This week's list of new and returning products follows a few thoughts about closing the cottage
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
It’s always a little sad when Barb and I shut down the cottage for the season but for some reason the melancholy this year was a bit more palpable. Maybe it’s because we were able to spend so much time at our Lake County lake house over the past nine months. While that’s something semi-retired folks should be able to do, our ability to be away from the business for long stretches of time is a testament to our excellent staff. Knowing that the store is in good hands when we’re away certainly makes being away a whole lot easier.
This was the year that our little northern residence became less of a transitory escape from the busyness of the city and more of a home. It’s nice being steps away from a lake and a short drive from blue ribbon trout streams. And it's nice going on evening cruises on our old pontoon and spending mornings angling for feisty bluegills on our fishing boat. But even nicer is the good feeling that comes from the realization that you've become part of a community.
When you're part of a community you wave when you drive by another vehicle on the dirt road and you stop and chat when you come across someone on your morning walks. Being part of a community means pitching in to rake leaves when a fellow lake denizen is down and out with an illness. It's helping your elderly neighbors take their docks out in the fall.
Barb and I are blessed to have good neighbors up at the lake. After driving up to the cottage last Thursday we were disappointed to hear that the Yeomans had shut down their place that morning and were back in Ohio. The next afternoon we bid goodbye to Tony and Joan. We were the last folks on our little section of the lake to pack up and leave for the season.
After closing the cottage there's a temptation to dwell on the past months and simply look forward to when you reopen in the spring. But when you're constantly living in the past and looking towards the future you run the risk of losing the precious moments of the present. At my age losing precious moments is something I can't afford to do.
Featured Wines of the Week
Antonin Rodet, Beaujolais Nouveau Rose, 2020, France, $11.69/750ml- Bright with strawberry-jelly flavors and crisp acidity, this wine is lightly perfumed. It is a soft nouveau rosé with a candy-shop character. (Source)
Antonin Rodet, Beaujolais Nouveau, 2020, France, $11.69/750ml- This juicy wine offers flavors of banana and ripe red fruits. A light texture is typical of this vintage's nouveau wines, giving some weight to the fruitiness. Drink now. (Source)
Jean Michel Dupre, Vignes de 1940, Beaujolais Villages, 2020, $14.79/750ml- This ripe wine, made from vines planted in 1940, balances structure and generous black fruits. It is rich and juicy. The succulent texture and light tannins give the wine freshness and density. Drink now. (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
Benriach, The Original Ten, Three Cask Matured Speyside Single Malt, Scotland, $64.19/750ml- The Original Ten encapsulates the signature smooth and multi-layered character of Benriach. Three cask matured for at least ten years in bourbon barrels,sherry casks and virgin oak, to create layers of luscious orchard fruit, sumptuous honeyed malt and toasted oak, all interwoven with a subtle trace of smoke.The perfect introduction to our signature style and richly layered Speyside Single Malt.
Royal Brackla, 12yr Highland Single malt, Scotland, $63.09/750ml-
Nose: Florentines, Coco Pop cakes, slightly leafy, more ginger. A drop of water brings out more green apple and toasted almond. Palate: Pain au raisin. Pain au chocolat. Baking spices and gateau. Finish: Milk chocolate dusting (not cocoa) and a hint of fizzy apple sweets. Overall: A distinguished Oloroso cask matured malt. (Source)
Barrell, Dovetail Whiskey, Mutiple locations, $89.39/750ml- Dovetail is blended to highlight some of our favorite flavors. Woody bourbon; terrior driven Dunn Cabernet; toasted French oak; Late Bottled Vintage Port pipes; black strap molasses casks; all working in tandem to create a buttery and deep whiskey as unique as it is delicious. (Source)
New and Returning Products
Arbor Liquid Vinyl, $2.99/12oz - Our Russian Imperial Stout is full bodied and complex, with layers of flavors that develop with every sip. Aromas of licorice and dark cocoa yield to notes of sweetened coffee and toasted cookies, before finishing with a light smokiness that lingers on the palate. Like a good LP, this beer will age well and improve with time. Music, beer… some things are best enjoyed in analog. (Source)
Big Lake Downhill Delight, $3.19/16oz - IPA - American
Brew Detroit BBA Imperial Cold Brew Coffee Stout, $5.49/12oz - Stout - Oatmeal
Brew Detroit Cold Brew Stout Variety Pack, $15.19/4pk
Brewery Vivant Wizard Burial Ground, $7.19/16oz - Aged for 12+ months deep in the old gypsum mines south of town, this Belgian inspired quadrupel ale pours a deep amber. The big alcohol of the quad pulls notes of bourbon, vanilla and charcoal from the barrels and melds perfectly with the caramel richness. (Source)
City Built 13 Hour Stout, $8.19/16oz/ one per person - Peanut butter and graham cracker Imperial Stout.
City Built 8 Hour Stout, $8.19/16oz/ one per person - Oreos, white chocolate, Ugandan and Madagascar vanilla beans, and lactose combine to create a Cookies and Cream flavor. Thick, sweet, dense and intense Imperial Milk Stout. (Source)
City Built Cyber Punk, $5.49/16oz - Mango, Passion Fruit, Gummy Bear Fruited Lactose Sour. Brewed with dried mango, mango juice, passion fruit juice, freeze dried passion fruit powder, passion fruit/mango gummy bears, and lactose. More tart than others in our fruited sour line up because of the passion fruit, but it's in perfect harmony with the lactose. Tart and Sweet. (Source)
City Built Elegant Elephant, $5.49/16oz - DDH DIPA with Cryo Sabro, Cryo Simcoe, Galaxy, Nelson Sauvin and Citra hops. An absolute assault on your nose. Peach, Passion Fruit, White Wine, Gooseberries, and Stone Fruit dance around elegantly through your sense. (Source)
City Built No Save Point, $5.49/16oz - Collaboration with Run the Jewels. Insanely hoppy. Tropical, coconut, citrus and a bit dank. (Source)
Desthil Dosvidanya Rye, $13.99/16oz - Stout - Russian Imperial
Fairstate Soft Pants, $7.49/16oz - Wood-aged pastry stout with vanilla. This is a luxurious beer for those times when putting on real pants and leaving the house just doesn’t seem like a good idea. Notes of french toast and exotic spices, chocolate and vanilla. Collaboration with Barrel Theory. (Source)
Fairstate Spirit Foul, $4.19/16oz - Brewed in collaboration with San Diego’s Modern Times Beer. Spirit Foul was Fair State Co-op’s first hazy IPA. Brewed with the freshest Strata hops and plenty of Citra and Mosaic for its passion fruit aroma. Pilsner malt, pale wheat, flaked oats, and flaked barley give this beer its soft body and signature haze. Juicy, tropical, and dank. (Source)
Grand Armory Pineapple Grindage, $2.19/12oz - A Pineapple IPA for mugs, chillin, and grindage, bud-dy! (Source)
Greenbush BA Cabra Perdida, $5.69/12oz - Imperial Cream Stout with Blueberries added aged in Whuskey Barrels (Source)
Griffen Claw Flying Buffalo BBA Stout, $7.69/16oz - Barrel Aged 9 Months
Griffen Claw Flying Buffalo Chery Cordial Stout, $7.69/16oz
Griffen Claw Flying Buffalo Chocolate Marshmallow Almond Stout, $7.69/16oz
Griffen Claw Flying Buffalo Gingerbread Man Stout, $7.69/16oz
Griffen Claw Flying Buffalo Modern Time Coffee Stout, $7.69/16oz
Griffen Claw Flying Buffalo Slated Caramel Pecan Stout, $7.69/16oz
Lagunitas Sucks, $2.09/12oz - This beer is a 'cereal medley' of barley, rye, wheat, and oats. Full of complexishness from the 4 grains, then joyously dry-hopped for that big aroma and resinous flavor. (Source)
New Holland Holiday Ale, $4.69/16oz - This winter ale is inspired by the festive taste of eggnog and is brewed with milk sugar and enough nutmeg to fill Santa’s sleigh! Post-fermentation, the beer is aged in bourbon barrels for over 3 months for an added kick of bourbon, vanilla and oak. (Source)
Oddside BBA Oh-we-oh, $8.19/12oz - Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with Oreo cookies
Oddside Nightman Leaveth, $8.19/12oz - We aged this imperial milk stout to perfection in Rye whiskey barrels and added vanilla beans. The result is a slightly sweet, smooth, creamy stout with an underlying rye spiciness and boozy finish. (Source)
Oddside Rye Hipster, $8.19/12oz - A delectable stout with coffee, maple syrup, and bacon with rye malt added, and then aged in Rye Whiskey Barrels. (Source)
Perrin Mint Night Snack, $2.49/12oz - With notes of smooth chocolate and refreshing Mint, this Porter is perfect for that cold weather Mint Night Snack you've been craving. (Source)
Pigeon Hill Imperial SCP, $2.39/16oz - The high gravity version of Salted Caramel Porter. The alcohol warmth is present yet enjoyable in this medium bodied porter that taste like a salted caramel. Not overly sweet. (Source)
Short Fuze Bear-ie White, $2.09/12oz - Pale Wheat Ale with gummy bears. Very Bear-ie. Minimal bitterness to emphasize the gummy goodness. Made with 120 lbs of Haribo Gummy Bears. This light based ale is full of fruity flavors. (Source)
Short Fuze Coconut Peach Goodness, $4.89/16oz - IPA - Milkshake
Short Fuze Peanut Butter Cup Stout, $4.39/16oz - Stout with peanut butter lactose and chocolate. Make to replicate a Reese Peanut Butter cup. (Source)
Short Fuze We Want the Funk, $3.79/16oz
Singlecut Caught the Spotlight, $5.69/16oz = DDH IPA // 6.8% // "EXP0920- Subject is a liquid, soft and round in texture, composed of a base of select malted grains and fortified with large sums of hop flowers, Experimental in nature. Sensory analysis techs recorded the aroma of bright blakberries, vanillin, cocoa, passionfruit, guava, and key limes. We're returning for additional specimens." (Source)
Singlecut Free Form Jazz Oddyssey, $4.89/16oz - Our unique spin on a classic schwarzbier – deep, dark, rich, malt sweetness improvises into a lusciously enjoyable and easy drinking jam with a heavy coconut and chocolate infusion and a dry finish. Derek wrote this. (Source)
Singlecut Grunge!, $5.99/16oz - THE LATEST in our beloved genre series, this double dry-hopped IIPA is brewed with new experimental hops from the PNW (naturally). A real standout of blueberry, orange/vanilla and complex tropics abound. An instant fav among the Beersmith. (Source)
Singlecut This is Tomorrow, $4.89/16oz - An ode to something classic and something sacred- an APA version of Does Anybody Remember Laughter? IPA is what somebody's Doctor ordered. It's gently resinous, a soft mouthfeel, and a complex yet dry malt character. Big league aroma of soft pineapple, pithy tangerine and grapefruit, plus some gentle piney resin, with pineapple and light cannabis on the palate. Come back to the Pale Ale, it's where the future lives. (Source)
Stone Enjoy By 1.1.21, $3.19/12oz - If there is one thing worth celebrating this year, it's 2020 coming to an end. And we just so happen to have the perfect beer for such an occasion! Stone Enjoy By 01.01.21 Unfiltered IPA will be shipping out soon across the country in the coming days, bringing it's 9.4% uber-fresh hop character. (Source)
Stone Features and Benefits, $2.19/12oz - There's no way you can make an insanely flavorful, hop-forward IPA in true Stone fashion while keeping it under 100 calories, right? And surely not with just 2.9 carbs, gluten reduced and 4% ABV! Well, our brewers, along with the rest of Team Stone, love proving preconceived notions wrong. This beer brings all of the above together with the hop-driven boldness you'd expect from a Stone beer. Now, you can have both the features and the benefits. (Source)
Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!