New Beer Friday, Big Brew at Trail Point Edition (April 7)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

If you enjoy hand-crafted beer, if you like being around fun-loving people and if you're interested in learning about the process of homebrewing, we invite you to join a gathering of passionate homebrewers at Trail Point Brewing on Saturday, May 6 in a country-wide observance of National Homebrew Day.

In 1988 the United States Congress decreed that the hobby of brewing beer be added to the list of National Days and in that same year the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) created The Big Brew Day as a way for homebrewers to gather together and celebrate the national recognition of their hobby. AHA Big Brews are held each year at hundreds of venues around the country on the first Saturday in May.

Five years ago Siciliano’s Market sponsored its first Big Brew Day and the event has since become one of West Michigan’s most popular public homebrewing celebrations. This year twenty-six teams of dedicated hobbyists will be brewing batches of Beer City Oated Pale Ale in the brewery's back parking lot. Samples of hand-crafted, homemade beer will be available to those of legal drinking age and, of course, Trail Point's solid lineup of commercial offerings will be available for purchase in the pub.

Mashing.

Updates and Reminders

Online entry registration for the Fourteenth Annual Siciliano's Homebrew Competition will be accepted through Sunday, April 9, or until 200 entries are submitted, whichever occurs first. Bottles must be submitted by Sunday, April 9.

The Siciliano's Homebrew Party will be held this year on Saturday, May 20, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the enclosed shelter at Johnson Park. Tickets are now on sale. Seating is limited so if you plan on attending one of Beer City USA’s most popular beer-centric events you are encouraged to buy your tickets early.

New and Returning Beer

• Blake's The Tonic, $2.09/12oz - "Infused with Cucumber and Ginger, this cider is the perfect concoction for those days you want a crisp, refreshing cider to match that feeling that comes along with spring" (source).
• Pike 51 Sinister Sister, $8.09/22oz - "2017 imperial porter with hazelnuts & cocoa nibs" (source).
• Avery Coconut Porter, $13.79/22oz - "Copious quantities of coconut coupled with time basking in bourbon barrels complement the chocolaty and sumptuous nature of this delectable porter" (source).
• Avery Apricot Sour, $13.79/ 22oz - "Bushels of juicy apricots and bright bursts of barrel-aged tartness are seamlessly infused to cultivate this deliciously distinctive and succulent sour ale" (source).
• Avery Maharaja, $3.99/12oz - "Maharaja is derived from the sanskrit words mahat, meaning “great”, and rajan, meaning “king”. Much like its namesake, this imperial IPA is regal, intense and mighty. With hops and malts as his servants, he rules both with a heavy hand. The Maharaja flaunts his authority over a deranged amount of hops: tangy, vibrant and pungent along with an insane amount of malted barley – fashioning a dark amber hue and exquisite malt essence" (source).
• Tallgrass The Grizz, $2.59/12oz - "The Grizz comes out of hibernation in 2017, full-bodied and with pine and hints of grapefruit, orange, lemon and peach on the nose. Flavors of pine, resin, woody hops and citrus dominate the palate, while the 9.5% ABV and 80 IBUs make The Grizz roar" (source).
• North Peak Original Hoppy Pale, $1.69/12oz - "Reminiscent of the traditional pale ale style of beer, North Peak is releasing Original Pale Ale. Brewed to be a lighter, more drinkable beer to be enjoyed all year round" (source).

Video of the Week | Mikkeller Beer

A fascinating video about Mikkeller. Bonus content: Rick Astley.

Cheers!