This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about looking ahead to summer
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
I try to live in the moment but every year about this time I find myself looking ahead a few months to when it warms up enough to go fishing again. If I were a hardier soul I would gather my gear and venture out to one of the Michigan rivers where you can angle for trout year round. Now, I've fished in all sorts of inclement weather but fly fishing in the winter is just not my cup of tea. I've done it twice and neither outing was very enjoyable. On one brutally cold November day on the Manistee my son Chris and I fished from dawn to dusk and netted one fish between us. Then there was that bitter winter morning when I dropped one of my nice new Orvis fishing mittens while tying on a streamer. After a couple of lunging attempts to retrieve it there was nothing to do but watch it float with the current downstream.
I've been fortunate enough to fish a number of blue ribbon trout streams--the Beaverhead, Ruby and Madison in Montana, the Tuckasegee in North Carolina, the Holston and Watauga in Tennesee and the Au Sauble, Manistee and Pierre Marquette here in Michigan, but the river I spend most of my time on is the Little Manistee. Most avid fly anglers have a home river and the Little Manistee is mine. It's where I hone my skills and feed my fly fishing addiction.
The Little Man is a lovely river but it's a bit of a challenge to fish. It's narrow and loaded with subsurface structures that like to latch on to your nymphs and streamers. If you're fishing dries forget about making those long casts with graceful loops that you see in the movies. If you don't learn real quick how to roll cast you'll lose a boatload of flies in the stream side bushes and the overarching tree branches.
My favorite time to fish the Little Man is in the heat of the summer when you can get in the river without waders. The water never really warms up and it's a bit of a shock when you first step in but once you get used to the chill it's quite refreshing. The downside is that occasionally you're interrupted by canoers and kayakers looking to beat the summer heat. When that happens the fish get spooked and skedaddle. There's nothing to do then but mutter a few swear words under your breath and call it a day.
Featured Wines of the Week
2017 Chateau Galochet, Bordeaux, France, $14.19/750ml- This wine has an attractive deep garnet-red color and a fruity nose with hints of redcurrant. The wine starts out firm and fruity on the palate, with soft, very round tannin. The aftertaste is smooth and long. (Source)
Valdeorras, Pagos del Galir, Godello, Spain, $18.69/750ml- Lemon color, clean and shiny. Intense nose, white fruit, bush, stones. Fresh in the mouth, silky, elegant, balanced, fresh. (Source)
Moulin de Gassac, Guilhem Red Blend, France, $9.99/750ml- A typical Méditerranéen blend : 40% Syrah, 30% Grenache, 30 % Carignan. Tasting notes: Nose:
Vinous, complex aromas, with hints of red berries (cherry, blackberry, strawberry) and spice. Palate Open soft and fruity with gentel tannins Delicate and sophisticated Finish:Long and smooth; a touch rustic reflecting its “terroir”. (Source)
Makara, Sauvignon Blanc, 2018, New Zealand, $14.79/750ml- Makara Sauvignon Blanc, offering extraordinary quality at an exceptional value, is sourced from two valleys within the Marlborough wine region, which is renowned the world over for its outstanding flavor characteristics. Approximately 70% of our Sauvignon Blanc is from the Wairau Valley with its warmer, wetter climate and shallow, stony and fast-draining soils that create conditions perfectly suited to Sauvignon Blanc. The basic flavor characteristics of passion fruit, flint, gooseberry, capsicum, grapefruit and tropical fruits are what make the Wairau Valley Sauvignon Blanc unique and celebrated. To insure the wine is beautifully balanced, 30% of our fruit is sourced from the Awatere Valley with characteristics resembling the famous wines of Sancerre in style contributing a crispness, and minerality. (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."
Featured Spirits of the Week
Ryskey, Rye whiskey, Single barrel, double oaked, Indiana, $62.19/750ml- NOSE
Caramel, pepper, black licorice, toasted oak, orange, and grass. A nice intensity with scents that work well together.
Palate Brown sugar, syrupy oak, mild youthful notes, and rye spice. Not overly complex but flavorful.
Finish Punchy with a burst of oak, burnt caramel, and black pepper. Slightly dry with a mild bitterness during its long hot finish. (Source)
Three Chord, Strange collaboration, Kentucky straight bourbon finished in Pinot Noir barrels, $47.39/740ml- Mash Bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye and 4% malted barley.
Fresh corn sweetness with hints of cherry, raspberry and plum.Our pinot noir finished Kentucky straight bourbon is fresh and complex. Sweet with a light caramel, vanilla character and hints of clove and black fruit. It has a silky mouthfeel and a mild hug finish. (Source)
The Clover, Single barrel Bourbon, Indiana, $52.59/750ml- With a grain bill selected for its full-bodied and well balanced flavor, this bourbon presents a subtle aroma of oak and spice with a taste of deep caramel, vanilla and a hint of citrus orange that delivers a soft lingering finish of caramel, vanilla and light oak. (Source)
The Glendronach, Port wood finished Highland single malt scotch whisky, $94.69/750ml- Appearance: It has a gentle orange/red tint of light amber.
Nose: Its nose is filled with bright and fruity notes of pear and mandarin orange. Further in, there is the scent of soft caramels and a subtle scent of plum. On the end there is a hint of baking chocolate.
Palate: The first impression on the tongue is of a holiday fruit cake. Dried fruits like raisin and apricot come together with the bright citrus notes. Salted caramel is ushered in with a hint of oak on the end and it finishes with a dusting of cocoa powder. It has a buttery mouthfeel and a well-balanced heat. There is also just a hint of grass and mineral notes at the end. (Source)
New and Returning Products
18th Street Citra Express, $2.99/16oz - Like a rush hour train, we've packed more tropical, citrusy Citra hops into this beer than should be allowed by law. (Source)
18th Street Lucifer in a Haze, $3.99/16oz - A devilishly hazy double dry hopped New England style double IPA brewed with galaxy hops. (Source)
18th Street Pins and Needles, $4.09/16oz - New England style Double Dry Hopped Double IPA with Mosaic and Simcoe hops. (Source)
18th Street Rise of the Angles, $3.79/16oz - Helping to resurrect your palette from the doldrums, Rise of the Angels bursts onto your tongue with a blast of grapefruit zest that is quickly followed by a parade of floral, citrus hops. (Source)
21st Amendment Hell or High Pomegranate, $1.99/12oz - Lady Liberty stands tall and regal welcoming the brisk sting of winter and its traditions, reflected in what we eat, drink and enjoy. A refreshing beer brewed with real Pomegranate juice for fruity and slightly tart notes that meld with soft malt and biscuit flavors. Perfect for a bracing winter day. (Source)
Ascension Fifth Stop, $3.99/16oz - Now introducing another iteration of our Fifth Stop Pale Ale series - This time with exclusively Galaxy hops. Fresh off the line it's drinking crispy and bright with notes of mango, passionfruit, pineapple, and gooseberry. (Source)
Brooklyn Bel Air Key Lime, $1.89/12oz - Bel Air Sour Key Lime adds a squeeze of bright key lime to our award-winning Bel Air Sour, amping up its uniquely tart taste to a whole new level. It's playful, tangy, and only here for a limited time. (Source)
Brooklyn Pulp Art, $1.89/12oz - Brooklyn Pulp Art is a hazy IPA for all. This modern masterpiece is a blend between beer and art: hazy, soft, and refreshing, with notes of pineapple juice, ripe mango, and citrus pulp. (Source)
Dansk Odins Skull, $35.99/750ml - Nordic Honey Wine with Sour Apple Juice, Hops and Cinnamon Added. (Source)
Epic Midnight Munchies, $4.39/16oz - Not as big as its Baptist brothers, Midnight Munchies is a Peanut Butter Stout perfect for late night trip to the fridge, or let's face it, a morning snack. Wake & bake baby. (Source)
Left Hand Bittersweet Nitro, $3.39/16oz - Super smooth combo of coffee and our creamy Imperial Sweet Stout. Our big, aggressive Bittersweet stout is made smooth and even creamier with the help of tiny nitrogen bubbles that are released when you poured hard. The coffee’s dark cherry flavors and spicy undertones weave into the rich, imperial milk stout like a chocolate-covered espresso bean melting on your tongue. Bitter then sweet. Sweet then bitter. It’s Bittersweet. (Source)
Left Hand Milk Box, $22.29/12pk - The pure milk chocolate bliss of our classic Milk Stout richly reimagined four different ways. Indulge in creamy Peanut Butter, sultry Raspberry, aromatic Chai and the robust coffee infusion of Bittersweet Imperial Milk Stout. Three cans of each style included in every box. (Source)
Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout, $2.59/12oz - Rhythm and Blues. Batman and Robin. Peanut Butter and Chocolate. These classic duos never go out of style. Enter Peanut Butter Milk Stout. We took the pure milk chocolate bliss of our classic Milk Stout and added peanut buttery goodness. It’s like an adult peanut butter cup you can drink. It’s rich and decadent on the palate and lusciously lingers into a nutty, dry finish. A perfect pair you’ll want to share. (Source)
Mast Landing Coffee Gunner's Daughter, $3.99/16oz - A beautifully aromatic and balanced milk stout with delicious notes of peanut butter, coffee, and dark chocolate. This dark, mythical beer nods to the long-passed legends of our region’s seafarers. (Source)
New Belgium Captain Dynamite, $1.99/12oz - IPA - American
New Holland Peanut Butter Poet, $4.69/16oz - IMPERIAL OATMEAL STOUT WITH PEANUT BUTTER
Oddside Cat in the Wall, $2.39/12oz - NE Style IPA
Oddside Mosiac Dank Juice, $2.39/12oz - 100% Mosaic hopped version of our New England IPA. Aromas of tangerine, grapefruit, and berries give way to a smooth, hazy beer with citrus flavors with a hint of pine. (Source)
Oddside Tangerine Dank Juice, $2.79/12oz - NEIPA brewed with tangerine
Oozlefinch Dickermann, $5.49/16oz - We are so happy to be releasing our collab with the folks at Schilling Beer Company. Although we were unable to do this collab in person, we were able to find other ways to make them feel like they were graining out with us! This munich helles is crisp, clean, refreshing and traditional. A light malty flavor finishes clean and crisp while the spice character from the Hallertau mittelfruh and sweet malt aromas play harmoniously on the nose. A delicious toast to friendship, collaboration, and many more collabs to come! (Source)
Oozlefinch Party Dinosaur Dino Nog, $5.49/16oz - Horchata, but with a sweet and tart twist. This Party Dino was inspired by the different variations of the classic beverage. We decided to add our own spin to the traditional flavor profile that will make your taste buds dance! Our sour ale was loaded with banana, coconut, vanilla & lactose, giving it a sweet base to stand up to the nutmeg & almond. A subtle and well rounded flavor profile will keep you coming back for more! (Source)
Oozlefinch Garde Dawg, $5.49/16oz - After going out to california and brewing "Defenders of the Funk" with Phil from Almanac Brewing, we knew we had to have them out here! We weren't able to have them in person unfortunately but the Oozlefinch/Almanac friends know how to have a good time no matter what! We decided to brew a Biere de Garde with blackstrap molasses and it is a dreamy beer. Pouring a dark ruby with a frothy and persistent tan head, it has notes of toffee & raisin with a malty sweet character and dry finish. What makes this beer even cooler is the yeast used to ferment. Although Biere De Gardes are traditionally lagered with ale yeast, we decided to use a wild sourced lager strain from our friends at Bootleg Biology, giving this collab a fun and unique twist that tastes amazing. (Source)
Oozlefinch Punch Yourself, $5.49/16oz - Another new series for you guys! This one is inspired by the oh-so-famous punch bowls provided at frat parties. The first beer in the series will take you back to summer days of sipping on a fruity cocktail by the water. Bursting with tropical fruit aroma and pouring a kiwi-green color, this exciting and fun sour would be perfect at any party. Ingredients: sour ale aged on oak chips with agave nectar, tahitian lime, coconut, spirulina, pineapple, vanilla, & lactose. (Source)
Oozlefinch Smashmallow, $5.49/16oz - Our first large batch of Smashmallow is here and if you can't find marshmallow creme in Hampton Roads for the next week, this beer is the reason. We tripled the marshmallow addition and added mandarin purée to accentuate the citrus character of the hops. More body and residual sweetness make this the best iteration of a milkshake style ipa we have done. (Source)
Pigeon Hill Renny, $2.29/12oz - Renny is a renegade, breaking the mold for Double IPAs. Deceivingly light in both color and body, this West Coast style DIPA starts with pine and citrus in the nose. These elements then carry into the mouth with added notes of grapefruit and a pleasantly dry finish. (Source)
Shorts $plurge, $2.59/12oz - IPA - Imperial / Double
Shorts Soft Parade Seltzer, $1.79/12oz
Stone Neverending Haze, $2.69/16oz - There’s a lot ‘neverending’ about IPAs around Stone. Beginning with Stone IPA being one of the very first and most popular West Coast style IPAs on the planet, to our celebrated explorations of double IPAs, session IPAs, fruited IPAs and ultra-fresh triple IPAs, they’re an integral part of our legacy. Plus there’s the oft-said (but not actually true) comments from some that “All Stone does is IPAs.” Ha! Yes, we may love them passionately and perpetually be on a quest for IPA nirvana, but this particular one actually happened onto the scene to aid in your noble pursuit of neverending good times. (Source)
Stone Sublimely Self Righteous, $3.19/12oz - First brewed in 2007 as the Stone 11th Anniversary Ale, this ale was an instant hit. With us. Other folks with great taste loved it too, but we were focused on how much we liked it, and we felt it was truly sublime. That euphoria didn't last long though, as it was soon replaced with the grim reality that when we sold out of it there wouldn't be any more. For us. And that was simply unacceptable. So, we are now blessing ourselves, and you the enlightened, with this ale. Thusly, you may now revel in your own self-righteousness as you see fit with this glorious example of ours. You are genuinely welcome, as it is our pleasure. (Source)
Transient Get My Things, $4.89/16oz - IPA - Imperial / Double New England
Transient Marshing My Hello, $6.59/16oz - Imperial stout with chocolate, marshmallow, & Graham Cracker. (Source)
Witches Hat Sweet Lou, $2.09/12oz - Stout - Milk / Sweet
Witches Hat This Guy, $3.59/12oz - IPA - New England
Witches Hat Thrash Punk, $2.09/12oz - Koslch brewed with direct trade, single origin coffee from our friends at Hyperion Coffee Roasting Company in Ypsilanti. Light and refreshing with a java kick. (Source)
Witches Hat Vanilla Latte Sweet Lou, $3.59/12oz - Stout - Milk / Sweet
RIP Hank
Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!