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!