New Beer Friday, Alexander Atkin Edition (Dec 4) ~ The Buzz: Siciliano's Market News & Notes

Our man Alex.

What makes the Grand Rapids craft beer community so unique is not the quality of its beer but the character of its people, the passionate individuals who support each other through the good times and bad, who are always ready to share a pint and just as ready to help out when help is needed most.

If you agree with this statement, then please consider donating to the GoFundMe campaign for Alexander Atkin, a great guy and former employee of Siciliano's Market (now a brewer at Mitten Brewing Co.) who was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident last Monday.

From his GoFundMe campaign: "On November 30th, Alex was involved in a terrible motorcycle accident while vacationing in Guatemala. He suffered a head injury and a spinal injury. He will be back in Michigan early Wednesday, December 2nd. He will likely need multiple surgeries and extensive medical care. He will need great help with living expenses. The Atkin family can use any help you can give. Thank you."

Let's show Alex and his family how much we appreciate him and how we take care of our own. Donate now if you can, but at the very least, please keep Alex in your thoughts as he travels the long road to recovery.

New and Returning Beer

Pike 51 For Whom The Sleigh Bells Toll, $10.79/22oz - "Opaque brown black color. Delicate, dense aromas of chai tea, orange jelly, sweet potato, and mocha with a supple, finely carbonated, body and a smooth, medium-length creamy cappuccino and fruity caramel finish. A very pleasant and relaxing winter ale" (source).
Brewery Vivant Plowhorse, $4.29/16oz - "The famous Belgian heavy plow horse descends from medieval war horses that carried armored knights into battle. Eventually they became common work horses for family farms. Great strength and mellow temperament made them ideal for tilling heavy soil. This seemed a fitting name for one of our biggest beers we release. The recipe calls for much dark-roasted grain that they literally spill out the top of the tank on brew day" (source).
Big Eddy Cherry Doppelschwarz, $2.99/12oz - "Bittersweet chocolate and coffee-like malt character blends beautiful with the subtle tartness of Door County, Wisconsin cherries to create a decadent, yet amazingly balanced Big Eddy Cherry Doppelschwarz" (source).
Stone Enjoy By 12-25, $2.89/12oz, $8.29/22oz - "This exquisite liquid patchwork of more than a dozen hops is a devastatingly fresh double IPA. Freshness is a key component of many beers—especially big, hoppy IPAs—but we've taken it further, a lot further, with this one. We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last. We've gone to extensive lengths to ensure you get your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we've sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA" (source).
Smuttynose Baltic Porter, $2.89/12oz - "Indigenous to northern Europe, Baltic Porters historically stem from the shipping of British porters to the Russian hinterland. Unlike their British cousins, Baltic Porters are often brewed with lager yeast, which is the tradition we follow. Big & bold, with flavors of coffee, dark fruit & raisins, this black beer is smooth as a chocolate swirl" (source).
Smuttynose Smiseltoe, $11.69/22oz (1 per) - "This Christmas, why not offer a delicious New Hampshire-brewed gift that does both? Smuttynose Smistletoe is back to fill that void. The beer itself is a festive take on Bière de Garde, a more robust variant of the farmhouse ale family tree; brewed with sweet cherries, black currants and plums then aged on lightly toasted American oak" (source).
Smuttynose Chestnut Saison, $8.59/500ml - "Farmhouse ale brewed with chestnuts and spices" (source).
Roak Around the Clock, $1.6912oz - "Around the clock is our session India Pale Ale. It balances malt and hop character to achieve a bright easy-drinking beer with notes of tropical fruit and citrus. With its low alcohol content and clean profile, any time is the perfect time for this session IPA." (source).
Avery Joe's Pilsner, $1.99/12oz - "A contemporary rendition of a classic style, Joe’s is hopped with purpose: beautifully bitter and dry with an abundance of floral, Noble German hops" (source).
Shorts Evil Urges, $2.39/12oz - "Evil Urges is a Belgian dark strong ale with a deep dark brown color. A sharp aroma of chocolate and molasses hits the senses, reminiscent of a rich liqueur. Aided by additions of Belgian amber candi sugar, the initial flavors are sweet and malty, with some unique, dark fruit qualities. This full bodied beer is defined by its roast malt character and slight black coffee bitterness that lead into an intense warming finish" (source).
Ballast Point Longfin Lager, $1.89/12oz - "Our Longfin Lager has become one of the go-to beers with the team at the brewery. A solidly balanced Helles that finishes clean with a hint of hops, it would easily fit in at any German beer garden. But we think it’s perfect for enjoying on the beach, the boat or anywhere else you can put an ice chest full of beer" (source).
Ballast Point Fathom IPL, $6.09/22oz - "Our Fathom India Pale Lager combines time-honored lagering techniques with the hop profiles of a West Coast IPA recipe. The cold-fermenting lager yeast provides a clean base that allows the citrus and pine aromas from the hops to really shine. The result is a gold medal beer with a refreshing, easy drinking character and just the right amount of depth" (source).
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA, $2.59/12oz - "Our Sculpin IPA is a great example of what got us into brewing in the first place. After years of experimenting, we knew hopping an ale at five separate stages would produce something special. The result ended up being this gold-medal winning IPA, whose inspired use of hops creates hints of apricot, peach, mango and lemon flavors, but still packs a bit of a sting, just like a Sculpin fish" (source).
Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin, $2.59/12oz - "Our Grapefruit Sculpin is the latest take on our signature IPA. Some may say there are few ways to improve Sculpin’s unique flavor, but the tart freshness of grapefruit perfectly complements our IPA’s citrusy hop character. Grapefruit’s a winter fruit, but this easy-drinking ale tastes like summer" (source).
Ballast Point Habanero Sculpin, $2.59/12oz - "Our Sculpin IPA with Habanero Pepper began as a crazy experiment that’s taken on a life of its own. While its bright fruit notes and hoppy bite has made the original one of our favorites, this version takes that balance of flavors to the next level with the citrusy, floral heat of habaneros. Sculpin are known to sting, but this one’s got a kick" (source).
Ballast Point Calm Before the Storm, $2.59/12oz - "Calm Before the Storm came from a quest for a warm weather alternative to our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter. Like its more robust cousin, we infuse a punch of flavor using cold brewed Caffé Calabria coffee and a hint of vanilla. But this time, we added it to a lighter-bodied golden cream ale. The end result is a surprisingly bright, coffee-forward beer that’s perfectly refreshing" (source).
Ballast Point Victory At Sea, $2.59/12oz - "Our Victory at Sea Imperial Porter is a bold, smooth brew with just the right amount of sweetness. We infused this robust porter with vanilla and San Diego’s own Caffe Calabria coffee beans. The subtle roasted notes and minimal acidity of the cold brewed coffee, balances perfectly with the sweet caramel undertones of the malt, creating a winning combination for your palate" (source).
Ballast Point Commodore, $1.89/12oz - "The Commodore came out of our search for a medium-bodied American Stout. The recipe began at our R&D pilot brewery, but quickly became a favorite of our crew. Strong flavors of roast coffee and bittersweet chocolate balance with light citrusy hop aromas, highlighted by a crisp, bitter finish. One sip of this gold medal-winning stout will have you ready to take command of your own fleet" (source).
Ballast Point Dorado Double IPA, $2.59/12oz - "Our Dorado Double IPA immediately hooks you with massive hops that never stop. Mash hopping, kettle hopping and dry hopping makes this beer a serious hop lover’s prize catch. It’s an amazingly drinkable, award-winning beer that’s as beautifully balanced as it is big" (source).