This week's list of new and returning products follow a hello from a popular author and a few words about a job I could never do
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
A few days ago I received a nice email from John Palmer. Some readers will recall that we hosted the popular home brewing author back in August 2017 while he was crisscrossing the country promoting the fourth edition of How to Brew. John wrote that he diligently reads Siciliano's Market News, that he just wanted to say hello and that he has fond memories of his three day visit to Beer City USA. It was nice hearing from our good home brewing buddy again and even nicer to hear that he reads these blogs.
I have a terrible fear of heights so I was totally blown away by the high wire act that Barb and I had a front row seat to the other day. Our neighbors at the cottage hired a tree removal company to take down a big oak in their yard and after going as far as they could with their 65 foot aerial boom bucket the crew called it a day. "How you gonna get the rest down?" I asked the bucket operator. "A climber," he replied.
The next day a rail thin dude donned spurs and a harness and was deposited onto the top third of the tree. Barb and I watched while he shimmied up and down the trunk. He attached ropes to big sections then lopped them off with a chain saw.
When the climber was back on terra firma I sidled over and asked him how long it took to acquire his skills.
"A long time," he laconically replied.
I wanted to ask him about his pay grade but decided against it. Whatever that guy makes, in my opinion it's not enough.
Featured Wines of the Week
Kobal, Bajta Belo, White Blend, 2017, Slovenia, $24.69/750ml- A blend of Pinot Grigio, Welschriesling, Chardonnay, Traminer Vinification: Hand-picked grapes went through extended maceration, with Pinot Grigio seeing the most skin contact. All wines were fermented separately with no added yeasts, and each variety was matured on lees in used barrique barrels for 2 years. The final blend was made in a stainless steel tank and bottled without fining or filtering.
Tasting Notes: Cloudy and amber, Bajta Belo opens with Thanksgiving baking aromas – nutmeg, cinnamon and orange peel, but the palate is totally dry, with a tannic structure, chewy texture and a soft, relaxed finish. (Source)
Rocca delle Macie, Rubizzo, Toscana, 2018, Italy, $14.49/750ml- This wine isRuby red, brilliant with violet reflections. With a intense nose of ripe berry fruits. The palate is rich and smooth with good structure. (Source)
Dominio De Tharsys, Cava, Brut Rose, Spain, $10.89/750ml- Appearance: A bright and clear salmon colour, with fine, fast-flowing bubbles that are uniformly released to make a fine, delicate, lasting head.
Nose: Red apple and cherry fragrance and a subtle hint of raspberry. A slight touch of wild aromatic herbs and toasted bread. A very mineral aftertaste.
Mouth: An explosion of ripe red fruit: grapes, red apples, cherries and blackcurrants. It has a wonderful structure and volume, leaving a long-lasting, intense aftertaste. Wonderful acidity with a balsa-mic touch reminiscent of a summer evening in the countryside. Fine bubbles that leaves a creamy mouthfeel. (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
Saint Liberty, Josephine's Flat Head River, Straight Rye, $52.59/750ml-
Our Josephine’s Flathead River Rye – 95% rye, 5% malted barley and aged for at least 5 years in 53 gallon new white oak #3 char barrels and is triple pot distilled. We bring our Tennessee-crafted straight rye whiskey to proof using Rocky Mountain waters using the same pure water in Montana that Josephine would have used almost 100 years ago. This hallmark rye is Chapter 1 – a limited release of 30 barrels – is approachable and inviting, with exceptional flavor, fruit and creamy spice notes that flood the palate with deliciousness. (Source)
Saint Libery, Mary's Four Grain, Straight bourbon whiskey, $47.79/750ml- Four-Grain whiskies are some of the most challenging and we’re especially proud of this one. Our Mary’s – 65% local corn, 22% wheat, 10% rye, 3% malted barley and aged for at least 4 years in 53 gallon new white oak #3 char barrels and is triple pot distilled. We bring our Texas-crafted four-grain bourbon whiskey to proof using Rocky Mountain waters from the Crystal River in Marble, CO using the same that Mary would have used almost 100 years ago. This four-grain is exceptionally delicious and approachable – is approachable and inviting, with exceptional flavors, of all variety of sweet and spice. Enjoy and savor this goodness. (Source)
Rancho de la Luna, Mezcal Artesanal, Mexico, $50.49/750ml- A perfect balance of aromas, our Espadin joven carries notes of spice, quince, and fresh olives. Tasting finds hints of pina clove, vegetal and roasted cashew. The exhale carries spice, white pepper, and a breath of cocoa. (Source)
New and Returning Products
Abomination Toxic Earth, $5.99/16oz - "Toxic Earth" is a super juicy double IPA clocking in at 9.3% brewed with a touch of milk sugar, matcha tea and local honey (from CT’s own Stonewall Apiary!) hopped and double dry hopped aggressively with Citra and Mosaic... Brewed in collaboration with our friends from Tox Brewing. (Source)
Bells Bright White, $2.19/16oz - Fermented with a Belgian ale yeast, this blend of barley and wheat malts yields a mixture of clove and fruity aromas, all without the use of any spices. (Source)
Boreale Double Descente, $5.49/16oz - IPA - Imperial / Doubl
Brew Detroit Cold Brew Coffee Stout, $3.59/16oz - Fresh steeped Germack coffee with the addition of flaked oats. This nitrogen tap'd cold brew stout delivers smooth roasty goodness any stout lover will appreciate. (Source)
Brewery Vivant Cranberry Blueberry, $5.29/16oz - Fruited sour
Collective Arts IPA #14, $4.39/16oz - IPA No. 14 is a massive ripe tropical fruit and citrus bomb, with distinct grapefruit and lime notes. The delicious hop palate in this double IPA was achieved by using a combination of Idaho 7, Citra, and Motueka, some of the most quality and fun hops around, dry hopped at a whopping 20g/l! (Source)
Collective Arts Pommegranate and Grapefruit, $4.39/16oz - The Pomegranate and Grapefruit sour showcases a unique balance between tart and sweet. It’s a fine line to walk, but we left it in the hands of fermentation and it didn’t let us down. This fruity pair is meant to satisfy your thirst and be deliciously refreshing! (Source)
Deschutes Chasin' Freshies, $1.99/12oz - Fresh El Dorado and Zappa hops shine in this crisp, clean drinking beer (Source)
Deschutes Jubelale, $1.79/12oz - A dark, malty celebration ale with layered flavors and beautifully balanced hopping. Jubelale pours deep garnet in color, medium bodied, with notes of chicory, earth, spice and fruit. To beer lovers, it’s like Yule fire and family. (Source)
Evil Twin We Named This Beer, $5.99/16oz - IPA - Imperial / Double New England
Frankenmuth Christmas Town, $2.09/12oz - This mildly spiced ale starts with a nice fruity aroma while the moderately carbonated body exudes notes of ginger, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg. Toasted sweet dark malts and American hops balance out this unmistakably Christmas brew! (Source)
Greenbush Schlusselmeister, $2.09/12oz - Pilsner - German
Griffen Claw Conflict of Interest, $2.39/16oz - New England-ish Style IPA brewed and dry-hopped with a plethora of Nelson hops. It’s a juicy one that opens with big fruity notes on the nose and finishes pillowy and smooth with the tropical linger of Nelson hops. (Source)
Hoof Hearted Everybody Wants Some: Nelson, $5.49/16oz - Everybody Wants Some is our new single hop DIPA series (Source)
Lone Pine Quantum Cuddle Kitten, $4.89/16oz - QCK rounds out a trilogy of DIPAs that explore a new frontier of dry-hopping techniques and innovative hop varieties. Clocking in at 7.8% ABV, this galactic feline is brewed with Ella, Citra, & Galaxy hops (Source)
Lone Pine Rapsberry Sparkler, $4.39/16oz - Sour - Fruited
Mad Farmer Peach Berry-Licious, $2.99/12oz -
Omnipollo Decuple Fatamorgana, $8.99/16oz - A 12% quadruple IPA dry-hopped TEN TIMES! (Source)
Paulaner Pils, $2.49/16oz - Paulaner has brought back a classic Germany pilsner, that delivers a clean, crisp taste. Our Bavarian brewers are particularly experienced in crafting classic Pilsner biers and ready to fill the growing demand for lighter, more refreshing products (Source)
Petoskey Super Trooper, $2.79/16oz - Brewed with Columbian coffee beans and donuts from a local producer. (Source)
Prairie Christmas BOMB!, $10.39/12oz - The Bomb! that we all know and love, with the addition of Christmas spices – cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. (Source)
Prairie Millenial Mansion, $5.49/12oz - Imperial sour ale with orange peel, lemon peel, lime, blueberry, cherry and marshmallow flavor (Source)
Rochester Mills 12 Days of Milkshake Stout, $27.99/12pk
Smooj Pina Colada, $4.89/12oz - heavily fruited hard seltzer, loaded with all natural pineapple, coconut & key lime. technically a seltzer... but with a thick, smoothie-like, texture (Source)
Smooj Strawberry Banana, $4.89/12oz - heavily fruited hard seltzer, loaded with all natural strawberry & banana. technically a seltzer... but with a thick, smoothie-like, texture (Source)
Speciation Incipient with Cranberry, $9.39/16oz - Foeder Aged Solera Sour
Speciation Magic Trait, $13.99/375ml - Bourbon BA Sour w/ Blackberries & Blackcurrants - Magic Trait is one of our most popular beers ever, and this time we decided to throw it in some bourbon barrels for some added depth of flavor. Like all our beers, each blend is slightly different, but Magic Trait has seen the most variations. We hope y’all enjoy this 6th variation on a theme. (Source)
Speciation March of Progress, $13.99.375ml - Foeder Aged Solera Sour
w/ Rhubarb, Cinnamon, & Vanilla (Source)
Transient Procession of Unchanging Days, $4.89/16oz - IPA - Imperial / Double
Transient Rainbows and Waterfalls, $5.49/16oz - PA - Imperial / Double New England
Transient When Will These Clouds Part, $5.49/12oz - IPA - Imperial / Double Milkshake
Unruly Black is Beautiful, $5.29/12oz - Stout - Russian Imperial
Urban Artifact Operation Plowshare Blackberry, $3.59/12oz - A Midwest Fruit Tart brewed with 2,600 lbs of blackberries & 90 g of vanilla beans per 30 BBL batch. (Source)
Urban Artifact Trivet Cranberry Gose, $2.49/12oz - Cranberry Lemonade Gose, blending tart and sweet real fruit into a drinkable - and sharable - sparkling package! (Source)
Urban Artifact Xmas Pickle, $2.39/12oz - Sour - Gose
Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!