New Beer Friday, Fish Story Edition (October 27)

The Rogue

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

It was a miserable day to be wading in a river. The temperature was hovering just south of fifty and the rain that had been falling nonstop for two days had transformed the normally knee high, gently flowing stretch I was fishing into a waist high torrent. But I knew that this might be the last time I would be on the Rogue this year and I was hoping to land a trout or two before stowing my gear away for the season.

I carefully worked my way upstream through the steady rain, stopping every few steps to cast the big, brightly colored streamer towards a bank, keeping the rod tip low and the fly line tight, allowing it to swing downstream and then dangle for a moment before stripping it back against the current.

I took mental photographs of the river while I fished. Here’s one of a gaggle of honking geese swooping down and landing en masse on the water off the tip of an upstream island. Here’s another of a sharp, boulder strewn, high banked bend in the river framed against the backdrop of the red leaves of a towering old maple. This bald eagle flew over me so low I could hear the rhythmical swooshing of its slow flapping wings.

I called it quits after a few hours. I didn’t catch any fish that day but that’s the way it goes sometimes. At least I was able to hook into and land a few nice memories.

New and Returning Beer

• Alaskan Husky IPA, $1.69/12oz - "This IPA has brilliant clarity and exhibits tropical and stone fruit flavors with aromas of tangerine and papaya" (source).
• Bell's Arabicadabra, $2.09/12oz - "Arabicadabra is brewed with a cold coffee extract made at the brewery using a combination of fair trade, organic Nicaraguan coffee beans and Sumatra coffee beans. Lactose is also used for creaminess (those with dairy allergies or sensitivities should take note). It was inspired by Milchkaffe, another specialty Bell's beer" (source).
• Blackrocks Nordskye, $2.09/12oz - "We brewed/tweaked this beer at the pub for a couple of years under a different name until it was can worthy. Galaxy hops brings out big tropical/fruity aromas and flavors, the low ABV and easy body make it easy to justify grabbing one more" (source).
• Vivant Hop Field, $2.69/16oz - "This IPA follows our farmhouse roots while honoring Michigan’s love of hops. Featuring a blend of Michigan-grown hops, this beer celebrates hop flavor on a wholistic level, not solely the bitterness. A rustic, unfiltered cloudiness and farmhouse yeast allows the bright, fruit-forward hops to shine. Well balanced and refreshing, this farmhouse IPA boasts complexity and comfort all in one" (source).
• Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, $2.29/12oz - "This is the famous Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout. In the 18th century, Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia, ordered a stout to be sent to her from England. This beer was brewed strong and hoppy to survive the sea voyage, and it arrived in perfect condition. Soon "Russian Imperial Stout" became the toast of the Russian aristocracy. Brewed since 1994, our Black Chocolate Stout has itself become a modern classic, heralded the world over. It achieves its dark chocolate aroma and flavor through the artful blending of six malts and three distinct mashes. Properly kept, it will improve in the bottle for many years. This stout is the toast of the winter season in many countries, and there is nothing better to enjoy with chocolate desserts, cheesecake, ice cream, fine cheeses and roaring fireplaces" (source).
• Griffin Claw Nawt A Cawp, $3.59/16oz - "A bitter, moderately strong American pale ale that uses its clean, supporting malt to showcase its hop character" (source).
• Pigeon Hill Salted Caramel Porter, $1.79/12oz - "Pigeon Hill Brewing Company was founded on the ideals of community, tradition, and great beer. We believe in creating a taproom that is a community gather space, steeped in rich local tradition, and fueled by pints of excellent craft beer" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Celebration, $1.69/12oz - "The start of Celebration season is a festive event. We can’t start brewing until the first fresh hops have arrived, but once they have the season is officially under way! First brewed in 1981, Celebration Ale is one of the earliest examples of an American-style IPA and one of the few hop-forward holiday beers. Famous for its intense citrus and pine aromas, Celebration is bold and intense, featuring Cascade, Centennial and Chinook hops—honoring everything we have at Sierra Nevada" (source).
• Stone Xocoveza, $2.99/12oz - "There’s nothing like making a beer so beloved that people feel compelled to campaign for its return. So, in the spirit of the holiday season, we are very pleased to give our fans the number one item on their wish lists. As illustrated by the avalanche of social media requests, that is Stone Xocoveza, an insanely delicious take on Mexican hot chocolate brewed with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. First brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe won our annual homebrew competition, this imperial stout is layered with smooth roastiness, semisweet chocolate and a touch of spice. Thanks entirely to you, this creamy, mocha stout has gone from initially being a one-time offering to a yearly tradition. Happy holidays from all of us to all of you…and feel free to continue enjoying it long into the spring and summer, as this gem will age beautifully and is definitely not exclusive to the winter season" (source).
• Wolverine Massacre, $2.99/12oz - "If you have never called a lager “ferocious” then you haven’t tried Massacre. We start with an imperial dark lager and age it in heavy-toast Kentucky bourbon barrels until it’s ready to package, at which point we dip each precious bottle in red wax to seal in the deliciousness. Releases in October each year -- make sure to get yours while it lasts" (source).
• Arcadia Hop Mouth, $2.69/12oz - "This remarkably balanced brew has a deep amber hue with a generous white head. Hopmouth showcases a rich, toasty flavor and sweet caramel notes because of the high-quality Maris Otter malt used. The hops are up front in the aroma, reminiscent of citrus and pine, while the resin-like flavors linger well after the last sip" (source).
• Petoskey Cosmati, $5.19/16oz - "Mosaic single-hopped DIPA with diverse citrus, mango & papaya mingled with mysteriously pleasing bitterness balanced by the large grain bill" (source).
• Ommegang Winter is Here, $9.99/750ml - "Winter Is Here is a Belgian-style double white ale. Fittingly for a double white (walker) ale, the label is graced by the ominous visage of the Night King, who is expected to arrive as forcefully in Season 7 as this beer's 8.3% ABV will arrive in your stomach" (source).
• Ommegang Fire & Ice Gift Packs, $23.99/pack - No commercial description.
• Dogfish Head Liquid Truth Serum, $2.59/12oz - "Our unique process involving pelletized, powdered, leaf and liquefied hops makes for a blissfully inefficient IPA that's truthfully hoppy without being deceptively bitter. You'll find the perfect match of citrusy and tropical notes, making for a zesty finish" (source).
• Dogfish Head Pennsylvania Tuxedo, $4.19/12oz - "A spruce-infused pale ale, Pennsylvania Tuxedo pays homage to the flannel-suited hunters and gatherers who dwell deep in the backcountry of north-central PA. Brewed in collaboration with family-run outdoor clothing company Woolrich, Pennsylvania Tuxedo is a sessionable concoction with a grassy citrus kick complemented by the resinous conifer notes of fresh green spruce tips. We went into the forests of north-central Pennsylvania and Georgetown, Del., to pick these fresh tips ourselves. A dry yet doughy malt backbone lets the hops and spruce shine while still balancing out the bitterness, making this one an easy sipper" (source).
• Southern Tier Cinnamon Roll, $4.19/12oz - "The scent of our brewery on brew days is irresistible. Akin to the morning’s first brewed batch of perfectly roasted coffee, the aromas envelope you and cause the corners of your lips to curl into the slightest unconscious smile. In this brew, lightly toasted malts with subtly spicy hops blend into cinnamon flavors and creamy lactose sugar. Their coalescence is so uncannily close to fresh baked cinnamon rolls that it was impossible to name this beer anything other than Cinnamon Roll Imperial Ale! Pairs perfectly with eggs benedict at brunch, after dinner, or next to the fire for an unforgettable nightcap" (source).
• Abita Horchata Turbodog, $4.69/22oz - "Horchata Turbodog is based on one of Abita’s most popular brews, with a definite Latin twist. This robust dark ale is brewed with pale, caramel and chocolate malts, then fresh cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans are added during aging giving it a traditional horchata flavor. This gives the brew a rich body, dark color and deep flavors of chocolate, toffee, cinnamon and vanilla" (source).
• Abita Bourbon Street Maple Pecan, $9.69/22oz - "Bourbon Street Maple Pecan is a nut brown ale that is aged in Bourbon barrels. Our Maple Pecan is brewed with a combination of pale, munich, biscuit, and caramel malts. Roasted pecans are also added to the brew for a nutty flavor and aroma. We add maple syrup in the brewhouse as well to give the beer a sweet flavor and full body. After fermentation and aging the beer is transferred into the bourbon barrels. It is then aged for another 8 weeks to absorb all of the flavors from the barrels. The result is brown ale that blends the light flavors of nuts, maple syrup, and baking bread from the beer with the warming flavors of wood and vanilla from the bourbon barrels" (source).

Video of the Week

Now available at Sicilano's.

Cheers!