A Letter from Doug Dorda: Thanks for a Great Six Years!

By Doug Dorda

It may be said that the greatest gift one can be given is that of family, something I dearly lacked in Grand Rapids before accepting the position at Sicilianos. I hail from the other side of the state, as does my family, and their absence began to weigh heavily on me in the year previous to my employment.

I could have never guessed that this store, a place of my passion and fascination, would also become the birthplace of another family for me. This was a family built on camaraderie, a zeal for food and drink, a passion for infinitesimal details, and a love for the common man who holds the simple enjoyment of life sacred. I don’t just mean those with blood ties to the Siciliano’s, but all who have walked through its doors and shared a moments respite in the truest “mom and pop” environment I have had the good pleasure of knowing.

The words “thank you” have never, and will never, come close to capturing the gratitude I feel for having been welcomed into such a genuine and caring community. Though, after many years, I have decided to leave Siciliano’s as my place of employ, I know full well that, just like my blood family, I will always be a part of the family that embraced me so warmly even before my first days of work at the store. To know that is a gift worth more than all the precious metals on this earth.

From the bottom of my heart, I say this to customers, co-workers, Steve and Barb alike: Thanks for giving me a chance. I love you guys!

New Beer Friday, Black Friday Edition (Nov. 28)

A wall of kits in need of good homes

Preamble by Doug Dorda

'Tis the season for savings here at Siciliano's, and we have worked to provide the best possible deals to those of you looking to scratch the interested wine- and beer-makers off your list. In the interest of providing you, the shopper, with the quickest means of gathering all equipment necessary for someone to make their first batch of beer or wine, we present to you another year of Doug's Deals. Prices will become effective November 28.

Homebrewing Equipment Kit Deals

Each of these deals will provide you with one version of our beer making equipment kits as well as two cases of clear 12-oz amber bottles, a wine thief and a copy of How to Brew by John palmer. Aside from the ingredients, these deals include all the equipment a beginning brewer will need. Please note the Doug's Deluxe Kit (see below) does not contain a brew pot. This kit in particular should only be considered by those who know that the kit's recipient already has a kettle at least 5 gallons in size.

Doug's Deluxe Equipment Kit Deal, $140
This kit includes the Brewers Best Deluxe Equipment kit along with tow cases of 12-oz amber bottles, a wine thief and a copy of How to Brew by John Palmer. These items sold separately have a combined value of $160. Total savings, $20.

Doug's Beast of a Deal, $170
This kit includes the Brewers Best equipment kit as well as two cases of bottles, wine thief and book. The kit contains everything that can be found in the deluxe kit, but also boasts a 5-gallon stainless steel brew pot by Polar Ware, a test tube and a vial of IO-San sanitizer. For those who need to purchase the complete package, look no further than this deal. Again, the total savings add up to $20, as the separate cost amounts to $190.

Winemaking Equipment Kit Deal

It is important to note that the winemaking deal varies significantly from the beer making deal. The least of the reasons behind that being there is no boil necessary for wine making so a pot is of no concern.

Doug's Winemaking Deal, $130
You get the Vitners Best winemaking equipment kit, two cases of 750-ml green Bordeaux wine bottles and an auxiliary 6-gallon glass carboy. The total cost for the items purchased separately would be $150. That's a savings of $20!

For those of you who simply cannot decide on a gift for that beer or wine lover in your life, we also offer Siciliano's gift cards, which are available in any increment. The cards are good for any of the items that we offer in the store.

If you have any questions with regard to pricing, or any questions about equipment, please give us a call at 615-453-9674.

We wish you all a happy and healthy holiday season.

Disclaimer: These deals are designed to be comprehensive packages for equipment only; ingredients will be sold separately. All of the above listed equipment, and kits will also be available for sale on their own. You do not have to purchase a full deal if you do not wish to.

New and Returning Beer

• Founders Big Lushious, $14.79/22oz (limit 1 per) - "This deep, rich stout is packed with flavor: roasted malts, all-natural dark chocolate, a subtle suggestion of burnt coffee grounds and a kiss of tart raspberries. It’s big but balanced. At 7.8% ABV, Big Lushious is a sumptuous, extravagant dessert beer fit for enjoying with friends and family around the holidays or to celebrate a special occasion. But really, this beer can make any occasion special. Don’t worry; we won’t call you a lush" (source).
• Jolly Pumpkin Persimmon Ship, $14.39/750ml - "Combining Indiana persimmons and dragonfruit from Thailand? Who would concoct such a divinely subtle concoction of joy and delight? Only the spookily twisted folks at Jolly Pumpkin and Upland Brewing, that’s who. From the rolling hills of Indiana, to the twisted wrought iron gates and graveyards of Dexter, comes this wonderful blending of oak aged sour ale" (source).
• Saugatuck Reverent Monk, $2.59/12oz - "A traditional Belgian Tripel with complex flavors of clove, banana, and spicy esters. Deep yellow in color and medium bodied with a sweet finish" (source).
• Stone Enjoy By 12.26.14 IPA, $7.69/750ml - "You have in your hands a devastatingly fresh double IPA. While freshness is a key component of many beers – especially big, citrusy, floral IPAs – we’ve taken it further, a lot further, in this IPA. You see, we specifically brewed it NOT to last. We’ve not only gone to extensive lengths to ensure that you’re getting this beer in your hands within an extraordinarily short window, we made sure that the Enjoy By date isn’t randomly etched in tiny text somewhere on the label, to be overlooked by all but the most attentive of retailers and consumers. Instead, we’ve sent a clear message with the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right now to enjoy this IPA" (source).
• Vivant Pepper in the Rye, $3.39/16oz - "Great friends. Great food. Great beer. Relaxing at a meal together is the best part of our day. This beer is made for enhancing that experience. The flaked rye lends an earthy spiciness and the addition of green peppercorns into the boil kettle give a ping of peppery notes that will turn up the flavor of whatever dish you sit down to at your table. Add a friend or two and you’ve got yourself a memorable evening" (source).
• Sagarnoa Txopinondo Cider, $11.79/750ml - "Basque cider from the French side of the border! This is a fascinating and wonderful cider. Made in the traditional Basque technique, but because they are in France, they are able to use a broader variety of apple types. In France, the apples used in cider making tend to be less sharp than in Spain. This cider shows the bright, softly sour notes of green apple, with a gentle creamy texture and a dry, refreshing finish" (source).
• Domaine du Verger Rose Cidre Bouche, $8.59/750ml - Apple hard cider. Product of France.
• Clos de lal Fontaine Hugo, $12.89/750ml - 100% pure apple cider with no sugar added. Product of France.

Video of the Week | Carhartt & NHBC

Cheers!

Brewery Ommegang Glimmerglass Saison

By Doug Dorda

Brewery Ommegang Glimmerglass

It seems that most human beings in this far state are as unenthusiastic about the upcoming weeks of weather as I am. In fact—no need to sugar coat it—this weather sucks something fierce. However, in the spirit of keeping on while keeping on, there are many things we might do to harden our resolve until the seasons finally shift. Might I suggest drinking a beer?

I could pour syrup-laden prose all over my review of Glimmerglass, the “spring” seasonal offered by Brewery Ommegang this year, but you will have heard it all before. At the risk of tiring my fingers I will simply state that this saison, made with sweet orange peel and pink peppercorns, conjured an image of a morning's dew bending blades of new grass that unabashedly bathe the atmosphere in a sweet aroma, all of which somehow reads “new” in my mind.

As of this moment, there is nothing that the common man can do to make the season change. There is no magic that we can wield. Unfortunately we get to be reminded of that on a daily basis. Nevertheless we might find a small comfort in knowing that our favorite breweries will not cease to bottle “spring” and therefore we are able to enjoy it now, if only 12 ounces at a time.

Brewery Ommegang Glimmerglass ($2.89/12oz) is now available at Siciliano's.

Matt's Burning Rosids

A Reflection by Doug Dorda

It is not my intent to review what is a breathtaking and beautifully realized cherrywood smoked saison from Stone Brewing Company. Rather, I want to comment on the message that this beer's very existence calls into sharp relief.

That message, being one we purveyors of ale know quite well, is that this community, tempered in the forges of the fermented arts, owes the sum of its whole to the passion and efforts of every individual. Alone, we enjoy making mead, beer and wine, but together we exist as a culture bolstered by the simple fact that all are welcome, and all are capable of greatness.

The accident that befell Matt Courtright was tragic indeed. But by simply enjoying a beer that he created, we can pay tribute to his contributions to the craft beer industry, and we can pledge to always remember that our so-cherished beverages are wrought by the hands of people just like you and me and Matt, neighbors (after a fashion). Sipping this ale may prove to be the easiest way to say thank you to not only those close to us in the industry, but to Matt Courtright as well.

Matt's Burning Rosids from Stone Brewing Co. on Vimeo.

Available at Siciliano's Market

Widmer Brothers Omission Gluten Free Lager: A Review

What follows is the last installment in staffer Doug Dorda's review series focusing on gluten-free alternatives to malt-based beers.

By Doug Dorda

A “hallelujah” escaped my lips as I slowly lowered the glass and allowed waves of rapturous finality to wash unbroken over my slightly frustrated mind—I had finally discovered a gluten-free (GF) beer that tasted like beer! Here was found an American lager that was as crisp and refreshing as any gluten-burdened kin that had arisen in post-prohibition America and, in the opinion of this author, to simply say that Widmer Brewing Company's Omission Lager tastes like beer could be as much an understatement as saying that Napoleon was only mildly aware of his short stature.

It is important to note, however, that amidst my throws of triumphant exclamations, I noticed that the packaging of the beer clearly states that is not in fact gluten free, but rather a lager that has had its gluten significantly removed or reduced. Before busting out the party hats and streamers, I decided that finding more information about the beer would be in the best interest of all parties.

Without getting too technical, it may suffice to say that modern brewing practice in cooperation with scientific advances have devised a few methods by which to significantly lower the amount of gluten in Omission lager and ale. The most important factor is that the beer is not entirely gluten free, much to my personal dismay. The packaging clearly states that the level of gluten in the beer has been dropped to below 20 parts per million, far lower than the threshold at which many of the country's gluten-intolerant population could be affected by. However, as the beer is not entirely devoid of gluten, true celiac sufferers have reported experiencing reactions. The debate that has arisen over the distribution of the beer is this: are extremely low levels of gluten effectively the same as no gluten at all? Perhaps the best person to help answer that question is you. Read this article further, and specific, information.

Stunned a bit by the gluten-free mirage I staggered so quickly toward, I slumped back into my chair and began to ponder this final frontier of alternative beer. Though the Omission beers offer a wondrous alternative to many, it would seem it can not meet the needs of all. Again I hear the question, “Do any of these taste like beer?” Again I find the answer seasoned with a host of caveats as opposed to a blissful yes. Perhaps it is time to say that most GF beer tastes like GF beer. Those who have experimented with sugar substitutes will undoubtedly remark that an uncanny flavor will always be present in foods once devoid of that particular signature. Beers fermented with sorghum and rice may also be expected to play host to a different sweetness that will always be the familiar signature of their “author.” However, time may be the key to developing a love for said signature: perhaps the alternative will usurp the original, and perhaps the mind will begin to associate the flavor of sorghum and rice as beer for those who may not have gluten.

For the mildly intolerant, or those sure of their threshold, the Widmer Brothers Omission beers eagerly await you. For those who must live gluten free, a myriad of GF beers, as well as ciders, meads and wine, are now available for your palate's exploration. May it come to fruition that a new love is only a taste away.

This concludes my series of gluten free experimentation.