This week's new beer, our wine picks of the week and a few words about my conundrum of what to do about my hair.
By Steve Siciliano
Every three weeks or so for the past thirty plus years I’ve made the drive to the south side of town to get my hair cut by my good friend Paul Demario. Paul is quite a character. In addition to being highly adept with the tools of his trade he’s a non stop talker, an above average golfer, a passionate poker player an incessant bull shitter. He’s also one of the few Viet Nam War vets I know who will talk freely about the year he spent dodging bullets and mortars in southeast Asia.
In the half hour it takes Paul to cut my hair and trim my beer we talk about a lot of things, among them sports, fishing, our life philosophies and our grown children. We have differing political views so naturally we argue about politics. I’m going to miss our little chats while his shop is shut down during the pandemic. I’m also not quite sure what I’m going to do about that hair.
I guess I could cover my mug with my Orvis Coolnet Buff and run down to Walmart to pick up a Wahl Homepro Haircut kit, but then I would have to trust that someone, probably my wife, wouldn’t butcher my thinning silver locks. I could shave my head but I'm thinking I would look pretty goofy bald as a billiard ball. Then of course I could just let it grow and resurrect the coiffure I sported during my hippie years at Michigan State. Judging by the above photo, that should definitely be my last resort.
WINE PICKS OF THE WEEK
Michael Sullberg, 2017, Cabernet Sauvignon, California, $14.19/750 ml - A balanced wine with a nicely layered medium body and moderate tannins that boasts notes of berries, chocolate, and vanilla-wood tones. (Source)
Periano Estate Vineyards, 2016, “Six-Clones” Merlot, California, $15.19/750 ml - Aromas of black cherries, red ripe raspberries, strawberry and spice (white pepper), join together in a single sensation of olfactory bliss. The mouth is filled with an array of flavors, including black cherry, strawberry and raspberry with lingering hints of cocoa and toasted oak. Moderate tannins and good acidity leave a pleasing, long lasting finish. Each juicy sip is more comforting than the last always leaving the palate to want more. (Source)
Barkers Marque, 2018, Ranga Ranga, Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand, $14.19/750 ml- The crisp citric flavors carry a solid core of lemon grass, lime zest, the tang of cut lawn, plus a hint of dried herbs and a touch of Awatere minerality. And it packs a fresh, zingy punch on the finish that makes it stand out from the crowd. (Source)
Buy three or more bottles of wine get 10 % off.
"It's our mission at Siciliano's to sell quality wine at affordable prices."
NEW AND RETURNING BEER
Lagunitas-Waldo's SpecialAle/12oz/$2.29 - "The dankest and hoppiest beer ever brewed at Lagunitas was made with help of the Waldos for all treasure hunters. Herbaceous. Botanical. Dank. Resinous. Available in HIIIIIIIGHly limited areas in April." (Source)
Lagunitas-Little Sumpin' Hazy/12oz/$2.09 - "We're going au naturel for the summer with the classic wheatley-esque-ish-ness brew you know and love. With a special dry-hopping of Cashere, Citra & Mosaic on a bed of Centennial and Chinook. Juicy, catty, and leaves you with a hop scratch that you can't help but tickle with another taste. Does that clear things up?" (Source)
Northcoast-Cherry Berliner Weisse/12oz/$2.99 - "North Coast Tart Cherry Berliner Weisse is made with the juice of Michigan Montmorency cherries, whose addition softens the lactic finish of the beer and gives it a springtime blush." (Source)
City Built-Casual Hazy Pale/16oz/$4.39 - No commercial description.
City Built-Canal Street Porter/16oz/$3.29 - "Robust with chocolate and roasted coffee notes." (Source)
Speciation-Incipient with Peaches/16oz/$9.39 - Foeder Aged Sour w/ Peach.
Speciation-Foeder Aged Sour with PassionFruit & Guava/375ml/$11.69
LaGrow Organic (Website)
Citra Blonde/16oz/$3.19 - "Orange zest showcased through pure ingredients and finished off with a bubbly, smooth taste."
IPA/16oz/$3.59 - "Dry-hopped English Style IPA with a clean citrus taste and big malt backbone."
Lager/16oz/$3.19 - "Bready malt sweetness complimented by a delicate hop aroma results in a light-bodied, incredibly drinkable brew."
APA/16oz/$3.19 - "Our American Pale Ale is brewed and dry hopped with a generous amount of citra hops which presents a balanced, citrus nose. The perfect beer for an all day event, it will leave you standing for the long haul. "
Stout/16oz/$3.59 - "Malt and cocoa nib flavors with a hint of dark-roasted coffee, this beer is strikingly bold and luxuriously balanced."
Mackeson XXX Milk Stout/12oz/$1.79 - Stout - Milk / Sweet Stone-Enjoy By 4-20/12oz/$3.19 - "This exquisite liquid patchwork of more than a dozen hops is a devastatingly fresh double IPA. Freshness is a key component of many beers – especially big, hoppy IPAs – but we've taken it further, a lot further, with this one. We brewed this IPA specifically NOT to last. We've gone to extensive lengths to ensure you get your hands on this beer within an extraordinarily short window, and we've sent a very clear message in the name of the beer itself that there is no better time than right NOW to enjoy this IPA!" (Source) Collective Arts-Pineapple Vanilla IPA/16oz/$4.39 - IPA Brewed w/ Pineapple, Vanilla & Lactose Collective Arts-Peak of Flourescne/16oz/$4.39 - "Hops don’t naturally fluoresce, but when you team up Fuerst Wiacek and Collective Arts and decide to make a Double IPA using some nuclear Citra & Nelson Sauvin hops, you can pretty much see this beer from outer space!" (Source) Brewery Vivant-Grand Lager/16oz/$2.69 - "A crisp all malt lager. Beer that is beer." (Source) Brewdog-East Coast Crush/12oz/$2.19 - "This New England IPA pours as hazy yellow as a Vermont morning. Bags of tropical fruit aroma rise. Dry hopped for a fruity hit with pineapple, mango and a touch of zesty lime. Brewed with wheat and oats and left cloudy for a smooth juicy delivery. Smooth, light and sessionable with a subtle bitter-sweet finish. High on hops, low on bitterness, big on taste." (Source) Arbor Brewing-Pollination Sensation/12oz/$2.19 - "Brewed with fresh lavender flowers and wildflower honey, this light bodied ale is fresh and floral with a hint of sugary sweetness to round it out. Pollination is the perfect way to welcome spring." (Source) Arbor Brewing-Treebeard/12oz/$2.19 - "Treebeard IPA is a deliciously dank Midwest-style IPA that blends flavors of mango, pineapple, orange, and woodsy qualities of Mosaic, Simcoe, and Comet hops. The pale Vienna and caramel malts provide a rich malt character, light biscuit finish, and pungent hoppiness." (Source) Elk Brewing-Koldbreak/12oz/$1.89 - "Premium malts with notes of honey, and a crisp, clean finish of noble hop character." (Source) Elk Brewing-Raspberry Lime Gose/12oz/$1.99 - "Tart, sour ale brewed with coriander and fresh fruit. Cool and refreshing - hello summer." (Source) Perrin-Lake Time Hard Tea/12oz/$1.59 - "Lake Time Hard Iced Tea strives to bring you a refreshingly crisp and smooth taste, using sought after tea and natural flavors." (Source) Rochester Mills-Orange Whip/16oz/$2.79 - "Another smoothie hop sensation. This IPA combines citrusy hop flavors of Citra & Mosaic hops with fresh oranges,orange zest, subtly sweet lactose and a hint of vanilla." (Source) Oddside-Juicy Contradiction/12oz/$2.39 - "A hybrid brew, with the smooth, creamy mouthfeel and juiciness of an NEIPA, combined with the crisp, bitter, and dry finish of a brut IPA." (Source)