Preamble by Steve Siciliano
September is apple harvesting time here in West Michigan and that means there will soon be plenty of fresh juice available for beer- and winemaking hobbyists looking to whip up a batch or two of hard cider.
On Saturday, October 12, Klein Cider Mill will be selling fresh-squeezed juice in our back parking lot between the hours of 10am and 2pm. The price for Klein’s award-winning cider is $3.75 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.
Go here for a good article on the process of making hard cider.
New and Returning Beer
Anderson Valley Black Rice Ale, $2.19/12oz - "Once called the “forbidden rice” as it was reserved only for Chinese royalty, black rice has a powerful anthocyanin antioxidant properties, a luxurious black color and wonderful nutty flavor. We brewed this nut brown ale with American two-row pale malt, a good helping of black rice, and a touch of chocolate malt. The result is a lightly hoppy, dark mahogany ale with undertones of roasted malt, dark rye bread with a delicious nutty flavor. Weighing in at an easy going 3.8% ABV, this beer is infinitely quaffable and ready to be enjoyed by everyone" (source).
Arvon Classic Crusher, $3.59/16oz - "American Pilsner dry hopped with Cascade" (source).
Arvon Harbor Beach, $5.49/16oz - "New England style IPA hopped with Simcoe hops" (source).
Arvon The Grand, $5.09/16oz - "New England style IPA hops with Citra and Mosaic" (source).
Atwater Whango Raspberry, $1.69/12oz - "American-Style Wheat Beers are similar in malt, but exhibit much less yeast characteristic. These may be filtered or unfiltered and exhibit low to medium hop bitterness and aroma" (source).
Bell's O Captain! My Captain!, $2.29/12oz - "The third of 7 beers celebrating a literary classic, and one of our favorites, Leaves of Grass, by Walt Whitman. Brewed with Michigan-grown hops, this Black IPL may look like a Stout, but doesn’t drink like one. Floral, fruity and citrus notes are matched with the clean, crisp finish of a Lager" (source).
City Built Believe in Dinosaurs, $5.49/16oz - "Hazy IPA, Nelson Sauvin Hops from New Zealand, Exquisite Tropical Fruit Flavors" (source).
City Built Monroe Cobbler, $4.39/16oz - "Berliner w/ Peach, Blueberry & lactose" (source).
Ellison You Can Get With That Juice, $3.29/16oz - "Are you ready for some hazy, NE Coast love? A double dry hop gives this IIPA an aroma that is packed citrus and fruit. It's sweet to start, with a succulent mouth feel that finishes smooth and dry" (source).
Evil Twin Blood Orange Margarita, $4.99/16oz - "Slightly sour, juicy, creamy" (source).
Evil twin Tangerine Tonic, $4.99/16oz - "Gin and Tonic Inspired Double IPA" (source).
Evil Twin Watermelon Spritzer, $5.99/16oz - "Gose Style Ale With Salt And Watermelon" (source).
Farmhaus/Speciation Haus Culture, $17.89/750ml - "Wild Michigan Apple Cider Spontaneously fermented in oak with foraged black raspberries" (source).
Fat Orange Cat It's Not Yesterday Anymore, $.499/16oz - "This trio of beloved hops – Citra, Mosaic and Galaxy – results in a slightly tangy, crisp beer with a full mouthful and flavors that evolve as you go" (source).
Giagantic Hellbot #4: Abe Sapien, $9.99/500ml - "Abe Sapien is a bicoastal beer that is inspired by both, East and West Coast styles of IPA but with its very own twist. From its first pour, Abe Sapien is an indigo hued beer that is full of citrus and berry hop flavors from its use of Citra, Mosaic and Nugget hops. The beer is also infused with natural indigo to create this one of a kind vivid, blue beer" (source).
Lagunitas Hazy Memories, $2.29/12oz - "We're going a bit blurry on this nebulous release... Hazy Memory is a cloudy IPA full of oats and smooth wheatly-esque-ish-ness, packed with some of the murkiest, juiciest, turbid Loral 291, Hallertau Blanc, Galaxy, and Citra Hops. It's a huge flavor you won't forget" (source).
Monchshof Schwarzbier, $4.89/500ml - "A brewing wonder and a beer lover’s dream! Kulmbacher “black beer” is the classic and best example of this famous style. Supremely drinkable, dry and beautifully hopped, yet loaded with dark roasted malt flavor. Known locally as “the black Pils” because it is unusually dry for a dark lager, it is the essential companion to the meaty regional specialties of Kulmbach, Germany. But whether you are a confirmed vegetarian or an unrepentant carnivore, this is a beer to be enjoyed with any hearty meal. Its exquisite balance is a remarkable brewing achievement and an enduring mystery — how can such a dark, rich flavored brew be so light and easy to drink" (source).
Rockford Malphs, $1.69/12oz - "Craft beer is not some new hippy-dippy nonsense, its steeped in tradition which is why we crafted a beer everyone can drink, Malph’s Premium Light! Smooth and Easy drinking for the hippies but full of flavor for beer veterans so you can drink the way your Granddad did" (source).
Sierra Nevada Narwhal, $2.49/12oz - "Narwhal Imperial Stout is inspired by the mysterious creature that thrives in the deepest fathoms of the frigid Arctic Ocean. Rich with notes of espresso, baker’s cocoa, roasted grain and a light hint of smoke, Narwhal brims with malt complexity. Aggressive but refined with a velvety smooth body and decadent finish, Narwhal will age in the bottle for years to come" (source).
Sufferfest Repeat Kolsch, $2.19/12oz - "A low cal, low carb, low alcohol beer... the Sufferfest way" (source).
Sufferfest Variety Pack, $10.99/6pk - "Sufferfest’s 6-pack can variety includes: Repeat, a Kölsch-style beer made with bee pollen; Head Start, a stout brewed with Equator coffee & coconut water and FKT, a pale ale brewed with salt and black currant" (source).
Video of the Week | Sufferfest Beer Co.
Will. Sweat. For. Beer.
Cheers!