New Beer Friday, Resistance is Futile Edition (Oct 19)

Bocian, Controller of Pests

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

My wife has a serious case of arachnophobia. I can empathize because I have a few fears of my own. But sometimes if I’m feeling a bit impish I’ll kid her about it. This past summer a little black arachnid with beady eyes was skittering around on our back deck and Barb was convinced that the tiny critter was stalking her. Instead of trying to abate her irrational fears I told her it was sizing her up for a meal.

I was smart enough not to joke about the wolf spiders that she would freak out about whenever she spied one loping around in the basement. I went to bat for them and tried explaining that they were more afraid of her than she was of them and that they were good to have around because they ate the nasty house flies. But my appeals were unsuccessful and I had to hire a professional — Chad Bocian from Stealth Pest Control — to eliminate the large, hairy, eight-eyed beasts. I’ve learned that when Barb makes her mind up about something it’s usually futile to resist.

The trees around our cottage are another example. I could live with the trees the same as I could live with the spiders but Barb claimed they obscured our view of the lake (which they did) and that all the acorns that they dropped every fall were a nuisance (which they were). She orchestrated the removal of twenty-seven of the offending oaks. I have to admit that our view of the lake has improved greatly and that it’s nice not having to worry about acorns beaning us when we’re sitting on the deck.

A few weeks ago a nasty storm blew through Lake County. There has been an ongoing debate in the bars around Irons whether it was a tornado or straight-line winds that did the damage but it appears that Big Bass Lake was ground zero. A tree fell on a neighbor’s garage, Matson Road looked like it was carpet bombed and a number of big oaks were uprooted in back of our pole barn. I could only imagine what kind of damage might have been done to our cottage if Barb hadn’t insisted on taking down all those trees. I’ve also learned that when my wife thinks something should be done she’s usually right.

New and Returning Beer

• Arcadia Apollyan, $1.99/12oz - "Tremble before Apollyon, The Destroyer, for herein is a beer that requires careful handling. Produced using a technique that amplifies the intense apple/pear fruitiness of Arcadia’s house English-style yeast, the result is a straw-colored golden strong ale that hides its strength carefully. Obscured by intense honey notes, hints of cotton candy, fresh-baked bread, and a wickedly dry, crisp body, we took to calling it Apollyon in homage to the Belgian tradition of naming beers after “devilish” figures. Unlike the king of locusts, the only truly dangerous part of Apollyon is how enjoyable and refreshing it is" (source).
• Arvon Point Betsie, $9.99/22oz - "Arvon Brewing Co.’s Lighthouse Series of New England style IPAs are each distinctly hopped with a single varietal, displaying the unique character of the hops as a shining beacon. The explosive hop flavor and aroma of Vic Secret featured in Point Betsie is best experienced when this beer is enjoyed fresh" (source).
• Bell's Arabicadabra, $2.29/12oz - "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).
• City Built Melisandre, $3.59/16oz - "Red IPA • Mackinaw Hops • Caramel Malt • The Beer is Red and Full of Hops" (source).
• Dogfish Head Pennsylvania Tuxedo, $3.29/12oz - "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" (source).
• Left Hand Pixan Pepper Porter, $2.39/12oz - "Dried cherry and plum flavors with subtle smoke, roasty malt sweetness and the warmth of chilis" (source).
• Lost Abbey Farmhouse Lager, $2.69/12oz - "Farmhouse Lager is a lighter version of our long-time brew, Avant Garde. It is our first foray into the 12oz bottle/six-pack world, as we have been mostly known for large format (750ml bottles). Still beginning with an initial malt sweetness and a subtle hop presence, this lager finishes smooth and crisp. Perfect for an evening out on your porch or with some fresh baked bread pulled straight from the oven" (source).
• North Pier Old Shuck, $2.99/16oz - "This deep dark brew is an ode to Old Shuck, the ghostly demon dog that roamed the countryside in 16th century England. Big coffee aromas pairs perfectly with a late addition of earthy English hops, making this the perfect roasty ale to drink all year round" (source).
• Rochester Mills Warrior Goddess, $2.59/16oz - "Ale brewed with Pink Grapefruit, Lemons and a splash of Pomegranate, this light-bodied, American-style shandy beer has bright citrus aromas and flavors of fresh fruit with a sweet, yet subtly tart finish" (source).
• Southern Tier Cinnamon Roll, $4.39/12oz - "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).
• Southern Tier Old Man Winter, $1.89/12oz - "Our winter offering is here to quell your shivers and get you through the coldest of nights. A rich marriage of hops and barley to cast light upon the evening and melt your mind out of the snowdrifts. Old Man Winter’s earthy hue and thickness lace around the glass, inviting you to linger in its warmth and share the spirits of the season with your friends and family. A deceptively strong brew, it’s best to sit and ponder with this old man, sip by sip" (source).
• Terrapin Gamma Ray, $3.99/16oz - "Gamma Ray is a wheat beer brewed with a massive amount of honey from Savannah Bee Company. This super powered blast from the past will make you believe time travel is possible" (source).
• Terrapin Moo-Hoo, $2.19/12oz - "Dark brown to black in color. Aromas of dark chocolate. Dark roasted malt flavor with hints of caramel and chocolate, rounded out by a sweet, creamy finish" (source).

Video of the Week | Pennsylvania Tuxedo

Now available at Siciliano's.

Cheers!