New Beer Friday, Advent Calendar Edition (November 9)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

Craft beer aficionados looking for a fun way to count off the days until Christmas should consider putting together a beer Advent calendar this holiday season.

Advent calendars were first used by German Lutherans in the 19th century as a way of building anticipation for Christmas Day and are now popular among adherents of many Christian denominations. Old-fashioned Advent calendars focused on traditional Christmas motifs but today it appears that any theme is fair game, including craft beer.

Traditional Advent calendars often take the form of a large rectangular card with doors for each day of December leading up to and including Christmas Eve. A door is opened every day and can reveal images, poems, small gifts or, in the case of a beer calendar, different hand-crafted beers.

If you’re interested in putting together a selection of twenty-four beers, one for every day of Advent, the Siciliano’s staff is here to help. Let us know what you’re looking for and we’d be happy to put it together for you. Send inquiries to kati@sicilianosmkt.com for more information.

Please note that we do not carry boxes that are specifically designed to be used for beer Advent calendars. Go to this website for instructions on how to make one.

New and Returning Beer

• Anchor Christmas, $2.39/12oz - "Our annual Christmas Ale is a subtly spiced and sumptuously smooth winter warmer. This year’s brew marks the 44th annual release of this Anchor holiday tradition" (source).
• Atwater Christmas, $2.09/12oz - "Brewed with respect to the season, Atwater’s Winter Bock boasts the body and deep malt flavors matched with a warming, but well blended hint of alcohol. Extended aging reduces the sharpness and acidity typically apparent in strong ales" (source).
• B. Nektar Believe, $6.49/500ml - "Orange Blossom honey & fresh pressed Michigan cider" (source).
• Batch Brewing Empire Pale, $2.79/12oz - "American Pale Ale featuring Michigan grown Empire Hops. Light and crisp with a nice floral/fruity finish" (source).
• Bell's Christmas, $2.19/12oz - "This traditional Scotch Ale is rich and malty with notes of caramel and a warm finish. Certain to make any occasion festive, or at least a bit more bearable. Enjoy with the company of friends and family" (source).
• Bell's Hopsolution, $2.29/12oz - "A remarkably drinkable Double IPA that pays tribute to one of Mother Nature’s finest creations, as several hop varietals combine for massive aromas of tropical fruit, citrus and pine. A mild caramel malt character and dry finish provide balance" (source).
• Blackrocks Potter's Porter, $2.19/12oz - "A beer originally brewed for the man behind the mugs, known by his friend as Rad. This is a robust porter that's full of deep chocolate and dry roast flavors. A beer suited to help Rad get through those 24 hour kiln firings" (source).
• Blake's Fido, $2.09/12oz - "FIDO (Latin for faithfulness) is the second release in our #KinderCider series. Enjoy this hopped raspberry and grapefruit hard cider made in support of non-profits that pairs veterans and shelter animals" (source).
• Dark Horse Stout Pack, $24.89/12pk - Variety pack.
• Decadent Ectoplasm, $5.79/16oz - "DIPA with orange and tangerine" (source).
• Decadent Strawberry French Toast, $5.49/16oz - "DIPA with Vermont Maple Syrup, sugar burned and caramelized stove top, and a touch of cinnamon. Notes of dough and pancake batter round out the finish. Excellent for cooler nights ahead" (source).
• Deschutes Jubelale, $1.79/12oz - "Warm spiciness and tradition grace this bold, complex winter ale. The deep garnet color pairs perfectly with holiday celebrations" (source).
• Dogfish Head 120 Minute, $10.99/12oz - "Clocking in at 15-20% ABV, 120 Minute IPA is continuously hopped with a copious amount of high-alpha American hops throughout the boil and whirlpool, and then dry-hopped with another pallet of hops. Unfiltered and abundantly hoppy, it's the Holy Grail for hopheads" (source).
• Epic Oak Cab Sauv, $9.99/375ml - "Fruited with blackberry, black currant, and black cherries. Big fruity aroma with a sharp acidity and earthy well-cellared funk" (source).
• Epic Sour Pink Guava, $9.99/375ml - "An approachable tartness with hints of citrus and tropical fruits with a crisp, dry finish" (source).
• Evil Twin Even More Coco Jesus, $4.59/16oz - "Imperial Stout with Maple Syrup and Coconut added" (source).
• Evil Twin Privilege of a Lifetime, $5.49/16oz - "Double dry-hopped IPA that will never see a C&D letter" (source).
• Fat Orange Cat FOCLess Monster, $4.99/16oz - "NE IPA • 8% Citra and Ahtanum hop combination" (source).
• Left Hand Wake Up Dead Nitro, $2.89/16oz - "Super smooth with notes of cocoa and dried fruit" (source).
• Mitten Triple Crown Brown, $1.99/12oz - "A mild English Brown. Slight roast and chocolate, easy to drink" (source).
• New Belgium Accumulation White IPA, $1.79/12oz  - "This winter, IBUs start accumulating like snow in Colorado with our new Accumulation White IPA. Brewing a white IPA was not only a way to salute the white beauty falling from the sky, but a direct revolt to the longstanding tradition of brewing dark beers for winter and winter seasonal beers. At least that’s what our rebellious brewers like to claim as they shovel in plenty of mosaic and Amarillo hop varietals and a bit of wheat for a smooth mouthfeel. Stack up a few cases of Accumulation White IPA to keep your long nights glowing blizzard white" (source).
• New Holland Pilgrim's Dole, $4.69/12oz - "A barleywine-style ale made with fifty percent wheat malt, or what we at New Holland call a wheatwine. Pilgrim’s Dole blends warming and slightly sweet flavors with a unique caramelized character" (source).
• Odd Side Barrel Aged Mayan Mocha, $6.29/12oz - "Imperial version of Barrel aged Mayan Mocha aged for 8 months in bourbon barrels" (source).
• Odd Side Barrel Aged Nightman Leaveth, $8.09/12oz (4 per) - "We aged this imperial milk stout to perfection in Rye whiskey barrels and added vanilla beans. The result is a slightly sweet, smooth, creamy stout with an underlying rye spiciness and boozy finish" (source).
• Odd Side Barrel Aged Sweet Potato Rye, $8.09/12oz (4 per) - "Rye ale with sweet potatoes, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lactose. Aged in rye whiskey barrels" (source).
• Odd Side Caged Wisdom White Grape, $2.79/12oz - "Fermented very dry with almost no residual sugar along with retained bitterness showcase the full flavor and aromas of the hops finishing clean and crisp. White Grape Juice added" (source).
• Ominipollo Maz, $4.39/16oz - "Maz, formerly known as Mazarin, is my take on a “thinker’s beer”. Rather than being big and undecipherably complex I wanted to create something that would calm a hop yearning nerve without fuddling the brain too much. In other words, a lavishly hopped ale of judicious ABV — an Extra Special Pale Ale if you will" (source).
• Perrin Dragon Fruit Berliner, $2.09/12oz - "The beer pours a bright magenta and is filled with tropical fruit aromatics creating a natural tartness followed by a sweet finish" (source).
• Perrin Push Hop, $2.49/12oz - "This New England Style IPA is made with lactose sugar and fresh strawberries to create the perfect sorbet IPA" (source).
• Rochester Mills 12 Days of Milkshake Stout, $29.99/12pk - "Variety Pack" (source).
• Saugatuck Bourbon Barrel Aged Neapolitan Stout, $5.39/12oz - "A full bodied Milk Stout with chocolate, vanilla and strawberry added during brewing. This beer was barrel aged for four months" (source).
• Southern Tier Paradox of the Powerful, $4.09/16oz  - "The swan song of our Science is the Art Collection, Paradox of the Powerful, is hopped six ways from Sunday. We hit it with a dose of Mosaic hops in the kettle on its way to the whirlpool, then we open the floodgates and soak whole flower Mosaic in the hopsack at over 1/2 A pound per barrel. We lace the fermenters with Citra and Simcoe hop duSt over the course of several days to produce juicy tropical flavors and aromas. Notes of grapefruit and berries coupled with low IBU make this a crusher, much like our space heroine" (source).
• Startcut Mosa, $1.79/12oz - "Mosa is a crisp, refreshing blend of Hard Cider made from Michigan apples and sweet orange juice. This cider is slightly hazy and light orange in color, a true mimosa in cider form. Let the fruity harmony of citrus and bright apple flavors make your tastebuds do a happy dance" (source).
• Stillwater Dank Dank, $4.39/16oz - "Double dank india pale ale" (source).
• Stillwater This is Only a Test: Sparkling Rose, $5.49/16oz - "Sparkling rosé sour ale brewed with cabernet franc grapes" (source).
• Trailpoint Cipapotamus, $3.49/16oz - "This citra IPA utilizes all citra hops. Inhale through your nose and be greeted by heavy-duty citrus, flora, and tropical notes. Take a sip and treat your palette to a balanced IPA with a wicked awesome hop finish" (source).
• Uinta Rise & Pine, $1.69/12oz - "Juniper and piney hops build the framework for this bold dark ale. With its assertive bitterness and smooth malt finish, this beer stands tall above the rest" (source).
• Weyerbacher Dallas, $2.39/12oz - "Flavor forward, this brew was made for tailgating in parking lots, celebrating first downs and big hits, high-fiving friends & basking in the thrill of victory" (source).
• Weyerbacher Rico Guave, $3.59/16oz - "Sour Ale Brewed with Pineapple and Guava" (source).
• Wolverine Massacre, $4.89/12oz - "In the nose is sweet bourbon, with soft sugar and malt, hints of cocoa and mild roast. The flavor is layers upon layers of malt, bourbon, and a mix of dark dried stone fruits coated in dark chocolate. The body of this dark, looming brew is full and coating, which begs for sipping and savoring. The finish on this unique lager is exactly what you don’t get from all the big, barrel aged beers out there...the crisp and clean lager finish the Wolverine State Brewing Co. is known for" (source).

Video of the Week | 120 Minute IPA

Available now at Siciliano's (while supplies last).

Cheers!