New Beer Friday - September 2 Edition

From Michigan's Little Bavaria

It's Labor Day Weekend, folks, the official close of summer. We at Siciliano's hope you had a good one, and we hope too that you're looking forward to fall just as much as we are. Wine and cider season is just around the corner, and every brewer knows that the best days to brew outside are those wonderful, mild Saturdays in September & October. Orange leaves against a bright blue sky, the sweet smell of malt in the air, the gentle whir of your brand new 72,000-BTU Blichmann Top Tier Burner, purchased for a song at Siciliano's Annual Homebrew Sale--what could be more pleasing? To help get you into the autumnal spirit, here's a list of this week's new arrivals. Enjoy!

New (and Returning) Beers

• Short's Autumn Ale, $1.99/12oz - "This beer exhibits a wonderful balance of initial malty sweetness with subtle lingering floral hop bitterness, resulting in an ideal bridge between malty and hoppy beer styles. It is a silver medal winner at the 2006 GABF" (source).
• Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, $1.79/12oz - "An authentic German Oktoberfest beer. Its trademarked copper color is achieved by 4 different malts thus giving it its barley flavor. Adding German noble hops brews the perfect balance and tops with a nice finish" (source). Apparently colors are trademarkable. I call ochre!
• Shiner Oktoberfest, $1.49/12oz - "Made with the highest quality Two-Row Barley, Munich and Caramel malts, along with German-grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops. Best when served with meaty dishes like sausage and roasted chicken, fresh, creamy cheeses, pasta with white sauces and seafood" (source).
• Schmohz Octoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "Dark ale brewed for harvest festivals from dark wheat and pilsner malts. Lightly hopped and left sweet but never too sweet. Just in time for the fall colors" (source).
• Southern Tier Harvest Ale, $1.69/12oz - Tell me this doesn't sound good: "We usher in the fall with a classic English style Extra Special Bitter of the highest order. Deep ruby in color with an even deeper hop flavor… in fact, we throw fresh English hops into every brewing vessel, then dry hop after fermentation to impart a zesty kick. This beer has real hop character that mingles with fresh malted barley for an experience that will make you wish it were fall year ‘round" (source).
• Shipyard Pumpkinhead, $1.79/12oz - A pumpkin beer from Maine. We're waiting on them to come up with a Lobster beer. That's right. Lobster.
• Michigan Brewing Company Screamin' Pumpkin, $1.89/12oz - One of the highest rated pumpkin beers you're going to find this season. A solid offering from MBC.
• Bells Oracle DIPA, $2.99/12oz - A case arrived today unexpectedly. Even with a 2-bottle limit, it won't last long. Better get here quick!

Pic of the Week

Amarillo Gold, Brewery Vivant

Have a safe & happy holiday, everyone!