Yvonne Lorkin: They'll lap it right up: beer for dogs

Dog beer is non-alcoholic and contains beef or chicken.

Okay, so I've reported on all manner of wacky wine news (remember the wine-flavoured popcorn?) however nothing quite compares to a wee snippet I read on thedrinksbusiness.com last week. There is now a beer being brewed for dogs. Beer. For. Dogs. Snuffle, a zero-alcohol Belgian "beer" is being sold across Europe and parts of China and is soon to be rolled out in the UK. It appears to be aimed at men and their muts. This is what's written on the website (verbatim I might add), "We, men, drink beer with our buddies, our pals to share moments, special moments, the best moments. To laugh, discuss and sometimes cry together. And preferred way of doing that is ... right, around a beer. Now you can do all that with that other best friend of yours': your dog."

First launched in the Netherlands in 2009, Snuffle is non-carbonated and made with malt barley extracts, mineral oils and vitamin B in two varieties; basic, with extracts of chicken and beef, and chicken. Apparently it's made just like normal beer but without the alcohol, with the final ingredient being beef or chicken. Hmm yummy.

What's more odd, is that "Snuffle" is not the only brew made just for dogs. In 2013, an Oregon brewer by the name of Daniel Keeton created "Dawg Grog" after seeing how much his dog Lola enjoyed beer.

Dawg Grog is a non-alcoholic beer and was made from organic, low sodium vegetable broth, spent grain, water and glucosamine powder containing ginger, cinnamon, flax seed and honey.

Although I'm sure Georgie, my new puppy, would happily lap both of these brews up; they don't appear to be available in New Zealand.

On another note, it's been one of those weeks where I've been able to taste loads of new wines (and a darn good beer), so without further ado let's launch into it shall we?

SIPS OF THE WEEK

Te Mania Nelson Pinot Gris 2014 $22

If you like your pinot gris packed with poached quince, grilled peach and all sorts of nashi-driven niceness, then this is for you. It's a spicy, crisp, mineral-edged wine with mouthfilling texture and solid length of flavour.

www.temaniawines.co.nz

Petane Station Hawke's Bay Pinot Gris 2014 $25

Esk Valley excellence is on show here, hardly surprising then that it won gold medals at the 2014 Bragato Wine Awards and the 2014 Hawke's Bay A&P Wine Awards. Aromas of spicy apple sauce, quince and pear are followed by juicy apricot and nectarine notes on the palate.

Tangy and beautifully balanced, it's a fantastic example and gorgeous with salt and pepper squid.

www.petanestation.co.nz

Tuatara 'Act of God' Sour Abbey Ale 650ml 7.5% $12

This limited release copper-coloured brew pours with an incredibly foamy, pillowy mousse and offers up a waft of rich roast peach, rose caramel and biscuit malt followed by a punchy tweak of sourness to the fruit. It's an excellent introduction to the sour beer style.

www.finewinedelivery.co.nz

Sacred Hill Hawke's Bay "Orange Label" Merlot Cabernet 2013 $19

With violet, pepper, cocoa powder, liquorice and plush, plummy flavours, this is a great little wine that's (amazingly) sometimes found at even lower prices. It's got a spicy, juicy character, strong, stretchy tannins and a warming, ribsticking finish that'll definitely please the crowds. It's drinking nicely now, but it's also an affordable red that'll only get better with a few years in the cellar.

www.blackmarket.co.nz

Spy Valley Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2014 $22

Stick your nose into the glass and you're hit with soft elderflower and lime, subtle herbs and fresh stonefruit notes; however, they don't really follow through onto the palate as much as I'd hoped. With lemony, passionfruity flavours, it's a pleasant enough wine, but I'm used to Spy Valley sauvignons having a lot more zing and personality.

www.spyvalleywine.co.nz

Gillman Matakana Rosé 2012 $36

When is rosé not rosé? When it's a "clairet", of course. Crafted from cabernet franc and merlot, this is a style which, says Toby Gillman, the French were very fond of in the Middle Ages. Clairet - or clear wine - was actually the main style produced in Bordeaux, mainly because the way it was made (the juice was only kept on the skins for one or two days, giving a lighter colour and softer tannins) suited early drinking, useful in a time when it was impossible to age wine.

With the invention of the cork, it became possible to cellar wines to soften them, and more tannic, darker red wines became the norm.The English called these dark reds from Bordeaux "claret", but clairet has kept its original meaning in Bordeaux. Only 288 bottles were made by Gillman, and there's an earthy, dusty, pot pourri-type nose to it. It's very dry with an almost chewy, full-on finish. It takes getting used to, but is an intriguing style.

www.gillmanvineyard.co.nz

Nautilus Estate Marlborough Pinot Noir 2012 $39

Spices, black tea and exotic woodland fruit aromas lead the way to a smooth, succulently fruity mouthfeel. This is a wine that will definitely reward another year or three in the bottle - it has elegance and a plush, velvety finish.
www.nautilus estate.com

Askerne Hawke's Bay Syrah 2013 $25

I love the super-pretty, dark magenta and crimson colour of this wine - it just looks glorious in the glass and - bonus, it tastes darn lovely too. With earthy, deliciously dusty, smoky, peppery plum and dark berry aromas, ripe fruit, warming spices and long, stretchy tannins - this is a new favourite for me.

www.askerne.co.nz