New Beer Friday - November 16 Edition

By Chris Siciliano

Honestly, we’re not sure what to expect in terms of NBF readership this week. It could be that many of our loyal readers have already lit out for the Great North Woods to attend that most primeval of Michigan traditions—Deer Camp. 

But if we somehow caught you in time, be sure to stop by Siciliano’s before you head north, because what’s Deer Camp without a mixed 12-pack of delicious craft suds and a fifth of fine Bourbon to pass around?

Of course, non-hunters this week will also find plenty of reason to visit Siciliano’s. Not only is the list of new arrivals impressive, but the Beaujolis Noveaus have begun to trickle in. First to arrive, Albert Bichot and Antonin Rodet Beaujelais Noveau, which retails for $9.99/750ml. We suggest you check it out.

New (and Returning) Beer

• Stone Russian Imperial Stout, $7.59/22 oz - "Intensely aromatic (notes of anise, black currants, coffee, roastiness and alcohol) and heavy on the palate...expect this mysterious brew to pour like used motor oil and taste even heavier! Serve at 55 degrees" (source).
• Anchor Christmas Ale, $2.39/12oz - "Our Special Ale, a dark, rich, heavily spiced ale with a recipe that changes with each passing year. - The enticing ruby color is topped by a dark creamy head that emits both malty and spicy aromas with ginger being a prominent one. The full body is matched with complex dry and spicy flavors that produce a nice favorable combination before finishing on the dry side" (source).
• Summit Extra Pale, $1.59/12oz - "Summit Extra Pale Ale is not a beer brewed only for beer snobs. Just the opposite. It’s a beer for everyone to enjoy: construction workers, stock brokers, farmers, sales people, clerks, teachers, lawyers, doctors, even other brewers. Its light bronze color and distinctly hoppy flavor have made it a favorite in St. Paul, Minneapolis and the rest of the Upper Midwest ever since we first brewed it back in 1986" (source).
• Summit Saga IPA, $1.59/12oz - "We’re proud to announce the new Summit Sága IPA, a decidedly different hop-forward brew due out in early May 2012. The beer has pronounced hop flavors and aromas of kiwi, passionfruit, apricot and gooseberry. Clean, assertive bitterness with balancing Pale malt characteristics. We hop it with the rare New Zealand Rakau hop along with Citra, Centennial and Amarillo. Named after the Norse Goddess of Poetry, who was the God Odin’s drinking companion... also, it was quite a saga to pick a name!" (source).
• Summit Winter Ale - $1.59/12oz - "This unique seasonal beer offers the warmth of an old English pub to help ward off the chill of a winter’s night. It has its origins in British neighborhood pubs where villagers would gather to shake off the damp cold of the bitter English winter. They’d share a pint or two of winter warmer ale by the fire, catch up on local gossip, and stay inside, where it was warm. We’ve brewed our version in the tradition of those winter ales, with a robust, full-bodied flavor and a tangy hint of spices" (source).
• Dupont Avec les Bon Voeux, $11.29/750ml - "'Les Bons Voeux' means best wishes, which is what Brasserie Dupont sends with this very special saison ale brewed only for the holidays. Redolently aromatic, rich and velvety, this is an ale to toast the season and welcome in the New Year!" (source).
• Jolly Pumpkin Fuego del Otono, $14.39/750ml - "Ale brewed with chestnut and spices. To catch a bit of soft radiance in each special bottle, we wait for fall colors to begin their bright and fleeting glow before brewing this wonderful ale under their autumn fire. Gentle amber malts lead smooth caramel notes, gently lapping against a shore of distant forgotten spice. A beer to contemplate and enjoy!" (source).
• Shiner Holiday Cheer, $1.49/12oz - "Happy Holidays from the 'Little Brewery' in Shiner, TX. We hope you enjoy your Shiner Cheer, an Old World Dunkelweizen brewed with Texas peaches and roasted pecans. The malty flavors of this dark wheat ale are enhanced through the use of malted barley and wheat. And Kräusening ensures a smoothnessthat makes the subtle peach and pecan flavors all the more satisfying. May your days be merry and bright and your Shiner be cold" (source).
• Dogfish Head Chicory Stout, $2.59/12oz - "Chicory Stout is a rich, dark beer made with a touch of roasted chicory, organic Mexican coffee, St. John's Wort, and licorice root. It is brewed with roast barley, crystal malt and oats and hopped just right with Glacier hops. We use fair trade Organic Mexican Coatepec beans roasted to our specifications by Notting Hill Coffee Roastery in Lewes, DE" (source).
• Stouthern Tier Krampus, $7.79/22oz - "St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of ‘the list’. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts. This season, replace the cookies with a bottle of Krampus. If he happens to pay a visit, toast to him with this devilish brew. Merry Kramp-mas to all, and to all a good pint!" (source).
• Southern Tier Old Man Winter, $1.69/12oz - "With the onset of winter, the brewer’s mind turns to providing warmth. For our winter seasonal, Southern Tier offers Old Man Winter Ale, a rich and complex amalgam of hops and barley that will put the feeling back in your toes and lift your spirits above the snow. Old Man Winter throws a deep and inviting hue with a thickness that clings to the glass and the warmth of an open flame. Because of its high alcohol content, Old Man Winter is a heady brew that encourages sipping and pondering its essential richness. Drink it fresh now, or cellar some bottles to see how this old man becomes wiser with age" (source).
• Rogue Santas Private Reserve, $2.59/12oz - "Rogue’s annual holiday offering, Santa’s Private Reserve, is a variation of the classic Saint Rogue Red, but with double the hops--including Chinook, and Centennial, and a mystery hop called Rudolph by head brewer John "more hops" Maier! This holiday elixir is brewed with two-row Harrington, Klages and Munich malts, along with Hugh Baird 30-37, Carastan 13-17, and Crystal 70-80 malts, plus free range coastal water and proprietary top-fermenting Pacman yeast" (source).
• Crankers Brewing Bulldog Red, $1.79/12oz - "Our Irish Red pours a deep mahogany and supports a robust off-white foam. Featuring rich, complex caramel aromas with a touch of dark sugar, there is just enough hop character to balance this easy drinker" (source).
• Crankers Brewing Professor IPA, $1.99/12oz - "A West Coast style IPA, the Professor is golden and sports a large frothy white head. Hops leap out of the glass, citrus, apricot, and herbal notes define this brew. There is enough malty body to keep you coming back for more" (source).
• Shorts Chocolate Wheat, $1.69/12oz - "Wheat stout ale. Chocolate malt, wheat malt and carefully chosen specialty grains provide deep, black wort balanced with the Nugget and Fuggle hop varieties. Top fermenting ale yeast completes this beer resulting in full flavored, full bodied toasted/burnt chocolate wheat ale" (source).
• Heavy Seas Winter Storm, $1.99/12oz - "Our winter warmer ale, brewed with copious helpings of English malts and US and English hops, a ruddy hued "Imperial ESB" in style. Full malty flavors dancing with powerful hop aromas and a lingering, firm hop bitterness. Seasonally available from mid October to February" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Narwhal, $2.49/12oz - "Narwhal Imperial Stout is he latest beer in Sierra Nevada’s High Altitude Series. This malt-forward monster is bold – with notes of baker’s cocoa, molasses, and dark roasted coffee. This massive imperial stout is incredibly complex, rich, and intense and will develop in the bottle for years to come" (source).
• North Peak Hoodoo, $2.69/12oz - "North Peak Hoodoo Midwest Wet Hop IPA is the first of it’s kind. Brewed with fresh from the farm Michigan hops for exceptional flavor. Hoodoo is hops from start to finish with a little malt in the middle, just enough to keep Hoodoo from going Voodoo on you. not to worry - pretty much nothing but hops" (source).
• Thirsty Dog 12 Dogs of Christmas Ale, $2.19/12oz - "This beer’s name sums up the ideas of bringing the best together to celebrate. It is filled with seasonal flavors from generous amounts of toasted and caramel malts, mixed with equally generous amounts of honey, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. We feel it is the perfect libation, filled with flavors of the season" (source).
• Saugatuck Double Diamond Black, $2.59/12oz - "Double Hopped American Black Ale" (source).
• Dark Horse Too Cream Stout, $2.09/12oz - "This beer is made with milk sugar (lactose) which gives this beer a nice creamy mouth feel which mingles with hints of chocolate and roasty flavors" (source).

Picture of the Week

Proud Lake Recreation Area, Commerce Township, MI

Cheers!