New Beer Friday, February 15 Edition

Greg & Doug, forever at odds

By Hey Kevin

Hi everybody, it's Kevin, Siciliano's one-time advice & information columnist. I'm thrilled to be filling in temporarily for Chris on New Beer Friday. I'm happier still to report that Siciliano's Market is hosting five beer tastings all within the next six days—talk about a fitting start to GR Beer Week!

Kicking things off is Mt. Pleasant Brewing Company with a tasting at 1 p.m. on Saturday (2/16). Following MPBC is Founders Brewing Co., a terrific little GR start-up from whom we all expect big things. The Founders tasting is on Monday (2/18) at 4 p.m. On Tuesday (2/19), Big Rapids-based Cranker's Brewery will confirm that city's bid for world domination by having a tasting of their own. The Crankers tasting begins at 4 p.m as well.

The tasting free-for-all continues at 4 p.m. Wednesday (2/20), when Dark Horse gallops into town from Marshall, Michigan, six-packs blazing. Our friends at Right Brain Brewery hold the final spot: 4 p.m., Thursday (2/21). On Friday, we let you rest, giving you just enough time to catch your breath before for the big event on Saturday, the Michigan Winter Beer Fest. Speaking of which, have you started planning your pretzel necklace?

New (and Returning) Beer

• Rochester Mills Red Ale, $2.29/16oz - "This deep red colored ale is full of caramelly sweet malt flavor, yet nicely balanced with a smooth finish" (source).
• Rochester Mills Cornerstone IPA, $2.29/16oz - "This unfiltered amber ale is packed full of hop bitterness, flavor and aroma. IPA is the most bitter beer style and it is enjoyed by people we refer to as “hopheads.” We dry hop this beer with a combination of English and American hop varieties for a wonderfully aromatic finish" (source).
• Rochester Mills Milkshake Stout, $2.29/16oz - "This stout is not as bitter as the Sacri-licious Stout. It is brewed with milk sugar(lactose) to impart a fuller body and sweeter palate" (source).
• Coney Island Human Blockhead, $6.19/22oz - "This might be the most unique barrel aged lager you will find. Brewed like a barley wine but fermented as a lager then aged on fresh wet Buffalo Trace barrels for 5 months" (source).
• Ommegang Art of Darkness, $18.59/750ml - "Our limited edition Art of Darkness Ale is deep, dark and magical, with champagne-like carbonation and rich matiness from a complex recipe of multiple barley and wheat malts, as well as flaked oats. Using no spices or flavorings, Art of Darkness gains all its rich aromas, tastes, and apparent spiciness from the malts and Ommegang’s proprietary house yeast. There are no secret ingredients or magical incantation. There is only Ommegang brewers’ creating the finest quality dark, strong ale of complex and deep character" (source).
• Short's Aorta Ale, $2.19/12oz - "Aorta Ale is a double red ale that suggests an intensity of flavor simply by its brilliant deep red appearance. Though Aorta Ale contains only traditional brewing ingredients, subtle aromas of candy, brown sugar, and toasted malt are present. Flavors reminiscent of raisins or figs are noticeable upfront, but give way to a roasted, cocoa like bitterness that becomes magnified by high alpha hops. In contrast to the initial sweetness, it’s a heightened bitterness that dominates the finish of this full bodied beauty. For that reason, we considered calling it an India Red Ale" (source).
• Lagunita's Sux, $1.99/12oz - "A ‘Cereal Medley’ of Barley, Rye, Wheat, and Oats…. Full of complexishness from the 4 grains, and weighing in at 7.85% abv, Then joyously dry-hopped for that big aroma and resinous hop flavor" (source).
• Southern Tier Euro Trash Pils, $1.69/12oz - "This beer may have a cheeky name, but don’t be fooled; it is modeled after fine European pilsners to be light and crisp. Aromatic Noble hop varieties, 2-row malted barley and European style pilsner malt contribute to this pale beer’s smooth character" (source).
• Heavy Seas Small Craft Warning, $1.99/12oz - "We call this beer an Uber Pils - a pilsner style bock lager. Rich, malty, and well rounded but with a firm structure of noble hops. Surprisingly pale in color for such a powerful, complex beer" (source).
• Tandem Cider  Farmhouse, $11.49/750ml - "Winesap & Northern Spy. A dry cider made with a classic cider apple" (source).
• Tandem Cider Pretty Penny, $11.49/750ml - "A blend of over thirty varieties of cider and antique apples. At the end of the season, Mr. Kilcherman cleans up his barn and we get all those unique apples" (source).
• Tandem Cider Early Day, $11.49/750ml - "Fameuse, Golden Russet, Ida Red, Red Delicious, Sheep’s Nose, and Cortland. The complexity of this blend will keep you sipping and trying to determine which variety makes this cider so darn good" (source).
• Tandem Cider Smakintosh, $11.49/750ml - "McIntosh, Rhode Island Greening, and Northern Spy. Everything's better with a little Smack. This crowd pleaser is sweet and tart with full apple flavor" (source).

Picture of the Week

Market Art, courtesy of staffer John Barecki

Cheers!