Monthly Archives: October 2020

Now that the fall season is officially here, that means Tacoma Boys’ favorite fall beer and beverage options hit the shelves. That’s right, we’re talking pumpkin beer, spiced pear margaritas, wine, cider, and so much more to round up the ultimate fall beer and beverage lineup. If beer and cocktails isn’t your jam, have no fear! Tacoma Boys has everything you need to whip up fall inspired mocktails that are perfect for the whole family. 

The Ultimate Fall Beer and Beverage Lineup

Beer

First up on the ultimate fall beer and beverage lineup is… drumroll please… pumpkin beer! Why? Because it’s that time of year! The first pumpkin beer dates back to 1985 at Buffalo Bill’s Brewery located in Hayward, California. Little did they know they would create a beer so good it leaves avid beer drinkers patiently waiting for fall each year. Tacoma Boys is team pumpkin which is why you can find multiple versions of pumpkin beer on the shelves this time of year. If you’re not a fan of pumpkin we still have you covered. Check out our Oktoberfest beer picks for this month!

Elysian Brewing Company – Pumpkin Ale

Elysian has created their classic pumpkin ale with pumpkin puree, pumpkin juice, and fall’s favorite spices: ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. The result is, in their words, “a very drinkable pumpkin ale” that is sure to please.

Elysian Brewing Company – Pumpkin Stout

To take their pumpkin brewing to the next level, Elysian created a pumpkin stout with pumpkin puree, roasted pumpkin seeds, and chocolate, resulting in a rich and smooth stout.

Wine

Tarantas Sparkling White Wine

This sparkling wine is organic, affordable, and embodies flavors from fall’s favorite fruits – apples and pears! This sparkling white comes from Spain, is dry, effervescent, with hints of citrus, cream, green apple, and pear. Can you say YUM?! Try using this sparkling wine in one of the Homemade Food Junkie’s four fall mimosa recipes for the ultimate fall brunch cocktail. 

La Playa Estate Series Red Blend

This organic wine is made in the Colchagua Valley and embodies hints of cherries, coffee beans, nuts, and mint. This deep wine is a great option for a fall inspired sangria recipe that is sure to impress. We recommend this fall inspired sangria recipe by Kitchen Swagger. The recipe uses apples, oranges, pure maple syrup, and cinnamon sticks. If you want to take it up a notch you can substitute Tacoma Boys’ very own Apple Cinnamon Syrup in place of the maple syrup for the ultimate cherry on top!

Cider

Seattle Cider Co. – Pumpkin Spice Hard Cider

Seattle Cider Co. has created a semi-sweet cider that embodies one of fall’s favorite flavors – pumpkin. This cider is made with a wide variety of apples: Fuji, Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, and Gala. The result is a cider with notes of cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg and a hint of pumpkin. 

Fall Inspired Cocktails

If you’re looking to spruce up your cocktail game for fall parties, Tacoma Boys has your back. We’ve taken some of our favorite products and whipped up recipes that will blow your holiday guests away. 

Product: Stonewall Kitchen Apple Cider Jam

Cocktail: Apple Cider Whiskey Sour

Never considered using jam in a cocktail before? Tacoma Boys is here to tell you that you have been missing out. This is a game changer, friends!

Ingredients – makes 2 cocktails

• 5 oz whiskey
• 1.5 oz freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 2 tbsp Stonewall Kitchen Apple Cider Jam
• 2 egg whites – optional
• Ice

Directions

1. In a cocktail shaker, add the whiskey, lemon juice, jam, and optional egg whites. Place the lid on and dry shake for 10-20 seconds.
2. Add a handful of ice to the shaker and shake for another 5-10 seconds until chilled. 
3. Strain and pour into your serving glass and enjoy!

Product: Tacoma Boys Toasted Pecan Syrup

Cocktail: Toasted Pecan Old Fashioned

Ingredients – makes 1 cocktail

• 3 oz rye whiskey
• 2 tsp Tacoma Boys Toasted Pecan Syrup
• 2 dashes pecan bitters
• 1 large ice cube
• Orange peel to garnish

Directions

1. In your serving glass combine the whiskey, toasted pecan syrup, and bitters.
2. Add your large ice cube, stir, garnish, and enjoy!

Product: Looza Pear Juice

Cocktail: Spiced Pear Margarita

Ingredients – makes 2 cocktails

• 4 oz tequila
• 4 oz Looza Pear Juice
• 1 oz triple sec or pure orange juice
• ¼ tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg
• 1 lime or lemon – juiced

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with ice and shake until completely chilled. 
2. Strain and pour into a serving glass filled with ice. Garnish as desired. 

Seasonal Beverages for the Whole Family

Juice – R.W. Knudsen

Tacoma Boys carries a wide variety of R.W. Knudsen juices! Some of our favorites for fall include: pear, apple ginger, and classic apple. These juices are great for mocktails or to simply have by themselves. Regardless, they do not disappoint!

Ginger Beer – Reed’s Craft Ginger Beer

Ginger beer is a great non-alcoholic beverage that is wonderful on its own or great in many mocktail recipes. Below is the perfect seasonal mocktail recipe that makes enough for the entire family. 

Pumpkin Spice Moscow Mule Mocktail

Ingredients – makes 5 mocktails

• 3 bottles Reed’s Craft Ginger Beer
• 6 oz lime juice
• 6 oz pumpkin spice syrup

Directions

1. Mix everything up in a pitcher. 
2. Divide into 5 servings and enjoy!

Drinks for All!

Whether you’re a beer drinker, cocktail mixer, or mocktail fan, Tacoma Boys has everything you need to make the ultimate fall beverages! Swing by and ask one of the associates to help you find a product that suits all of your fall beverage needs!

What exactly does local seasonal eating mean? Local seasonal eating involves consuming produce that is ready for harvest in its correct season depending on where you live. For fall, that means all of your favorite local fall produce is ready for harvest during the fall season! This is why you see an influx of apples, pumpkins, turnips, pears, and more at your local Tacoma Boys when the fall season approaches in the Pacific Northwest.

Although it may be exciting to get your pumpkins and go on a fall baking rampage, there are numerous other benefits that come with eating and shopping locally and in-season. Some of which you may not know! From personal health benefits to local farming support, local seasonal eating is Tacoma Boys’ way to go. 

Local Seasonal Eating & Its Benefits

It’s Good For Your Health

When you’re eating locally, this typically means you’re loading up on local fresh fruits and vegetables that have recently been harvested. It also means you are getting a wide variety of whole foods in your diet throughout the year. Different fruits and vegetables have individual nutrient dense compounds that help build your immune system and fight off free radicals. This can be antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and phyotchemicals that can help prevent and protect from various diseases and sometimes even cancer. For example, you can read here the multiple health benefits that come with eating fall favorite pumpkin!

The Produce Tastes Better

Choosing to eat local, in-season produce means you are getting freshly picked fruits and vegetables. The result of freshly harvested goods is that the produce tastes amazing! Local produce should also have a brighter and more vibrant appearance as opposed to produce sitting on store shelves for long time periods. Produce that is grown out-of-season is typically harvested early, transported, and ripened artificially in a hot house. After this, it is sent to large chain stores to be sold.

What sets Tacoma Boys apart is the fact that we are able carry fresh produce that may not be in-season in the PNW. How is this possible? Out-of-season produce is often flown in and has only been off the vine for less than 24 hours. This allows Tacoma Boys to provide fresh produce from all seasons year-round without any artificial ripening or unnecessary, prolonged transportation.

Supports Local Farms 

When you purchase food that is grown locally, it helps support local farmers maintain their land and continue to grow produce for you! An amazing benefit that comes along with this is that local farmers can tell you how and where the food was grown. This allows you to have more knowledge about where your food is coming from and how it was brought up – providing peace of mind overall. 

In Season Local Fall Produce

Some local fall produce that Tacoma Boys looks forward to seeing every year in the PNW:

Fruits

• Pears
• Apples
• Grapes
• Quince
• Persimmons
• Pomegranates

Squash

• Pumpkin
• Acorn squash
• Butternut squash
• Zucchini

Other Vegetables

• Eggplant
• Fennel
• Beets
• Brussels sprouts
• Peppers
• Carrots
• Turnips
• Sweet potatoes
• Potatoes

Herbs

• Rosemary
• Parsley
• Thyme 
• Sage

Cooking in Season with Tacoma Boys

Breakfast

There are numerous breakfast dishes that allow you to use fresh PNW fall fruits and vegetables. From sourdough fig toast to baked eggs, below are a few of Tacoma Boys’ favorite ways to use all of fall’s favorites. 

Pumpkin French Toast Casserole by Inspired by Charm

French toast, pumpkin, and a casserole?! It doesn’t get much better than that! This is a great dish to prepare ahead of time and bake the next morning. 

Sausage Apple Breakfast Casserole by Live Love & Good Food

What is it about sausage and apples that makes such a great pair? Lucky for you, Tacoma Boys has a large selection of sausage and fall’s favorite fruit (apples) to choose from to make all of your breakfast dreams come true. 

Lunch & Dinner

Gingered Butternut Squash Soup

This recipe was created by one of Tacoma Boys’ customers – Faye of Tacoma – and embodies everything there is to love about fall! The soup is warm, cozy, and requires minimal ingredients. Be sure to add this to your list this season!

Brie, Fig, & Apple Grilled Cheese by Two Peas & Their Pod

Didn’t think it was possible to make a fall-inspired grilled cheese? Think again! This recipe features the popular cheese, brie, as well as fig jam. Tacoma Boys’ very own Strawberry Fig Preserves would be the perfect addition to this recipe!

Butternut Squash Chili by Spend With Pennies

This is the ultimate recipe for living in the Pacific Northwest! A good hearty bowl of chili loaded with butternut squash. The best part? It’s done in the slow cooker – saving you cook and clean up time. That’s a win-win! You can scout all of your squash recipe needs at your loacal Tacoma Boys.

Apple Cider Glazed Chicken by Delish

Oh yeah, you read that right – Apple Cider Glazed Chicken. Mind completely blown. This recipe is warm and comforting, using a couple fall favorites – sweet potato and apple cider. It’s a pretty simple recipe that is sure to please the entire family – kids, too!

What’s not to love about fall? The leaves change colors, the weather cools down, and best of all, you get to indulge in your favorite fall treats. Tacoma Boys is a big fan of seasonal sweets which is why we have put together this guide to our favorite fall treats! Indulging in treats that have all of fall’s favorite flavors and seasonal produce is a favorite pastime. From apples to pears, caramel, figs, and of course, pumpkin spice and everything nice.

Tacoma Boys’ Favorite Fall Treats

Lucky for you, Tacoma Boys carries a wide variety of fall treats. These include: baked goods, candy, yogurt, syrups, popcorn, and more. The array of favorite fall treats will last you the entire season and are perfect for holiday parties, family movie nights, hosting and more.

Baked Goods for the Fall Win

There’s just something about baking during a new season that brings so much warmth into the household. Whether it’s the glorious smell while a pie is baking, the smile on kids’ faces when they see their favorite seasonal sweets, or simply the joy that comes from pouring love into baked goods. It’s one of Tacoma Boys’ favorite seasonal activities! Baked goods have a way of bringing family and friends together which is something you can’t beat.

Cyrus O’Leary’s Pumpkin Pie

If you’re looking for a great pumpkin pie but don’t have the time to whip one up from scratch, Cyrus O’Leary’s is a great option. These pies have won 168 first place awards at the National Pie Championships! They can be found in Tacoma Boys’ freezer section so you can easily store in your freezer at home until ready to eat. The best part? All you have to do is allow the pie to thaw in the fridge for 24 hours, slice, and serve! We suggest topping it with some fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon. However, if you’re feeling adventurous, we recommend this pumpkin pie recipe by the Modern Honey. 

Flax 4 Life Apple Cinnamon Muffins

Nothing beats the combination of apples and cinnamon, and these muffins are no exception! Flax 4 Life muffins are great for those with a gluten allergy or dairy allergy. In addition to being gluten free and dairy free, these muffins are high in fiber, omega 3’s, and pack the ultimate flavor punch. They are a great grab n go breakfast option along with freshly brewed coffee. They also make the perfect snack for you or your kid’s lunches. Did we mention they taste amazing?! 

Chuckanut Bay Salted Caramel Cheesecake – Tacoma Boys Style

Salted caramel is one of our favorite fall flavors. Although it can be considered a year-round flavor, Tacoma Boys is a big fan of pairing it with cinnamon, pumpkin, apples, and more. These mini cheesecakes are found in the freezer section and can be easily thawed. If you’re feeling adventurous, we suggest topping these bad boys with freshly caramelized fruit. Below is a simple recipe to give this cheesecake the ultimate fall flare. 

Spiced Caramelized Apples

Ingredients – to top one mini cheesecake 

• 1/2 apple – thinly sliced – see our fall apple guide here
• 1/2 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tbsp butter
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• Pinch of nutmeg

Directions

1. Heat a small saucepan over medium heat and add the maple syrup, butter, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
2. Once melted, lower the heat to medium low and add your apples. 
3. Allow to cook for 10 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes until apples are softened. 
4. Allow to cool if desired and pour over Chuckanut Bay Salted Caramel Mini Cheesecake.

Seasonal Sweets for the Soul

Although baked goods may be hard to beat, Tacoma Boys is stocked with additional seasonal sweets that are oh so good for the soul. 

Fall Family Fun

Concord Fresh Success Caramel Apple Wrap

Who doesn’t love a good caramel apple?! These caramel apple wraps are a great way to get kids involved in making their own treats. The package comes with five wraps and is easy to assemble – and eat! 

Pamela’s Baking & Pancake Mix 

Tacoma Boys carries a large variety of pancake mixes, but this one is a favorite! It’s gluten free, but you wouldn’t be able to tell. Making pancakes is another fantastic family activity. Tacoma Boys’ fall pancake tip – top them with Tacoma Boys Apple Cinnamon Syrup – you won’t regret it!

For the Fall Munchies

Everyone gets the munchies every now and then which means you should be stocked with your favorite fall treats! Tacoma Boys top fall snacks are: Purely Elizabeth Pumpkin Cinnamon Granola, Seneca Caramel Apple Chips, Tacoma Boys Golden Caramel Corn Nuggets, and of course, Ellenos Pumpkin Real Greek Yogurt.

As fall quite literally ‘falls’ upon us, it’s the perfect time to get geared up for the holidays. If you love to host, Tacoma Boys has an easy guide to help you build the perfect fall charcuterie board that is sure to impress guests. Are you familiar with charcuterie? If not, have no fear! According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the French word charcuterie translates to cold cuts, or cured meat in English. These meats are typically served on a wooden board and are accompanied by various cheeses and grazing foods.

What’s great about this appetizer is that it is completely customizable for any occasion. In this case, we’d say the new season deserves the perfect fall charcuterie board in its honor, wouldn’t you agree?! A charcuterie board may be the easiest and most impressive appetizer you can set out at a party. Depending on the way you arrange it, the visual of the board can be quite stunning – some might even say, “Instagram worthy”. 

How to Start Building Your Fall Charcuterie Board

Firstly, when building an appetizer board, there’s a wide variety of ingredients you can choose from to create the ultimate fall charcuterie board. Secondly, pairing in-season produce with complimentary cheeses, cured meats, and seasonal toppers like fruit jam and spreads will keep your guests coming back for more. It’s important to play around with different textures and ensure there is a good combination of savory and sweet. Lucky for you, Tacoma Boys has everything you need – including great deals – to help you build the perfect fall charcuterie board!

Choose Your Meat 

There is an amazing selection of cured meats and cold cuts to choose from at Tacoma Boys. We love the salty flavor profile the meats bring to the boards and how versatile they can be when it comes to pairing them with other foods. We suggest choosing 2-3 different charcuterie meats for your board. A few different cured meats we are loving for a fall charcuterie board are:

Elevation Artisan Meats

We love these charcuterie meats because they are made with so much creativity and incredible flavors. We suggest the black pepper salami made with peppercorns and red wine, or the salami made with sea salt and black summer truffles. We must warn you though, you should be careful to not eat it all before placing it on your board! 

Brooklyn Cured

Brooklyn Cured is a small batch charcuterie brand that packs a punch when it comes to flavor. The smoked beef salami is a New York City deli style meat that was created with inspiration from New York delis and their history. Their bresaola is another great option for a fall charcuterie board as its air dried beef, similar to prosciutto, but made with beef as opposed to pork. Adding a unique cured meat made with beef will really elevate your appetizer.

Columbus Craft Meats

We carry a wide selection of Columbus Craft Meats! Some of our favorites to add to a charcuterie board are prosciutto, genoa salami, and the peppered salami. The peppered salami brings a subtle amount of heat and is great when paired with nuts, dried fruit, and fig jam!

Select Your Cheese

In our opinion, cheese is in the top three most important ingredients for a fall charcuterie board. Tacoma Boys carries a very large selection so you have plenty choices to choose from to ensure a perfect board. Some of our favorite choices are: Apple Farms Smoked Gouda, Beecher’s Flagship Handmade Cheese, Hoffman’s Vermont Cheddar, and. Henri Hutin Brie Couronne, and Montchevre Blueberry Vanilla Goat Cheese. We recommend always having at least one soft cheese such as brie or goat cheese. 

Pick Your Crackers

Finishing off our top 3 ingredients for a charcuterie board is crackers, bread, breadsticks, and more. Having this component for people to use as a base for their cured meats, cheese, and fruits. As a result, it adds great texture. Right now we are loving: I Grissini Del Vecchio Palone Crispy Breadsticks with olive oil and Tacoma Boys French Baguette Chips. If you’re looking for a gluten free option, Simple Mills has a fantastic line of grain free crackers.

Finish with Fall Produce and Local Favorites

Sweet

After you’ve decided on your cured meat, cheese, and crackers, it’s time to build your board! It’s important to finish it with fresh fall produce and your favorite local ingredients. We recommend using fall’s favorite fruit: apples, figs, organic locally grown concord grapes, and freshly sliced Bartlett pears. For fruit jams and spreads, Tacoma Boys’ Strawberry Fig Preserves, Divina Kalamata Fig Spread, and Stonewall Kitchen Fig & Ginger Jam will provide the perfect amount of sweetness for your board.

Salty

Adding a few salty, acidic components will bring this fall board to the next level. We love kalamata olives, green olives, and picked vegetables. These foods help balance out the rest of the board.

To assemble:

1. Place your cheeses on various spots on the board as well as your jam/preserves. You can pour your jam into small serving bowls or simply place the jar straight onto the board.
2. Fold your cured meats however you like, or simply spread them out around the board’s empty spaces and around the cheese. 
3. Follow with your cracker/breadstick choices by placing them around the board similar to the meat. 
4. Finish your board by filling in the leftover gaps with sliced fruit, dried fruit, and nuts.
5. Garnish your board with fresh herbs like rosemary and thyme. Place cheese knives and serving utensils around the board.
6. For those with kids, omit the cheese knives and simply replace the blocks of cheese with pre-sliced cheese. Having everything pre-sliced such as the cured meats, cheese, and fruit makes this an easy appetizer for all!
7. Note: remember that charcuterie boards are rustic and don’t need to be perfect!

Just Like That, An Easy Fall Appetizer

You really cannot go wrong with choosing a charcuterie board as an appetizer when hosting. They’re versatile, creative, fun to assemble, and simply easy! Although these boards are great for hosting, they’re also perfect for a date night, a picnic, a movie night with your girls, and don’t forget the most important part – they pair great with all kinds of wine – enjoy!

It’s time, yet again, to don your lederhosen, twist up some pretzels, and crack a malty german beer. If lederhosen aren’t your thing, you can still throw a great Oktoberfest beer tasting party in your American casual wear. The extensive beer selection at Tacoma Boys has you covered. 

Beer with a Side of History

Oktoberfest began in 1810 when Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria was married to Therese Charlotte Luise of Saxony-Hildburghausen (don’t worry, there won’t be a quiz). The king threw a party for the people in his new wife’s honor with free beer, food, and horse races. Suffice it to say he threw a party worth repeating. For over 200 years Oktoberfest is still celebrated at the beginning of October in Germany and all around the world. And, while you may not care to celebrate a queen long since departed from us, you might get behind the idea of beer and celebrating the end of a good summer harvest.

A typical Oktoberfest beer has a strong, toasty malt aroma, is brewed in spring and aged throughout the summer. American made Oktoberfest beers can vary from one another and from the traditional style served in Germany. So why not throw an Oktoberfest beer tasting party and see how they all stack up next to one another?

Tacoma Boys Oktoberfest Beer Contenders

Festbier
Occidental Brewing Co.
Portland, Oregon

Petrichor
Skookum Brewery
Arlington, WA

Oktoberfest
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Chico, CA

Festbier
Reuben’s Brews
Seattle, WA

Fest Bier
Chuckanut Brewery
Bellingham, WA

Oktoberfest
Left Hand Brewing Co.
Longmont, CO

Pretzel Day
Matchless Brewing
Tumwater, WA

Oktoberfest
Black Raven Brewing Co.
Redmond, WA

Make It a Competition

Be playful in the way you present the beer selection. Sure, you could just drop those beers in a cooler with ice for your guests. That’s a great approach for a casual Oktoberfest. But, to make it a festive occasion, why not set up a true Oktoberfest tasting and rank those beers?!

Sampler Trays

Called a “flight” in the beer world, a selection of 4-6oz pours of beer is a great option to give guests a true sample of each beer selection. Keep it simple by placing a large sheet of butcher paper across your table and hand labeling each beer directly on the butcher paper. While beer connoisseurs will tell you there is correctly shaped glassware for each style of beer, you can make your life easy and use small mason jars for tasting glasses. You’ll still get a great tasting beer and you can save those jars for all that jam you plan to make when berry season comes back around. 

Beer Tasting Cards 

Create a simple card for guests to rank beers and then compare notes. Tasting cards make comparing beers more straight forward. Typical beer tasting cards might include categories like: appearance, smell, taste, aftertaste, and drinkability. You can also throw in a fun category like “describe beer using a song lyric” or “if this beer was a color it would be _______.” Why not give a prize for the most creative responses, while you’re at it?

Tournament Bracket

Create a simple bracket and have guests sample two beers at a time, taking a vote to see which beer will advance into the next round. This is a great, interactive way to compare the beers. 

If you want to go the extra mile, start the night out by letting each guest make a guess at which beer will take home the championship and send the winner home with a six pack of beer or a gift card to pick out their favorite beer at Tacoma Boys or H&L Produce.

Don’t Forget the Nosh and Beer

There’s a reason why taprooms are notorious for snack pretzels. Beer and food go hand in hand. Tacoma Boys has your german grub covered. Here are some ideas to keep your guests well fed.

Brats and Beer

…a match made in heaven. Tacoma Boys is your local fresh meat market. If you’re not sure what to get, ask your Tacoma Boys butcher for their favorite german sausages to try. Grill up sausages and then cut them into bite sized portions to serve on a platter with toothpicks and ample amounts of stone ground mustard and sauerkraut.

Pretzels and Mustard

Pretzels are the quintessential German snack food. Make easy, shortcut soft pretzels with our ready-made pizza dough by Kalama Sourdough Bakery found in our cheese section. For a true German treat, dip those tasty pretzels in mustard. Pick out a sampling of mustards from our large selection.

Spicy and Aged Cheeses

Skip the mild cheeses that might be drowned out by the robust flavor of a fest beer and head for the sharp cheddar, jalapeno jack, blue cheese, and goudas. You’ll have plenty to choose from at Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce. The cheese aisle is almost as much fun as our candy aisle.

Something for Every Palate

If beer is really not your jam, come check out the extensive selection of wines, ciders, and even hard kombucha drinks at Tacoma Boys and H&L Produce. If you’re looking for a new culinary adventure or for something to pair with your dinner, one of our wine and beer specialists is sure to have a suggestion for you.