New Beer Friday - July 1 Edition

This week marks the return of several exciting beers, some of which have long been absent from Siciliano's shelves. As for new, never-before-seen labels, we have two good ones to introduce -- a Flemish Red, which has everyone excited, and a Belgian Trippel, with (completely fabricated) ties to classic American cinema. For details, see below!

Beer, brand-spanking-new ones

Belgo beauties

• Ichtegems Grand Cru Flemish Red, $5.19/12oz - A blend of two beers, one old, one young. The old is aged for two years in Bordeaux wine barrels; the young is designed specifically to compliment the character of the old. Sounds to us a little like a witty sit-com, a la Mr. Belvedere or Punky Brewster. Click here to read more about this "nutty, malty" brew with its "subtle dark cherry tang" and "beautiful" balance.
• Gouden Carolus Tripel, $4.69/12oz - Draft Magazine scores this beer a solid 96. That correlates to exactly one point for every ounce of steak John Candy eats in the movie, The Great Outdoors. What do this beer and John Candy have in common? Unless you believe that the actor's great-great grandfather invented Belgian (John) candi sugar, then absolutely nothing.

Returning Beer

• Hitachino Nest Weizen, $4.79/12oz - "From Japan's most prestigious brewery, [this beer] is a German-style hefeweizen with flavors of banana, clove, and vanilla. A touch of toasty wheat malt, hops, and orange are also evident. Brewed with Chinook & Tettnang hops" (source).
• Founders Devil Dancer Triple IPA, $5.09/12oz - For when a double IPA just won't cut it. While supplies last. Limit four bottles/person.
• Shipyard Brew Co. Old Thumper ESB, $1.79/12oz - Though this is an American brew, both the recipe and yeast strain hail from the Ringwood Brewery in merry old England. Ringwood apparently produces the exact same beer, only theirs has an English accent.
• Alba Scots Pine Ale, $2.99/12oz - Brewed with spruce and pine sprigs.
• Harviestoun Old Engine Oil, $3.79/12oz - According to the brewery website, this is "a delicious post-prandial beer with a bittersweet aftertaste". Post-prandial. Now there's a word you don't often see employed in beer descriptions. We had to look it up. It means after eating a meal. Thanks Wikipedia!
• Thirsty Dog Twisted Kilt, $1.99/12oz - "Caramelized sugars lend a unique flavor and aroma to this lightly hopped, malty smooth, Scottish Export Ale" (source).
• Belzebuth Belgian Blonde Ale, $4.69/12oz - At 13% ABV, what could go wrong?
• Duchesse De Bourgogne Flemish Red/Sour, $5.89/12oz - Being (1) an excellent beer, and (2) in such short supply, a certain unnamed Siciliano's staffer (Chug Dorda) pleaded with me not to include mention of the Duchesse on this week's list of new beer. Sorry Chug, duty calls.
• Sterkens Dubbel Ale, $2.69/12oz - With 126 reviews, this beer currently boasts a solid "B" average on Beer Advocate. Not bad for a sub-$3 Belgian double.
• Achel Bruin Ale, $6.49/12oz - Brewed by Trappist monks, enjoyed by everyone.
• St. Bernardus Prior 8, $4.39/12oz - Richard Pryor's favorite Belgian (unverified).
• Pierre Celis Signature Selection Grotten Brown Ale, $10.79/750ml - According to the label, this beer is "delicious when fresh, but when aged in a cool, dark place it develops a full, complex character like no other Belgian ale."
• Tripel Karmeliet, $11.39/750ml - "Blond, robust, smooth, and fruity, with a delicate spicy flavor."
• Val-Dieu Belgian Abbey/Brown Ale, $9.09/750ml -  Described as "garnet" in color, with "lively aromas and flavors of bitter chocolate, coffee, nougat, passion fruit and raisins".
• Einbecker, $2.69/12oz - Styles available include pils, ur-bock dunkel, mai-ur-bock, and schwarzbier.

Quote of the Week

If you drink, don't drive.  Don't even putt. 
~Dean Martin

Have a safe holiday weekend, everyone!