New Beer Friday, Heavy Medal Edition (May 1) ~ The Buzz: Siciliano's Market News & Notes

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

Last Saturday forty BJCP judges, certified cicerones and industry professionals gathered at the Guest House in Grand Rapids to critique the 168 entries submitted in the 12th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition. One hundred eight of those entries were awarded medals, five moved on to the round of Best of Show and another name is now engraved on the Siciliano’s Cup.

The presentation of the Siciliano’s Cup and the awards ceremony will be the highlight of the 12th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party on Saturday, May 16th at Johnson Park. If you entered the competition but will not be attending the party you may pick up your score sheet (and medal) at Siciliano’s Market beginning on Sunday, May 17th. If you live outside of the Grand Rapids area and would like your score sheet and medal mailed to you, contact me at this address: steve@sicilianosmkt.com.

The window for signing up for the May 16th party will close at 10 p.m. on Sunday, May 3rd. Tickets are $40.00 and may be purchased in person at the store or with a credit card over the phone by calling 616-453-9674. Just a reminder that being a homebrewer is not a requirement for attending the party. Click here more details.

In other news, it appears that we’re going to have great weather for tomorrow’s Third Annual Siciliano’s Big Brew on the Calder. Forty-nine teams of homebrewers will be brewing up batches of “Calder Red Ale” on the Calder Plaza in downtown Beer City USA from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. At one p.m. Mayor George Heartwell and city commissioner Rosalynn Bliss will lead the assemblage in a simultaneous, country-wide toast to the enriching hobby of homebrewing.

The Big Brew on the Calder is free of charge and is open to the public.

New and Returning Beer

Cheboygan IPA #11, $2.19/16oz - "Named for our Brewmaster’s family at Fire Station #11, this golden ale provides a nose full of herbal and citrus notes" (source).
Stone Mutt Brown, $9.49/22oz - "Light-roasted malt and coffee flavors, followed by toffee malt notes, hints of molasses and a yeasty fruitiness. The beer is medium to full bodied, a little sweet and very smooth with a mildly dry finish" (source).
Brewery Vivant Big Flight, $21.49/9pk variety - A variety pack from your favorite GR-based Belgian-inspired brewery.
Coronado Sock Knocker, $8.29/22oz (1 per) - "Amarillo, Centennial, Colombus and Simcoe hops unite to produce an immensely floroal, botanical nose and a veritable explosion of citrus and pine on the palate. With an even more obscene hop over load than our infamous Idiot IPA, it's an India pale ale truly deserving of its imperial crown" (source).
North Peak Archangel Summer Wheat, $1.79/12oz - "A solid American wheat, with a classic nose that transitions to a faint cherry aroma complimenting its rich amber gold hue. As this well-balanced and deceptively light-bodied wheat beer travels across the tongue, the willamette and perle hops hint at bitterness, followed by a crisp, clean wheat flavor that cuts to a subtle tart cherry finish" (source).
Bahnhof Berliner Weiss, $7.49/12oz - "Huguenots may have originated the style as they traveled through France to Flanders, having first mentioned it in the 1600s. During their time, there were said to be seven hundred weissbier breweries in Berlin. Later, in 1809, Napoleon and his troops identified Berliner Weisse as the Champagne of the North. He requested the beer be served w/syrup to cut its extreme level of acidity. Bayrischer Bahnhof’s interpretation is a slightly softer, more mellow version of the “Berliner Weisse” style with a beautiful balance of tartness, fruitness, and sweetness" (source).
Hanssens Gueze, $11.29/12.7oz - "This is the result of blending different lambics of different ages. The second fermentation takes place inside the bottles and therefore they are stored for minimum six months in constant temperature kept cellars" (source).
Knee Deep Lupulin River, $9.79/22oz - "This Double IPA includes Mosaic and Simcoe hops, South American specialty malt, and tons of tastiness. Looks like liquid gold, smells like a bright tropical fruit pine forest, and tastes like all that and more" (source).
Knee Deep Hop-De-Ranged, $14.99/22oz - "This Quad IPA Borders on Insanity" (source).
Tapistry Burn the Witch, $13.99/22oz (1 per) - "This devilish weizenbock is stronger than it appears and is the third installment in our Hansel and Gretel beer series. This is one is a wicked ale with notes of banana and dates. This beer is so strong you should consider leaving a trail of bread crumbs in case you forget your way home" (source).
Short's Bludgeon Yer Eye, $1.99/12oz - "Bludgeon Yer Eye is an India Black Ale. Intense fruity and floral aromas, along with a subtle malty fragrance, emits from the beer. The deep black color complements the rich, dark roasted malt flavors. The unexpected twist comes when the high hop bitterness takes over and leaves a bitter finish" (source).
Short's Anniversary Ale, $2.69/12oz - "Anniversary Ale is a high-gravity wheat wine made with blood oranges. Flavors range from the spiciness of green peppercorns to the tang of blood orange zest. Aggressive dry hopping of Simcoe hops amplifies the citrus overtones and spiciness found throughout the beer. Anniversary Ale typifies Short’s Brewing Company by embodying all of the complexities that come along with another year of brewing" (source).
Great Lakes Alberta Clipper, $3.29/12oz - "A Winter Porter made with Belgian Chocolate and Raspberries" (source).
Lagunitas Sucks, $1.99/12oz - "A cereal medley of barley, rye, wheat and oats" (source).

Wine of the Week

Cycles Gladiator 2013 Petite Sirah, $10.79/750ml - "The sun drenched slopes of the Central provide perfect growing conditions for a monstrous Petite Sirah. I craft the wine with maximum extraction and a heavy dose of sexy toasted oak to tame the beast. Blueberry motor oil that will stain your soul. Don't get it on your shirt!" -Adam Lazarre, Winemaker