Buying a bottle of water isn’t as simple as it sounds. At most supermarkets and even at some vending machines, there is a wide variety of different brands and types of water to choose from. If one label says “purified” while the next says “natural spring water,” does that mean the spring water isn’t pure? Is “sparkling water” just a fancy name for seltzer, or is it something entirely different? Here, Columbia Distributing breaks down all the different types of bottled water to help you make the right decision next time you need to quench your thirst.
Enjoying an ice-cold chocolate drink in hot weather cools you off no matter what scientific researchers say. Scientists argue that hot drinks cool people off better than cold beverages, but anecdotal evidence demonstrates a clear preference for cold beverages on a hot day. At Columbia Distributing, we carry an extensive assortment of chocolate-flavored drinks, premium sodas, and chocolate beverages for our health-conscious customers, including wellness drinks designed for active people.
Craft beer’s rise in popularity over the past couple of decades has brought an abundance of styles with it. That means finding the perfect brew is easier than ever when the weather transitions from hot summer days to cooler fall evenings. From IPAs to stouts, there’s no shortage of selection to suit any mood. Here, Columbia Distributing explores different selections to satisfy your palate from Portland, Oregon; Santa Rosa, California; and Seattle, Washington.
Oregon Beers
Portland, Oregon, is a great source of craft beers to match any season. One of the top brands in the region is Migration Brewing. This brewery delivers a broad selection of beers, including the aggressively hoppy Fresh Outta Portland IPA, which is perfect for a hot sunny day with its herbal, pine, resin, and citrus flavors.
If you’re looking for something a little less hoppy, but still perfect for warm days, Migration Patio Ale might fit the bill. Layers of passion fruit, pineapple, and grapefruit give this American pale ale a light and dry mouthful, making it perfect for sipping while spending time outdoors.
For when the weather turns chilly, Migration Brewing’s Westward Frankie is for you. This imperial stout features deep flavors of chocolate, coffee, and roasted grain.
California Beers
The Russian River Brewing Company in Santa Rosa, California, is another brand that crafts tasty brews perfect for matching any weather, mood, or temperature.
For early fall days when it’s warm and you need something refreshing, try their Sanctification Brett beer. Technically, this is neither ale nor lager. The base recipe is for a golden ale, but then primary fermentation is done with 100% Brettanomyces, which is a wild yeast that gives the beer some sour notes.
If it’s a hoppy beer you’re looking for to pair with a warm day, Russian River has you covered with their Happy Hops American IPA. This brew features an immense hop flavor and aroma with only a mild bitterness.
For pairing with cooler and rainy days, look no further than Russian River’s Supplication. This brown ale is aged in pinot noir barrels sourced from local Sonoma County wineries. It’s aged for about 12 months with sour cherries, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus added to each barrel. The flavors from the cherries, pinot noir, and oak balance each other out while the Brett adds a little funkiness to the brew.
Finally, when the autumn weather really starts to turn cold, you’ll want a full-bodied brew that you can sip while sitting next to a fire. Russian River’s Consecration is perfect for that. This dark ale is aged four to eight months in cabernet sauvignon barrels with black currants, Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus, and Pediococcus. This all translates to rich flavors of chocolate truffle, spice, tobacco, currants, and a hint of cabernet.
Washington Beers
When the weather starts to turn cooler in September and October, many beer drinkers seek out pumpkin beers. One Pacific Northwest brewery worth checking out that offers a pumpkin ale is Ghostfish Brewing Co. in Seattle. The brewery’s Lunar Harvest Pumpkin Ale features a mix of fall spices and pumpkin puree, all blended seamlessly with the natural spices and fruity esters brought out from the Belgian yeast used to make the ale.
If you’re not quite ready to dive into the flavors of fall, Ghostfish offers up their Grapefruit IPA. Brewed with a blend of Cascade and Horizon hops, and then dry-hopped with Altus hops, this American IPA is a citrus bomb. Its lively and bright flavors with pungent grapefruit aroma are sure to be refreshing on warmer days.
When the nights turn cool, you’ll want a brew that’s darker and has a fuller body. The Watchstander Stout from Ghostfish is perfect for sipping around a campfire. Dark roasts of malted millet, buckwheat, and brown rice give this brew hints of dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow, and coffee.
Find the Perfect Brew Today
Whether you’re clinging onto the last bits of summer with a citrusy IPA or looking to curl up under a blanket with your favorite stout as autumn starts to settle in, Columbia Distributing has you covered. We serve Oregon, Washington, and California with a variety of beers, ciders, liquors, and more. Contact us today to find your perfect brew.
If you want to take your upcoming brunch gathering to the next level, you’ll need to serve the right cocktails. Brunch foods and cocktails go together like, well, bacon and eggs. Lighter, fruity, and bubbly beverages generally go best with midday meals. However, lighter brunch dishes and appetizers pair well with heavier drinks. Whether you’re ordering out from a restaurant or making everything at home, the following brunch cocktail suggestions from Columbia Distributing will complement the meal perfectly.
A lager is a style of beer that, compared to traditional brewing, is made with a longer fermentation process at a lower temperature. This requires more storage time, which means the overhead costs of producing a fine lager are higher than those of an ordinary beer. Ales also rank as specific types of beer. The technical differences between these products relate to the brewing process. Brewing lagers requires a longer fermentation period, and that fermentation occurs from the bottom up to the top. Regular beer and ales ferment at higher temperatures from the top down.
Do you miss the ambiance and excitement of sitting around a table at a bar sipping your favorite drink and socializing with friends? It feels like forever since the COVID-19 pandemic changed the world, forcing everyone to embrace doing almost everything from home. As you ease back into going out, Columbia Distributing covers some of the things you might have missed the most.
Cherries have been an accent, garnish, and enjoyable addition to all types of food and drink for centuries. With their stark red appearance and notable taste, cherries often enhance the taste of the foods and drinks they are added to. However, with many varieties of cherries to choose from, you may find yourself wondering which ones you should be adding to your drinks.
The first question is whether you want sweet cherries or tart cherries. Sweet cherries are easier to find, but tart cherries have historically seen much more use as garnishes and additions to drinks. Consider Italy, where tart cherries thrive. Italy is where cocktail cherries first gained traction. To best understand this, you need to know a little bit of history about Italian cherries first. Columbia Distributing takes a look at the marriage between cherries and drinks and the history behind this perfect combo.
The feeling of a crisp, cool lemonade on a hot summer day is as timeless as it is refreshing, and most everyone can appreciate the relaxation that comes with a glass of lemonade in hand. With National Lemonade Day right around the corner, there couldn’t be a better time to plan a get-together after work. Here are a few lemonade cocktail recipes from Columbia Distributing that are sure to help you wind down and cool off during this noteworthy occasion and other hot summer days in August.
Most Americans’ experience with tequila is limited to margaritas and shots, but neither gives a full picture of the alcohol’s complexity. Tequila used in margaritas typically comes from a blended product that contains a 50-50 mix of distilled agave and another source, while shot glasses don’t allow drinkers to taste the alcohol in its entirety. Understanding how to properly taste tequila, from what glass to use to how to properly sip it, is crucial to truly enjoy it. Here, Columbia Distributing offers a variety of tequila tips so you can fully experience the popular spirit.
Looking for a caffeinated beverage but not in the mood for piping-hot coffee? Delicious cold brew coffee is the perfect answer. While it takes a lot longer to make, cold brew is often more flavorful and gives a slightly bigger boost of energy. However, these aren’t the only benefits of the cold brew method.
In most cases, hot drip and cold brew coffees share many of the same perks. Both boost your energy and are low-calorie drinks (unless you take lots of cream or sugar). The beans are roasted in the same ways and to the same temperature levels. The biggest difference is the method of brewing. Columbia Distributing looks at how cold brew coffee is made and the benefits of drinking this type of beverage.
How to Make Cold Brew Coffee
In order for coffee to be cold brewed, the coffee beans must be steeped in cold or room temperature water for at least eight hours. Ground beans are best and should be in a filter within the pitcher – or whatever you are steeping them in – so that residue does not transfer to your drink. If you like your coffee strong, 12 hours is the optimal amount of time to steep the beans.
Although it’s delicious without additives, cold brew is still a great base for lattes and coffee-based cocktails since these types of beverages aren’t bitter and have bolder and smoother flavors. You can also steep ingredients like coconut shavings or cinnamon with the ground beans to infuse your coffee with different flavors. It’s easy to get creative with recipes to find some awesome flavor pairings with cold brew coffee.
The necessary time to brew coffee this way can be a drawback for some people. Iced coffees can be a good alternative in a pinch. Additionally, caffeine lovers who are not the best at time management can enjoy a pre-made cold brew.
Advantages of Drinking Cold Brew
While hot drip coffee may still be king in most cases, there are many advantages to the cold brew method, including how this type of coffee affects your physical and mental health as well as the characteristics of the coffee itself.
Less Acidity Than Drip Coffee
Since there is no heat in the cold brewing method, less acidity is formed in the coffee. This in turn makes the flavor of the coffee smoother and less bitter. Drinkers will require little to no additives like milk, creamers, or sugars, which lowers the calorie count of the beverage, too. Coffee that is cold brewed is great for those who love bold flavors as well as those looking to eat and drink healthier.
Furthermore, cold brews are good for those who tend to get an upset stomach or acid reflux from hot or drip coffee. It contains more crude polysaccharides, which boost digestive immunity, and the lower levels of acids decrease gut irritation and inflammation.
Cold Brews Stay Fresher Longer
Drip or hot coffees tend to go stale faster. Once it cools off, it’s no longer fresh, and reheating it only diminishes the flavor. Because of the way it’s made, cold brew coffee can stay fresh for over a day, especially if you refrigerate it.
Cold Brews Boost Mental and Physical Health
Aside from promoting healthier consumption of your actual cup of coffee, cold brew coffee has higher levels of antioxidants, crude saccharides, and chlorogenic acid. These are known for boosting immunity, digestive health, and mental health.
The caffeine heightens your body’s dopamine absorption, which puts you in a better mood. It’s also an antioxidant, which helps your body to rid itself of free radicals that can cause cancer. Caffeine also promotes a faster metabolism, which can help you to lose or maintain weight by helping you burn more calories at rest.
Explore Cold Brew Coffee with Columbia Distributing
Cold brew coffee is easy to make. If you have busy mornings, steep your coffee overnight so your perfect cup is ready by the time you leave the house. Pre-made cold brew coffees make for perfect midday treats that will give you the boost you need to get through the rest of the workday. Contact us at Columbia Distributing today to find a great cold brew or other beverage option that meets your needs and preferences.
