A Recipe and a Dream...

An Inside Look into the Unicorn Wine Guild

Dreams are not always easy to follow. As sad as that is to say, people usually have some conflict, be it financial issues or just sheer improbability of success, which prevents them from ever getting the opportunity to fulfill their ambitions. However, for a couple in Belpre, Ohio, nothing was going to stand in their way as they strived to make their longtime dream become a tangible reality.

In March 2009, Barbara and Joel Whitaker opened the Unicorn Wine Guild. The couple had been talking about opening their own winery for years, but it wasn’t until recently that they took the initiative to go out and do it. After traveling to vineyards and sampling wines from all over the world, the couple decided that it was their turn to give something back to the world of wine.

Located at 1816 Washington Boulevard (right across from the Hardee’s), the establishment itself is very different from the conventional winery. Set-up inside an old drug store, the neutral colors and homelike features (i.e. couches and an aquarium) make the Unicorn Wine Guild seem more like someone’s house than a wine manufactory.

Inside this old drugstore, the couple produces all of their own wines and they even teach courses on how to create homemade wine.

The whole process began one Christmas several years ago when the couple was given the supplies needed to make their own wine.

“My nephew would always give us books on wine, or wine appreciation guides, and then one Christmas he gave us a three gallon glass carboy and a fermenting pail,” says Joel.

Joel admits that he had a basic idea of the winemaking process, but had never actually tried to make wine himself.

“Let me note, I didn’t have an actual wine making kit when I first started,” says Joel. “I had a wine recipe."

That proved to be all he needed.

Despite knowing little about the winemaking procedure, Joel says that the first batch he ever made turned out to be delectable. So good, in fact, that he bottled some of it up and gave it away to friends as gifts.

“When I heard that my friends actually enjoyed the wine I made, that’s when I began thinking that this could be more than just a simple hobby."

The couple has spent the last few years trying to figure out what they want to do when they retire. Joel is currently a Dentist while his wife, Barbara, works as a nurse anesthetist, but the two felt they wanted to do more once they retired from their jobs.

This is how the idea to create the wine guild began. A little inspiration from some friends and some self-determination was all the couple needed to follow their passion.

-A shelf displaying several of the wines produced

at the Unicorn Wine Guild

Barbara says that the hardest part about starting up was finding a reasonable location to open the business.

“We looked everywhere in and around Belpre,” she said. “I could tell you any vacancy in the area and exactly how much it cost.”

But finding an empty lot to place their business into wasn’t their only problem.

It is actually illegal to sell alcohol in Belpre ever since prohibition began in 1920. The reason why Barbara and Joel are able to maintain their store is because their business permits them to be labeled as a manufactory.

According to Belpre Area Chamber of Commerce president Teresa Turner, manufactories in Belpre are allowed to sell alcohol within a commercial zone under the condition that they produce all of the alcohol themselves within the establishment.

Knowing this, Joel thought that it would be a great idea to set up several winemaking stations, not only to make wine to sell to customers, but also so that customers can come in and make their own wine.

- Several of the winemaking stations.

“It was actually my wife’s idea to come in here and take a shot at making some wine,” says David Mallitz. “We just finished making a merlot and are currently waiting for our pinot grigio to ferment.”

Mallitz is one of many people excited about the wine that they’ve been able to create here.

“We really had no idea just how many people would be interested in making there own wine,” says Joel. “But as more people began showing up, we knew that we had to start setting up more stations.”

While Joel and Barbara teach the patrons how to make their own wine, they say that it is completely up to the customer how much involvement they want to have in the process.

“There is only one stipulation that we cannot help our patrons with,” says Barbara. “The customers are only allowed to take their finished product home if they sprinkle the yeast in themselves. It’s a legal requirement in all dry counties.”

But, why unicorns?

Well, it’s a mixture of Joel’s first effort at making wine and Barbara’s childhood infatuation.

As a child, Barbara Whitaker loved unicorns. She grew up on a farm and was constantly surrounded by horses, but it was the aspect of fantasy that attracted her to the mystical creature. Her love for unicorns eventually proved to be an instrumental part in helping the couples wine find its’ own identity.

“When we were first starting out, the wine would always overflow and get all over my kitchen,” says Barbara. “We eventually decided to put the carboys in the bathtub so that if they did happen to flood, they could easily drain out.”

As the wine spilled into the bathtub it stained the bathtub with a hue that resembled blood. Because of this, the couple frequently referred to the wine as “unicorn blood”. They both chuckled as they explained the reason for calling it this was because the first batch was “oh, so magical.”

Though initially just a joke, the name stuck around and that’s how the couple came up with the name of their business.

-Image courtesy of www.unicornwineguild.com

The Unicorn Wine Guild has only been open for a year, yet the business is beginning to blossom. At this rate, the couple may be able to retire a bit sooner than they had thought.

"Even if it isn't the greatest winery in the world, we took a risk and I can't explain how happy I am that we did," says Joel. "The future of the Unicorn Wine Guild is hard to predict, but I'm excited for the ride."

Homegrown

Ladies and gentlemen, today may feature my most unique beverage review to date.

The reason why I say this is because this is a beverage that cannot be purchased in any bar or store in the area. Hell, there's only one place that it can be purchased; and that my friends, is from Mr. Tyler Sutherland.

Sutherland has been producing his own wine here at Ohio University ever since his freshman year. He says that he originally began the process out of interest for the subject, but had no idea that others may be interested in his product.

"Initially, I just wanted to make my own wine so that I wouldn't have to break the bank if I wanted a drink," says Sutherland. "I had no idea that anyone would ever be interested in purchasing and consuming something that I made myself."

He was kind enough to let me try some of his latest work.

As I stepped into the residence of photojournalism student Tyler Sutherland, he kindly offered me a sample of his latest product. He walked over to a large, orange container that featured a spigot allowing for easy dispensing, filled a coffee mug and handed it over to me. My lips puckered as I consumed my first sip of what he called his more “fruity batch,” and I did my best to determine the contents that made up this particular batch of wine.

This was unlike any wine I had ever had before. It featured a dark, luscious red hue and tasted like a combination of red wine and sour raspberries. It was good though, in a “wow, this was manufactured in a closet” kind of way. Sutherland chose to use grape juice for this particular batch but added that any fruit juice will work, as long as it’s not a citrus juice. “Yeah, I probably should have warned you before you took a sip of that. This is one of my stronger batches,” laughed Sutherland.

I'm by no means a wine expert, but this was good. Real good. Others have taken notice to his work as well as he now has a steady range of customers to which he sells bottles for five dollars a piece.

So if you have a spare five dollars laying around, why not help keep Sutherland in business? The town (because you're buying local), your palate and Tyler will all be gracious for your purchase.

Alternative Uses for Your Unused Natty Light! (Part Two)

The time has come friends.

But, before we dive into my list of the 'top four alternative uses for beer', I wanted to first make a little side note.

My step-mother is also a fellow blogger. She blogs about her art and really has a beautiful thing going for her. Her blog is much more intricate and well, better, than mine so you all should really check it out.

The reason why I'm saying this is because my parents now often visit my blog and since they've started reading, nearly all my posts have been alcohol-related. I didn't even realize that until I started writing this particular post today.....they must be so proud.

So on that note, it's time for the top four uses for beer!

Enjoy.

#4. Bee Distractor

There are three things that I cannot stand in this world - Traffic, crumbs and insects. I find bees to be particularly nauseating. Thankfully this world also features beer, and it turns out bees love it just as much as we do. So, before your next backyard BBQ, put a few containers of beer around the perimeter of the yard. This way, the bees will be distracted with the beer and feel no need to come over to the party and be annoying. (No offense bee lovers. I do enjoy honey.)

#3. Hair Cleaner

No shampoo? No problem. Believe it or not, washing your hair with beer can actually make your hair shinier and also give it more body. Even though I have no idea what the hell "body" means in hair terms, I know some people strive for it and beer might just be the ticket there. Some shampoos even use beer in their product! Don't believe me? Check out this REAL (and hilarious) commercial for Body on Tap shampoo from 1978.

#2. Fight Fire

Although a real fire extinguisher might be slightly better, a beer is the next best thing to have around if something in front of you just happens to go up in flames. Shake that bad boy up and then spray onto said fire. There is even a russian beer designed to look like a fire extinguisher. The directions on the side of the bottle even show you how to effectively put out the fire!

#1. Just Drink It

This is no cheap copout ladies and gentlemen, beer actually has many health benefits; if it's consumed in moderation of coarse. According to a researcher at Texas Southwestern Medical Center, those who consume one or two beers a day have a 30-40% lower rate of coronary heart disease compared to those who don't drink. This is due to the polyphenols found in the beer. Beer features about the same amount of these antioxidants as red wine does and about 4-5 times more than white wine.

While drinking beer is obviously not a healthy alternative, to say, drinking water, let's think about all the simple benefits that come from it. It has a relaxing effect on the body that can reduce stress, it can help you sleep, it is fat-free and cholesterol free, it improves the blood circulation and well, it tastes good. (real beer that is. Sorry Natty Light but, nevermind, you guys get my point)

So that's the list. Whew, well I'm impressed. I think it's time we all raise our glasses and toast to this magnificently useful beverage.

Alternative Uses for Your Unused Natty Light! (Part One)

The reason why I'm writing this post is for my fellow college students. We're not made of money, so, many students have to make that "Do I buy laundry detergent or do I buy beer for the party?" decision. Unfortunately for our parents knowledge, it seems the latter is much more often the final decision. I figure, if students are going to purchase beer over having clean socks, then it's my job to inform my student body of some alternative uses for beer so that they can stretch their dollar just that much further.

Not long ago, a few of my buddies made one of those "two-cans-connected-with-a-string" telephones using old beer cans. This got me thinking, what are some other ways that people can efficiently use beer?

Now, being a college student, I've seen my fair share of unique uses for beer (i.e. beersicles - cubes of beer with toothpicks stuck in them or the ever popular beer lamp) but, it wasn't until I did some research that I found out just how useful some spare beers can really be.

The amount of information that I found on this subject was actually pretty breathtaking, so, instead of simply stating all the uses, I'm going to count down my top 8 list of the best alternatives (at least in my mind) for beer that I could find. I'm going to do the # 5-8 in this post and then save the final four the next post. So, without any further delay birds and gents...Here's the list!

#8. Take a Beer Bath

You may need more than just a couple of spare cans for this one, but if you can scrounge enough beers together to fill a tub, you're skin will thank you later. According to this article that I found online, the yeast and other ingredients actually work as great skin-softeners. (Note: you should probably shower after the bath. With water, that is.)

#7. Stain Removal

I'm very capable of spilling anything at any place. Thankfully for people like me, I can just use my beer to clean up! Simply pour a fresh beer on the stain, let it sit for a minute and then blot that stain right out of there.

#6. Marinating

Beer makes an excellent marinade. Not only will it add a distinct flavor to the meat, but it will also soften it up. Here's a great recipe for a beer marinade.

#5. Plant Fertilizer

For all those green-thumbs out there, this use is right up your alley. A little beer splashed around the base of the plants will provide them with extra nutrients, just make sure not to give them too much (as we all know, too much beer never leads to good things). For further interest in this use, check out this website and read Madeline Wajda's tale.

Take a Delicious Journey

Hey guys, today I'm posting a map that I made for you all.

On the map are 10 different location, all with their own brief descriptions about them. I color coordinated the spots according to a sort of, delich-o-meter if you will, using red and blue markers. The red markers symbolize "Must Visit" spots in Athens as they offer both a unique environment and, of coarse, quite palatable potations.

I also recommended a particular drink for each location, just in case you have some trouble deciding.

Have a great sunday all. USA!


View Delectable Doyle's Tour of Athens in a larger map

An Ode to A Fallen Establishment

Please don't tell me that any of you have forgotten about Skipper's Bar and Grill (I wanted to put a link here but unfortunately the business no longer has a website). Yes, Skipper's, the place that offered over 45 different beers, some of the finest burgers in town and above all, 25 cent drafts on Tuesday nights. That's right, there's no typo there. (Even if you're not much of a beer drinker, 25 cent drafts of anything is pretty spectacular.)

It boggles my mind that this place was closed down. Every time that I ever ventured inside the place was always packed to the walls. The people were friendly, the food was great, and the prices were very reasonable. (Did I mention yet that Tuesday was 25 cent draft night!?) But, I guess that's just the restaurant business for ya.....it's obviously no easy task.

Jackie O's has recently taken over the vacant establishment that, at one time, used to be my dear Skipper's. Jackie O's has completely renovated the inside, and turned the establishment into an annex version of their bar. This is nice for Jackie O's goers because the new venue offers a much larger stage for musicians to perform...

...I want to keep going on about the great changes Jackie O's has made to the place because I really do love Jackie O's, but I can't. I feel like an impostor every time I go inside the place now. Like one of those people who shaves their hair off then says that they've always been punk. It's just different now. If I were to go up to the bar and ask for a draft of the finest "Natural Light" (The only draft they featured on Tuesdays) and gave them nothing but a quarter....Not only would I be laughed at, but I'd probably be banned for life for such outlandish behavior. I guess it's just important to remember all the good times.

So, here's to you Skipper's Bar and Grill. The amount of smiles that you put on faces (and wallets) across Athens would take decades to count. May whomever you're serving these days be thankful and fully aware of how special you are. Bless you Skipper's, you will not be forgotten.

Delectable Doyle Heads to Jackie O's Pub and Brewery

Wishful Thinking for Warmer Weather

Delectable Doyle is not too good in the snow. I don't see how anyone could be too comfortable with what's going on outside at the moment. I love hearing people say, "but it's so pretty outside," and then no more than five minutes later, slipping and falling Charlie Brown style onto their backs thanks to the treacherous stuff. Snow (1) Appreciator of it (0).

The worst part about this new snowy abyss that some still call Athens, is that it's becoming increasingly harder for Delectable Doyle to wander about town in search for the latest and weirdest beverages. Imagine if I were to hit a patch of ice while trying to review the newest sensation. Shame on you mother nature.

Ever since the snow has hit Athens, i've been thinking a lot about warm weather. Not only does summer offer dry socks and the ability to wear shorts, but it also offers the annual Ohio Brew Week Festival. This year marks the five year anniversary of the, oh so, delicious festival.

Image courtesy of www.ohiobrewweek.com

In case you are unfamiliar, Ohio Brew Week is a week long festival here in Athens that features delectable craft beers from over 100 different microbreweries in Ohio. The festival also features beers from all over the country.

The highlight of the festival is the beer competition. Here brewers put all there hard work on the line in an effort to find out who has produced the most delectable (and http://delectabledoyle.blogspot.com worthy) beverage. Last years winner went to Arthur Richardson of New York, with his "Black hops IPA".

The festival takes place this year from the 11th-17th of July.

Image Courtesy of Google Images

Winter can't last forever and before long Delectable Doyle will have his shorts on, his socks dry and will be sipping on several fine, fine beers at this amazing festival.

Algae!

I'm not a fan of seafood. I wish I ate more of it, but I've just never seen items from the the ocean as particularly appetizing. Therefore, you can imagine why i wasn't overly excited to try a beverage that featured algae (yes algae) as one of its ingredients. This isn't about me though; I do what I do for all you loyal readers out there, so this had to be done.

Once upon a time, I mentioned to a friend of mine that I was starting an interesting beverage blog and he mentioned a drink that I knew I'd have to tackle sooner or later. "Yeah, I'm pretty sure that place The Farmacy has smoothies with, like, seaweed or something in them," my pal inquired. And he was right, well, kind of.

This particular post takes place at The Farmacy Natural and Specialty Foods located at 28 West Stimson Avenue. It's an awesome mini-grocery store that offers a wide range of local and organic foods. I didn't get to check the products out too much though because I was on a mission and headed right over to the smoothie area.

Upon examining the menu, I located my target. A smoothie uniquely named the "Spiritulina", that featured a combination of strawberries, bananas, yogurt, papaya juice and the special ingredient, spirulina, that actually features a tremendous amount of health benefits. Don't be fooled though readers, spirulina is simply a fancy word for algae.

I did my best to convince myself that spirulina was just some crazy fruit that I had never heard of as I coughed up the $4.35 that I owed for the smoothie. As my smoothie was in the process of being created, I wandered around the store a bit until I heard the barista call me over, for my beverage was ready for consumption.

Now, I feel that I'm not too squeamish of a person...until I saw this beverage. Okay, yes I already knew that algae was one of the ingredients buttttt, little did I know that my drink would look like the droppings of some old, extinct sea monster. Had I not watched the barista make the drink herself, I would have assumed that someone simply vomited into a cup and handed it in my direction. It was an awkward, dark green with glimpses of red, blues and purples floating around. Basically, it looked like liquid guacamole.

"I can't let my fans down," I kept telling myself. I stepped away from the counter, popped the straw in and proceeded to take my first sip.

Welp, turns out I'm an idiot. Since this blog has been in existence, this is by far the tastiest beverage I've reviewed. This may even be one of the tastiest beverages my taste buds have ever had the pleasure to meet. It was very reminiscent of a simple strawberry-banana smoothie, but the algae taste really shined through with the aftertaste. It still tasted fruity and simple, but exhilarating at the same time. While this beverage is quite expensive, you owe your palate this experience.

God bless you, you sweet, sweet ocean.

Twisting My Way Into Memories of Yesteryear

I'm sure I don't need to tell all of you out there, but I'm going to say it anyways...Being Delectable Doyle is no easy business. Several of my friends turned 21 this weekend therefore, my wallet has taken quite the beat down and made it harder for me to purchase drinks to review. Thankfully I remembered that Papa Delectable Doyle put $25 of bobcat cash onto my card at the beginning of the year and I have yet to touch it, so, off to the Front Room I went.

In case you are unfamiliar, the Front Room is located on the fourth floor of the Baker Center. It's a cozy cafe that many students go to socialize, study or just simply enjoy a coffee. The best part about the Front Room is that I knew I would be able to obtain a interesting beverage without even having to reach for my wallet.

Whilst eyeing down the menu I was a bit disappointed to only find items that I had heard of (and that I wouldn't look like an ass trying to pronounce), I needed something more interesting. Then, right in my face, was a sign displaying a special drink called a "Cinnamon Twist Mocha". The Front Room offers a unique beverage like this as a special every Wednesday. As soon as I saw this I knew this is what I wanted and proudly handed my card to the barista and said "Just put it on my bobcat cash" with a level of smoothness that would make even James Dean jealous.

Upon obtaining my beverage I was pretty intrigued to try it out seeing as I've been an avid cinnamon fan for as long as I can remember. The drink consisted of a basic mocha but with the addition of a cinnamon syrup. The consistency was a bit foamy for me but with the weather outside, I'll take anything that's hot.

Just as I had hoped, this beverage was great. I'm not a huge mocha fan and when i wish to consume a coffee beverage I prefer to just stick with plain, black coffee, but this was nice. The taste immediately reminded me of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal. I used to be a huge consumer of this particular cereal back in elementary school, so this was a huge blast to the past for me. This drink made me feel like I was once again rocking a Ninja Turtles tee-shirt with a bowl cut haircut, just like in the good ol' days.

If you're anything like me, this drink will bring you back in time. Aside from that though, it's also very tasty and makes it just that much easier to venture out into that snowy abyss. Before I depart, I'm leaving you with one of my personal favorite bowl cuts featured on the genius website www.checkoutmybowlcut.com. Good day all.

A Visual Experience of Delectable Doyle in Action!

Hello all you crazy cats and dogs out there surfing the interwebs, this is a special post.

Below is a slideshow documenting exactly what I go through everytime I review the various drinkable delicacies around town. This particular adventure landed me at Donkey Coffee and Espresso where I tried an interesting Italian beverage called a Breve. Enjoy.

Created with flickr slideshow.

A Slightly Awkward Encounter with an Ol' Uncle

Midterm week has left my body and mind exhausted. I knew I needed some caffeine and I knew that you all are starving for another delectable post. Thankfully, I was able to knock them both out at the same time.

I headed on into Perk's Coffee House and Roastery, located at 49 S Court Street right across from College Book Store, with hopes of finding a satisfyingly-energizing unique beverage.

The environment seemed very relaxed and cozy and the line to counter was decently long. “Ah, the beverages here must be excellent,” I thought to myself. As I examined the menu it was difficult for me to decide what item seemed the most unique. My indecisiveness eventually got the better of me so I asked the barista what he could offer that was both unique and that would also energize me.

I’ve got to find a better way to ask that question as I keep getting outlandish reactions from people. Anyways, the barista recommended that I try the “Sweet Ol’ Uncle Grey” a beverage that combined Earl Grey tea, vanilla syrup and steamed milk. I wasn’t overly excited about reviewing another tea drink but it only cost two dollars for a medium-size so I couldn’t complain. I feel that I’m not typically one to be swayed by aesthetics, but I enjoyed the title too, so I had to go with it.

After I obtained my beverage, I scanned the room for the nearest vacancy. The cafe was decently crowded but I managed to find a place at the bar-type seating right in front of the windows. I sat down, took my first sip of my new adventure and then proceeded to remove my notebook from my backpack; the whole situation was very ordinary, for at least, the first 30 seconds or so.

As I was doing my best to think critically about my newest purchase, my mind was disrupted as a question from a nearby patron shot at me. I wasn't sure whether to look over or not; I was pretty sure that I didn't know anyone sitting near me and the question could have easily been intended for the person sitting next to me. I looked anyways. An elderly woman no more than four feet away was looking right at me.

"Are you enjoying that?" she asked, referring to my Sweet Ol' Uncle Grey. "Do I know this woman?"" I thought to myself. I was sure that I didn't, but I assumed that she was just being friendly. I told her that I was indeed enjoying the beverage. Then it got stranger.

"I don't see too many people buy that drink," she added. My mind raced through a series of questions. How did this woman know what I ordered? She was nowhere near me when I made my purchase. Hell, I hadn't even removed the lid yet so it's not like my beverage featured a particular hue that she could have recognized. I felt like I was on some kind of hidden camera reality show. If I was though, this show seems like it would be terrible so this could not be the answer, I thought to myself.

After all of this had passed through my mind I said that that’s interesting and proceeded to tell her that I was trying to consume all the unique beverages that Athens had to offer. She laughed upon hearing this. Really hard actually. I wasn't sure whether to laugh too or be slightly offended but I decided to laugh too. She told me good luck and then walked out the door, and that was it.

Maybe the situation wasn't actually weird at all. Maybe I'm just weird. Maybe that story was not at all worth sharing. Regardless, it's time for my review on Perks' "Sweet Ol' Uncle Grey". Now once again, I'm not a huge tea drinker but the other ingredients really neutralized the beverage so it wasn't overly tea(y). Earl grey lovers beware though, this beverage is much sweeter than I had expected. It tasted more like warm milk with a hint of earl grey tea. i wasn't a huge fan of this drink but I may be being a bit biased because of my sour relationship with various teas. If you are however a tea drinker, especially fans of earl greys, this beverage could be a great cure for those extended-winter blues. Damn groundhogs.

Yo Pawp(aw)s!

Time to mark your calendars ladies and gentleman, the dates for the 2010 Ohio Pawpaw Festival have been announced.

The festival is scheduled for the 18th and 19th of September and will be located at Lake Snowden in Albany, Ohio. This annual fest is the largest pawpaw celebration in the entire world.

Now I know that you're probably thinking to yourself "Wow, Pat, this festival sounds amazing and I'm really excited, but...what in the hell is a pawpaw?" well loyal readers, I'm glad you asked.

A pawpaw is an exquisite fruit that is very prominent here in Southeastern Ohio. I never really experienced a fruit quite like this. It offers the consistency of a banana but the taste resembles that of a pear, a bit. Basically, it's delicious. According to the Ohio Pawpaw festival's website, chilled pawpaw was the preferred dessert of George Washington. So, first President of the United States and also a pawpaw lover, just some coincidence? Hm, well, that's for you to decide.

The reason my blog and I are so excited for this news is mainly because pawpaw's can be used to make a long list of delicious beverages. Beer seems to be the most common drinkable pawpaw creation. Jackie O's, local pub and brewery, is known for producing a highly appetizing pawpaw wheat ale. Unfortunately, this particular beer is only offered seasonally so I won't be able to get my hands on any of it until late summer. I've tasted pawpaws before, but never in the form of any sort of beverage so I'm very much looking forward to attending the 2010 Ohio Pawpaw Festival. And don't worry readers, I will be sure to be attending the annual festival with a very thirsty pallet.

Image courtesy of Wikipedia.

"Chai it out for yourself," she said.

Today I had my first experience of some of the anomalous beverages that exist here in Athens Ohio.

Now, I've driven by the Village Bakery and Cafe, located at 268 E. State Street [(740) 594-7311], many times having been a student here in Athens for the last 3 years, however, until today, I had yet to ever venture inside.

Upon arriving, i walked up to the counter and asked the barista what she thought the most unique drink on the menu was. After giving me a "that's an interesting question, weirdo" kind of look, she concluded that the "Village Chai" was the way to go. I was a little hesitant at first with the $3.25 price tag for chai tea, but, at least the drink could warm me up I thought. Wrong. As I received my drink it was served on ice (the only way that it's served at this particular establishment), and I may or may not have mumbled something unpleasant in my head due to the snow outside that had recently formed no more than 24 hours prior.

Regardless, I took my deceivingly-titled, cold beverage and sat down to consume it. My barista turned out to be very helpful aiding me with my strange question and proceeded to tell me that the reason that this particular drink is so special is because it consists of 3 ingredients: local, organic green tea from Herbal Sage Tea Company, soy milk, and local, organic honey.

Despite the 24 degree temperature outside and also not being much of a tea drinker myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this beverage. The green tea flavor was dominant but the honey added a nice, delicious new dimension. The green tea also worked as a great energizer for me for the rest of the day. Winter winds or summer shine, the "Village Chai" is definitely worth checking out, especially for all you tea fanatics out there.

A Delicious Beginning

Hello world,

With all the spectacular drinks that Athens' has to offer, it's mind-boggling that there isn't a blog out there giving exposure to, and also commenting on, these delicacies. Thankfully, Patrick Doyle has vowed to create just that. Over the next few weeks this blog will become a haven for all the interesting varieties of drinks that Athens has to offer. From seaweed smoothies to micro-brews, if Athens offers it, it will appear on this blog. Each post will feature my personal experience with the drink and other miscellaneous factors (setting, service, price, etc.) and I will post of a picture of every beverage to provide some visual support. Until next time all you fans of beverages out there.