New Beer Friday, Squirrel Nut Zipper Edition (July 21)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

Every other week or so my wife Barb takes a trip to United Wholesale to pick up the supplies that we use in the day-to-day operations of Siciliano’s Market. In addition to such pertinent items as register tape, paper bags and replacement blades for box cutters, Barb always ensures that we have a good supply of the Smarties Double Lollies that we give to kids who accompany their parents into the store.

I love watching kids' faces light up when we offer them a lollipop. It's something that we've done for a number of years now. The small gesture always makes the children happy, usually make the parents happy and is, I think, one of the little things that helps to give our store that “mom & pop” ambience that our customers really seem to enjoy.

Barb was out of town a few weeks ago so I had to make the warehouse run. In addition to picking up a jar of suckers, I also picked up a jar of Squirrel Nut Zippers. I have fond memories of the little peanut-laced caramels from my childhood and I was sure the kids would, quite literally, eat them up.

I was wrong. So far not one kid has opted for a Squirrel Nut Zipper instead of a sucker. I wonder if it's the name.

New and Returning Beer

• Ridge Cider Raspberry, $1.99/12oz - " Sweetened with raspberries to show you our sweeter side.  When it comes to Michigan made cider, there’s no place like home" (source).
• Elk Brewing PB& Jaley, $1.79/12oz - "Blonde ale flavored with grape juice and peanut butter" (source).
• Dogfish Head Lupa Luau, $2.59/12oz - "The story of Lupu-Luau began when Sam was hanging outside with coworkers during an overly-sunny day. One present coworker in particular was lacking heavily in the melanin department, to put it lightly. A friendly joke about a total tan aversion led to this legendary comment, “You can say it, Sam, I’m pale as f**k.” The brewer in Sam thought that would make a cool name for a super pale beer. From there the wheels started turning and the iterative R&D process began. Sam set out to make a hazy, overly pale, beer but the test batches weren’t quite there yet. However, during that process, he found out how great coconuts work in an IPA and decided that the new goal was to make an IPA using as much coconut as possible. We started with a combination of Pils malt with flaked barley, rolled oats, and malted and raw wheat to get it all hazy. Then we introduced coconuts three ways by adding toasted coconut, dehydrated coconut water and an experimental hop variety that provides a unique coconut & woody aroma. The result? A lupulin-loaded, coconut-centric ale. Our Lupu-Luau IPA" (source).
• Griffin Claw Overnight Sensation, $2.19/16oz - "Fruity and lightly tart" (source).
• Odd Side Instagator, $2.19/12oz - "An inclusive immoral ale with an impulsive ignorant hop bite" (source).
• Abita Cypress Kriek, $4.69/22oz - "Cypress Kriek, a sour cherry ale by Abita Brewing Co. is a Lousiana take on the Belgian style. The hallmark of a traditional kriek is the secondary fermentation with sour cherries added to a spontaneously fermented lambic base. For Abita’s version, the beer is brewed with pale and wheat malts. Next, cherries were added and allowed to ferment slowly before the beer is aged. Cypress Kriek will feature 6 percent ABV in 22-ounce bottles according to a label submitted to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau" (source).
• Abita Strawgator, $4.69/22oz - "Abita Strawgator™ is the fusion of Strawberry Harvest Lager sweetness with the bite of Andygator. This golden lager is made with malted barley and wheat. It is hopped with German Perle hops for a delicate hop flavor. After filtration, generous amounts of fresh Louisiana strawberry juice are added, giving the beer a pleasant sweet taste and aroma, as well as a rich golden color and slight cloudiness. Strawgator is a great dessert beer. It pairs well with fruit, dessert or sorberts. It is also excellent with chocolate dishes and cheeses such as St. Andre, Mascarpone and Brie" (source).
• B. Nectar Stupid Man Suit, $7.99/500ml - "Crisp apple and cherry forward. The sides of the tongue garner the tartness of dry apple and unripened berries while a mild sweetness rounds and balances. Medium body with a dry, refreshing finish" (source).
• Big Lake Brewing Triple Hopped Ryecoe, $7.99/22oz - "A decidedly hoppy and bitter ale with a light grainy spicy character and lingering dryness" (source).
• Evil Twin Westbrook Imperial Mexican Biscotti Break, $15.99/22oz - "Evil Twin Brewing in collaboration with Westbrook Brewing Co. Ale with coffee, cinnamon, almonds, cocoa nibs, vanilla, and habanero peppers added" (source).
• Farmhaus Crushable, $3.29/16oz - "You know that feeling when you jump in the water on a hot, sunny day? That's this cider. Cool, crisp and refreshing, it's like a poolside afternoon for your taste buds. Freshly picked cucumbers straight from our garden combined with all local apples create an easy-drinking cider that will quench your thirst and leave you craving that next sip. Enjoy it straight or use it as a mixer. Try and savor it if you can, but be warned: this cider is completely crushable" (source).
• Short's Slurm Lord, $2.39/12oz - "Slurm Lord is a double New England style India Pale Ale brewed with oats and a blend of Citra, Azacca, Amarillo, Galazy, and Mosaic hops. We’re excited to say that the brewing of Slurm Lord employs the largest dry hop to date in SBC history! Deep orange in color with a permanent haze and a minimal head, a glass of Slurm Lord resembles a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice. Aromas of dank passion fruit, mango, and pineapple are accompanied by bold flavors of citrus. This medium-bodied India Pale Ale is incredibly juicy from start to finish. A final sip leads into a slight, warming bitterness" (source).
• Tall Grass Blueberry Jam, $1.69/12oz - "After a successful solo tour, we decided to put a band together with our Jam Series! Jam out with this refreshingly tart, German-style wheat ale brewed with blueberries" (source).

Video of the Week | Michigin

Congrats to our friends at Long Road, makers of the "Best Gin in the World".

Cheers!