Preamble by Steve Siciliano
Our general manager Sarah Derylo is on vacation so she asked if I could pinch hit for a couple hours a day this past week. I spent most of the time on the bench (translation: sitting at my desk) but that’s fine because I hadn’t swung a bat in a while and I’m a tad rusty. But it was kind of nice putting on the spikes again and getting back in the game.
While I was slaving away in GR, Barb kept busy at the cottage with things like painting the deck railing and putting burgundy duct tape on the cracked seats of our twenty-year-old pontoon boat. I think the latter is like putting lipstick on a pig but hey, whatever makes her happy.
Whenever Barb is out of town, I take the opportunity to whip up some dishes that she probably wouldn’t eat unless she was absolutely starving, i.e. pasta and cannellini beans and hamburger and rice. I’m a big fan of rustic peasant food but Barb is basically a meat and potatoes type of gal.
One evening this past week I was devouring a big bowl of pasta and beans when Barb texted me a picture of her supper -- grilled pork steak and sautéed mushrooms. The photo was tagged with a one-word caption: Yummy!!!
I took a photo of my own supper and sent it to her with the same caption. Below are the aforementioned photographs. Now I ask you, whose meal looks yummier?
New and Returning Beer
Big Lake Orange Shandy, $2.79/16oz - "A refreshing weiss beer brewed with real orange's" (source).
Big Lake Tart lemon, $3.19/16oz - "A refreshingly tart lemon shandy, perfect for a warm summer day" (source).
Brewery Vivant Zaison, $4.69/16oz - "Zaison takes its inspiration from the famous Saison style of beer made in the southern region of Belgium. Traditionally this beer is made in the coolness of the winter months to be enjoyed in the Spring and Summer. Our special Belgian yeast strain gives this beer a little funkiness and is accented with tellicherry black peppercorns and orange peel. Probably one of the strongest summertime beers you will encounter, we recommend using the buddy system, always drink with a friend" (source).
Central State Blackberry, $4.09/16oz - "Dripping with fruit flavor, this sour ale finishes with a touch of smooth sweetness thanks to a dose of lactose sugar" (source).
Central State Cocoa Alastor, $5.99/16oz - "Rising from the underworld this Imperial Stout is loaded with milk sugar and oats and real cocoa" (source).
Central State Same Difference, $3.79/16oz - "Brewed with an absurd amount of flaked oats of an equally silly amount of Citra and Mosaic hops, this IPA is bursting with juicy fruit flavors and silky smooth texture" (source).
Griffin Claw Overnight Sensation, $2.39/16oz - "Our incredibly delicious raspberry ale made with tons and tons of fresh raspberries. This brew is light and fruity with a slightly tart finish. It's so good that it became a sensation... overnight" (source).
Innis & Gunn Mangoes on the Run, $3.79/16oz - "A limited edition beer. The fruitiest one Innis & Gunn have brewed" (source).
Lord Hobo Pineapple Glorious, $3.79/16oz - "Take a sip and experience a liquid vacation. This tropical, fruit soaked beer was born from the daydreams of basking in the sun on porches, patios and beaches. Each sip transports you to the sweetness of summer, with refreshing hints of pineapple and the familiar taste of New England's IPA, GLORIOUS" (source).
New Belgium Dayblazer, $1.39/12oz - "A deliciously refreshing golden ale, at 4.8% ABV, brewed with the finest malts and hops giving a sweet, crisp citrus finish with just a hint of honey. Available in 12-oz. and 19.2-oz. cans. Winner of the silver medal in the American-Style Cream Ale category at the 2018 Great American Beer Festival" (source).
New Holland Lake and Trail, $1.99/12oz - "Celebrating the Centennial Anniversary of the Michigan State Parks, Lake & Trail is a copper lager that will be the perfect companion for all of your outdoor adventures" (source).
North peak Double Diabolical, $2.59/12oz - "When creating Diabolical we made a devilishly hoppy IPA. With this beer we’ve taken it up a notch. That same great unfiltered IPA, just a little more fiendish… more malt, more hops, more alcohol, ergo the name Double Diabolical" (source).
Nowhere in Particular Batch 33, $2.99/12oz - "Its hop time again! This decadently juicy IPA follows in the Vermont tradition of hazy and low IBU IPAs. Made with a metric ton of citra, mosaic, and BRU-1 hops this sudsy delight has a bunch of apricot, mango, guava, and peach notes, with a medium to light body and clean bitterness on the finish to tie the experience together, this is a beer you will find yourself finishing faster than you expect just because it is so delicious. It pairs well with warm sunny days, spending time with friends, and taking yourself out of your comfort zone. Don't just blindly believe me though, go out and try a couple dozen pints yourself! Cheers friends and as always drink promiscuously" (source).
Nowhere in Particular Batch 34, $2.99/12oz - No commercial description.
Odd Side Chicka Chicka Yeah, $1.99/12oz - "A Belgian summer wheat ale with chamomile, orange peel, lemon peel and peppercorn. Finishes light and citrusy" (source).
Odd Side Stovetop Bean Flicker, $2.19/12oz - "Bean Flicker variation with Stovetop Roasters company blend" (source).
Odd Side Wheatermelon, $2.39/12oz - "Wheat ale brewed with watermelon" (source).
Revolution Northeast Hero, $2.39/12oz - "Crossing defiantly through the haze, our newest bold Revolutionary marshals an engaging fruit-forward hop character to join an irresistibly silky finish. An initial dry hop of Citra, Chinook, Centennial, and Denali is followed by a second round of Citra, Cashmere, Galaxy, and Mosaic -- creating a fusillade of American hop flavor" (source).
Short's Strawberry Shorts Cake, $2.59/12oz - "Strawberry Short’s Cake is a Golden Ale brewed with the addition of strawberries and milk sugar. The flavors of shortcake and fresh strawberries transform this beer into rose-colored party nectar that is pleasingly sweet with hints of cream. Biscuit flavors and aromas arise from the use of large amounts of Victory malt" (source).
Video of the Week | Big Lake Brewing
A day at the beach is just not complete without a stop at Big Lake Brewing.
Cheers!