This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about bluegrass, Yeungling and the deserted lake
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
I was sitting in the cottage when I heard Yeomans yelling something from next door. "He's inside," I heard Barb yell back. Yeomans hollered out something again. "Okay, I'll tell him," Barb hollered back.
"What was that about?" I asked my wife when I walked out on the deck.
"Yeomans said you should get out there and hang out with the men."
"Out where?"
"On his boat."
Our lake house neighbor Steve Yeomans and his friend from Ohio, also named Steve, were sitting on Yeomans' speedboat. The boat was moored at the dock. The two Steves were drinking long necks of Yeungling that Steve the friend brought up from Ohio. Bluegrass was playing on a cassette deck.
"...in the moonlight, in the midnight, in the moonlight, midnight, moonlight," Yeomans sang as I stood on the dock. "Good song," I said as I stepped onto the boat. 'Who is this?"
"Peter Rowan," Steve the friend said.
"...If you ever feel sorrow for the deeds you have done with no hope for tomorrow in the setting of the sun..."
"Thanks for joining," said Steve the friend.
"Only because you're here," I told him.
"Quit being an asshole," Steve the neighbor said to me.
"Yeungling?" asked Steve the friend.
We sat on the boat listening to bluegrass and drinking beer until just before dark. It was unseasonably warm for an October evening in northern Michigan. The lake was deserted and with no boats kicking up wakes and with no wind rippling the water, pink tinged clouds and the tops of trees with autumn turning leaves reflected off the glassy surface. Every so often a rising bass set off a circle of expanding rings. The heron that lives in the adjoining cove flew up and skimmed low across the water.
* * *
ATTENTION WINEMAKERS
Just a reminder that we are now taking pre-orders for the 2021 and 2022 Winexpert Limited Edition offerings. Go here for complete details.
Featured Wines of the Week
Taliano Michele, Nebbiolo d'Alba, 2018, Italy, $17.69/750ml- The Langhe Nebbiolo Blagheur appears with a ruby-red colour; it reveals perfumes of flowers and fruits which are typical of the vine; it has a wide and soft taste with noble and well-balanced tannins. (Source)
Taliano Michele, Barbera d'Alba, 2019, Italy, $14.39/750ml- The Barbera d'Alba "A bon rendre"has an intense ruby red colour, it smells of fruit, it is fragrant and it has a full taste with equili-brated acidity well supported by the structure. (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 Spirit of the Week
Iron Fish Distillery, maple barrel finished bourbon, Michigan, $47.29/750ml- As the leaves began to fall, and while waiting for our own Iron Fish distilled whiskey, we came upon this spirit – a blend of corn, rye and malted barley in fired American oak barrels. We fell for it and gave it a trace of maple by finishing the spirit in old, withered whiskey barrels steeped in our neighbors, the Griner family’s, maple syrup. Thoughtful and distinct, settle in and enjoy our Bourbon – the beauty is in the contrast. (Source)
New and Returning Products
Blackrocks Oktoberfest, $2.19/12oz-Märzen
Brew Detroit Cold Brew Coffee Stout, $3.59
Evil Twin Your IPA Is Crazy, $6.79/16oz-IPA - Imperial / Double New England
Fair State New Territories, $4.19/16oz-Hazy IPA Collab w/ Mikkeller
Grand Armory Loud, $2.79/12oz-This dank smelling New England IPA features Mosaic, Centennial, Amarillo, and Citra hops. Brewed with wheat and oats for a medium body. If it smells too loud, you're too old! (Source)
Great Divide Double Juicy, $2.79/12oz-IPA - Imperial / Double New England
Grey Line Green Jackalope, $3.59/12oz-Yeast Coast IPA
Left Hand Black Forest Nitro, $3.39/16oz-Super smooth & sinful with black cherries & cocoa nibs. (Source)
Left Hand Peanut Butter Milk Stout, $2.39-Rich milk chocolate notes team up with peanut buttery perfection for a deliciously deliciously dark duo. (Source)
Leinenkugel Chocolate Dunkle, $$1.69-Leinenkugel’s winter seasonal Chocolate Dunkel combines the refreshment of a crisp dark lager with just the right amount of tasty chocolate flavor. Chocolate Dunkel’s cocoa crispness and smooth finish is perfect for cozying up by the campfire on chilly winter nights. (Source)
Lone Pine Cinnamon Toasties, $4.89/16oz-Imperial Stout brewed with Vietnamese cinnamon & vanilla extract. (Source)
Low Rez Flavor of the Wheat, $4.89/16oz-Session Wheat Ale
Oddisde Hazels Nuts Toasted Marshmallow and Coconut, $7.09/12oz-Imperial stout aged in bourbon barrels with coffee, coconut, natural hazelnut and toasted marshmallow flavorings. (Source)
Oddside Hazels Nuts Banana, $7.09/12oz-Hazel's Nuts with the added flavors of Chocolate and Bananas. (Source)
Oddside Hazels Nuts, $7.09/12oz-This complex coffee stout aged in bourbon barrels provides mouth watering vanilla, oak, whiskey, chocolate and espresso flavors along with toasted hazelnuts are rich and pleasant on the tongue. (Source)
Pigeon Hill Philosoraptor, $1.99/12oz-IPA - American
Rake Dead and Dreaming, $5.99/16oz-Sour - Fruited
Rake FLOAT, $3.79/16oz-Dry Hopped Spelt Saison
Rake KRUSH, $3.79/16oz-Rustic Kolsch with Nelson Sauvin Hops.
Rake Sun Talk, $5.99/16oz-imperial raw sour saison with strawberry, mango, and raspberry. (Source)
Smooj Berry Blast, $4.89/12oz-Hard Seltzer
Stillwater A Sound Saison, $4.69/16oz-Hoppy spelt farmhouse ale fermented to the sounds of waves crashing. (Source)
Stillwater Business, $3.79/12oz-Imperial stout brewed with Molasses and Muscovado
Three Floyds BrooDoo, $2.29/12oz-This beer is brewed during the hop harvest with a portion of unkilned or “wet” hops fresh off the vine. Apricot in color, Broo Doo’s nose has dominant orange, pine sap and floral notes, balanced by a glazed nut and toffee malt body. This celebration of the hop harvest has intense tropical fruit, citrus and spicy accents that showcase the complexity of the hops we all love. (Source)
Transient Get Righter, $2.79/16oz
Wolverine Massacre, $4.89/12oz-Imperial Dark Lager aged in bourbon barrels.