WE SAY SWALLOW >>>
It's time for your big holiday feast, and you've decided to go as local as possible. You have your ham from Cheryl The Pig Lady, cheeses from Black Sheep Creamery, desserts from Mama's Bakery and your wine from - France? To make your meal truly local, try looking a little closer to home for your beverages.
May we suggest you do a little local beverage research Thursday.
Tacoma's 21 Cellars and Wingman Brewery present a joint tasting under the title Drink Local, Drink Tacoma at The Swiss. Benefiting HIV/AIDS Reach Ministries - it's World AIDS Day Dec. 1 - the night offers wine and beer tastings, T-shirts, raffle and live music from Miles Ralston and Tacoma's own Rusty Cleavers.
21 Cellars will be pouring its 2008 Promesse 21 Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon - which will be release Dec. 12 - as well as its other wines.
Wingman will pour its Belgian Strong Ale and ACE IPA. Interestingly, the Belgian Strong Ale was aged in 2006 Vintage Pont 21 barrels. A side-by-side tasting with Pont 21 will be available at The Swiss.
Tastings provide prime opportunities to learn about grapes and hops, mingle with other eager learners, and use a spittoon (or, conversely, swallow 'til you're ripped). The Weekly Volcano will be swallowing ... a lot ... Thursday at The Swiss.
[The Swiss, Thursday, Dec. 21, 6 p.m., all ages until 8 p.m., $3 suggested donation, 1904 S. Jefferson, Tacoma, 253.572.2821]