New Beer Friday, Learn to Make Wine Edition (August 29)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

The summer after my father died I paid a visit to one of his old up north drinking buddies at his cabin on the Little Manistee west of Irons, Michigan.

Tony Mitchell was fond of my father’s homemade wine and I brought him a case of Cabernet that my father had made the previous fall. We drank a bottle of the Cab while Tony tied flies at his kitchen table.

“Your father was a good man,” Tony said while inspecting a #10 Adams under a magnifying glass.

“Yes he was,” I agreed.

“He sure as hell wasn’t much of a trout fisherman, but he made some damn fine wine.”

“Yes he did,” I agreed again.

Tony sat back, lit a Lucky Strike and looked at me through a haze of cigarette smoke.

“Is it hard?” he asked.

“Is what hard, Tony?”

“Making wine.”

I took another sip of the Cab before I answered. “You know, Tony,” I said. “Making wine is lot like fishing. Fishing is pretty damn easy when you’re sitting in a row boat going after bluegills with a cane pole. But when you’re fly fishing for trout on a river like the Little Manistee it gets a bit more complicated.” I looked out the screen door at the fast flowing river twenty yards away and smiled. “I guess it just depends on how far you want to take a hobby. My dad was like that person fishing with a cane pole, but he made some pretty good wine.”

Later while sitting on Tony’s front porch, I watched him hook into a hard-fighting brown after placing the Adams on the edge of an undercut with a perfect roll cast.

* * *

The Kent District Library (KDL) has announced the launch of KDL Uncorked, a program of free winemaking classes and wine tastings to be held this year in September and October at various Kent County library branches. In addition to the free wine-related events, the KDL Uncorked program is also giving folks the opportunity to sign up for a tour and tasting at Cascade Winery in Grand Rapids and wine, cider and cheese tastings at Kayla Rae Cellars in Rockford at discounted rates.

I will be conducting the program’s free winemaking classes at seven different KDL branches. Dates, times and venues for the Winemaking 101 classes are as follows:

• KDL Gaines/Cutlerville Branch, Thursday, 9/4/14—6:00 pm
• KDL Byron Branch, Tuesday, 9/16/14—6:30 pm
• KDL Grandville Branch, Wednesday, 9/17/14—6:30 pm
• KDL Kentwood Branch, Thursday, 9/18/14—6:30 pm
• KDL Plainfield Branch, Wednesday, 9/24/14—6:30 pm
• KDL Englehardt/Lowell Branch, Wednesday, 10/8/14—6:30 pm
• KDL Wyoming Branch, Wednesday, 10/22/14—6:30 pm

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

• Sierra Nevada Narwhall Imperial Stout, $2.59/12oz - "Narwhal Imperial Stout is the latest beer in Sierra Nevada’s High Altitude Series. This malt-forward monster is bold – with notes of baker’s cocoa, molasses, and dark roasted coffee. This massive imperial stout is incredibly complex, rich, and intense and will develop in the bottle for years to come" (source).
• Sprecher Hard Ginger, $1.49/12oz - "Cool lime, piquant ginger and a dry finish give Sprecher's Hard Ginger Beer a crisp, refreshing drinkability that is perfect on its own or as a mixer in cocktails. Unlike most ginger beers, which are non-alcoholic, Sprecher's contains 4.7 percent alcohol by volume" (source).
• Lakefront Pumpkin, $1.49/12oz - "Lakefront Brewery's Pumpkin Lager is one of the only pumpkin lager available in the world; nearly all other pumpkin beers are ales. Using real pumpkin and a proprietary blend of spices made here in Milwaukee for us by the acclaimed Spice House, our brewers lager this beer for 4 full weeks. This extra time gives the Lakefront Pumpkin Lager a deep, smooth richness that no ale can match. A frothy entry leads to an off-dry medium-to-full body of intense cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and candied yam flavor on a nutty wheat toast palate. Finishes with a drier spice and light toffee fade. Caramel and Munich malts reinforce this beer's mouthfeel and lend to the malty sweetness. A nicely balanced spice beer for those cool fall nights" (source).
• Lakefront Oktoberfest, $1.49/12oz - "A malty and full bodied amber lager brewed to celebrate a successful harvest" (source).
• New Belgium Pumpkick, $1.69/12oz - "What’s that bite of tartness doing in a pumpkin beer? Adding the unexpected kick of cranberry juice to brighten this traditionally spiced seasonal ale. PUMPKICK is brewed with plenty of pumpkin juice, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice, but it’s the cranberries and touch of lemongrass that send your tastebuds sailing" (source).
• Great Lakes Nosferatu, $3.29/12oz - "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).
• Vivant Agent a Deux, $3.59/16oz - "<<Agent a Deux>> has infiltrated Brewery Vivant. The 'double agent' is a dark Belgian-style ale brewed with black currants, vanilla beans and rose petals. A classic French trio" (source).
• Innis and Gunn Scottish Porter, $2.79/12oz - "This beer takes its inspiration from the history books. As well as using flavour-packed chocolate and crystal malt, we also added treacle (molasses) which gives the beer its rich, bittersweet character. 100 years ago in Scotland, treacle was used by brewers to create depth and sweetness and to give beers a richer mouthfeel and more rounded finish" (source).
• Saugatuk Continuum, $2.59/12oz - "A continuously hopped Imperial American IPA brewed with Centennial, Cascade, Nugget,and Summit hops. Experience the beauty of bitter and the serious of citrus" (source).

Michigan Bottle Opener

Now available at Siciliano's

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, Little Manistee Edition (August 22)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

Literally the perfect beer for a day
on a Michigan river.

Sometimes when I’m feeling a tad claustrophobic I’ll get myself lost on the gravel roads in the northwest section of Lake County. “Lost” is a relative term here. I might not know exactly where I’m at all the time but those washboard rutted roads always lead to a paved highway and eventually I’ll find my way back to the cottage. If I happen to come across a country tavern along the way it’s a bonus.

While I’m “lost” there’s always plenty to look at—lots of trees, abandoned farmhouses and dilapidated barns, deer grazing in the fields, small streams and the occasional undeveloped lake.

If I drive around those roads long enough I’ll come to one of the wooden pylon bridges that cross over the Little Manistee and because I’m in an unhurried state, I get out of my truck to look at the river. If I’m lucky I’ll see a fly fisherman working his way upstream or a trout holding steady in the current.

It’s my decidedly humble opinion that the Little Manistee is one of the Lower Peninsula’s most delightful rivers. It rises just east of Luther and winds fifty-five miles through the hardwood forests of Lake, Mason and Manistee counties before emptying into Manistee Lake. When I was young my uncle had a cabin a few miles outside of Luther and I have wonderful memories of fishing for browns and brookies in the pond formed by the old logging mill dam that was built back in the 1800’s.

Many years later my brother-in-law and I went skinny dipping in one the Little Manistee’s icy cold pools after a day of drinking Stroh’s at my father’s cabin near Irons. The swim was quite refreshing, but the memory of that experience is tempered by the fact that a few days later I got a bad case of poison ivy in the sensitive regions below my waist.

Last Saturday Barb and I kayaked the stretch of the Little Manistee between Fox Bridge and Bear Track Campground with friends John and Pam Matson. Kayaking the Little Manistee is definitely a challenge. Because John and Pam have kayaked this part of the river over twenty times, they are very adept at maneuvering the twists, turns, obstructions and eddies while enjoying a beer. I, however, quickly found out that I wasn’t.

Ten minutes into our excursion I cracked open a 16 ounce can of Two Hearted and the first two sips tasted wonderful. While I was taking the third sip the current pushed my kayak sideways against a submerged log and the remainder of that world class IPA ended up with me in the river. Fortunately I was able to retrieve my paddle, my flip flops and the empty beer can.

My ego was slightly bruised, but a bruised ego is a relatively small price to pay for another Little Manistee memory.

New and Returning Beer

• 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 desserts" (source).
• Alaskan Pumpkin Porter, $1.59/12oz - "A native plant of North America, pumpkins were first used in beer in colonial America as a substitute for hard-to-find malt, and none other than the father of our country George Washington had a highly touted recipe. This imperial porter pumpkin beer combines the robust, full-bodied style of a porter with a, frankly, crazy amount of pumpkin" (source).
• Bell's Best Brown, $1.69/12oz - "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).
• 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).
• Cheboygan Oktoberfest, $1.89/12oz - "The beer, created by the brewery’s operation manager and brewmaster Tim Perry, who was inspired by the 1976 Späten Oktoberfest bier from Munich, Germany, is orange in hue with a pronounced malt presence" (source).
• Shorts Vintage Premium Lager, $1.49/12oz - "Short’s Vintage Premium Lager is the perfect replica of today’s mainstream American Pale Lagers, complete with a wort that’s 50% blended rice syrup and hot water. A small amount of 2 row malted barley contributes to its bright yellow color and delicate malt flavors. Crystal clear and boldly effervescent, this beer has yeast aromas that lead into flavors of lightly toasted white bread with a very low residual sweetness. The super light body aids in the ultimate refreshment providing a thirst quenching finish that’s super crisp and clean" (source).
• Smuttynose Bouncy House IPA, $1.69/12oz - "What is Bouncy House? It’s the next step in our quest to brew the perfect low-alcohol, high-flavor, hoppy American ale. We learned a few things from brewing ParadoX earlier this year, like lowering the alcohol content and avoiding the terms "session" and "IPA." When you taste Bouncy House, you’ll taste a modest malt bill of North American 2-row, British pale ale malt, C-60 and Aromatic malt mashed for a refreshingly light body that leaves plenty of spotlight for a melange of Warrior, Calypso, El Dorado and Citra hops" (source).
• Leinenkugel UberOktoberfest, $2.99/12oz - "A bolder, toastier take on an Oktoberfestbier that can only be described as “Über.” With a tawny orange hue, toasted malts and spicy hops, our Big Eddy Über-Oktoberfest is then dry-hopped for added hop complexity" (source).
• Sam Adams Fat Jack, $7.19/22oz - "This rich and luscious brew indulges in flavor with over 28Ibs of pumpkin per barrel, for a full bodied sweetness and deep russet color. Classic pumpkin pie spices of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and allspice ignite a warmth and spark that’s deepened by an undercurrent of roasty smoked malts. The result is a delectable brew full of enveloping layers of flavor and spice. At Samuel Adams we love experimenting. This series of limited edition brews represents some of our favorite small batch creations" (source).
• Sam Adams Harvest Pumpkin, $1.69/12oz - "A perennial favorite at our Brewery Halloween party, this reddish amber ale is perfect for fall. Real pumpkin adds a full body and sweetness, while deep roasted malts lend a toasty finish to this subtly spiced brew" (source).
• Left Hand Oktoberfest, $2.09/12oz - "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).
• Big Sky Slow Elk, $1.69/12oz - "Malty and creamy, and very smooth. Very Drinkable and a quite well made. "Slow Elk" is the nickname for a cow, which are sometimes mistaken for Elk?" (source).
• Erdinger Oktoberfest, $1.99/12oz - "Erdinger is brewed all-naturally, using traditional bottle-fermentation, never pasteurized" (source).
• Crazy Mountain Boohai Red Ale, $1.79/12oz - "We bring in the hops for this brew from New Zealand, where locals use the term “Boohai” to describe being thoroughly lost in a remote or non-existant place far from civilization. To us, that sounded like a pretty good place to be. These unique hops present a noticeable aroma of blackberries, Sauvignon Blanc grapes and pine which come together nicely with a complex blend of Belgian malts to make a deep, yet sublimely pleasant beer" (source).
• Crazy Mountain Hookiebob IPA, $4.99/22oz - "In the 1960s, before Vail Village was paved and closed to vehicles, "hookiebobbing" referred to those committed fools who, while on skis, grabbed onto the bumper of passing cars to tow them up to the lifts. Our IPA is a Colorado approach to the American take of an English classic. Three aggressive yet floral American hops and one hop from Down Under team together to make a bright, citrusy and floral India Pale Ale. A deep caramel malt helps to balance the bitterness of the hops and lets the complex hop bill shine" (source).
• Crazy Mountain Horseshoes and Hand Grenades, $4.49/22oz - "When our brewmaster was first learning to brew beer, he mentioned to his instructor that he hoped his batch would turn out close to the way it was supposed to taste. The instructor told him, "Close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades." Our American ESB showcases a complex maltiness and unique hop character. Chinook and Amarillo hops coupled with 5 different types of malt make this beer one-of-a-kind" (source).
• Crazy Mountain Old Soul Belgian Strong Ale, $4.489/22oz - "Our version of a Belgian Strong Golden Ale. A healthy amount of wheat gives this beer a very smooth mouthfeel that is accompanied by a fruity yeast character. Dark Belgian Candy is added to the boil which contributes to this beer’s light body and complex flavor. European hops team up with Juniper berries added late in the boil to offer a soft, subtle spiciness" (source).
• Fort Collins Oktoberfest, $2.39/12oz - "Our Oktoberfest was brewed as a tribute to one of our most cherished recipes using old world German techniques and ingredients. A single decoction mash unleashes the complexity and depth of the Vienna, Munich and Caramel malts that create this beer’s distinct aroma and flavor. German noble hops balance this rich and malty lager with a delicate herbal and spicy bouquet of aromas" (source).
• William Tell Hard Cider, $8.59/22oz - "This premium hard cider was handcrafted from apple juice and natural flavors for a refreshingly elegant taste" (source).
• William Tell Pinot Grigio Hard Cider, $8.59/22oz - "Our signature cider is a unique blend of freshly fermented Hard Apple Cider and premium California Pinot Grigio. We start with fresh juice from five types of apples and ferment it in three lots, each with different yeast to add flavor complexity. Then comes the creative touch: we add 15% of our Pinot Grigio and then Frost Ferment the blend to concentrate the fresh apple and wine character and enhance the flavors. If Frost Fermentation doesn’t sound familiar, it’s because we invented this technique to create our Pinot Grigio cider" (source).
• Sietsemas Lemongrass Hard Cider, $16.49/22oz - "For those with a taste for brightness. A bold blend of refreshing local Lemon Grass combined with our the crisp apple zest taste of our cider creates a unique taste of citrusy, zesty, sweet fruitiness" (source).

Picture of the Week | People's Cider Co.

Sampling the People's Cider at Fulton St. Farmers Market

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, Big Sale Edition (August 15)

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

We are pleased to announce that the 2014 edition of the Siciliano’s Beer & Wine Making Customer Appreciation Sale will begin on Monday, September 8, and continue through the close of business on Sunday, September 14.

Our annual customer appreciation week sale is a great time for beer and wine making 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.

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%:

• WORT AERATION SYSTEM: Regular $25.39, Sale $19.99
• 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
• ESCALI TASO DIGITAL SCALE: Regular $39.95, Sale $32.00
• BUEN VINO MINI-JET FILTER: Regular $199.00, Sale $169.00
• 50 FT. IMMERSION COPPER WORT CHILLER: Regular $123.00, Sale $97.00
• 25 FT. IMMERSION COPPER WORT CHILLER: Regular $63.00, Sale $56.00
• DIGITAL REFRIGERATION THERMOSTAT: Regular $115.49, Sale $78.00
• ANALOG REFRIGERATION THERMOSTAT: Regular $75.00, Sale $57.00
• MASH/LAUTER TUN: Regular $125.00, Sale $100.00
• 30 QT. STAINLESS STEEL BREW POT: Regular $77.89, Sale $61.00
• 42 QT. STAINLESS STEEL BREW POT: Regular $89.00, Sale $71.00
• 60 QT. STAINLESS STEEL BREWPOT: Regular $118.99, Sale $93.00
• 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 13, for free German wieners, homemade sauerkraut and draft root beer.

New and Returning Beer

• Ayinger Oktoberfest, $3.89/500ml - "Ayinger Oktober Fest Märzen has a deep golden color tinted with amber. It is lightly sweet with a malty nose balanced with floral hops. Its medium to big body and alcohol is not overpowering. The soft dryness comes from long maturation" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Flipside Red IPA, $1.69/12oz - "Flipside Red IPA is a rebuttal to the mild-mannered beers of summer. Tropical fruit and citrus hop flavors from the use of whole-cone Citra, Simcoe and Centennial hops are the perfect notes for this in-between season" (source).
• Sierra Nevada Beer Camp West Coast Double IPA, $5.69/22oz - "At 8.5% alcohol-by-volume, a light malt body and dry finish complement West Coast Double IPA’s bold hop profile" (source).
• Oskar Blues Nitro Old Chub, $2.69/16oz - "Old Chub is a Scottish style ale brewed with copious amounts of crystal and chocolate malts, and a dash of beechwood-smoked malts. While Dale's Pale Ale ('the best-tasting canned beer I've ever had,' according to many brewers and beer experts) is a showcase of both hops and pale malts, Old Chub is a celebration of malts. The cola-colored beer features a dense, tawny head, a creamy mouthful and flavors of caramel, chocolate and lightly roasted malt. Complex and rich, it finishes with a whisper of smokiness that calls to mind a fine single malt scotch. Old Chub weighs in at 8 % alcohol by volume" (source).
• Atwater Blueberry Cobbler, $2.89/12oz - "Blueberry Cobbler is deceptively complex outing that features bready malts the dryness of fermented blueberries, light vanilla and blueberry aromatics. Strong, yet the flavors play well together" (source).
• Buffalo Bills Pumpkin Ale, $1.69/12oz - "An amber style ale, originally brewed by George Washington, brewed with fresh roasted pumpkins, malted barley. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are added. Bottled form is brewed under contract by Portland Brewing Co." (source).
• B. Nektar Zombies Take Manhattan, $17.09/500ml (1 bottle/person) - "Imperial Zombie Killer. Apple honey wine with cherries added, aged in rye whiskey barrels" (source).

Mittenbrew Podcast: Jacob & Sarah Derylo

Beer City siblings Jacob and Sarah Derylo talked recently with MittenBrew's

Pat Evans about—what else?—beer and family. Enjoy the show.

Cheers!

New Beer Friday, "Bad Beer Rules" Edition (Aug 8)

Mt. Pleasant Iron Horse IPA,
not a bad beer

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

If you’re under the age of thirty-five you probably don’t remember the time when it was almost impossible to find anything but American light lagers and stale imports in bars in West Michigan. That was about fifteen years ago. Although the craft beer movement was gaining momentum and American made ales and lagers were beginning to appear in a handful of bottle shops, most bars had yet to jump on craft beer bandwagon, and that was a bit frustrating for my brother Mark and me during our occasional bar hopping excursions.

We did most of that bar hopping in the old dives on the lower west side of Grand Rapids. If we happened to get the itch while spending the weekend up north at our father’s cabin, we would hit a couple of the far flung taverns in Lake County. But whether hopping bars up north or in the city, during most of those excursions we had no choice but to apply what we called the "Bad Beer Rule.”

The Bad Beer Rule dictates that if a bar doesn’t have any craft beer you must order the worst beer that’s available. Now I must admit that since my early bar hopping days I have come to realize that “bad” is a relative term when applied to beer. What I deemed to be “bad” back then might have been liquid gold to another patron. But when one first discovers the pleasures of craft beer there is a tendency to be a bit sanctimonious.

I don’t do much dive bar hopping in GR any more but when I do I seldom have to apply the Bad Beer Rule as it seems that even the diviest bars in Beer City USA today carry a selection of craft beer. I discovered recently that the same holds true for the rural up-north watering holes.

A couple of weeks ago Barb and I did a little bar hopping in three Lake County taverns. While Michigan craft beer was available at both The Logger’s Landing and the North Bar in Luther, I opted for High Lifes (High Lives?) and Barb had Miller Lites. We decided to go with the lower alcohol beers, but the point is we had a choice.

On the way back to the cottage we stopped at the Twin Creek Tavern which is, quite literally, in the middle of nowhere. We sat at the nice wooden bar in this wonderful old country tavern and finished the excursion with a couple of Mt. Pleasant Iron Horse IPAs.

New and Returning Beer

Crows Cider and Doug

• Crow's Ciderye, $27.99/375ml - "a rye whiskey barrel aged hard cider. A light rye whiskey aroma, semi-dry to the tongue with a semi-sweet crisp apple finish" (source).
• Crow's Hard Cider Chai, $14.99/750ml - Made with organic apples and spices.
• Crow's Hard Cider Coffee, $14.99/750ml - Made with organic apples and coffee.
• Crow's Hard Cider Peach, $14.99/750ml - Made with organic apples and peaches.
• Vivant Contemplation, $3.39/16oz - "Ale brewed with Michigan honey & locally grown hops" (source).
• Green Flash White IPA, $6.19/22oz - "While developing the recipe for our White IPA, we lined up malted wheat and more than a dozen hop varieties to select the three hops with the most citrus character: Simcoe, Amarillo and El Dorado. A citrus hop explosion leaps from the glass with big tangerine aromas up front, while hop flavors of bitter orange zest dominate and linger to the finish" (source).
• Shiner Oktoberfest, $1.59/12oz - "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).
• Arcadia Jaw Jacker, $1.79/12oz - "Jaw-Jacker balances our finest malted barley with a bit-o-wheat and is complimented with a citrus hop kick and just the right amount of cinnamon, nutmeg and allspice for a nice marriage of pumpkin pie and beer. Made in the fall to celebrate the changing of the season" (source).
• Arcadia Rapunzel, $1.79/12oz - "A wheat IPA, as blond as her hair and worth sneaking out the window for" (source).
• New Belgium Tour de Fall, $1.69/12oz - "New Belgium’s love for beer, bikes and benefits is best described by being at Tour de Fat. Our love for Cascade and Amarillo hops is best tasted in our Tour de Fall Pale Ale. We’re cruising both across the country during our favorite time of year. Hop on and find Tour de Fall Pale Ale in fall 2014" (source).
• Coronado Black Sails Black IPA, $8.29/22oz - "A decidedly hoppy and bitter, moderately strong American Pale Ale. Dark roast coffee and earthy flavors meld into piney hops with citrus and grapefruit aromatics" (source).
• Coronado Sock Knocker Imperial IPA, $.8.29/22oz - "Sock Knocker pours golden orange, with a hoppy, citrus flavor that lingers well into the finish. Amarillo, Centennial, Columbus and Simcoe hops unite to create an immensely floral, botanical nose and a veritable explosion of citrus and pine on the palate. With an even more obscene hop overload than Coronado’s infamous Idiot IPA, Sock Knocker is an India Pale Ale truly deserving of its imperial crown" (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).
• 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).

Picture of the Week

Any mushroom experts out there give lessons?
We would have loved to ID these.

Cheers!

Sarah's It's Still Summer 6-Pack

By Sarah "The Cheetah" Derylo

It’s early August at Siciliano’s and the pumpkin, Oktoberfest and harvest beers are arriving at a steady rate. No doubt these coveted and “short run” styles are a welcome addition on any beer enthusiast’s shelves, but summer isn’t over already...is it? Can it be true that the pilsner, wheat, session and cream ale styles are in hibernation this early, and that the big, malty, spiced harvest ales are invading without care when I only just picked my first tomato?

Canoeing the Ausable with Vivant Zaison, listening to the Tigers on the radio with growlers of Mitten brew, mushroom hunting with cans of Founder’s All Day IPA, watching fireflies with a Bell’s Oberon in hand—I suppose it’s hard to miss the writing on the label, so to speak, but I’m just not ready to say goodbye to summer in West Michigan.

Here are a few great beer reminders to help keep the season from fading too early:

• Anderson Valley Summer Solstice, $1.99/12oz - "Summer Solstice Seasonal Ale is not just your average summer seasonal. This unique copper colored ale is smooth, malty, and lightly sweet, with a delicate hint of spice for that oh-so-drinkable, extra velvety flavor" (source).
• Brooklyn Summer Ale, $1.69/12oz - "Brooklyn Summer Ale is a modern rendition of the "Light Dinner Ales" brewed in England throughout the 1800's right up until the 1940's. They were also called "luncheon ales" or even "family ales", because they were refreshing and flavorful without being too heavy. We brew our Brooklyn Summer Ale from premium English barley malt, which gives this light-bodied golden beer a fresh bready flavor. German and American hops lend a light, crisp bitterness and a citrus/floral aroma resulting in a beer with a very sunny disposition" (source).
• New Belgium Summer Helles, $1.69/12oz - "Summer Helles carries the pleasant sweetness of pale and German Pils malts, and levels off with the light and noble bitterness of Hallertau and Tettnang hops. It is 5 percent ABV and 21 IBUs, finishing crisp and dry" (source).
• Griffin Claw Norm's Gateway Session IPA, $1.39/12oz - "Consider Norm's Gateway IPA into becoming a hop head. A session IPA that is a combination of full hop flavor and lower alcohol, giving it wonderful drinkability. Crisp, clean, fruity and refreshing" (source). 
• Black Rocks Honey Lav, $1.79/12oz - "An American Wheat Ale with Michigan honey and lavender flowers" (source).
• Abita Seersucker Summer Pils, $1.69/12oz - "This brew will be made with pilsner and carapils malts and hopped with German Tradition and German Spalt hops. It is a straw-colored pilsner beer with a traditional full-bodied malt flavor and hop bitterness. (ABV 4.8% Color 7 lovibond IBU 35) Seeksucker Summer Pils will be available in Summer of 2014 and a test batch will be on tap in the Abita Visitor Center in the next coming weeks" (source).

We’d love to hear YOUR favorite West Michigan summer memory, especially if it involves a Michigan landmark and beer. Pictures are welcome on our Facebook page!

New Beer Friday, Dead Head Edition (August 1)

"National WHAT month? Uh-oh."

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

August is National Catfish Month and if you’re looking for some way to honor this popular food fish over the next few weeks, here’s a suggestion. The Rezervoir Lounge on Plainfield Avenue in Grand Rapids offers a wonderful blackened catfish filet that is served with rice and a side of steamed broccoli. Pair the dish with a New Holland White Hatter if it’s still on tap. The beer’s spicy notes and citrusy hops go very well with the filet’s peppery Cajun seasoning.

Okay, I doubt that many of you knew that August was National Catfish Month but if you’re a Dead head you most certainly know that August 1 is Jerry Garcia’s birthday.

I’m not a huge Dead fan but when Barb and I were in San Francisco a few years back we made the obligatory visit to the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood and we walked past the house where Jerry and his bandmates lived during the Summer of Love. Afterwards we stopped at the Magnolia Gastropub and Brewery for a sandwich and a beer then made our way down to the Toronado Bar in the lower Haight.

If you’re ever in San Francisco the Toronado is a must visit. Ignore the slew of internet reviewers that slam the tavern’s seedy décor and whine about the rude bartenders. Order up a Pliny or some obscure Belgian beer and enjoy the experience.

Have a great weekend everyone!

New and Returning Beer

• Alaskan Amber, $1.59/12oz - "Our flagship beer is based on a turn-of-the-century recipe that quenched the thirst of miners during the Klondike Gold Rush. Smooth and richly malty, this altbier goes well with any meal" (source).
• Alaskan Freeride APA, $1.59/12oz - "Alaskan Freeride APA is brewed with Cascade, Citra, and Centennial hops, premium two-row and specialty crystal malts, and Juneau’s glacier-fed water" (source).
• Alaskan Icy Bay IPA, $1.59/12oz - "Alaskan Icy Bay IPA is made from glacier-fed water and a blend of Cascade, Bravo, Calypso, Summit and Apollo hops and premium two-row pale and specialty malts" (source).
• Alaskan Hopothermia, $2.79/12oz - "Hopothermia is a full-flavored representation of the Double IPA style with a robust malt body resting in easy harmony, like a massive grizzly bear in winter, with the big and drinkable American hop character" (source).
• Southern Tier Harvest, $1.69/12oz - "Harvest Ale is our celebration of the changing weather and the sowing of hops and barley that will be used in our upcoming brews. We usher in the fall with a classic English style Extra Special Bitter of the highest order. Deep ruby in color with an even deeper hop flavor… in fact, we throw fresh English hops into every brewing vessel, then dry hop after fermentation to impart a zesty kick. This beer has real hop character that mingles with fresh malted barley for an experience that will make you wish it were fall year ‘round" (source).
• Atwater Bloktoberfest, $1.79/12oz - "Octoberfest, a German tradition that celebrates harvest. Now Atwater carries on the tradition with our own special lager "Blocktoberfest". Brewed with 100% German malt for a rich taste and amber color" (source).
• Shorts Imperial Spruce Pilsner, $2.39/12oz (limit 3 bottles/person) - "Imperial India Spruce Pilsner is fermented with local, hand-picked blue spruce tips and the quintessential symbol for Joe Short’s love of hops and craft beer. The spruce presence, rooted in historical brewing practices, is enormous and gives the beer a refreshing gin quality. This beer is impressively light bodied, considering the immense spruce flavors and the prodigious additions of hops" (source).

Picture of the Week

In honor of Jerry Garcia's birthday, we present this picture taken last week in Irons, MI

of a turtle eating a mushroom. It's somehow fitting, don't you think?

Cheers!