New Beer Friday - January 13 Edition

By Chris Siciliano

Sierra Nevada Rye IPA

All week long West Michigan's meteorologists predicted that one humdinger of a snowstorm would hit us by the weekend. At Siciliano's the staff and customers were busy developing theories of their own. Some were unabashedly skeptical of the weatherman's professional opinion. Others, whether they took the forecast seriously or not, embraced the threat of bad weather as an excuse to stock up on more beer.

As of Friday morning Grand Rapids had managed to avoid the heaviest accumulation. Most places were hit with 5-7 inches, however, enough to make the world feel right again. After all, it's January, it's Michigan, and until this "event", the eerie absence of winter had people feeling out of sorts.

What also makes the world feel right is a good-sized list of new items in the beer department at Siciliano's. Enthusiasts willing to brave inclement weather and superstition (it's Friday the 13th, you know) will find themselves duly rewarded for the trip.

New (and Returning) Beer

• Arcadia Imperial Stout 2010, $3.89/12oz - "True to style, [this] Imperial Stout is full-bodied and warming, with a creamy texture. Boasting rich, roasty aromas and flavors of roasted coffee, black currants, plums, and bittersweet cocoa, this beer certainly packs a punch. A generous hop addition adds a level of complexity and balance, along with a pleasant bitterness" (source). 
• Napa-Smith Bon Fire Imperial Porter, $2.59/12oz - "Each year we produce a limited amount of Bonfire Imperial Porter to complement the winter season. Bonfire has a medium-full body, with complex coffee, chocolate and dark caramel flavors. The spicy character given by additions of Mt. Hood, Cluster and Perle hops balance the generous malt presence, which finishes with a subtle sweetness. Bonfire will please lovers of big, smooth dark beers" (source).
• Kuhnhenn "9" Belgian Ale, $3.59/12oz - "A brown, Belgian-style abbey ale. Caramel, banana, biscuit and fruity-aromas contribute to the balance of this strong, complex beer. A sweet, bready and caramel flavor follows with a silky, creamy finish" (source).
• Round Barn Brewery, Baroda, MI - It's been at least three months since Siciliano's had anything from this Baroda, MI brewery. According to the new distributor, supply should no longer be a problem. Varieties include:
• Cocoa Stout, $2.29/12oz - "boasts a beautiful black body and tan head with notes of roasted barley, coffee, and bittersweet chocolate" (source).
• Oak-aged IPA, $2.29/12oz - "First taste of this IPA and you immediately pick up light oak and hop bitterness which gives this beer a nice balanced finish. Oak IPA pairs well with spicy foods or a nice seafood dish" (source).
• Kolsch, $1.99/12oz - "A golden-blonde ale that is our version of Cologne's native style. Soft, subtle maltiness and a clean finish make it a great thirst-quencher" (source).
• Amber, $1.99/12oz - "A great all-around beer that pairs well with roasted meats or a favorite sandwich" (source).
• Pyramid Hefeweizen, $1.59/12oz - "A unique take on the traditional Bavarian classic, this refreshingly unfiltered wheat ale delivers a distinctively smooth flavor worth savoring with friends" (source).
• Crispen Stagger Cider, $2.59/12oz - "Blended three times using apple-wines aged in American rye whiskey barrels" (source).
• Schell Bock, $1.49/12oz - "Brewed with a harmonious blend of 10 different types of malt and noble hops, Schell's Bock is fermented slowly, and then lagered for an extended period of time to ensure a smooth finish. Perfect for passing even the coldest winter day" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Ruthless Rye, $1.59/12oz - "Ruthless IPA is brewed with this rustic grain for refined flavors – combining the peppery spice of rye and the bright citrusy flavors of whole-cone hops to create a complex ale for the tumultuous transition to Spring" (source).
• Shorts Woodmaster, $2.19/12oz - "An Imperial Brown Ale made with toasted pecans and Northern Michigan maple syrup" (source).

Picture(s) of the Week

This week's pictures come courtesy of Buzz contributor and bread-head Jeff Carlson. In Jeff's words, the photos are of "some breads I made for my wife's family's Christmas gathering, along with some homemade pastrami, which went really well with the Jewish rye my brother-in-law made."

From left, braided white, marble rye, spent grain, Swedish limpa, and Jewish deli rye,
along with some kaiser rolls 

And the pastrami, homemade

Remember, folks, the Buzz can always use interesting food- and/or beer-related pictures like Jeff's here. If you've got a good one, send it our way. Who knows, it might just be our next "Picture of the Week".

Salute!