from the source, perhaps finding the small and local businesses to purchase your bar items. I  know it would be cheaper going to MGM Liquor Warehouse or Walmart's liquor store on the side, but I won't be buying cases of the stuff, and the local shops keep the money and jobs in my community. At  the cabin we bought our beer and vodka, along with the take and bake pizza, from the little  everything store because we want it to stay in business. We're not massie drinkers, but I plan to  make  merry this holiday in my own home. Hopefully my little bits of  spending added to many others little bits, will help support  the local and small producers and vendors this holiday season.