Help Wanted at Siciliano's

Job listing by Steve Siciliano

Are you passionate about craft beer, fine wine and quality spirits? Siciliano’s Market, one of Michigan’s premier specialty stores, is looking for a friendly, hardworking individual to join our elite sales team. Candidates must be willing to work nights and weekends and knowledge of homebrewing and winemaking is definitely a plus. Please send cover letters and resumes to steve@sicilianosmkt.com.

Siciliano's Rare Beer Drawing: In Pursuit of Fairness

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

Every so often Siciliano’s is able to procure a few bottles of ultra-rare beers and spirits that have limited distributions in the West Michigan market. I want to place added emphasis on the word “few”. To cite some examples, we have never been allotted more than two Samuel Adams Utopias at one time, no more than one fifth of Pappy Van Winkle’s Family Reserve 20-year-old Bourbon and no more than six bottles of the special releases of the Goose Island Bourbon County varietals.

Obviously I am pleased that Siciliano’s is one of the handful of area stores that receive allocations (albeit minuscule) of these super limited releases; however, we have always struggled with the issue of trying to decide what to do with them.

It has been our policy to price these ultra-rare products at our standard mark-up and sell them on a first-come, first-serve basis. The intrinsic flaw of this policy is that only a lucky few ever get the opportunity to purchase them since they are invariably snatched up as soon as they go on sale. I’m sure that most of this snatching is done by customers who just happen to be lucky enough to be in the store at the time, but it’s probably true too that the rarities are sometimes purchased by savvy folks who monitor release dates, know exactly where to find them and, in some cases at least, may be acquiring them for reasons other than personal consumption (i.e., to resell them at a profit).

While I have always been cognizant of the shortcomings of the first-come, first-serve policy for the super rare products, I thought it was better than maintaining a “preferred” customer list or drastically inflating prices and leaving things up to the law of supply and demand. Recently, however, some of the Siciliano’s staffers convinced me that we should try something new.

After much pondering we have decided to begin drawing names for the few bottles we obtain of the ultra-rare beers and spirits. Starting immediately, those interested in acquiring one of these products can personally fill out an entry form in-store, and in February we will begin holding one monthly drawing for a single, random bottle from our cellared cache of ultra-rare products. That cache currently includes such rarities as Samuel Adams Utopias, Pappy Van Winkle 12, 15 and 20 Year Bourbon and Goose Island Halia, Juliet, Gillian and Backyard Rye.

Those wishing to participate in the monthly drawings need to only enter once and their names will be kept in the hopper for as long as we hold the drawings (or for as long as they wish to participate). Winners will have the option of either purchasing or declining the drawing’s predetermined item. If they choose to make the purchase they will have a specified time to personally do so. If they decline, another name will be drawn and their name will go back into the hopper for future drawings.

We think that a name draw will help level the playing field somewhat and give more folks at least the opportunity to acquire these ultra-rare products. We also think it’s going to be fun. We hope that you do too. Feel free to leave your opinion in the comments section below.

Complete rules for the Siciliano’s rare beer and spirits drawing are as follows:

• Drawings for a specific, predetermined, ultra-rare item will occur on the third Thursday of each month (provided there are bottles in the cellared cache) and the winner will be announced the following day on Facebook and in the New Beer Friday preamble. Winners will also be notified via phone and email.
• Entrants must be at least twenty-one years of age.
• No purchase is necessary to enter the drawings.
• Entrants must personally fill out an entry form in the store. Only one entry is needed for all subsequent drawings. No names will be accepted via phone calls, emails, etc. Only one entry is allowed per person.
• Entries will be accepted on an ongoing basis.
• Winners will have the option of purchasing or declining that drawing’s predetermined, specified item. If the winner chooses not to purchase that predetermined, specified item, their name will go back into the pool. If the item is purchased, the winner’s name will be withdrawn from the pool for the next three drawings and then reentered.
• Winners will have two weeks to personally purchase the item in-store and will be required to show a valid I.D. (No proxies allowed). If the item is not purchased within the specified time period, another name will be drawn.

New Beer Friday, Big September Sale Edition (Aug. 2)

Reconfigured brewing area

By Steve Siciliano

September will be here before we know it and we can't think of a better way to kick off the fall beer- and wine-making season than by holding our annual sale.

The 2013 edition of the Siciliano's Beer & Wine Making Customer Appreciation Sale will start on Monday, September 9 and continue through the close of business on Sunday, September 15.

Our beer- and wine-making section has been reconfigured and we recently have added some great new equipment for the brewing and winemaking hobbyist. 

During the sale, most equipment, supplies and ingredients will be 15% off the retail price. Items that are already discounted—carboys, 50/55 lb. bags of grain, Blichmann Engineering products—will not be eligible for additional discount nor will the 15% be combined with other existing discounts (like the club discount). We will honor one discount or the other, whichever is greater. Equipment and supplies on the following list will have discounts deeper than 15%:

• BEER EQUIPMENT KIT/GLASS: Reg. $105.00, Sale $85.00
• WINEMAKING EQUIP KIT/GLASS: Reg. $95.00, Sale $79.00
• WORT AERATION SYSTEM: Reg. $38.49, Sale $31.49
• YEAST STARTER KIT: Reg. $75.00, Sale $55.00
• MASH/LAUTER TUN: Reg $125.00, Sale $102.00
• REFRIGERATOR THERMOSTAT (JOHNSON CONTROLS): Reg. $69.00, Sale $57.00
• REFRIGERATOR THERMOSTAT (RANCO): Reg. $95.00, Sale $78.00
• ESCALI PRIMO DIGITAL SCALE: Reg. $26.00, Sale $21.00
• ESCALI TASO DIGITAL SCALE: Reg. $39.95, Sale $32.79
• 25 FT. IMMERSION WORT CHILLER: Reg $64.99, Sale $56.00
• 50 FT. IMMERSION WORT CHILLER: Reg. $130.00, Sale $107.00
• COUNTER FLOW WORT CHILLER: Reg. $118.00, Sale $97.00
• KEGGING SYSTEM (NEW KEG): Reg. $289.00, Sale $225.00
• KEGGING SYSTEM (USED KEG): Reg. $229.00, Sale $180.00
• STAINLESS MIX STIR: Reg. $29.69 Sale $23.69
• CHAMPAGNE FLOOR CORKER: Reg. $153.00, Sale $119.00
• ITALIAN FLOOR CORKER: Reg. $143.00, Sale $109.00
• PORTUGUESE FLOOR CORKER: Reg. $63.00, Sale $50.00
• MILWAUKEE PH METER: Reg. $81.00, Sale $64.00
• REFRACTOMETER: Reg. $91.00, Sale $70.00 

Finally, be sure to stop by the Siciliano's Market on Saturday, September 14 for some free German wieners, homemade sauerkraut and draft root beer. In the meantime, tide yourself over with all the new beers that hit the shelves this week at Siciliano's.

New (and Returning) Beers at Siciliano's

• Shiner Oktoberfest, $1.49/12oz - "Here in Shiner, TX (pop. 2,070), we’re suckers for tradition. Which is why this classic Oktoberfest brew is made with the highest quality two-row barley, Munich and caramel malts, along with German grown Hallertau Tradition and Hersbrucker hops. It’s our way of honoring our ancestors and the beer they loved to celebrate with. So raise your stein to tradition and enjoy this utterly classic brew" (source).
• Frankenmuth Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "A super-premium lager with a reddish color, a toasty malt character and dry taste of hops. The beer made famous by the Munich Oktoberfest" (source).
• Great Lakes Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "Cleveland’s celebration of Oktoberfest dates to the mid 1800’s when German immigrants gathered at outdoor beer gardens like Haltnorth’s and Kindvater’s St. Clair Gardens. Our amber lager with rich malt flavor and noble hops honors Cleveland’s diverse cultural heritage" (source).
• Samuel Adams Oktoberfest, $1.59/12oz bottles and cans - "The first thing you notice when pouring a glass of this seasonal beer is the color. Samuel Adams® Octoberfest has a rich, deep golden amber hue which itself is reflective of the season. Samuel Adams® Octoberfest is a malt lover’s dream, masterfully blending together four roasts of barley to create a delicious harmony of sweet flavors including caramel and toffee. The beer is kept from being overly sweet by the elegant bitterness imparted by the German Noble hops. Samuel Adams® Octoberfest provides a wonderful transition from the lighter beers of summer to the winter’s heartier brews" (source).
• Rogue Pumpkin Patch Ale, $11.49/22oz - "The newest addition to the Chatoe Rogue series is Pumpkin Patch Ale, a beer made using fresh pumpkins grown in a patch that borders Rogue’s 42 acre hop yard. The pumpkins are picked, loaded into Rogue’s farm truck, driven immediately 77 miles to our brewery in Newport, quickly roasted, and pitched into the brew kettle to create a batch of Pumpkin Patch Ale" (source).
• Angry Orchard Cinnful Apple, $1.59/12oz - "Our Cinnful Apple cider is crisp and refreshing with a spicy twist. The sweet, slightly tart apple flavor is balanced with cinnamon spice, adding a slight heat for a flavor that is truly Cinnful" (source).
• Ace Hard Pumpkin Cider, $1.99/12oz - "Ace is a fall seasonal cider made from fermented apples, pumpkin and allspice, ideal for harvest time holidays. It’s also Gluten free, which is a nice alternative if you can’t rock the grains" (source).
• Magic Hat Seance, $1.59/12oz - "Séance is a dark, complexly concocted Saison, rich with earthy hues and flavors. A mild tartness begins the journey, and an underlying hop bitterness sweeps the senses through a newly opened door of the mind, where you will soon find subtle hints of ripe fruit, bringing you to a place few dare to roam" (source).
• Odd Side Ales Bean Flicker, $1.99/12oz - "A light coffee note with gentle grains" (source).
• Lagunitas Little Somethin' Wild Ale, $1.99/12oz - "Another Big Sister of the Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale…. Loads of Malted Wheat for a Curious Malt Foundation and a Light Color, But Our Belgian Yeast Leaves a Huge Flavor and Complexishness" (source).
• Cheers Norm's Amber Ale, $1.19/16oz can - "Norm’s Amber Ale delivers crisp, refreshing citrus aromas, a subdued honey malt character, and a clean finish. Get nostalgic with a true classic" (source).
• Original Sin Newton Pippin, $10.79/750ml - "Newtown Pippin Single Heirloom Varietal “The Prince of Apples” First harvested in 1740 in Queens, NY. Coveted by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and planted in their personal estates. Benjamin Franklin had Newtown Pippins shipped to him in London in 1759. Credited with establishing the U.S. fruit export industry. Was popular for use in the making of hard cider" (source).
• Original Sin Cherry Tree, $10.79/750ml - "Our Cherry Tree cider combines the finest American heirloom apples, which were popular in the United States in the 18th and 19th centuries, with tart cherries. The finished product has the clean, rich flavor of fresh cherries with the depth and elegance that comes from using freshly pressed U.S. heirloom cider apples" (source).

Picture of the Week

We call this one, "Greg pointing at beer."

Cheers!

Meet Josh Swift: Beer & Wine Aficionado, New Team Member at Siciliano's

Welcome, Josh!

By Steve Siciliano

Josh Swift’s first experience in retail was not exactly a good one. 

When he was eighteen and working as a stocker in a Grand Rapids beer and wine shop, he broke a bottle of 2001 Hess Mount Veeder Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. But he didn’t let that rather inauspicious beginning deter him.

“Wine fascinated me and I began asking my older co-workers questions,” he said. “Eventually those interrogations, along with the stealthy tastes of wine they would sometimes give me, helped me to build a base of knowledge and I was occasionally given the opportunity to help customers.”

His fascination with wine gradually grew to encompass beer, and soon as he turned twenty-one “it didn’t take long for me to tear through all the styles.”

Josh, a recent graduate from Grand Valley with a major in history, views both beer and wine as a symbol of camaraderie. “My fondest memories with family and friends usually involve beer or wine in some way,” he said. “I’m always excited to show customers new ambers or push them to try a lambic for the first time, not because I’m looking for a sale, but because I want to share my passion.”

We have a feeling that he is going to fit in nicely around here.

Pardon Our Dust: Homebrew Area Reconfiguration

By Steve Siciliano

Anyone who has been coming into Siciliano’s for more than two years will remember how jam packed the store was before we knocked a hole in the wall and added 900 square feet of much needed space to the beer- and wine-making sections. While that expansion eliminated a great deal of congestion, we have realized for some time now that we could have utilized the additional space a little more efficiently.

We are now in the process of doing a bit of fine tuning, the main focus of which is being directed towards the reconfiguration of the weighing stations and the grain milling area. When completed, these changes will give our customers much more room to gather ingredients and will reduce wait times for the scales and grinders.

The homebrew section will be a little discombobulated for awhile but I want to emphasize that there will be no disruption in business. We anticipate that these changes will be complete by the first week of July.

Temporary clutter now,
More convenient work area soon

Thanks for your patience!

The 10th Annual Homebrew Party: The Boss' Recap

By Steve Siciliano

During the peak of the Homebrew Party last Saturday, Stan Hieronymus walked up to me with a smile on his face and a tasting glass in his hand. I hadn’t seen him for a few hours but I knew he had been busy mingling with the homebrewers, graciously signing both their new and dog-eared copies of Brew Like a Monk, Brewing with Wheat and For the Love of Hops, sharing his encyclopedic knowledge of brewing with them, answering their questions, tasting their homebrewed beer. “This is quite extraordinary,” he said, and then, “How did it all begin?”

I had to think for a moment. It had been ten years since that first party in a Polish Hall on the lower west side. “We thought it would be a good way to bring the homebrewing community together,” I said finally. I just couldn’t think of a better answer.

The party has grown and evolved over the last ten years. It has certainly gotten bigger. I think it has gotten better. But the reason we threw that first party ten years ago remains the same.

This is all about community.

We'll have more pictures from the 10th Annual Siciliano's Homebrew Party in coming days. Stay tuned!

Siciliano's '13 Hombrew Competition: Judging Complete!

By Steve Siciliano

The 229 entries in the 2013 edition of the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition were judged this past Sunday at the Community Cabin in beautiful downtown Rockford by BJCP certified judges, award-winning homebrewers and craft beer professionals. Nine of those entries were deemed worthy of being included in the judging for this year’s Best of Show.

One of the many judges' tables

The announcement of the Best of Show winner and the presentation of the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup will take place at the Tenth Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party on Saturday, May 11th at the enclosed pavilion at Johnson Park. Medals and/or feedback forms will also be available for pickup at that time. Those not attending the party may pick up medals and feedback forms at Siciliano’s Market beginning on Sunday, May 12th.

A steward preparing entries for the judges

I would like to thank everyone who participated in this year’s judging. Special thanks to Siciliano’s staffer Greg Johnson for once again organizing and running this annual competition. Special thanks also to Prime Time Brewers member Mike Johnson for helping us to obtain the Rockford location.

Siciliano's Homebrew Contest Update: Record Entries, Newly Designed Medals

Alexa Seychel from Imperial Brands
posing with redesigned contest medal 

By Steve Siciliano

This past Sunday, April 14, was the deadline for submitting beers into the 2013 Siciliano’s Homebrew Contest. We are pleased to report that we have received 229 entries, the highest total ever submitted in our annual homebrew competition. This was the first year that registration was conducted online and we would like to extend a special thanks to Dan Frechette for graciously allowing us the use of the Beers To Fear competition center and online registration website.

The job of sorting the entries and organizing the judging now goes to Siciliano’s staff member Greg Johnson. Judging will be held Sunday, April 21, at the Rockford Community Cabin in Rockford, Michigan. Anyone wishing to participate either as a judge or steward may still contact Greg at greg@sicilianosmkt.com.

The winner of Best in Show will be announced at the 10th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party on Saturday, May 11, at the enclosed shelter at Johnson Park. The best-in-show winner will have his/her name etched on the prestigious Siciliano’s Cup and will receive a $500.00 gift certificate to spend at Siciliano's. Also, as in years past, the winner will have the chance to brew the winning recipe at a local brewery—this year that brewery is Perrin.

The newly designed Siciliano’s Homebrew Contest medals (see picture) will also be awarded at the party and feedback forms will be available for pick up. Those not attending the May 11 festivities may pick up their medals and/or feedback forms at Siciliano’s Market beginning on Sunday, May 12.

Good luck to all who submitted homebrew to the competition!

Update: Siciliano's Homebrew Party, Tickets Going Fast!

Homebrew glory
manifest in medal form

By Steve Siciliano

On Saturday, May 11th over 150 people will be gathering in and around the enclosed pavilion in Johnson Park to take part in the 10th Annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Party. As in years past, those attending this annual celebration of the enriching hobby of homebrewing will be receiving an armload of wonderful gifts, will enjoy a delicious meal prepared by Three Men and a Grill and will be treated to live entertainment provided by local music legend Jimmie Stagger. All this for the ticket price of $35.00! Medals for the annual Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition will be distributed after dinner and at that time the competition’s 2013 Best-of-Show winner will be announced.

The homebrew party has certainly evolved over the years. I particularly like how it has become a mini outdoor festival that showcases hand-crafted meads, ciders and wines in addition to the shared offerings of bottled and kegged home brew.

Please remember that space is limited and tickets for the party must be purchased in advance, either in person at Siciliano’s or by calling the store at 616-453-9674.

Hope to see you there!

Siciliano's 2013 Homebrew Competition: Enter Now!

Important update! Be sure to check your spam folder for your confirmation email if it does not appear in your inbox after registration.

By Greg Johnson

Now that the competition is upon us, I would like to detail our new online registration process. On Monday, March 25th, homebrewers will be able to submit their entry information on the website, which can be found here: www.beerstofear.com. Individuals who have entered beers for previous Homebrew at the W.E.B. and Michigan Beer Cup competitions will be able to use their already existing log in information. Those who are new to the website will need to register with the website before submitting an entry.

Once registered and entry submission is open, a “+” button should appear on the “Entries” on the homepage of the competition portal. To submit a beer, click on the “+” button. A submission form should appear on the webpage asking for information regarding the Entry Name, Assistant Brewer, and BJCP Style. Fill out all applicable information and select the BJCP style that most appropriately fits the beer being entered. In Categories 20-23 (except 22-A Classic Rauchbier), the form will ask for any Special Ingredients and the Base Style of the beer being entered. Providing relevant information will help the judges with the evaluating the entered beer, hopefully, helping the performance of that beer in the competition as well. After all the information is inputed into the form, select the "Add New Entry" button then select the "Finished" button.

The beer should be listed under the “Entries” tab on the website. There, select the check box next to the beer and click on the printer icon underneath. This will download the bottle ID labels which can then be printed out and attached to the bottles with rubberbands.

Once the registration process has been completed and bottle labels printed off, entries can be dropped off at the store or mailed directly to the store along with the $5 entry fee (cash or check only). Mail entries to:

Siciliano's Market
Attn: Greg Johnson
2840 Lake Michigan Dr NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504 

Deadline for submissions is April 14th or the moment we hit 250 total entries. Click here for more details. But if there are any questions about the registration process, please do not hesitate to contact me (Greg) at greg@sicilianosmkt.com or call Siciliano's Market directly at (616) 453-9674.

Good luck!

Siciliano's AHA Big Brew Update: Spots Still Open

By Steve Siciliano

While all forty-eight of the ingredient packages that Siciliano’s Market is donating for May 4th’s Big Brew at the Calder have now been spoken for and team captains have been appointed, there are still spots available on a number of brewing teams. Anyone wishing to participate in this event as an assistant brewer should contact me at steve@sicilianosmkt.com and I will assign you to a team.

Captains—please be advised that I will be directing all future correspondence to you and ask that you disseminate pertinent information regarding scheduled brewing times, parking information, etc. to the members of your respective teams.

I would like to thank all those who have signed on to help, but in order to make this event run smoothly we are going to need more volunteers. Anyone who would like to help us make The Big Brew at the Calder a huge success can contact me at the above address.

Siciliano's AHA Big Brew Update: How to Participate

By Steve Siciliano

On Saturday, May 4th, the Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids will be the site of what is shaping up to be one of the largest American Homebrewers Association Big Brew events in the sixteen year history of the nationwide celebration. As the sponsor for this particular event, Siciliano’s Market will be donating and providing the following:

• The ingredients for forty-eight all-grain batches of “Beer City IPA”
• Bottled water for brewing
• A chilling station capable of simultaneously chilling six kettles of wort
• Platform hand carts for moving brewing equipment to and from vehicles and for transporting kettles of hot wort to the chilling station. 

We are now asking those who wish to participate in this event to complete a sign-up sheet at Siciliano's Market. If you cannot get to the store, we ask that you contact us (steve@sicilianosmkt.com) with the following information:

• Whether you would like to brew one of the forty-eight batches with your own equipment (mash/lauter tuns, propane burners, kettles, etc.) and thus be designated as the captain of a “brewing team”
• Whether you would like to brew but are unwilling or unable to transport your equipment to the event. In this case you will be assigned to a brewing team
• Whether you would like to participate as a member of a specific brewing team and if so indicate the name of the captain you would like to brew with
• Whether you would like to participate as a volunteer helper 

While we will do our best to accommodate everyone who would like to brew, it should be noted that the number of batches and the number of spots per team are limited. Please indicate if you are willing to participate as a volunteer helper if all the brewing spots have been filled.

We will be able to consume homebrew within the designated area of the venue. However, please note there will be no kegging systems allowed; bottles and growlers only. This event will be open to the public and we will be allowed to offer tastings to anyone wearing a wristband. (ID’s will be checked at the gate.) Siciliano’s will be providing the tasting cups as well as educational literature on homebrewing.

The Big Brew at the Calder will be a great way of showing the area, the state and the country what a vibrant homebrewing community there is in west Michigan. We feel that this highly visible event will generate a good deal of buzz as we will be inviting the mayor and the city commissioners and will be sending out press releases to the local media. The Great American Beer Trail will also be filming at the event.

We ask that you join us in making The Big Brew at the Calder a huge success.

Homebrew Competition Update: Electronic Registration

The competition is now open. Please visit this contest update for the competition link and information on how to enter.  

Judging last year's competition at Vivant

By Greg Johnson

This year marks year ten of Siciliano's annual homebrew competition. First off, I want to thank everyone who has participated in past contests, whether as entrants, judges, and/or stewards. The event would not be the success it is without all of you.

This is my 4th year overseeing this event and, as in every other year, we are working to refine the processes of entry submission and entry judging in order to provide the best possible feedback for our competition entrants. This year, thanks to our friend Dan Frechette from the Kuhnhenn Guild of Brewer's (KGB), we will be using the Beers To Fear online software for entry registration. We will begin accepting entries on Monday, March 25th and will stop on Sunday, April 14th, or once we've reached a total of 250 entries (more on this below). More information about the online entry format will be detailed as we near March 25th, including the website URL, directions on how to enter your beer, and label printing, which this website will fully facilitate.

The contest this year will be capped at 250 entries, with one entry per person, so that the judging load remains manageable. If we were to allow more than 250 entries, the amount of time we would need to judge the beers would increase significantly. Increased judging time means asking our volunteer judges and stewards to take more time out of their weekends than they already so graciously give us. So to help provide the best experience for our judges and ultimately provide the best possible feedback for our participants, we have chosen to keep the competition on the smaller side. There are other, larger competitions in the state that we help sponsor throughout the year for anyone looking to receive more feedback on their beer, namely the Michigan Beer Cup and Homebrew at the World Expo of Beers.

Important points for the 10th Annual Homebrew Competition:

• 1 entry per person
• 250 entry cap (NEW!)
• Entries accepted March 25th – April 14th (or until 250 entries is reached)
• $5 per entry, cash or check only
• BJCP Style Guidelines for categories 1-23 will be used
• Beer submission & bottle label printing will be web based (NEW!)

Good luck to all who enter!

Siciliano's AHA Big Brew Update: Location Secured

Photo from Wikipedia

By Steve Siciliano

I am pleased to announce that the Calder Plaza in downtown Grand Rapids has been selected as the location for Siciliano’s Market’s first ever sponsorship of an American Homebrewers Association Big Brew. This annual, country-wide event is scheduled for Saturday, May 4th and gives homebrewers the opportunity to gather at registered AHA sites to brew, promote the enriching hobby of homebrewing and join in a simultaneous celebration of National Homebrew Day. With the AHA convention coming to Grand Rapids in 2014, we feel that a huge Big Brew day event at a highly visible, downtown location will be a great way of showing the area, the state and the country that a vibrant homebrewing community exists in West Michigan.

As the sponsor for this event, Siciliano’s Market will be donating and providing the following:

• The ingredients for forty-eight all-grain batches of “Beer City IPA.”
• Bottled water for brewing.
• A chilling station capable of simultaneously chilling six kettles of wort.
• Platform handcarts for moving brewing equipment to and from vehicles and for transporting kettles of hot wort to the chilling station. 

Brewers will be responsible for furnishing their own mash/lauter tuns, propane burners, kettles, fermentation vessels, hydrometers, thermometers, and any other hardware they typically employ.

In the next few weeks we will be posting additional information, both online and at the store, as to how you may sign up to participate in this event either as a brewer or volunteer helper. You do not have to be a Siciliano’s customer or a member of the AHA to participate.

National Homebrew Day, Big Brew Update

By Steve Siciliano

Image courtesy of the AHA

Picture the following: It’s a beautiful Saturday afternoon in early May at an outdoor venue in downtown Beer City, USA. The tulips are in bloom and the canopies of the urban trees are exploding in bright spring colors. The sweet aroma of boiling wort emanating from forty-eight batches of “Beer City IPA” is wafting through the downtown streets. At precisely 1 p.m., the assemblage pauses to join in a simultaneous, country-wide toast to the enriching hobby of homebrewing.

A few weeks ago we announced that on Saturday, May 4, 2013, Siciliano’s Market will help celebrate National Homebrew Day by sponsoring an American Homebrewers Association “Big Brew.” We are in the process of securing a downtown Grand Rapids location for this celebration and the venue will be announced as soon as the paperwork is finalized. In the meantime, here are a few pertinent details:

• Siciliano’s will be donating all the ingredients for forty-eight all-grain batches of “Beer City IPA.” We have been in contact with homebrew clubs in Asheville, North Carolina, to determine if they have an interest in brewing a similar recipe at a Big Brew in their area.
• You do not have to be a Siciliano’s customer or a current member of the AHA in order to participate. We will make every effort to include, in some capacity, anyone who wishes to take part in this celebration. Volunteers will also be needed to pass out homebrewing literature, aid in clean up, etc. 

We feel that a Big Brew in a highly visible, downtown location would be a great way to begin generating media buzz for the 2014 AHA national convention that is coming to our city in 2014. Please join us in making this a celebration worthy of our “Beer City, USA” moniker, and in showing the area, the state, and the country that West Michigan has a vibrant homebrewing community. 

Stay tuned to The Buzz for more information.

Meet the Newest Siciliano's Staffer: Luke Horning

Luke Horning

By Steve Siciliano

It’s been awhile since we’ve seen any new faces around here. Now, I’m not talking about customers, thank goodness—since news hit that RateBeer.com named us best beer grocer in the United States, we've been fortunate, humbled, and honored to see many new faces browsing in the beer department. No, the face I’m referring to belongs to our newest staff member, Luke Horning.

Luke is a native Ohioan who is attending classes at Grand Rapids Community College. What are his credentials for having a job at a world-class beer and homebrew store? Well, I’m glad you asked. Luke has a passionate interest in both craft beer and homebrewing and he recently finished internships at the Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland and the Buckeye Brewing Company in Bedford Heights.

We’re pleased to have Luke as a member of our team. Please join us in welcoming him to both the Siciliano’s family and the Grand Rapids craft beer community.

2013 Hop Rhizomes | Pre-Order Starts Now

By Greg 'Swig' Johnson

Attention all homebrewers! The time has come to pre-order hop rhizomes for the upcoming spring planting season. This year we have 10 varieties of rhizome available for pre-order. The deadline for pre-ordering is Monday, February 25th, with delivery expected to be in early April (weather depending). So prepare the twine and shovels, because the details are on their way:

Deadline to order

• Monday, February 25th

Tentative arrival date

• Early April (based on Pacific Northwest weather)

Cost

• For orders numbering between 1 and 9 rhizomes, cost is $5 per rhizome; for orders of 10+ rhizomes, cost is $4 per rhizome.

Varieties

• Cascade
• Centennial
• Chinook
• Columbus
• Glacier
• Golding
• Northern Brewer
• Nugget
• Tettnang
• Willamette

Ways to order

• *Preferred* ~ By email (greg@sicilianosmkt.com), please provide variety & amount of each rhizome desired; include your name, email address and/or phone number where you can be reached.
• By using the in-store order form. 

Resources

• Varietal Descriptions (.pdf)
• How to Grow Rhizomes (.pdf)
• Homegrown Hops: An Illustrated How-To-Do-It Manual by David R. Beach - $12.00
• The Homebrewer's Garden by Joe Fisher & Dennis Fisher - $14.95 

Any general questions can be directed by phone or in person at Siciliano's Market or by emailing me, Greg, directly, at greg@sicilianosmkt.com. Any questions specific to orders, please send directly to my email address.

Siciliano's to Publish Annual Homebrew Recipe Book

By Steve Siciliano

Starting this year, homebrewers receiving the highest scores in the Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition will be given the opportunity to see their award-winning recipes in print. Beginning with the 2013 competition, Siciliano’s Market Press will publish—with the brewers’ permission—the recipes of gold and silver medalists' in an annually produced, high-quality publication.

The Siciliano’s Homebrew Competition has grown steadily over the years with last year’s competition drawing 220 entries. Entries are judged according to BJCP style guidelines by certified judges, brewing professionals and hobby enthusiasts.

The tentative blueprint for the annual, large-format paperback will include a short introduction and a discussion of brewing styles (all grain, partial mash, extract with specialty grains) followed by the recipes for each of the three techniques. Bios and photos of the award-winning brewers will also be included. Please stay tuned to The Buzz for more information. Updates will be posted as warranted.

Siciliano's 10th Annual Homebrew Contest - It begins!

It's that time of year again. Time to get your oak-aged, dry-hopped, brett-infused, maple-flavored, spruce-tip, double-imperial, pale-porter hybrid into the bottle—the Siciliano's Market 10th Annual Homebrew Contest is right around the corner. See below for contest rules and regulations.

Is '13 your lucky year?

1. Every homebrewer is allowed one (1) beer entry. All entries must be brewed by the person named on the entry form. Please do not submit beers under the names of significant others, children, dogs, cats, parakeets, and/or imaginary friends. 
2. Beers are submitted according to the BJCP Stye Guidelines. Ciders and meads are excluded from this contest. If you're not sure which is the correct style category for your beer, contact us and we can help you.
3. Entries require two (2) plain, unlabeled/unmarked 12oz amber bottles. Please no clear bottles or bottles of any other size.
4. Entries must be submitted with the correct paperwork (entry form), and with competition bottle ID forms rubber-banded to the bottle. Find the entry form here and the bottle-ID form here. Contact Siciliano's if you have trouble downloading these files.
5. The entry fee is $5.
6. NEW RULE FOR 2013: The total number of contest entries will be capped at 250. Don't delay in submitting your entry. Once the magic number is reached, no additional entries will be accepted.
7. Entries will be accepted from Monday, March 25, through Sunday, April 14, or until 250 entries are submitted, whichever happens first. If mailing in an entry, please include paperwork and submission fee. Ship in a well-packed box to:

Siciliano's Market

2840 Lake Michigan Dr. NW

Grand Rapids, MI 49504 

The Siciliano's homebrew contest is a prime opportunity for beginner and seasoned homebrewers alike to receive constructive feedback on their efforts. All entries will be judged impartially by industry professionals and/or trained judges according to the standards of style and not in comparison to one another (with the exception of Best in Show). As in previous years, the brewer of the beer named Best in Show will have the opportunity to brew his/her winning recipe at a local brewery. This year we are also awarding the winner a $500 Siciliano's gift card.

Finally, what's a contest without a party? The 10th Annual Siciliano's Market Hombrew Party and Awards Banquet is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2012, at Johnson Park in Walker, MI. Be sure to keep a close eye on The Buzz for additional party and seminar details*. Happy brewing everyone, and good luck! 

*This year's homebrew seminar is scheduled for Friday, May 10, and will also be at Johnson Park. A full list of seminar topics and speakers will be announced in the near future.

Save the Dates! Siciliano's Homebrew Competition & Party

Medals from the 2012 competition

By Steve Siciliano

Now that the busyness of the holiday season is over, it’s time to begin focusing on upcoming projects here at Siciliano's. At the top of our to-do list is the finalization of details for the 2013 homebrew seminars, the annual homebrew party (our tenth), and the 2013 Siciliano's Homebrew Competition.

This year’s party will be held on Saturday, May 11th, in the enclosed shelter at Johnson Park. The homebrew seminars will also be held at the shelter and are scheduled for the evening of Friday, May 10th.

Like last year, tickets for the party will be $35.00 per person and reservations must be made in advance. We will begin selling tickets on Monday, March 25th. Please don’t procrastinate if you’re planning to attend; tickets are limited and sell out every year. The $5.00 entry fee for attending the homebrew seminars may be paid at the door.

Entries for the competition will be accepted from March 25th through April 14th.

Additional and exciting information regarding the party, seminars, and competition will be posted on The Buzz within the coming weeks. Stay tuned!