New Beer Friday, Homebrew Contest Edition (Feb 5)

Will you be the next winner
to drink from the Siciliano Cup?

By Steve Siciliano

From its humble beginnings twelve years ago, the Siciliano’s Homebrew Contest has evolved into West Michigan’s premier homebrew competition. We are pleased to announce that this year’s Best of Show winner will have the opportunity to brew a double batch of the winning recipe with 2012 contest winner and current pub brewer Russ Smith on Odd Side Ales’ one-barrel pub system. The fact that the BOS winner will also receive a $500 gift card to Siciliano’s Market in addition to having his or her name engraved on the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup should provide even more incentive to tweak those recipes, fire up those burners and get those competitive homebrew juices going.

Please see below for contest rules and regulations for the 12th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Contest. Best of luck everyone!

1. Every homebrewer is allowed one (1) beer entry. All entries must be brewed by the registrant. Please do not submit entries under the names of significant others, etc.
2. Beers are submitted according to the BJCP Style Guidelines. Ciders and meads are excluded from this contest. If you are not sure which is the correct style for your beer, contact us and we will help.
3. Entries require two (2) plain, unlabeled/unmarked 12-ounce amber bottles. Please no clear bottles or bottles of any other size.
4. We are currently working on setting up new competition website for the Siciliano’s homebrew contests. More information regarding the online entry format will be detailed as we near the opening of registration, including the website URL, directions on how to enter your beer and label printing.
5. The entry fee is $6.00, cash or check only.
6. The total number of contest entries will be capped at 250. Don’t delay in submitting your entry. Once the cap is reached no additional entries will be accepted.
7. Online registration for entries will be accepted from Monday, March 23, through Sunday April 12, or until 250 entries are submitted, whichever occurs first.
8. You will have until Wednesday, April 15 to drop off entries at Siciliano’s Market. Entries will not be accepted after that date. If mailing an entry, please include paperwork and submission fee. Ship in a well-packed box to: Siciliano’s Market // 2840 Lake Michigan Dr. NW // Grand Rapids, MI 49504 

All entries in the Siciliano’s Homebrew contest will be judged by industry professionals and/or trained judges according to the standards of style, not in comparison to each another, with the exception of Best in Show. Entries that receive scores falling within designated point totals will be awarded bronze, silver or gold medals.

Judging for this year’s competition will take place Saturday, April 25. Winner of Best of Show will be announced and the awards ceremony will be held Saturday, May 16, at the 12th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party. Entrants need not be present to win. Those not attending the party may pick up their medals at Siciliano’s Market beginning Monday, May 18, or request to have their medals mailed by contacting the competition organizer at steve@sicilianosmkt.com.

New and Returning Beer

• Arbor Phat Abbot Triple, $2.79/12oz - "This traditional Belgian-style triple is strong, fruity, and slightly sour. It starts with a big malt presence, followed up by a pronounced candy sugar sweetness, and balanced with a spicy hop finish. A must-try" (source).
• Bell's Consencrator Doppelbock, $2.79/12oz - "Consecrator is a traditional doppelbock-style fermented with a Bohemian lager yeast. Reddish brown in color, with a mild hop profile, Consecrator is a well balanced, full bodied beer with hints of caramel and molasses in its smooth, malty finish. Brewed for a Fat Tuesday release" (source).
• Angry Orchard Hop Madness, $1.69/12oz - "Newest hopped cider with bright apple sweetness that is compliments by floral notes from the Strisselspalt hops and tropical notes from the Galaxy hops. All the hop goodness and none of the hop bitterness" (source).
• Stone Delicious IPA, $1.99/12oz - "While our beers are many and diverse, yet unified by overarching boldness, India pale ales are our undeniable bread and butter. We’ve brewed many over the past 18 years, from double-down bitter bombs to piney session sippers. Whether it’s big IBUs or a precise ABV, there’s usually a target we’re shooting for. The same is true of this, our latest IPA, but we gave zero thought to any acronyms. This one was all about packing as much unique and, you guessed it, delicious flavor into a glass as humanly possible, regardless of oomph or octane. This intensely citrusy, beautifully bitter beer is worthy of the simple-yet-lordly title of Stone Delicious IPA. Lemondrop and El Dorado hops combine to bring on a magnificent lemon candy-like flavor that’s balanced by hop spice. It’s unlike anything we’ve tasted in nearly two decades of IPA experimentation, and another lupulin-laced creation we’re excited to introduce to hopheads everywhere" (source).
• De Troch Gueuze, $7.79/12.7oz - "The beverage testing institute recognized De Troch Chapeau Gueuze Lambic with a Golden Medal" (source).
• Abita Strawberry Cans, $1.69/12oz - "Abita Strawberry Harvest is a lager brewed with pilsner and wheat malts and Vanguard hops. Real Louisiana strawberry juice is added after filtration resulting in a crisp lager with a sweet strawberry flavor, aroma and haze. It is wonderful with desserts or lighter fare such as salads and pastas. Fresh cheeses such as Burrata, chèvre, Crescenza, mozzarella or Teleme pair well with Strawberry Harvest" (source).
• Atwater Poorboy Smoked Porter, $2.19/12oz - "Poured black with an average light brown frothy head that was mostly lasting with very good lacing. Moderate to heavy smoke and toasted malt aroma. Medium body with a dry smooth texture and flat carbonation. Medium to heavy toasted sweet malt and smoke flavor with a medium to heavy dark sweet finish of moderate duration" (source).
• Odd Side Jesse's Party IPA, $2.29/12oz - "Pours a deep orange with a medium head that laces nicely as it dies down and aromas of peaches, orange blossom, pear and mango. It’s an interesting blend, that’s for sure… not a typical resin blast. Flavor is more of the juicy/fruity part of the nose than anything else" (source).
• Boatyard Hold Fast Pale Ale, $6.09/22oz - "Hold Fast is a simple, yet delicious pale ale made in a truly American style.  The crystal malts and brown sugar add a touch of caramel and toffee flavors.  A great selection of American grown hops provide for floral and citrus notes that make this pale ale very easy to drink.  This pale ale is easy to drink and friendly with most foods" (source).
• Boatyard Kay-Lips-O Chocolate, $6.69/22oz - "To honor all of the lovely “Kays” in their life, Dan and Brian created Kay-Lips-Chocolate Milk Stout.  This stout starts with a base malt loaded with chocolate, black and Midnight wheat malts.  To compliment those rich dark flavors, lactose was added to smooth out the texture and produce a silky mouth feel.  The lactose also leaves a little residual sweetness and creates a thick, creamy head.  Right after fermentation, the addition of a rich chocolate extract produces great flavor without being overwhelming.  This stout is great all alone and made better with a scoop of vanilla gellato" (source).
• Short's Goodnight Bodacious, $2.39/12oz - "Goodnight Bodacious has the maltiness of a barleywine and the hoppiness of an India Pale Ale. A rich, hoppiness dominates the aroma, with earthy and loamy scents. A medium body presents big, bitter black barley and roasted coffee flavors, with subtle compliments of dark fruit and green hops. Strong alcohol flavors and pleasant warming qualities become more noticeable as the beer approaches room temperature" (source).

Picture of the Week

Inside Ridge Cider Co., a very cool new cidery
opening this sping on M-37.

Cheers!