Photo courtesy Midtown Wines & Spirits |
Nashville.

The Boston Brewing Company (maker of Samuel Adams beers) has been prolific lately, expanding the line to some 40 different beers of widely varying styles.

While each beer is special in its own way, the variety we find most special is Samuel Adams Wee Heavy, a Scotch ale-style beer. It’s part of the company’s Imperial Collection: beers with big robust taste and complex flavors. The collection also includes Double Bock, Imperial Stout and Imperial White–this is our kind of beer.

Scotch ales, nicknamed Wee Heavy, are strong ales. Samuel Adams’ Wee Heavy is inspired by both traditional Scotch ales and Scotch whiskies.

Take a sip and you’ll find notes of Scotch, thanks to the highly roasted, peat-smoked malt. Exclusive to Scotland, it’s the signature ingredient of Scotch whiskey. Other Scotch ales don’t use smoked malt in beer, so Wee Heavy has a unique aroma and flavor. Smoked malt is also used in Samuel Adams Scotch Ale.

This complex, full-bodied beer offers deep roasted flavor, earthy smokiness and intense malt flavors.

The company says that the flavors will develop with age, but we haven’t been able to store any bottles: They get consumed in short order.

Are you cooking a ham for Easter?

Watch Chef Tyler Florence prepare a smoked ham with a sage rub and tangerine sauce:

Producing gourmet chocolates by hand, these dedicated artists make their chocolate into literal eye candy, as each creates distinctive looks and shapes for their bonbons.

Filled with creamy chocolate ganache in many flavors—plus some salted caramels—these chocolates will solve your gift-giving needs and give you an excuse to look through some delectable photos.

Eye candy: Check out the wares of seven
artisan chocolatiers. Photo courtesy
Cadeaux Chocolates.

[1] Snack and garnish away: Pistachios may have fewer calories than previously thought (photo © Paolo Zanin | SXC).

A USDA study presented on Monday shows that pistachio nuts, already one of the lowest-calorie nuts, may contain fewer calories per serving than originally thought.

Why? Scientific research indicates that fat from nuts is poorly absorbed through the gastrointestinal tract.

The study confirmed that the fat from pistachio nuts, specifically, is not completely digested or absorbed, resulting in a lower energy value. Energy value translates into calories. (The exact calorie savings has yet to be calculated.)

Fats make up the largest component of nuts. Here’s the nutritional breakdown for pistachios.

The study also confirmed the heart-health benefits of pistachios among individuals who included 1.5 to 3 ounces of pistachio nuts in their daily diets.

Pistachio nuts are also nutrient-dense and are an excellent source of copper and manganese vitamin B6 and a good source of dietary fiber, phosphorus, protein and thiamine.

February 26th is National Pistachio Day.

The almost 100 products—and more added weekly—are our favorites for gift-giving. Most have been NIBBLE Top Picks Of The Week.

Take a closer look at these cute chocolate chicks. Each is filled with a different flavor of creamy chocolate ganache.

If you’re looking for something more sophisticated, Choclatique fills Easter-colored bonbons with a selection of ganache, creams and caramels.

We welcome your feedback on The Nibble Gourmet Market and hope to become a go-to resource for gift-giving.