Dan Vanhoozer Of SOUTHAMPTON Publick House New York Beer Tasting Friday, April 24th, 2009,

This past Friday evening, April 24th, 2009 from 5-8 PM we had our local beer rep Dan Vanhoozer for the SOUTHAMPTON Publick House beers pouring three ( the " Double White ", the " Altbier " and the " India Pale Ale " ) at Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits ( 3423 Connecticut Avenue N.W. Washington D.C. 20008, Tel : 202-363-4265 sales@clevelandparkwine.com www.clevelandparkwine.com ). It was our first tasting of the SOUTHAMPTON PUBLICK HOUSE beers.

I got to taste them towards the very end of the tasting. I had met Dan earlier as he was setting up the tasting and I promised that I would return later to taste them. We also had a lively wine-tasting going on at the same time with both Antonio Cabibi and Malcolm of the International Cellars import company. Antonio is our rep and he came until 5 PM when he had to leave to go pour wines for a charity. Malcolm was nice enough to step-in for him. Thank you both. It was fun to have both tastings going on simultaneously.

I tried all three beers and liked them all but especially liked the " Altbier " that I had never had before. I had never heard of it either : keep in mind, however, that I buy the wines for Cleveland Park Wines & Spirits and not the beer. Santos Rivera is our gentleman that buys the beer for our store and who set the tasting up with Dan.

I loved the more complex, more hearty and firm, more muscular taste of the " Altbier ". It really spoke to me volumes on that Saturday where our temperatures were in the high eighties or even low nineties! I also liked the " Double White " which was milder and more elegant. I could have drunk the most of the one by itself on a hot day and had the " Altbier " with my meal later. I found the " India Pale Ale " just to biting and strong for me : with more edge and sharpness of flavors and style. Again, with the right food I would have really liked it : just not standing around our store at 7 PM when I was tired and ready to go home. Setting is everything.

It's great to have them at Cleveland Park now in our nation's capitol. Thanks Dan, come again soon. Cheers, TONY