New Beer Friday, Bourbon on Main Edition (November 30)

Bourbon on Main

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

It was late afternoon when we pulled into the motel parking lot on the outskirts of Frankfort, Kentucky.

“This doesn’t look good,” my wife said as we sat in the truck and looked around at the empty lot and rundown building. “It doesn’t even look open.”

“It sure doesn’t,” I said. “Are you sure you put the right address into the GPS?”

We had left Grand Rapids at nine that morning and headed south down I-196. After we were past Benton Harbor and had merged onto I-94 towards Chicago I began sensing there was something amiss with the route that the GPS had mapped out for us.

“Is there a problem?” Barb asked while I was studying a map.

“She has us going all the way to Gary and getting on 65,” I answered, referring to the female voice that periodically spoke to us through the truck’s radio. “That’s pretty far out of our way. Get off at the next exit.” After stopping for directions, after a number of audibly nervous sighs from the driver and after repeatedly ignoring the female voice’s curt commands to make a U-turn, we eventually found US-31 and from there it was smooth sailing down to Frankfort.

Back to that seedy motel. Barb had indeed entered the right address and it was indeed open. “Where’s a good restaurant?” I asked the clerk after returning to the office because the key card to our room wouldn’t work.

“There’s a Big Boy down the road,” she said.

“Um, anything else? Anything that serves alcohol?”

The clerk thought for a few minutes. “Oh, there’s a place downtown. Bourbon on Main I think it’s called. I haven’t been there but I hear it’s pretty good.”

“How’s the Uber service around here?” I asked.

“Uber!” the clerk repeated incredulously. “There ain’t no Ubers in Frankfort!”

For being the state capital Frankfort is a pretty sleepy town.

Bourbon on Main was easy to find and was very good. The restaurant has an incredible bourbon list and since I wasn’t driving I indulged in a few. When we got back to our seedy motel I fixed my driver a big Manhattan and since I didn’t want her to drink alone I fixed a smaller one for myself. While we lay in bed watching Animal Planet we sipped our cocktails and listened to the sounds of a party coming from an upstairs room.

“I hope that doesn’t go on all night,” said Barb.

We wanted a good night’s sleep because in the morning we were hitting the Bourbon Trail.

New and Returning Beer

• Atwater Mint Double Decadent, $3.19/12oz - "Chocolate beer" (source).
• Atwater Hazelnut VJ Porter, $1.99/12oz - No commercial description available.
• Atwater Raz Whango, $1.59/12oz - "Raspberry Mango Wheat" (source).
• Blackrocks 51k Azaccanot, $2.19/12oz - "Our normal 51K dry hopped with Ekuanot and Azacca hops. Expect more tropical/mango aromas and flavors to jump out while remaining balanced and clean" (source).
• Brew Detroit Cornerman, $2.79/16oz - Red ale.
• Central State Hickory Ridge, $3.79/16oz - "Named for one of our favorite trail networks in Southern Indiana, this beer is the perfect complement for a fall hike.  Crisp malt is backed by an assertive dose of Belma & Cryo Citra hops followed up by spicy farmhouse funk" (source).
• Dark Horse Plead the 5th, $3.59/12oz - "Our Russian Imperial Stout is pitch black in color with a faint tan head that immediately identifies this beer as BIG. Aromas of dark fruits, chocolate, caramel and roast also make it even bigger. Roasted coffee and fruity chocolate notes are just the beginning of this beers complex flavor. You have the right to enjoy or remain silent (ha, ha!)" (source).
• Dark Horse Scary Jesus Rockstar, $1.79/12oz - "This collaboration beer made with Chef Cleetus Friedman of Chicago's Fountainhead will save your soul and then melt your face off. Aromas of chamomile touch your nose as they lead into the soft body and mouthfeel of this liquid symphony. Just as your mind is clear and your sins are washed away, a tasty riff of sweet and earthy fresh apricots hit your palate and rock your tastebuds finishing dry and hoppy. Drink, rock, repeat" (source).
• Deschutes Obsidian, $1.99/12oz - "Deep, robust and richly rewarding, this is beer to linger over. Obsidian has distinct notes of espresso, chocolate, roasted malt and black barley, with just enough hop bite to cut the sweetness" (source).
• Destihl Wild Sour Cranberry, $2.99/12oz - "Our non-traditional Cranberry Criek evolved by merging tart cranberries with sweet cherries, normally associated with a traditional Kriek, but in a kettle sour beer that is wonderfully intricate, balanced, fruity and tart. We then dry-hopped this crimson-colored beer for a touch of citrus aroma and flavor, adding another layer of complexity and a perfect finish" (source).
• Hop Concept Citrus & Pine, $3.39/16oz - "Bold orange peel and honey aromas with a faint hint of bready malt define this IPA. The citrus and piney are both on full display, with tangerine and grapefruit notes that lead to a crisp spicy finish. Brewed with orange zest" (source).
• Madtree PsycHOPathy, $1.89/12oz - "Explore the blend of bright, citrus, and floral aromas. Additional citrus flavors follow alongside a smooth bitterness. It finishes with a medium body and a slightly sweet, malty backbone. Trust your senses" (source).
• N.I.P. Batch 31, $2.99/12oz - "Big, black, and delicious. Sounds like something that just belongs in your mouth right? This beer definitely belongs there. This is our riff on the traditional German style, schwartzbier. Usually these are nice mellow guys, but ours clocks in at 8.5% ABV. Black as night, extremely smooth and drinkable, with slight notes of chocolate and roast, and a devilishly clean finish. Drink some as you see the snow start to fall, with family and friends, just remember to drink promiscuously" (source).
• Odd Side Imperial Mayan Mocha, $2.89/12oz - "Imperial version of our Mayan Mocha Stout. Inspired by Mexican hot chocolate. It is carefully blended with Dutch chocolate coffee, cinnamon, nutmeg, and habaneros which will leave you with the perfect balance of chocolate and heat" (source).
• Odd Side Rye Hipster Brunch, $7.99/12oz - "A delectable stout with coffee, maple syrup, and bacon with rye malt added, and then aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels" (source).
• Odd Side Wishes & Dreams, $7.99/12oz (2 per) - "Bourbon barrel aged porter with maple syrup and pecans" (source).
• Petoskey Blueberry Cranium Crush, $2.79/16oz - "This unique all had actual waffle cones added into the mash. Hints of this ingredient can be picked up in the finished beer. Raspberry puree is also added during fermentation" (source).
• Port Brewing Santa's Little Helper, $3.99/12oz - "Santa’s Little Helper, our Imperial Stout, starts with an emphasis on dark cocoa and roasted coffee aromatics. The finish lends hints of sweet crystal malt, warming tones of alcohol and a touch of hops, making a perfect accompaniment to leftover fruit cake and sugar cookies" (source).
• Roak BBA French Toast, $3.69/16oz - $3.69  (4 per) - No commercial description available.
• Saugatuck Stout Variety, $18.29/12pk - "It’s good to be stout with the Saugatuck Brewing Company Stout Pack! This Variety Pack contains three of each of the following 12 oz bottles: Neapolitan Milk Stout, Blueberry Maple Stout, Darker Than Your Soul (available only in Stout Packs), Beam Me Up, Stouty (available only in Stout Packs)" (source).

Video of the Week | Port Brewing

Santa's Little Helper, Available now at Siciliano's.

Cheers!