New Beer Friday, Steve's Manhattan Edition (January 6)

Steve's Manhattan

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

My wife and I occasionally enjoy a cocktail or two before dinner and when the weather starts turning cold we transition from refreshing gin and tonics to a bone-warming variation of the classic Manhattan cocktail.

Most cocktail purists concede that a classic Manhattan can be made with either bourbon or rye and they agree that maraschino cherries, lemon peels and orange peels are all acceptable garnishes. They do, however, claim that the concoction is not a true Manhattan unless the ingredients are stirred or shaken with ice and then strained and served neat in a stemmed cocktail glass.

I prefer my Manhattans in a rocks glass over ice so in deference to the purists I’ll refrain from calling my rendition a classic Manhattan. Give the following recipe a try if you’re looking for a cocktail to ward off the chill during the frigid winter months.

Steve’s Manhattan

• 2 ounces Siciliano’s Single Barrel Select 1792 Bourbon
• 1 ounce Dolin Sweet Vermouth
• 3 dashes Peychaud’s Barrel Aged Bitters
• 2 Luxardo Maraschino Cherries

New and Returning Beer

• New Belgium Whizbang, $1.69/12oz - "A complex hoppy blonde ale bursting with Mosaic hops and a malty backbone for a full-flavored taste explosion" (source).
• New Belgium Voodoo Ranger 8 Hop, $1.69/12oz - "Brilliantly balanced for easy drinking, this pale ale is packed with citrus and tropical fruit flavors from eight different hop varieties" (source).
• New Belgium Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA, $1.69/12oz - "A rare blend of choice hops creates an explosion of fresh-cut pine and citrus flavors for a complex, rich and delicious flavor" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Sidecar, $1.69/12oz - "We love hops with a bright, citrus-heavy character. We always wondered what it would be like to punch up the citrus while maintaining a crisp hop bite and balance. The result is this new take on the hoppy pale ale brewed with Cascade, Equinox, and Mandarina hops with a hint of orange peel from additions in both the brew kettle and the fermenter that tweak the classic hop profile and add a zesty pop of bright orange flavor" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Tropical Torpedo, $1.69/12oz - "Inspired by the island life, we created an IPA completely disconnected from the mainland. We used our one-of-a-kind Hop Torpedo to deliver an intense rush of hop flavor and the lush aromas of mango, papaya, and passionfruit with every sip. Enjoy our tropical twist on the American IPA" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Golden IPA, $1.69/12oz - "We’ve always had a passion for hops, but in today’s hop-heavy beer landscape it’s easy to forget where that passion came from. In the early days, one variety changed everything—the Cascade hop. It captured us then, and the flavor is still gripping: floral and grassy with a pronounced resinous pine and grapefruit aroma. Our Golden IPA pays homage to the mighty Cascade and wonderful world of hop flavor it inspired" (source).
• Stone Ripper, $1.99/12oz - "When it came to creating Ripper, we drew inspiration from the coastal surf cultures of SoCal and Oz. Sourcing classic Cascade from the Pacific Northwest and Australian Galaxy hops from…yes…Australia, we made a beer both lovers of frothy peaks and hoppy green buds will be stoked about. At the same time, we stayed true to our San Diego roots by pushing the hop boundaries of this style. While some might think it lingers on an edge far closer to an IPA, with all the dry-hop flavor and aroma, it’s actually right in line with the current-day interpretation of a West Coast pale. Ours just so happens to have an Aussie accent that’s cascading with a juicy amount of grapefruit and passion fruit hoppiness. So veg out or venture out. Either way, rip one open and taste this awesome golden nectar" (source).
• Perrin PYP, $1.89/12oz - "Upon first tasting this beer, our brewers declared that it was so chocolaty they thought they might poop their pants. This unique beer is made using a blend of fine chocolates, cacao, and specialty malts, which deliver a pleasing taste for every beer lover" (source).
• Brooklyn Bel Air Sour, $1.59/12oz - "Lead by our James Beard Award-winning Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, our brewers put their collective minds together to conjure up one tasty magic trick—a thrilling jolt of tartness up front opens onto a riot of tropical fruit, courtesy of our lacto, our ale yeast, and a generous helping of Amarillo dry-hopping. Soft barley and wheat malts keep things dry and refreshing, and the whole thing comes together to close with a fine dry finish. Brooklyn Bel Air Sour is racy and maybe even a little bit dangerous, but also effortlessly cool, breezy, and undeniably compelling" (source).
• Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree, $4.49/12oz - "We actually took the Crooked Tree recipe and doubled all of the ingredients except the water, just the way a DOUBLE should be made. Big hops balanced with tons of malt give this beer a huge body. Enjoy right away or let it mellow and smooth with some age" (source).
• New Holland Pilgrim's Dole, $4.29/12oz - "A barleywine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt, or what we at New Holland call a wheatwine. Pilgrim’s Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique caramelized character" (source).
• North Peak Stormy, $1.79/12oz - No commercial description.
• Weyerbacher Quad, $3.29/12oz - "Big and delicious, QUAD is an elegant dark ale. Rich with complexity and flavor, try savoring it with a fine dinner. You also might enjoy it as an aperitif or as an accompaniment to a dessert, but QUAD stands alone quite well. We recommend enjoying QUAD in a brandy snifter or wine glass so you can drink in the aroma of this fine ale" (source).
• Great Lakes Conway's Irish, $1.69/12oz - "A pint for Pa Conway! Our co-owners’ grandfather and policeman who’d likely uphold that an Irish Ale with full-bodied caramel malt flavors is just the ticket" (source).
• Lagunitas Cappuccino Stout, $4.79/22oz - "Brewed with boatloads of roasted coffee in each batch for that extra Krunk… this Mondo Coffee Stout will leave you wondering whether you're coming or going. Available in 22oz bombers mid-winter…ish" (source).
• Lagunitas Citrusinensis, $1.69/12oz - "We took some fresh Sanguinello Blood oranges, juiced 'em, concentrated that juice (without heat) and threw it into a wheatier version of our New Dogtown Pale Ale. The end result? A refreshingly hopped pale-ish ale with a huge citrus burst" (source).
• Oddside Sini9ster Vertigo, $2.49/12oz - "A spunky imperial stout" (source).

Video of the Week

Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree is now available at Siciliano's.

Cheers!