New Beer Friday, Relationship with Rum Edition (July 14)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

I've had love affairs with various distilled spirits over the years but it was only recently that I entered into a relationship with rum. It began last January in Nicaragua when I was introduced to an aged Flor de Cana and was smitten by its seductive flavors of nougat, almonds and molasses.

I keep a bottle or two of rum in my liquor cabinet now. Over the last six months I've gotten to know some lovely Dominicans, Jamaicans and Venezuelans and I've got my eye on some beauties from Brazil, Trinidad, Guyana and Haiti.

Siciliano’s stocks a wide array of this captivating liquor. If you have an affinity for quality spirits but have yet to discover the seductive pleasures of a fine aged rum perhaps it’s time you give one a try.

New and Returning Beer

• Founders DKML, $11.99/750ml, $3.99/12oz - "Here you have what could be the first malt liquor worthy of a glass. Typically a slighted style, we thought we would class it up with a stay in the wood and a healthy dose of dry-hopping. A huge hit of corn gives this one a smooth sweetness while its time spent aging in bourbon barrels will give you reason to share. Be warned: this one’s a pry-off, not a twist-off" (source).
• Stone Wootstout, $9.49/22oz - "From the most unlikely yet intensely imaginative trio that is actor and uber-geek champion Wil Wheaton, alternative news website Fark.com creator Drew Curtis and Stone CEO/Co-founder Greg Koch, comes an imperial stout unlike any ever made. Brewed with rye, wheat malt and pecans and partially aged in Bourbon whiskey barrels, this viscous yet silken brew erupts with an oaky, nutty bouquet and rich flavors of vanilla, toast and bitter chocolate. Enjoy now or cellar this celebration of nth degree passion and geekery applied most gracefully to the craft of brewing and collaboration-Drew Curtis/Wil Wheaton/Greg Koch Stone Farking Wheaton w00tstout" (source).
• Evil Twin Modern IPA, $2.09/12oz - "This is a tasty tribute to a beloved and iconic beer style - the India Pale Ale. The style goes 200 years back - has been through every spectrum of the flavor palette and had it’s ups and downs on the IBU scale. This time around we re-created a contemporary style IPA - basically the taste of the perfect IPA right now. Understated hop flavors, fruity and crisp. The future is now" (source).
• Mikkeller San Diego California Dream, $2.99/16oz - "Hoppy Pilsener" (source).
• Mikkeller San Diego Raspberry Blush, $2.99/16oz - "Berliner Weisse with raspberry and coffee" (source).
• Mikkeller San Diego Waves, $2.99/16oz - "Notes of mosaic and citra, lots of dank tropical fruit, white wine, peach, and light malt. A very good rendition of a west coast IPA" (source).
• Clown Shoes Space Cake #7, $4.29/16oz - "Why are Miracle Mike and his dog, Bionic, being chased by many evil laser beam shooting cupackes and two giant layer cake mother ships?  Because we’re straight up lunatic fools?  Well, maybe, but with a few brain cells remaining we managed to craft Space Cake double IPA, utilizing citrusy Mosaic hops and an immaculate West Coast style malt backbone.  Dude… chill out.  Enjoy some Space Cake" (source).
• Clown Shoes La Pinguina En Fuego, $15.39/22oz - "People have been asking us to make a truly spicy chile beer, so we finally complied. Aged in rum barrels with habaneros, this version of chocolate sombrero is on a mission from God (to ingnite your palate)" (source).
• Ommegang Bigger and Bretter, $16.09/750ml - "This is Bigger And Bretter and it is a Biere de Garde ale refermented with brettanomyces" (source).
• Boulevard Foeder #2, $17.99/750ml - "The base beer for Foeder Project #2 is best categorized as a Flanders-style Red. Following primary fermentation with our house Belgian yeast strain, the beer was transferred into the foeder where lactobacillus brevis and brettanomyces had already taken up residence. No additional microbes or yeast strains were pitched to begin secondary fermentation. Over the course of several months, the beer evolved and developed beautiful flavors of tart peach/apricot and notes of under ripe berries and rhubarb with a borderline bracing acidity resulting in a refreshing, zippy finish" (source).
• Rodenbach Fruitage, $1.89/8oz - "RODENBACH Fruitage gets its name from aged-old brewing techniques, combined with fruit infusions.  It's an instant classic – comprised of 25% authentically aged RODENBACH (2-year matured beer from oak standing Foeders) blended with 75% young RODENBACH ale, with added fruit of cherries and elderberries.  With an ABV of 4.2%, RODENBACH Fruitage is light and refreshing, perfect for easy drinking and to be enjoyed year-round" (source).
• Oddside Hoplicated, $2.19/12oz - "Imperial Citra Red" (source).

Video of the Week | Founders Fest Recap

A look back at one of the area's most popular parties.

Cheers!