Well Memorial Day is this weekend, and Father’s Day is just around the corner. There is no better way to honor  our country and our dads than by firing up the grill! …And our stores can provide you with all your grilling needs; from meat at Jacobson Bros’ counter (Konig’s in Monroe) and all the toppings, sauces and sides throughout the store.

We have an array of traditional BBQ sauces such  Southern and (a fan favorite) Sweet Onion. These sauces are fantastic to use to top ribs, chicken or steaks. For a more non-traditional flare, try using one of our great fruit spreads or jams as a glaze. Mix our Orange Maramalde with soy sauce and fresh grated ginger to make an Asian-inspired glaze for salmon or shrimp. Or try combining our Red Raspberry Fruit Spread with chopped chipotle peppers for a sweet and spicy glaze on top of chicken breasts.

Hamburgers, brats and hot dogs are always a grilling classic, and we have all of the fixins! Fabulous Clinch Mountain Tomatoes, crisp lettuces, sweet Vidalia onions, and a wide variety of mustards. Top off your burger with a pile of shredded Smoked Pepper Jack or 3-year Aged Cheddar for a little pizazz. If you are looking for a burger alternative, try grilling Portabella mushroom caps stuffed with cheese such as our Fresh Basil Farmer or Blue Ribbon Blue. Drizzle with Brennan’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Barrel Aged Balsamic Vinegar; top with a large slice of tomato.

For our vegetarian friends, skewers stuffed with vegetables are always a good option. Try using mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, bell peppers and onion wedges to get a wide variety of flavors. Brush with Brennan’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil and chopped garlic before putting on the grill.

And don’t forget the sides! We have a great selection of chips, dips and salsas to complement your meal.  And of course, there’s Jacobson Brothers’ famous Potato Salad!

Enjoy the summer holidays!

I’m getting excited about the week after Mother’s Day. Why… well, first, I know I will be enjoying my new wonderful Mother’s Day gift. Second, Parker Carlson from Carlson Vineyards in Colorado will be visiting all of our stores

Parker Carlson

to sample his wine. Lucky for us, Parker and his wife Mary love Wisconsin and come here every spring for a vacation. They kindly stop and visit us on the way to their fishing destination, probably a top secret spot.

When not vacationing in Wisconsin, Parker is known for his award-winning Riesling and tasty fruit wines, including Peach, Plum, Cherry and his recently re-released Apricot  & Pear-Apple. In these parts, he’s quite famous for

his Sweet Baby Red,  Sweet Gewurztraminer and Unoaked Chardonnay.

I hope that you can stop in, meet Parker and try his wine . If you twist his arm, he may even tell you a few fishing tales. Cheers!

Artichokes can be a bit daunting to even an experienced cook. Not to fear, here’s a video from our friends at Ocean Mist on how to prepare an artichoke for cooking.

For great recipes to make Artichokes in your crock pot, microwave, oven and more, visit our recipe tab.

Happy Artichoke Season!

We hope you can join us April 26 – April 28 for Brennan’s 1st Annual Cheese Curd Days!

• We’re giving away a free 1 lb bag of Brennan’s Squeaky, Fresh Curds with a $40 purchase*.
• Free Balloons for Kids!
• Help us choose our next great cheese curd flavor by tasting three new flavors and voting for your favorite
• Sample wine and micro-brews.
• Jacobson Brothers Brat Tasting
• Brat and Hamburger Buns – Buy One Get One Free.
• Prize drawings and more!

So, come to Brennan’s & Get Your Squeak On!

*While supplies last. Excludes gas purchase in Monroe. Mixed curds only. In store purchase only. 1 per customer, per purchase.

Named because of  its beautiful, bright and slightly bumpy rind,  the Gold Nugget was more than half a century in the making. It started with the very first cross in 1953 when UC Riverside, scientists and growers began seeking a mandarin that included the best properties of a seedless, easy-to-peel Satsuma in a larger size. And they wanted this to be a late-season mandarin so it didn’t compete in the market with the already popular Satsuma or Clementine. The result was the Gold Nugget.

In fact, some people consider them one of the best flavored citrus in the world. The Gold Nugget variety of mandarins is deliciously sweet with a bright orange, seedless interior. They are easy-to-peel and separate into segments. With their incredibly juicy taste, they brighten up salads and desserts, while also being a great lunchbox snack.

Happy Gold Nugget Season! Another great citrus experience brought to you by Brennan’s!

We just received our once-a-year shipment of Hale’s Ales Bottle-Conditioned Nut Brown Ale. You may be thinking, ” What’s so exciting about that?” So, here’s the  lowdown on one of my favorite pre-spring seasonals from
Seattle, WA.

What: Brewers put live yeast in the bottle to work a little magic, just like  leprechauns!  The yeast is added just before bottling to provide natural carbonation, rather than carbonating the beer in a tank. The result is a  spritzy, Champagne-like carbonation and sediment on the bottom of the bottle.

How: Some folks like to pour 4/5ths of the beer and drink this “bright beer”. While others like to swirl the dregs on the bottom of the bottle and add it to their glass for enhanced mouthfeel and flavor. I suggest you try it both ways.

Why:  Just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, this beer is an excellent match for Irish Cheddar, Shepherd’s Pie, and Corned Beef with Cabbage.

Sounds like a good reason to buy a six-pack and experiment for yourself!

Cheers!

Here are the beers I will be serving to my friends and family to ring in 2013!

With all the different flavors of appetizers my wife will be putting out, I want my guests to enjoy beers that will be lively, crisp, and are able to effortlessly morph from shrimp to chicken as well as “do the shimmy” with cheese and salty snacks. I like to serve them in champagne glasses so my friends can enjoy different flavors in moderation.

First up is Brennan’s Golden Pilsner. This will get your taste buds to rise to stand up and stimulate your appetite. Great with salty snacks and mustardy options.

Beer number two is going to be Scuttlebutt Amber Ale. A bump up in malt character from the Pils, but it still has palate cleansing hop crispness.

Beer number three is a Belgian Beauty…Flying Dog’s Wildeman Farmhouse I.P.A. Such a well-attenuated brew full of tantalizing spicy notes and yeasty Belgian aromas.  This beer does NOT have the typical American hop bite, (due to a secret blend of hops), but rather a tart,  citrus-like finish.

Beer Number four will be a creamy Imperial Dunkelweiss known as Scuttlebutt 10 Below.  Slight milk chocolate flavors and a whiff of banana aroma will end the night on a cheery, beery, dessert note!

Cheers!

We hope to see you this holiday season!  Here are our seasonal hours.

Friday December 21: 8am -9pm

Saturday December 22: 8am -9pm

Sunday December 23: 8am- 6pm

Monday December 24 (Christmas Eve): 8:00am – 5:00pm

Tuesday December 25 (Christmas Day): Closed

Wednesday- Saturday December 26- Dec 29: 8am-9pm

Sunday December 30: 8am – 6pm

Monday December 31 ( New Year’s Eve): 8:00am- 6:00pm

Tuesday January 1  (New Year’s Day): Closed 

 Have a safe and Happy Holiday Season from all of us at Brennan’s!

Our Holiday Gift Guide is available in stores or check it out here to see our fantastic selection of  Wisconsin Cheese Boxes, Fruit Baskets, Specialty Wine Wine Baskets and More! Our Cheese Gift Boxes can also be purchased online.  Tis the season!