New Beer Friday - October 19 Edition

By Chris Siciliano

In addition to all the new beers on the list below, this week I was asked to pass along two other small but potentially important pieces of beer news, both very much centered on product currently in-store or arriving very shortly.

First, we will soon be receiving Samuel Smith gift packs. The packs include three of Sammy Smith's classic, true-to-style beers and also come with a collector's glass and several coasters. (Pricing on the gift packs is not known at this time.)

Second, for a limited tim only, August Schell Stout and Firebrick are available for the low, low price of $0.99/12oz. We know these two beers don't inspire the same awe as, say, KBS or Hopslam, but for under a buck a beer, how can you go wrong?

New (and Returning) Beer

• Bells Expedition Stout, $2.99/12oz - "One of the earliest examples of the Russian Imperial Stout in the United States, Expedition Stout offers immensely complex flavors crafted specifically with vintage aging in mind, as its profile will continue to mature and develop over the years. A huge malt body is matched to a heady blend of chocolate, dark fruits, and other aromas. Intensely bitter in its early months, the flavors will slowly meld and grow in depth as the beer ages" (source).
• Bells Third Coast Old Ale, $2.69/12oz - "Third Coast Old Ale focuses on malt, offering notes of burnt caramel & other earthy malt flavors. Designed with vintage aging in mind, the malt aspect is matched to a heavy complement of hops. Sharply bitter at first, this will fold into the malt character over time and balance out the maltiness" (source).
• Bells Java Stout, $2.69/12oz -"Java Stout uses a custom blend of coffee beans, roasted locally for us by Water Street Coffee Joint, to generate its intense flavor. Possessing an unmistakable aromatic punch, Java Stout has long been one of our most popular stouts" (source).
• Bells This One Goes to 11, $3.09/12 oz (limit one 6pk/person) - "This One Goes to 11 Ale opens with bright, juicy aromas such as tropical fruits & ripe cherries, largely derived from massive kettle & dry-hop additions of Southern Hemisphere hop varieties such as Galaxy, Motueka, and Summer. The citrus & resinous pine notes of the Pacific Northwest hop family are also well represented, making their presence known through Simcoe, Citra, and the newly released Mosaic varietal, just to name a few. A wide range of specialty malts anchor the hops to this Imperial Red Ale, contrasting the assertive bitterness & juicy aromatics with a robust, toasty depth of flavor. Fermented with Bell’s signature house ale yeast, This One Goes to 11 Ale finishes with a lingering warmth" (source).
• Bells Hell Hath No Fury, $2.69/12oz - "Originally conceived along the lines of a Belgian Dubbel, Hell Hath No Fury... Ale morphed during development into something entirely different. Blending a pair of Belgian abbey-style yeasts into a recipe more akin to a roasty stout, Hell Hath No Fury... Ale offers up warm, roasted notes of coffee & dark chocolate together with the fruity & clove-like aromas" (source).
• Liberty Street Brewing Steamy Windows, $1.69/12oz - "A "Steam" style beer made with a lager yeast and fermented at ale temperatures and then aged at lager temperatures for a smooth, clean finish" (source).
• Liberty Street Brewing Red Glare Amber Ale, $1.69/12oz - "A malt focused beer with an initial sweetness and a roasted dryness in the finish. A deep reddish-copper color is unmistakable for this style" (source).
• New Holland Cabin Fever, $1.79/12oz - "Robust in character yet smooth in delivery, Cabin Fever is a roasty brown ale and a hearty, comforting companion for long, mind-bending winters. Its rye, roast and raisin notes play off a subtle caramel sweetness and culminate in a dry finish. Excellent with roasts, stews, caramelized onions and snowfall" (source).
• New Holland Hopivore, $2.39/12oz - "Michigan grown hops are the story in this seasonal harvest ale. Hopivore is wet-hopped with hops added to the brew just hours after harvest, creating rare, fresh flavors" (source).
• Brewery Vivant Big Red Coq, $3.39/16oz - "Citrus with mango & pineapple notes give way to a big malty character. Made with our house Belgian yeast to give it that Vivant-ness you would expect" (source).
• Dark Horse One Oatmeal Stout, $2.09/12oz - "Number one in a series of five stouts produced for the fall and winter seasons. This beer is full bodied with hints of chocolate, roasted barley, coffee flavors and a nice creamy head" (source).
• Founders Harvest Ale, $2.59/12oz - "This liquid dream pours a hazy golden orange straw color with a large puffy white two-finger head. First sip of this beer rewards with a super juicy hop presence bursting with fresh orange and lemon citrus then continues to introduce toasted malt undertones" (source).
• Lagunitas Borwn Shugga', $1.99/12 oz - "An aborted batch of their Old Gnarleywine ended up tasting nearly as good as that they were hoping for, so they bottled it. God bless capitalism. OG 1.100 IBU 51.1" (source).
• Arbor Brewing Phat Abbot Dubbel, $2.29/12 oz - "Strong ale with a pronounced Belgian character. A complex malty palate with sweet and sour fruits balanced by a dry woodsy bitterness. Strong, warming, alcohol finish. 8.0% alcohol" (source).

Picture of the Week

In honor of Liberty Street Brewing's arrival in bottles at Siciliano's, we give you this:

a picture of the squirrel that keeps watch in the men's restroom at their brewpub.

Cheers!