New Beer Friday, Klein Cider Mill Edition (Sept 25)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

Just a reminder that on the next three Saturdays (starting tomorrow), we will be offering the free on-site use our fruit crushers and basket presses in the parking lot behind the store between the hours of 9 am and 2 pm. 


On Saturday, October 3, Klein Cider Mill will be selling fresh squeezed juice in our back parking lot  between the hours of 10 am and 2 pm. The price for Klein’s award-winning cider will be $3.50 per gallon and you must supply your own containers. Of course, as always, we will have containers available for purchase along with yeast, pectic enzyme and anything else you might need for making hard cider.

New and Returning Beer

• Liberty Punkin Pie, $1.99/12oz - "Pumpkin pie. No, really, it tastes just like pumpkin pie. This is our fall/winter seasonal beer that is on tap from September through February" (source).
• Epic Pumpkin Porter, $8.59/22oz - "This release of the “Fermentation Without Representation” Imperial Pumpkin Porter uses 100% Madagascar vanilla bean, and golden pumpkin pure along with Allspice, Nutmeg, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cloves! Rich and delicious" (source).
• Great Lakes Nosferatu, $3.19/12oz - "Often referred to as Burning River Pale Ale’s big brother, this stock ale is remarkably balanced for such a highly hopped beer. A rich deep blood red color makes this beer scary enough to be served every Halloween and a few other times of the year" (source).
• Abita Pecan Harvest, $1.69/12oz - "It may sound nuts, but most ales with nutty flavors or aromas are made without any real nuts. Abita Pecan Harvest Ale is made with real Louisiana pecans. The natural oils from the nuts give the ale a light pecan finish and aroma. It’s wonderful paired up with both red meats and seafood - and no suprise it’s great with nuts too. Abita Pecan Harvest Ale, crack one open for yourself today" (source).
• Odd Side El Dankerino, $2.49/12oz - "West Coast IIPA" (source).
• Odd Side Chocolat Koffe, $2.29/12oz - "If you’re a fan of chocolate stouts this is the one to try! A great mixture of thick, sweet, dark chocolate fudge, and light espresso bean undertones will immediately appeal to your senses. Your taste buds will dance when the creamy stout takes flight" (source).
• Odd Side I Want My HTV, $2.29/12oz - "Imperial Citra Pale Ale" (source).
• Anderson Valley Blood Orange Gose, $1.99/12oz - "Our Blood Orange Gose is a tart, refreshing wheat ale that is kettle-soured with lactobacillus and brewed with sea salt and coriander.  However, unlike traditional versions of the style, ours features liberal additions of blood oranges during fermentation.  This imparts tangy citrus notes that complement the champagne-like flavors, creating a complex and sessionable ale perfect for any occasion" (source).
• Victory Hoppy Quad, $10.49/750ml - "Bright and bold, the Trappist brewers who inspired this style of ale might marvel at the aromatic hints of citrus, resinous cedar and tropical fruit that flow from this special brew. Belgian-style fermentation and impressive American hops make this light bodied ale intense, inviting and entirely unique. Enjoy Hoppy Quad and Taste Victory" (source).
• Greenbush Demeter, $2.19/12oz - "Live in the now - that’s is what we always say when we have fresh hops, straight from a local Michigan grower. What a better way to enjoy the summer harvest?" (source).
• Greenbush Vanderbush, $3.49/12oz - "Belgian Style Trippel made with cider" (source).
• Goose Island Fulton Street Coffee Ale, $1.69/12oz - "Goose Island is proud to introduce Fulton St. Blend, a coffee ale aged with House Blend beans from our neighbors at Intelligentsia. Named for the street in Chicago that we both call home, Fulton St. Blend is a golden ale infused with rich coffee flavor and aroma" (source).
• Goose Island Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "A dry, malty body delivers sweet dried fruit flavors complemented with an earthy bitterness" (source).
• Right Brain Naughty Girl Stout, $7.19/22oz - "Thin mint cookie, meet John Niedermaier A stout made with organic locally-grown whole leaf mint. She’s just back from a stint in the cooler for being too naughty. She might have mellowed out but this stout is still naughty at heart" (source).
• Blake's Apple Lantern, $8.59/22oz - "Experience the warming flavor of our handpicked apples balanced with the oven richness of pumpkin and molasses. Refreshingly crisp and perfectly spiced, our Apple Lantern brings you the taste of autumn that can only come from Blake's Orchard" (source).
• Vivant Pumpkin Tart, $3.39/16oz (4 per) - "That signature Autumn aroma of pumpkin, ginger, nutmeg and other warming spices greets your nose. While the sip signals pumpkin pie, an undertone of Vivant tartness lingers on your tastebuds. This beer was brewed to celebrate the Fall harvest and in the Fall ye shall drink it" (source).
• Coronado PunkIin Drublic, $8.29/22oz - "Here in the land of eternal sunshine, it can be difficult to differentiate between seasons. Palm tree fronds don’t change color and fall to the sand, though the mercury does drop a few degrees, it’s still as paradisiacal as Southern California lore would have you believe. So, from now on, count on this imperial pumpkin ale heralding in the fall season. Brewed with brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and a heaping helping of would be jack-o-lanterns, Punk’In Drublic delivers autumn’s trademark flavors along with a hint of West Coast character, whether enjoyed in a pumpkin patch or on the beach" (source).
• Green Flash Green Bullet, $3.09/12oz - "A full-bodied Triple IPA, Green Bullet combines New Zealand grown Pacific Gem and Green Bullet hops. Significant pine and citrus hoppiness hit the palate at first sip, accentuated by tropical notes of mango and pineapple, ending with a moderately aggressive, bitter finish" (source).
• Bell's Expedition Stout, $3.09/12oz - "One of the earliest examples of the Russian Imperial Stout in the United States, Expedition Stout offers immensely complex flavors crafted specifically with vintage aging in mind, as its profile will continue to mature and develop over the years. A huge malt body is matched to a heady blend of chocolate, dark fruits, and other aromas. Intensely bitter in its early months, the flavors will slowly meld and grow in depth as the beer ages" (source).
• Bell's Hell Hath No Fury, $2.79/12oz - "Originally conceived along the lines of a Belgian Dubbel, Hell Hath No Fury... Ale morphed during development into something entirely different. Blending a pair of Belgian abbey-style yeasts into a recipe more akin to a roasty stout, Hell Hath No Fury... Ale offers up warm, roasted notes of coffee & dark chocolate together with the fruity & clove-like aromas" (source).
• Grizzly Peak Humongous, $3.39/12oz - "ust the way Paul Bunyan likes it: a huge-bodied beer with big flavor that's as smooth as his axe blade. Humongous follows its traditional imperial red-roots with multiple hop additions, adding complexity and layers of bursting hop flavors. Columbus, Citra, Michigan grown Cascade, and Michigan grown Chinook hops impart 69.9 IBUs that give Humongous balance and poise. A deep amber color, this 9.6% ABV brew could even knock Babe the Blue Ox on his butt with its smooth hoppy goodness" (source).
• Brooklyn Brown Ale, $1.59/12oz - "Brooklyn Brown Ale, made exclusively with American ingredients, won Bronze medals at the Great American Beer Festival in the Strong Ale Category in 1991 and in the American Brown Ale Category in 1992. Brooklyn Brown uses pale, crystal, chocolate, and black malts to attain a complex creamy texture. It is more heavily hopped than its British forbears" (source).

Video of the Week | Blake's Hard Cider

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, The Sale Goes On Edition (Sept 18)

A Siciliano's exclusive —
See below for details!

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

I’d like to remind everyone that our annual homebrew and winemaking Customer Appreciation Sale is currently in full swing and will continue through the close of business on Sunday, September 20.



If you're already a homebrewer or winemaker, you're going to want to take advantage of the 15% discount on most equipment and supplies and check out the items on the deeply discounted list. If you're thinking about taking the plunge into these life-enriching hobbies, now's the time to do it as the beer and winemaking equipment kits are both heavily discounted.



Don't forget that we will be offering free German wieners, sauerkraut and draft root beer to all our great customers on Saturday, September 19. In the meantime, check out this week’s list of the new and returning beers that we have managed to squeeze onto the shelves of our still jam-packed store.

New and Returning Beer

• Exclusive to Siciliano's: Rockford Little George, $15.99/750ml - "Imperial or “double” IPA’s are intensely hoppy strong pale ales. The intention of this style is to showcase as much hop character as possible by keeping the body light and dry, allowing a balance of hop bitterness with the higher alcohol content. Brewed with a significant amount of Simcoe Hops for our hop head friends" (source).
• Exclusive to Siciliano's: Rockford Country Ale, $15.99/750ml - "A hybrid of beer styles inspired from the ideas of a French Biere de Garde and a Belgian Saison. It has a beautiful copper colored body with orange hues under a dense creamy white head. It’s pleasant, toasty malt forward profile balances nicely with fruity esters of pear and apricot before finishing with herbal and fresh cut hay-like notes. Rockford Country Ale is crisp, rustic and always unfiltered" (source).
• Crankers Cheery'O Dark Cherry Wheat Ale, $1.99/12oz - "A light clean crisp wheat ale with an organic cherry finish" (source).
• Shorts Ermagerdness, $1.99/12oz - "Ermagerdness is a light bodied golden colored American India Pale Ale with zesty tangerine and pineapple aromatics.  A simplified malt bill, along with some signature American hops, allows for an awesome burst of tropical fruit flavors up front.  It then shifts toward an interesting herbal tasting bitterness, which builds and lingers on the back of the palate" (source).
• White Birch Blueberry Berliner Weisse, $1.99/12oz - "Napoleon’s troops referred to Berliner Weisse as the “Champagne of the North” due to its lively and elegant character. Today this style is described by some as the most refreshing beer in the world. Our Blueberry Berliner Weisse is fermented with a great blueberry puree. This New England approach brings a refreshing blueberry flavor and aroma to a German classic. We feel our approach creates an authentic interpretation of the traditional “mit syrup” or with syrup method of serving this classic summer refresher. We hope you enjoy this unique year round beer" (source).
• White Birch Raspberry Berliner Weisse, $1.99/12oz - "Our Raspberry Berliner Weisse is fermented with a great raspberry puree. This approach brings a refreshing raspberry flavor and aroma to a German classic. We feel our approach creates an authentic interpretation of the traditional “mit syrup” or with syrup method of serving this classic summer refresher. We hope you enjoy this unique year round beer" (source).
• Perrin Gold, $1.59/12oz - "A crisp, refreshing, and always sessionable ale with a hint of bee hive sweetness and a light, clean, malt character. Urban Dictionary defines sessionable as: "the characteristic of an alcoholic drink which is suitable for a lengthy drinking session". Perrin Gold rocks 2 row barley, wheat and German Noble, Magnum and Hallertau hops" (source).
• Perrin Black, $1.69/12oz - "A sessionable, malty and evenly balanced Lager with hints of coffee, chocolate and a hint of a fall campfire" (source).
• Perrin 98 Problems, $1.89/12oz - "A serendipitous balance of North American and European specialty malts, paired with a lavish selection of West Coast hops; giving an intense, one - two punch to the uvula. Now with Amarillos! This beer is good for drinking" (source).
• Bell's 30th Anniversary, $3.09/12oz - "Flavors of dark chocolate and fruit meld to create a full-bodied, roasty stout. A fair amount of Polaris hops lend a brightness and a nice character that will help carry the beer in its early stages making it incredibly drinkable and interesting. Malt characteristics will continue to develop over time, so that beer drinkers who choose to cellar it can enjoy the beer for years to come" (source).
• Bell's Two Hearted, $21.49/12pk cans - "India Pale Ale style well suited for Hemingway-esque trips to the Upper Peninsula. American malts and enormous hop additions give this beer a crisp finish and incredible floral hop aroma" (source).
• Founder's Spectra Trifecta, $1.79/12oz - "Brewed in the traditional Kolsch style, which requires fermenting ale yeast at a colder temperature and gives the beer a clean finish without fruity yeast esters. This bright, golden beer is brewed with a trifecta of natural ingredients: earthy, floral and slightly sweet chamomile; a touch of citrusy lemongrass; and a hint of spicy fresh ginger. At 5.9% ABV and 20 IBUs, it’s delightfully refreshing" (source).
• Ommegang Rosetta, $1.79/12oz - "A 5.6 percent ABV Belgian-style ale “aged on cherries with other natural flavor added" (source).
• Weyebacher D'Tango Unchained, $15.09/750ml - "D’Tango Unchained is a Belgian-Style Dark Ale brewed with cherries (AKA Tango), which we then aged in oak barrels with Brettanomyces. The result is a 9.6% ABV deep amber brew with ruby highlights. Aroma has subtle hints of banana, along with tart cherry, soft vanilla and oak. Not overly sweet, tasting yields a nice, tart cherry and lingering malty flavors that finish dry" (source).
• Anderson Valley Pinchy Jeek, $10.79/22oz - "Malt beverage brewed with pumpkin and spices and aged in Wild Turkey bourbon barrels" (source).
• Victory Moonglow, $2.59/12oz - "This richly flavored, dark amber wheat beer features fruity and spicy aromas galore. Significant strength underlies the pleasant citric appeal of this bock beer. Brewed with over 50% malted wheat, this is a traditional Bavarian weizenbock. Full of the flavors of harvest fruit, this is the perfect Autumnal elixir" (source).

Video of the Week | Perrin in Cans

Perrin 12-oz cans now available at Siciliano's.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, KDL Uncorked Edition (September 11)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

The Kent District Library (KDL) has announced the reprisal this fall of its popular KDL Uncorked, a program of free winemaking classes, winery and cidery tours and discounted wine and cider tastings.

I will again be conducting the program's free winemaking classes at five different KDL branches. Dates, time and venues for the Winemaking 101 classes are as follows:

• Monday, September 21, 6:00 PM, Sand Lake/Nelson Township Branch 
• Thursday, September 24, 6:00 PM, Walker Branch
• 
Tuesday, October 13, 6:00 PM, Tyrone Township Branch

• Tuesday, October 27, 6:00 PM, Caledonia Township Branch

• Monday, November 16, 6:00 PM, Englehardt/Lowell Branch

Again, these classes are free of charge and no registration is required. Go here for a complete schedule of events for the KDL Uncorked program.

New and Returning Beer/Whiskey

• Brooklyn 25th Anniversary, $10.89/750ml - "We are saluting our beginnings with a special doppelbock version of the Brooklyn Lager we introduced in 1988. This beer is re-fermented in the bottle and will taste great today or years from now. The original was inspired by the beers of 19th Century New York and Vienna" (source).
• Brooklyn Coffee Porter, $24.49/750ml - "Brooklyn Intensified Coffee Porter starts as a big, chocolatey ale, ready to take on super powers. The first power is gained from months of aging in Kentucky bourbon barrels. The second arises from delectable beans harvested by our pals at Finca El Manzano Single Origin Coffee in El Salvador. The final power comes from Blue Bottle Coffee, who roast the coffee to perfection. Brace yourself for complex notes of dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, berries, and dried fruit, coming to intensify you" (source).
• Founders Breakfast Stout, $2.99/12oz - "The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and two types of coffee, this stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy, cinnamon-colored head that goes forever" (source).
• New Holland Carhartt Woodsman, $1.59/12oz - "Celebrates craftsmanship and hard work. Locally-grown Cascade hops bring a brightness to this barrel-aged American pale ale. Malt sweetness and toasted oak combine for a smooth, refreshing finish" (source).
• Saugatuck Darker Than Your Soul, $2.59/12oz - "Time to unleash your dark side. Darker Than Your Soul Stout is a smooth and creamy stout with huge flavor and dark body. Brewed with de-husked malts to minimize bittering and increase taste" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Ovila Barrel Aged Dubbel, $20.99/750ml - "Belgian-style dubbel aged in wine barrels" (source).
• Goose Island Muddy, $3.39/12oz - "Brewed with molasses, brewer’s licorice, and Belgian dark rock candi sugar, The Muddy is an imperial stout with amplified sweetness for a taste as distinctive as the Chicago blues that inspired its creation" (source).

Video of the Week | Local Ingredients

Short's Brewing Co. visits a local barley farm.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, Fresh Grapes Edition (August 28)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

If you’re thinking about making wine from fresh grapes this fall there are couple of good options available for home vintners looking to source some Michigan grown fruit.

The folks at Taylor Ridge Vineyards in Allegan and Morgan Vineyard in Ravenna have apprised us that are now taking orders for the fall harvest. Contact information for these two West Michigan vineyards follow:

Taylor Ridge Vineyards

3843 105th Ave.

Allegan, MI 49010

Email: bctaylor@btc-bci.com

Cell: 269-491-1512

Home: 269-521-4047 

Morgan Vineyard

23760 36th Ave.

Ravenna, MI 49541

Email: builder357.hmd@gmail.com

Phone: 616-638-9353

On three consecutive Saturdays this fall we will again be offering the free on-site use of our fruit crushers and basket presses from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the parking lot behind the store. Dates for the free use of the equipment are as follows:

Saturday, September 26

Saturday, October 3

Saturday, October 10

New and Returning Beer

• Arbor Brewing Violin Monster, $2.29/12oz - "A geographical approach to the werewolf legends results in the identification of a major werewolf area stretching from mid-Germany into the Netherlands and Belgium. With this in mind, we have created a strong, dark, spiced using ingredients from those regions. Brewed with Midnight Wheat, warming spices, and a hint of brown sugar, the Violin Monster is black as night and packs a punch at 9.3%. Unleash your inner beast with Violin Monster Dark Ale, but beware…. it finishes with a bite" (source).
• Bell's Best Brown, $1.79/12oz, $1.99/16oz can - "A smooth, toasty brown ale, Best Brown Ale is a mainstay in our fall & winter lineup. With hints of caramel and cocoa, the malt body has the depth to stand up to cool weather, but does not come across as heavy. This balancing act is aided by the generous use of American hops" (source).
• Brewery Vivant Tree Bucket, $4.29/16oz (4 per) - "Somewhere there is a Belgian Monk who’s head is spinning. A Belgian brewer would never put this much hop into a beer. However, we are not Belgian are we? We can do whatever we want. This is an unconventional beer. Belgian candy sugar, classic Belgian yeast, and a boat load of hops, plus some dry hopping in top of that. A very unique take on a Double IPA that will make it stand out in a crowd" (source).
• Brooklyn Post Road Pumpkin, $1.59/12oz - "Post Road Pumpkin Ale is a revival of a beer brewed by the early American colonists. Pumpkins were plentiful, flavorful and nutritious and they blended nicely with barley malt. Hundreds of pumpkins are blended into each batch of Post Road Pumpkin Ale, creating a beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuity malt center and crisp finish. Post Road Pumpkin Ale is spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg" (source).
• Brooklyn Oktoberfest, $1.59/12oz - "Brooklyn Oktoberfest was introduced in 2000. It is true to the original German style, full-bodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness. When Crown Prince Ludwig of Bavaria wanted to celebrate his wedding engagement in 1810, he did what any good Bavarian prince would--he threw a beer festival. Bothe the festival and the special beer served there became known as Oktoberfest. Brewed from the finest German malt and hops, Brooklyn Oktoberfest is true to the original style, fullbodied and malty, with a bready aroma and light, brisk hop bitterness" (source).
• Bell's Oracle, $3.09/12oz - "Our take on the West Coast-style Double India Pale Ale, The Oracle places hop intensity first & foremost, making only the slightest concession to malt & balance. The fireworks start with the floral aromatic punch of two separate dry-hop sessions with Amarillo and NZ Pacific Jade. Resinous, citrusy hop flavors mixed with aggressive bitterness from a massive kettle addition deliver on that aromatic promise" (source).
• Grizzly Peak Hellion, $3.39/12oz - "The devil is in the details. The light touch of pale and wheat malts. Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe and Chinook hops. Massive hops additions imbue a wicked bitterness and the intense floral aromas of citrus and lush tropical fruit. Hoppy, hoppy, rich and golden" (source).
• New Holland Ichabod, $1.79/12oz - "Ichabod combines malted barley and real pumpkin with cinnamon and nutmeg in a delicious and inviting brew. After dinner, try it with your favorite dessert" (source).
• North Peak Hooligan, $1.89/12oz - "With North Peak’s Hooligan Hoppy Pumpkin Ale you will never have to choose between your favorite pumpkin beer and IPA again. Hooligan is brewed with real pumpkin and spices to give you all the spicy goodness you could ask for. And did we mention the hops? Hooligan is brimming with Citra, Centennial and Chinook hops" (source).
• Dominion Pils, $2.09/12oz - "Our Bohemian Pilsner, brewed with all natural ingredients, is crisp and refreshing, making it a perfect beach companion. Go Bohemian this Summer and take a case of our Beach House to your beach house" (source).
• Oskar blues Ten Fidy, $4.19/12oz - "This titanic, immensely viscous stout is loaded with inimitable flavors of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee and hide a hefty 98 IBUs underneath the smooth blanket of malt. Ten FIDY (10.5% ABV) is made with enormous amounts of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops. Ten FIDY is the ultimate celebration of dark malts and boundary-stretching beer" (source).
• Right Brain Chubby Squirrel, $7.19/22oz - "A fall ale brewed with our secret blend of spices" (source).
• Smuttynose Smuttlabs Spank, $9.29/22oz - "Hoppy Saison (Birthday Beer!) Brewed to celebrate Smuttynose’s 21st birthday" (source).
• Oddside Snozzberries, $2.29/12oz - "Wit IPA with cherries added" (source).
• Ommegang Grains of Truth, $2.89/12oz - "This is Grains of Truth and it is a Harvest Ale brewed with barley, wheat, oats & rye.  This seasonal release celebrates “the richness of the grain harvest,” it will be packaged in 12oz bottles and the beer will hit 5.8%-AbV.   For those wondering if this is Scythe & Sickle with a new name, stay tuned" (source).
• Shorts Sticky Icky, $1.99/12oz (2 per) - "Sticky Icky Icky is a radiantly clear, copper-colored American India Pale Ale. It is loaded with citrusy hop aromas of oranges, nectarines, and apricots. This light, yet full bodied ale is perfectly balanced by equal parts sweet malt and juicy hops. A medium bitterness along with a subtle earthiness lingers in the finish" (source).

Video of the Week | Science-y Stuff

Here's why aluminum cans are shaped the way they are. Fascinating.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, A Quick Reminder Edition (August 21)

A short preamble to this week's New Beer Friday coincides with a relatively short list of new beers. Really we just want to remind you that our annual sale on homebrew and winemaking supplies begins on September 14 and runs through September 20. So mark you calendars and let your friends know—this is the best time of year to get into the hobby. You can find complete details of discounts and sale items by clicking here.

New and Returning Beer

• Victory Festbier, $1.79/12oz - "Subtly sweet with a delicate malt nose, our Festbier gains its impressive body from our use of all imported German malts and decoction brewing process" (source).
• Abita Pecan Harvest, $1.69/12oz - "Abita Pecan® Harvest Ale is brewed with pale, Munich, biscuit and caramel malts and Willamette hops. Real Louisiana roasted pecans are added in the brewhouse and give the ale a subtle nutty flavor and aroma" (source).
• Gonzo's Vanilla Porter, $3.29/16oz - "A benchmark of balance, this chocolate porter boasts a hint of vanilla as well as an unforgettable velvety texture" (source).
• Deschutes Obsidian Stout, $1.79/12oz - "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).
• Arbor Bliss, $1.79/12oz - "This traditional Hefeweizen is light bodied, gold and cloudy in appearance, with banana and clove in the nose. A clean citrus finish makes this the perfect spring/summer time beer" (source).
• Dark Horse Scary Jesus Rockstar, $2.19/12oz (2 per) - "Pale ale brewed with plentiful amounts of Apricots and Chamomile. A collaboration beer with Chef Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions" (source).

Video of the Week | Black Rocks

Something cool from the little brewery way up north.

(Black Rocks beer is available at Siciliano's.)

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, The Big Sale Edition (August 14)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

We are pleased to announce that the 2015 edition of the Siciliano’s Beer & Wine Making Customer Appreciation Sale will begin on Monday, September 14, and continue through the close of business on Sunday, September 20.

Our annual customer appreciation week sale is a great time for beer and winemaking hobbyists to stock up on supplies and upgrade equipment. For those who have been considering taking up these life enriching hobbies this is the perfect time to do so.

Put some homebrew on ice. New Beer Friday is here.

During the week-long 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 discounts nor will the 15% be combined with other existing discounts (like club discounts). We will honor the discount that is greater. Equipment and supplies on the following list are discounted deeper than 15%:

• BEER EQUIPMENT KIT/GLASS: Regular $105.00, Sale $85.00
• WINEMAKING EQUIPMENT KIT/GLASS: Regular $95.00, Sale $79.00
• BREWERS BEAST EQUIPMENT KIT/GLASS: Regular $135.00, Sale $120.00
• KEGGING SYSTEM/NEW KEG: Regular $289.00, Sale $231.00
• KEGGING SYSTEM/RECONDITIONED KEG: Regular $239.00, Sale $189.00
• 50 FT. IMMERSION COPPER WORT CHILLER: Regular $123.00, Sale $97.00
• 25 FT. IMMERSION COPPER WORT CHILLER: Regular $63.00, Sale $56.00
• ANALOG REFRIGERATION THERMOSTAT: Regular $75.00, Sale $57.00
• MASH/LAUTER TUN: Regular $125.00, Sale $100.00
• ITALIAN FLOOR CORKER: Regular $143.00, Sale $109.00
• PORTUGUESE FLOOR CORKER: Regular $64.00, Sale $50.00
• MILWAUKEE PH METER: Regular $80.00, Sale $64.00
• REFRACTOMETER: Regular $49.00, Sale $39.00

Finally, be sure to stop by the store on Saturday, September 19, for some free German wieners, homemade sauerkraut and draft root beer.

New and Returning Beer

• Arcadia Jaw Jacker, $1.79/12oz - "This spiced amber-wheat ale is our celebration of the arrival of Autumn. Using the finest malted barley and a small amount of wheat for mouthfeel, Jaw-Jacker displays a brilliant orange-amber color, despite the absence of pumpkin in the recipe. The addition of cinnamon, all-spice and nutmeg (in the exact proportions of a family pumpkin pie recipe) creates a refreshingly spicy, season brew" (source).
• Smuttynose Robust Porter, $1.69/12oz - "A hearty ebony colored ale that starts with a rich malty palate finished with clean hops and notes of coffee and chocolate" (source).
• Summit Make It So, $2.09/12oz - "Extra Special Bitter Ale brewed with Earl Grey tea and a sense of adventure" (source).
• Summit Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "Brewed in the Märzen style, Summit Oktoberfest brings alive the famous European Fall celebrations. Summit Oktoberfest has a reddish-bronze color, a rich malty aroma and a satisfying smooth finish" (source).
• Alaskan Pumpkin Ale, $1.69/12oz - "Alaskan Brewing Company’s newest beer is Alaskan Pumpkin Ale, a Fall Seasonal that will start appearing on taps and shelves throughout the company’s 17-state distribution footprint beginning this month. Alaskan brewers have put a new spin on the Pumpkin Porter that has come out the past two years, and produced a smooth brown ale-based recipe that combines holiday spices and organicPumpkin Ale_Product Shot-pressrelease pumpkin for a perfect autumn pour" (source).
• Griffin Claw Screaming Pumpkin, $2.19/16oz (4 per) - "Our autumn seasonal. An Amber Ale brewed with roasted pumpkin in the mash then spiced with ginger, allspice, nutmeg and cloves. Spicy and refreshing. A great tail gating beer" (source).
• Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest, $1.79/12oz - "Bavarian barley slow roasted, caramelized to a rich, red amber color combined with the purest spring waters from the Alps, exclusive yeast and the finest Hallertau hops" (source).
• Weihenstephaner Oktoberfest, $1.99/12oz - "A full rich bodied, hoppy, seasonal lager. Especially brewed for the Festbier season. This beer truly represents the Bavarian way of celebrating. Deep gold color, great mouthfeel and lots of flavor" (source).
• Left Hand Oktoberfest, $2.29/12oz - "This beer is available each autumn in celebration of the great Bavarian festival season. Brewed in late spring and cellared throughout the summer, our Oktoberfest is produced through traditional methods as it has been for centuries in Germany, This copper-hued lager owes its rich malt flavor to a generous combination of select Vienna and Munich malts. Cool, open-fermentation develops a subtle elegance and drinkability suited to any festive occasion" (source).
• Shorts Autumn Ale, $1.99/12oz - "Autumn Ale is a true-to-style London Extra Special Bitter (ESB). It has a medium body, amber color, and full flavor. This beer exhibits a wonderful balance of malty sweetness and floral hop bitterness. The result is an ideal bridge between malty and hoppy beer styles. Autumn Ale is a silver medal winner from the 2006 Great American Beer Festival" (source).
• Shorts Cerveza De Julie, $1.69/12oz - "Cerveza De Julie is a pale yellow Mexican Lager brewed with real lime. Delicate yeasty aromas gather quickly from the ample amount of carbonation in this lighter bodied beer style. Soft grain sweetness enhanced by unobtrusive lime qualities bring out a subtle snappy tartness, which turns mildly bitter before a crisp refreshing finish" (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).
• Abita Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "Abita Octoberfest (September – November) is a German style lager. This full bodied malty lager has a copper color and is hopped and dry hopped with German Hallertau hops giving it a pleasant, spicy hop aroma that's just right for the season" (source).
• Oddside Queen of Tarts, $9.69/500ml - "Soured Wheat Ale, Barrel Aged with Raspberries" (source).
• Anderson Valley  Fall Hornin', $2.19/12oz - "With a brilliant, deep copper hue and creamy beige-colored head, our Fall Hornin’ Pumpkin Ale has inviting aromas of caramelized malt and baking bread with highlights of cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin and seasonal spices. The pleasantly creamy mouthfeel and silky body embrace the sweet caramel flavors and tang of spices (with just hint of hops) that ends in a smooth, round finish" (source).
• Crazy Mountain Neomexicanus Native Pale Ale, $2.09/12oz - "This ale is a tribute to the artistic expression that can be realized when a brewery and a hop farmer partner together with the common goal of achieving something new and creative. This beer is an exploration of a largely undocumented hop, native to the South Western United States. This ale offers a citrusy aroma with a distinct lemon and tangerine character while maintaining a moderate acidity that accentuates the delicate flavors and aromas of this brew" (source).
• Shipyard Pumpkinhead, $1.79/12oz - "Shipyard Pumpkinhead Ale is a crisp and refreshing wheat ale with delightful aromatics and subtle spiced flavor" (source).
• Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin, $10.19/22oz (1 per) - "A big bodied beer with a light coppery orange color and pleasing aroma of pumpkin and nutmeg.  Pale Ale, Wheat and Light Munich malts combine with the natural tannin in pumpkin and the delicate spiciness of Saphir and Hallertau Hops to balance the sweetness of the fruit.  To fully experience all the flavors, this beer is best enjoyed at 55 degrees Fahrenheit" (source).

Video of the Week | Pure Michigan

About time we dusted off and reposted this gem.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, New Mayor of Beer City Edition (August 7)

Preamble by Steve Sicliano

If you live in the Grand Rapids vicinity you probably know that Rosalynn Bliss was elected as the city’s first female mayor this past Tuesday.

I have to confess I’m pretty apolitical and don’t know much about Ms. Bliss’s stance on issues that are germane to the city but what I do know about the new mayor is that she’s a fan of craft beer.

For the past two years Rosalynn took time out of her busy schedule to lead the country wide toast to the enriching hobby of homebrewing at the Siciliano’s Big Brew on the Calder.

I highly doubt that this had any impact on Tuesday’s election but in my opinion any politician who rubs elbows with homebrewers has to be pretty darn cool.

Our next mayor toasting local homebrewers during Big Brew on the Calder, 2014.
Photo courtesy Steph Harding.

New and Returning Beers

• Tandem Smackintosh, $3.59/16oz - "The first Smack of the season, made from McIntosh, Rhode Island Greening, and Northern Spy. Sweet and Macky with a rich golden hue, this cider is fresh and fruit. The McIntosh and Greenings are from some 75-year-old trees on Old Mission, the spy from a few miles up the road. Growers: Shultz Orchards and the Kolarik Brothers" (source).
• Saugatuck Pumpkin Chai, $1.89/12oz - "Our new fall seasonal beer; an ale brewed with herbal chai tea and pumpkin. Aromas of chai tea and subtle pumpkin notes on the nose; Flavors of chai and pumpkin make this fall seasonal stand out from typical fall beers. Perfect for a brisk autumn day" (source).
• Sprecher Hard Apple Pie, $1.49/12oz - "At 5% abv, this is definitely not your Grandma's apple pie though it tastes remarkably similar. Each sip gives you every flavor you get in an apple pie -- crisp yet soft apple up front followed by cinnamon and a pie crust finish. Sweet, tart and smooth with a hint of savory. Engagingly provocative, Hard Apple Pie is delicious on its own, in a float with your favorite ice cream, or mixed in a cocktail" (source).
• Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, $1.69/12oz - "We brew Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale with real pumpkin and a blend of classic pumpkin pie spices in tribute to our colonial forebearers. Recipes calling for the use of pumpkins have been found from early European settlers in New England, when brewers sought to extend their supply of costly imported malt with locally grown ingredients" (source).
• Sam Adams Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "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).
• Shiner Oktoberfest, $1.69/12oz - "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).
• Tapistry Gretel, $8.19/22oz - "Gretel is German. Gretel is like a chocolate covered banana. Gretel will make you say "Das schmeckt gut!" (translation: "That tastes good!")" (source).
• Tapistry Heart Full of Napalm, $11.09/22oz - "Double IPA brewed with Galaxy, Mosaic, & Amarillo hops" (source).
• Southern Tier 2XIPA, $1.99/12oz - "Not quite an imperial, but certainly not a standard India pale ale. Our double IPA is a hop lovers dream. Citrusy and clean with an incredible finish" (source).
• Greenbush One in the Same, 1.99/12oz - "Not quite an imperial, but certainly not a standard India pale ale. Our double IPA is a hop lovers dream. Citrusy and clean with an incredible finish" (source).
• Hebrew Slingshot, $1.79/12oz - "Slingshot pours a bright straw color with a thin white head and light lacing. The aroma features juicy, tropical fruit notes of peach, lemon and red grapefruit with the light spice accent of noble hops. The polished malt bill is mainly 2-row pale malt with portions of Vienna and a touch of wheat and rye to add a delicate balance to the spice and fruit. It is medium in body with a smooth refreshing mouthfeel to make Slingshot a well-balanced, easy drinking American craft lager" (source).
• Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin, $3.39/12oz - "Brewed with Pumpkin and Spices(Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Cloves). This 8.0% ABV pumpkin ale is heartier, spicier, and more caramelly and pumpkiny than its faint brethren! Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night, or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream. If you don't agree this is the mother of all pumpkin ales, then you just don't like mothers" (source).
• B. Nektar Sleeping Giant, $26.39/375ml (1 per) - "Once upon a time a giant was imprisoned inside a rye whiskey barrel. For over a year he sat in silence and total darkness and finally, he fell asleep. In time the world forgot about him. Until one day, a brave mead maker with a magical mustache discovered the giant, and put it in a bottle. At over 19% abv, this mead should not be taken lightly. Uncork the bottle and awaken the Sleeping Giant" (source).
• North Peak Dauntless, $1.79/12oz - "Brewed with a traditional Munich lager yeast, Dauntless is a copper colored malt forward salute to the Oktoberfest celebration taking place in Germany every year since 1810.  Tettnang and Hallertauer hops complement the malt flavors by adding subtle, spicy hop notes. Malty, smooth, and eminently drinkable" (source).

Video of the Week | Acme Cider

More GR-made cider? Yes, please.

Visit their Kickstarter page for more information.

Cheers!