New Beer Friday, Civic Responsibility Edition (Nov 4)

A beer for when the
election is finally over.

Preamble Steve Siciliano

Late next Tuesday we’ll finally find out which candidate will have the electoral votes needed to become the next chief executive of the United States. I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s happy that this rather unpleasant campaign is drawing to a close. I’m tired of the mudslinging and I’ve had my fill of the daily doses of spinning surrogates on the cable news shows.

Of course I could avoid this self-imposed torture by simply going back to my pre-election routine of watching Discovery, ESPN or the Food Channel. But for the last two months or so I haven’t been able to turn away from this bloody two car pile-up. That’s a bit odd because I’ve never before been this engrossed with politics.

Perhaps it’s because I consider myself a student of American history and we are, as they say, watching history in the making — we’ll either elect our first woman president or place a man in the White House who has never held political office.

Both candidates have bases of avid supporters and legions of ardent detractors and both are their party’s nominee despite well-documented flaws. I find this puzzling. Lately I’ve been wondering if we’ll ever have another modern president with the homespun wisdom of a Truman, the fence mending skills of an Eisenhower or the moral integrity of a Jimmy Carter. Time will tell.

In the meantime we can only hope that whoever wins next Tuesday’s election will prove to be a capable president — one who has the sagacity to deal with the nation’s problems both home and abroad as well as the political acumen needed to begin mending the rift that this polarizing election has created.

New and Returning Beer

• Austin Brothers Woody Wheat, $1.79/12oz - "American style wheat with a twist. Hints of orange peel and gracious amounts of vanilla will hit both the nose and palate. Medium body and light in color, a session for the whole year. A hybrid wheat, a mix of a hefeweizen and wheat cream ale" (source).
• Austin Brothers 45er IPA, $1.79/12oz - "Getting its name from being brewed on the 45th parallel; 45’er is a West Coast style IPA with hints of pear, grapefruit, tropical fruits, from adding 2.5 pounds of hops per barrel" (source).
• Pike 51 For Whom the Sleigh Bells Toll, $18.79/22oz - "Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Holiday Stout" (source).
• Pike 51 Batch 500, $12.89/22oz - "Celebrating our Batch 500 with this girthy, but smooth Imperial Stout sure to coat the back of your throat" (source).
• Pike 51 Yay Stout, $5.39/22oz - "Honey wheat stout" (source).
• Vander Mill Nunica Pine, $2.99/16oz - "Opposites attract in this limited release seasonal specialty. Our Hard Apple cider provides a base of unmatched fruit and acidity, while Columbus hops unveil an earthy bitterness no other cider can match. Gluten free" (source).
• Dark Horse 4 Elf, $2.09/12oz - "4 Elf is holiday cheer in liquid form. Spicy aromas like cinnamon and clove give this dark brown winter warmer a proper holiday welcome. Balanced between malt, hops, and spice at 8.75% ABV this beer goes great with all holiday foods—from sweet snacks to the roast beast" (source).
• Grand Armory Nutter Your Business, $2.09/12oz - "Peanut butter stout" (source).
• Saugatuck Snow Wizard, $1.79/12oz - "An Oak Aged Imperial Brown Ale with tons of oaky, woody flavors. The base brown malt profile provides a huge caramel, coffee and chocolate body with minimal hop bitterness match perfectly with the complex flavor profile of the oak chips" (source).
• Tapistry Enigma, $3.19/16oz - "Say hello to Enigma, our mysterious Double IPA. Brewed with five different malts, four different hops, and a healthy dose of brown sugar, Enigma is the strongest beer on our list. Surprisingly dry, it’s a high-intensity brew that will puzzle your palate. You'll just have to drink one to understand" (source).
• Bell's Christmas, $1.89/12oz - "A sessionable alternative to traditional spiced winter warmers, this Scottish Ale features Michigan grown malt from the Bell's Farm in Shepherd, Michigan to impart dry, toasted notes along with subtle toffee flavors" (source).
• Bell's Winter White, $1.99/16oz - "An alternative to dark and heavy winter warmers and stouts, Winter White is a stylish and refreshing Wheat Ale. Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley and wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. Deliberately brewed to retain a cloudy appearance, Winter White is a beer for embracing winter" (source).
• Perrin Damsel in Distress, $11.49/22oz - "German Roggenbier aged in Jamaican rum barrels" (source).
• New Holland Cabin Fever, $1.79/12oz - "Cabin Fever is a roasty brown ale and a hearty, comforting companion for long, mind-bending winters" (source).
• New Holland Dragons Milk Reserve Coconut Rum Barrel, $4.29/12oz - "Coconut complements the roasted chocolate flavor of Dragon's Milk, coaxing flavors that are reminiscent of lazy summer days. Rum barrels add a tropical character" (source).
• North Peak Blitzen, $1.89/12oz - "North Peak Blizen is a Festivus Ale with a complex malt characteristic and Michigan Chinook and Cascade hops. Rye malt provides a crisp spiciness for well-balanced, rich Festivus Ale" (source).
• New Belgium Ben and Jerry Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, $1.69/12oz - "I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream beer. This winter, dip into the fridge—not just the freezer—to find a dozen ways to sate your sweet tooth. Our newest collaboration with Ben & Jerry’s brings together two different types of pint-makers for one common goal: to fill your glass with Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Ale" (source).
• Shiner Cheer, $1.69/12oz - "Hints of Texas peaches & pecans with a hint of holiday spice at the end" (source).
• Deschutes Jubelale, $1.79/12oz - "A dark, malty celebration ale with layered flavors and beautifully balanced hopping. Jubelale pours deep garnet in color, medium bodied, with notes of chicory, earth, spice and fruit. To beer lovers, it’s like Yule fire and family" (source).
• Deschutes Black Butte XXVI, $17.19/22oz - "Our 26th anniversary Imperial Porter was aged in bourbon barrels and dry spiced with Theo Chocolate’s cocoa nibs, revealing hints of vanilla and chocolate. Pomegranate molasses and Oregon cranberries complement the robust flavor with a hint of fruit and just enough tart to make you smile" (source).
• Deschutes Black Butte XXVIII, $17.19/22oz - "Every year, we celebrate our anniversary with an imperial, barrel-aged version of our flagship Black Butte Porter. Our brewers love to experiment and they always add some fun new ingredients to this beer like chilies, cranberries, figs and other such treats. This year, to celebrate 28 years of brewing, they’ve added the interesting mix of ingredients above for another multi-layered flavor experience" (source).
• Bruery Mash and Vanilla, $24.59/750ml - "This is our classic bourbon barrel-aged barleywine – kicked up a notch. We took Mash, already oaky, sticky and sweet, and amplified its barrel character with the addition of fresh vanilla beans. This vanilla prominence is complemented by the woody bourbon flavors and coconut notes that are imparted to the beer as part of its extensive maturation in oak bourbon barrels. Mash & Vanilla is best enjoyed fresh to experience the vanilla flavors at peak strength" (source).
• Bruery Melange #14, $26.49/750ml - "Our Mélange series is a chance to roll out the barrels, roll up our sleeves and explore flavors that cannot be achieved outside of the art of the blend or by any one beer. French for “blend”, this mélange fuses the mature character of some of our most vintage barrels of barleywine and old ale with the dark depth of our imperial stouts, including both Tuesday-themed releases and Share This. This mélange is one for all, with rich, complex notes and the signature kiss of oak" (source).
• Bruery Theraux Sour in the Rye, $21.79/750ml - "Sour in the Rye is an American wild ale. A challenging beer to brew due to the substantial amount of rye malt, but you’ll be glad we took the time. The character of the rye asserts itself with clove and pepper in the aroma and flavor, and contributes a full body not generally found in sour beers. Pleasantly sour with notes of tart cherry, rustic earth and vanilla notes from extensive barrel-aging" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Celebration, $1.69/12oz - "Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale represents a time honored tradition of brewing a special beer for the holiday season. There are generous portions of barley malts and fine whole hops of several varieties, creating a brew with a full, rich and hearty character" (source).
• Great Lake Christmas Ale, $2.39/12oz - "A Yuletide’s worth of holiday spices and sweet honey to keep you a-wassailing" (source).
• Southern Tier 2xMas, $1.99/12oz - "Double spiced ale brewed in the tradition of Swedish Glögg" (source).
• Lagunitas Brown Shugga, $1.99/12oz - "Originally a failed attempt at a 1997 batch of Olde GnarlyWine Ale resulting in an all-new-beer-style we like to call…Irresponsible" (source).
• Anderson Valley Winter Solstice, $2.19/12oz - "Winter Solstice® is our take on the classic style of “winter warmer.” Boasting a deep amber hue and rich mouthfeel, its creamy finish will lift your spirits. Hints of toffee, spice, and caramel tease the senses making this the perfect ale to share with friends and family during the cold days and long nights of winter" (source).

Video of the Week | Bell's Christmas Ale

All I want for Christmas ... is Bell's Christmas Ale!

Cheers!