New Beer Friday, Rise of the Rhizomes Edition (January 30)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

A few years ago, I planted a hop rhizome in the flower box in front of the store. I wasn’t sure if a hop plant would grow out of that little, gnarly chunk of root because the area gets no sun and the building overhang prevents it from getting any rain. But a hop plant grew all right. It grew so well, in fact, that eventually I had to remove the vigorous climbing vine because it kept wanting to cover up our sign.

If you would like to grow a few hardy hop vines of your own or are looking to add a few more plants to your established hop garden, we will be taking rhizome pre-orders now through the end of business on Saturday, February 28th. Those wishing to place orders may do so via email (steve@sicilianosmkt.com), by phone (616-453-9674) or in person here at Siciliano's. When ordering by email please ensure that you indicate the desired quantity of the specified variety. Price per each rootstock is $5.00 and payment will not be due until the time of pickup.

We anticipate that the rhizomes will be shipped from our Yakima Valley supplier during the first week of April. Those who placed orders will be personally notified when the shipment arrives. The following is our supplier’s list of the rhizome varieties available this year.

Rhizome Varieties

• Cascade: 4.5 – 7.0% alpha. Grows well in all climates. Susceptible to aphid.
• Centennial: 9.5 – 11.5% alpha. Grows well in all climates. Susceptible to downy mildew.
• Chinook: 11.0 – 13.0% alpha. Grows well in hot, dry climates. Does not grow well in moist climates. Subject to spider mite. Great ornamental hop.
• Columbus: 14.5 – 15.5% alpha. Grows well in dry hot climates. Vigorous but susceptible to mildew diseases.
• Golding: 4.0 – 5.0%. Grows well in mild, moist climates. Does okay in hot climates.
• Liberty: 3.0 – 5.0% alpha. Mild and spicy with subtle lemon and citrus characteristic. Grows well in mild, moist climates.
• Mt. Hood: 4.0 – 5.0% alpha. Hybrid of a Hallertau. Grows well in all climates.
• Northern Brewer: 8.0 – 10% alpha. Adequate in temperate climates but has difficulty growing when under heat stress. Susceptible to downy mildew.
• Nugget: 12.0 – 14.0% alpha. Grows well in all climates.
• Sterling: 6.0 – 8% alpha. Hybrid of Saaz. Grows well in all climates.
• Tettnang: 4.0 – 5.0% alpha. Grows well in moderate climates. Suffers a little in hot climates.
• Willamette: 4.0 – 6.0% alpha. Grows well in all climates.

New and Returning Beer

• Dark Horse Fore Smoked Stout, $2.09/12oz - "Brewed with all malted barley and peat malt (smoked malt). This beer is full bodied with chocolate, roasted barley flavors, and a smokey almost BBQ finish" (source).
• Leinenkugel Big Eddy Imperial Stout, $2.99/12oz - "Once dubbed "the purest water in the world" the Big Eddy Spring runs right through our brewery in the heart of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, and is where our Big Eddy Russian Imperial Stout gets its name. Brewed with a blend of robust malts, distinctive hops and notes of chocolate and toffee our stout is bold in character yet remarkably balanced" (source).
• North Peak Burly Belgo IPA, $1.89/12oz - "North Peak is an American Pale Ale with a twist. A Belgian yeast strain and Willamette and Cascade hops give Burly its estery, noticeably bitter taste. Dry hopped with Cascade and Simcoe" (source).
• Sam Adams Stony Brook Red, $11.19/750ml - "This unique brew builds from the inspiration of Flemish reds.  It begins with an earthy sourness and hints of dark fruit but the tartness gives way to a rich maltiness and touch of toasted oak.  These flavors are rounded and deepened by the barrel aging for a layered & alluring brew" (source).
• Sam Adams 13th Hour, $11.19/750ml - "The 13th hour is the witching hour, and a time when strange brews can occur.  With 13 ingredients, we combined the roasted chocolate and coffee flavors of a stout with the complex spicy character of a Belgian-style ale aged in oak for a deep, robust, and captivating brew" (source).
• Sam Adams Rebel Rouser Double IPA, $1.89/12oz - "Bold and unapologetically hoppy, this double IPA packs a punch, but its one of flavor over pure bitterness. What comes through are bright hop flavors of pine, citrus, floral and spice accented by pale malts and alcohol strength for a big, flavorful brew" (source).
• North Coast Old Rasputin, $2.69/12oz - "Produced in the tradition of 18th Century English brewers who supplied the court of Russia's Catherine the Great, Old Rasputin seems to develop a cult following wherever it goes. It's a rich, intense brew with big complex flavors and a warming finish" (source).
• Hebrew Hop Manna, $2.69/12oz - "Behold: A celebration of the flower of the craft beer revolution! A golden opportunity to feed your inner hop head and rejoice in HOP MANNA, our newest delicacy of the modern He’brew Beer family" (source).
• Odd Side Beautiful Disaster, $4.89/12oz - "Pale ale aged in red wine barrels" (source).
• Abita Bourbon Imperial Stout, $9.29/22oz - "Bourbon Street Stout is an Imperial Stout that is aged in small batch bourbon barrels. Our Imperial Stout is brewed with a combination of pale, caramel, chocolate and roasted malts. Oats are also added to give the beer a fuller and sweeter taste. The roasted malts give the beer its dark color as well as its intense flavor and aroma. After fermentation the beer is cold aged for 6 weeks. This is necessary for all of the flavors of the malt and hops to balance and produce a very smooth flavor. After the cold aging the beer is transferred into the bourbon barrels. It is then aged for another 8 weeks to absorb all of the flavors from the barrels. The result is a stout that brings out the roasted flavors from the malt and the warming toasted, vanilla, and bourbon flavors" (source).

Video of the Week | 12-oz Slides

Here's the first installment in Founders' #BrewedFor film series. Enjoy!

Cheers!