This week's list of new and returning products follows words about a few childhood memories of Halloween
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
Back in the middle of the last century when an aging WWII hero was in the White House, when childhood diseases like polio, mumps, chicken pox and measles were still a thing and before anyone had heard of young man from Mississippi named Elvis, I was a kid growing up in an old Polish neighborhood on the lower west side of Grand Rapids. It was a simpler time back then. Tribalism had not yet sullied our politics, vaccines were generally regarded as miracles of science, rock and roll was looked upon as a curious but relatively innocuous fad and parents didn't have to worry about letting their costumed kids roam around dark streets on Halloween.
I almost always dressed up on Halloween as an itinerant bum, an apt get-up in view of the fact that my childhood nickname was "Hobo." (I'm not really sure why the older kids tagged me with that moniker but I'm guessing it was because of my general slovenly appearance.) I can still remember my mother shredding the sleeves of an old shirt and blackening my face with a burnt cork before leaving the house, an old pillow case in hand, and joining my compatriots for a few hours of trick or treating.
Our neighborhood was fertile ground for confectionery handouts but I can remember at least one time when we piled into Mrs.Harashuk's '53 De Soto and hit the clusters of 1950's ranch houses "up the hill". Since the houses were newer we assumed that the people who lived there were richer and the treats would be a notch above the ubiquitous Yum Yum pops and individually wrapped pieces of bubble gum. We were on the hunt for miniature chocolate bars. I can't remember whether or not we found them.
When we returned home my sister and I would dump our stashes on the floor, sort through them, hide them away and guard them with the ferocity of wolverines. Eventually the dregs of our respective caches would be combined and placed in a large Tupperware bowl where they became fair game. The loose pieces of candy corn went untouched. Sometime around Christmas my mother would throw them away.
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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
Chateau Bourdieu Blaye, 2019, Bourdeaux red, France, $19.99/750ml- Chateau Bourdieu Blaye Cotes de Bordeaux offers a beautiful red ruby color deep and intense. It exhales red fruits and blackcurrant aromas, completed by notes of redcurrant. The mouthfeel is round and juicy, with a smooth, well integrated tannins that offers a nice structure and a long finish. (Source)
Rabble, Zinfandel, 2019, California, $24.89/750ml- From our sustainably grown vineyards in Paso Robles, where Zinfandel’s roots date back to the 19th century. A lively, balanced Zin that stands out from the crowd—excellent with pulled pork sandwiches, smoked brisket and, best of all, Chinese takeout.
• Bright aromas of black cherry, raspberry, cola and Asian spice
• Brambly red plum flavors with hints of wet stone
• Vibrant finish with gravelly tannins
(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
Sagamore Spirit, Ale Cask Finish Rye, Maryland, $73.69/750ml- Leave it to distillers and brewers to turn a legal conversation into a cross-country barrel partnership. Sagamore Spirit, meet Sierra Nevada. Rich cocoa on the nose, with notes of creamy caramel and hazelnut to taste. (Source)
Sagamore Spirit, 8yr old Rye, Maryland, $84.19/750ml- A very special whiskey, a long time in the making, this 8-year-old straight rye whiskey is a testament to the power of time. We took our straight rye whiskey and aged it in new charred American white oak barrels for 8 years, creating a complex spirit. Our Sagamore Spirit Reserve Series celebrates the legacy of Maryland distilling, with an unyielding focus on excellence from start to finish. Palate | Dark chocolate, hazelnut, vanilla, gingerbread, peppercorn and spice that leaves a lasting finish. (Source)
New and Returning Products
2nd Shift And Look it has Pockets, $2.79/16oz--Belgian style witbier brewed with wheat, coriander z and grains of paradise. (Source)
2nd Shift Half Hit, $2.79/16oz-With all of the big abv stouts out there these days, we thought a lower abv, easy drinking roasty session stout with cinnamon would be a nice counterbalance to help us get through this long winter. (Source)
2nd Shift Lucy Lager, $2.79/16oz-Named after our beloved brewery hound. (Source)
2nd Shift Otis the Bird, $4.39/16oz-Sour - Fruited Berliner Weisse
2nd Shift/Transient Todd, $4.39/16oz-Brewed with our friends Transient Artisan Ales from Michigan, this lager is brewed with rye malt, oats, pilsner malt & buckwheat. (Source)
Barrel + Beam Wits End, $4.39/16oz-French Oak Soured Witbier with French and Belgian sourced ingredients. (Source)
Bells Bright White, $1.89/12oz-An alternative to dark and heavy winter warmers and stouts, Bright White (formerly Winter White) is a stylish and refreshing Wheat Ale. 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)
Bells Cherry Stout, $2.99/12oz-Tinted ruby-black, Cherry Stout gains its signature tartness from 100% Montmorency cherries grown in Michigan's Traverse City region. Rather than doubling up on sweetness, this tart cherry varietal serves as a counterpoint to the warm, dark chocolate notes from the malt bill. Lightly hopped for balance, this stout is one of the cornerstones of our stout portfolio. (Source)
Bells Jingle Pack, $12.99/12pk
Bells Mars, $3.29/12oz-Originally, the first release in Bell’s Planet Series, Mars (The Bringer of War) is a double IPA with a complex hop character and a malty backbone. Notes of tropical fruit, citrus, pine, lemon, lime and pineapple are all present in both the aroma and flavor. Hopped at a ratio of about 3.4 pounds of hops per barrel, the recipe for Mars was developed from a trial batch called Larry’s Latest Double IPA brewed in our original brewery located adjacent to the Eccentric Café in downtown Kalamazoo. (Source)
Cheboygan Oatmeal Cookie Stout, $3.49/16oz-Stout - Oatmeal
City Built Rum Cake, $12.99/16oz-Imperial Stout Aged for 14 months in Rum Maple Syrup Barrels. Coconut, Vanilla, Chocolate & Cinnamon. Incredibly complex and smooth. (Source)
Du Claw Haze of Glory, $2.39/12oz-This medium-bodied New England IPA delivers a juicy, hazy squeeze to your palate at a 6.3% ABV. Balanced citrus burst and hop haze shows we ain’t no young gun when it comes to IPAs or juicy beers. Let it give your tongue a squeeze, and go out in a haze of glory. (Source)
Du Claw Hopportunity Awaits, $4.09/16oz-Hopportunity Awaits is on a mission to open eyes of all kinds in craft beer, and inspire us to hold the door for unique talent to create more pathways for diversity, in every sense, across every role. On the cans, you will meet 10 talented rule-makers in the industry who are ready to share their remarkable stories. Once you hear what they have to say, you will realize that yes, you can brew it too. This beer is in partnership with Craft x EDU to fund scholarships for individuals to grow within the craft beer industry, and pursue their passion for the perfect pour. (Source)
Du Claw Sour Me Strawberry French Toast, $3.49/16oz-Drizzled with dark maple syrup and dusted with nutmeg and cinnamon, this strawberry french toast sour brew made with fresh strawberry purée puts even the tallest stack to shame. Bottoms up for brunch. (Source)
Du Claw Strawberry Letter 23, $2.39/12oz- Brewed with Lactose, Mosaic Lupilin Powder, and fermented on top of ripe Strawberries, this brew has just enough hop bite and subtle strawberry sweetness to shine through its overall tart character. (Source)
Du Claw Sweet Baby Java, $2.19/12oz-Our GABF medal-winning robust Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter, infused with whole bean espresso to add new depth and complexity to our Sweet Baby. (Source)
Du Claw Sweet Baby Jesus, $2.19/12oz-Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter with natural and artificial flavors. First brewed in 2011, this Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter is jet black in color with a tan, rocky head, full body and creamy, luxurious mouthfeel. Its lightly sweet, malty flavor is accented by strong notes of chocolate, coffee and peanut butter, and balanced by a subtle hop character and moderate 6.5% abv. Sweet Baby Jesus finishes smooth, dry and roasty with notes of chocolate, espresso and peanut butter so rich, you will exclaim its name! (Source)
Du Claw The PastryArchy, $3.49/16oz-Stout - Imperial / Double Pastry
Fair State Union Lager, $1.79/12oz-Lager - Dortmunder / Export
Grand Armory Mother Schmucker, $2.19/12oz-Our flagship Raspberry Blonde Ale! Try pairing with Nutter Your Business for a Grand Armory PB&J! Or as we like to call it, "Nutter Your Business, Mother Schmucker"! (Source)
Great Lakes Christmas Ale, $2.59/12oz-Do not open ‘til Christmas? Whoever coined that phrase obviously hasn’t tasted Christmas Ale’s fresh honey, cinnamon, and ginger flavors. A Yuletide’s worth of holiday spices and sweet honey to keep you a-wassailing all season long.. (Source)
Hopewell Erde, $3.29/16oz-Erde is a German-style Pilsner that takes cues from various interpretations seen across the country. A crisp malt character meets a delicate-yet-assertive noble hop presence, striking a quaffable balance that is the hallmark of the style. (Source)
Hopewell Stay Frosty, $3.29/16oz-Stay Frosty is a Winter Lager that stands up to the frigid temps that come with the season. Full-bodied and malty with a pronounced nuttiness and slight caramel sweetness, plus a hint of noble hop spiciness to keep it easy on the palate. Cozy up. (Source)
Hopewell Ya Filthy Animal, $3.29/12oz-Inspired by our favorite mulled holiday drinks, Ya Filthy Animal is a Sour Red Ale brewed with spices, black currants and plums. Festive and fruity with a tart, warming finish. Keep the change. (Source)
Humble Forager Eastern Seaboard, $5.19/16oz-A Double Dry Hopped New England style IPA brewed with American barley, Canadian oats, German spelt malt, and a dash of lactose sugar. Hopped in the whirlpool and hop back before being dry hopped twice with 5 lbs per gallon of Lupulin saturated Mosaic, Citra and Galaxy. (Source)
Mikerphone I Want My IPA, $4.09/16oz-IPA - American
Mikerphone Slim Hazy, $4.39/16oz-Double Dry-Hopped Pale Ale w/ Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe Hops
New Holland Cabin Fever, $1.99/12oz-Robust in character yet smooth in delivery, Cabin Fever is a roasty brown ale and a hearty, comforting companion for long, mind-bending winters. Its rye, roast and raisin notes play off a subtle caramel sweetness and culminate in a dry finish. Excellent with roasts, stews, caramelized onions and snowfall. (Source)
North Peak Blitzen, $1.89/12oz-Blitzen is a Festivus Ale brewed with rye malt, Michigan Chinook, Michigan Cascade, Tettnang, and Willamette hops for a crisp spiciness and complex malt flavor. (Source)
Shiner Cheer, $1.79/12oz-A Bavarian-style Dark Wheat Ale, Dunkelweizen, brewed with Texas peaches and roasted pecans. The malty flavors are enhanced through the use of malted barley and wheat. And Kräusening ensures a smoothness that makes the subtle peach and pecan flavors all more satisfying. (Source)
Stone 12 Days of IPA, $29.99/12pk
Trail point Smores VonDoom, $3.89/16oz-Porter with vanilla, chocolate, and a metric-ton of graham crackers! (Source)
Trail Point Toss the Ringer, $3.49/16oz-White Russian-inspired white stout. Light in appearance, coffee roast flavor with a creamy sweet finish.Brewed with lactose, mexcian vanilla beans, and white russian flavored coffee. A creamy sweet medium bodied ale with golden color with flavors of coffee cream and caramel liquer. (Source)
Untitled Art BA Exhausted Parent, $8.69/16oz-Barrel Aged Imperial Stout WIth Espresso Beans, Cacao Nibs & Milk Sugar.
Untitled Art Double Blueberry, $5.19/16oz-Berliner Weisse Style ale with blueberry purée and blueberry concentrate.
Untitled Art Pixie Mix Cherry, $4.69/16oz-Hard seltzer with nostalgic flavor
Victory Hop Hazer, $2.19/12oz-The HOP'HAZER emerges from the winter realm with a brew loaded with innovative hops. Notes of pineapple, citrus, and gooseberry enchant your senses and tame the winter blues. (Source)
Victory Storm King, $2.79/12oz-A thundering hop presence collides with massive espresso and dark chocolate flavors in our dense and full-bodied imperial. (Source)
Witches Hat Dames and the Giant Peach, $3.49/12oz-Farmhouse Ale - Saison