This week's list of new and returning products follows a few words about autumn works of art along Fruit Ridge Avenue
Preamble by Steve Siciliano
When Barb and I travel north to our cottage we usually get out of town by taking Fruit Ridge Avenue until it intersects with M37 near Casnovia. I never tire of driving through this eighteen-mile stretch of one of Michigan's finest fruit growing regions. The acres of rolling hills studded with thousands of fruit trees, the stately farm houses and the weathered old barns are always pleasant to look at but in my opinion this pastoral panorama is especially pleasing to the eye in the Fall.
I'm not sure why but it seems that the autumn colors gracing the maples, hemlocks, basswoods and birches along this rural Kent County road are exceptionally vivid this year. Toss in white puffs of clouds in a pale blue sky and orange splashes of pumpkins scattered across browning fields and you get images that rival the artwork of Monet, Manet, Renoir and Van Gogh.
Featured Wines of the Week
Dominio de Tharsys, Brut Nature Cava, Spain, $10.89/750ml- Bright notes of green apple and tropical guava, passionfruit over sour bread notes. Vibrant palate with zesty raspberry, lime and a creamy mouse that finishes with sea minerality. Intense and refreshing. Ideal with Tapas! (Source)
Schuchmann, 2018, Pirosmani, Republic of Georgia, $13.99/750ml- A juicy and fruit forward version of Saperavi with notes of fresh cherry, pomegranate and plum balanced with acidity and a tannin. A pleasant easy drinking version of Saperavi with good structure perfect for a wide range of foods. (Source)
Giunta, Malbec Nouveau, New Zealand, $16.29/750ml- For this lighter style, the Malbec colour is quite a dark purple. The nose is wild with savoury black olives, brambly fruit with hints of smokey and dusty aromatics. The front palate is soft with rich blackberries and plum with a spicy and edgy mid palate. The tannins are plush and lean with clean finish making for a very easy and refreshing experience. This wine is meant to be drunk young but can age for 2-3 years. (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
Belle Meade, Reserve Bourbon, Tennessee, $73.69/750ml- Though the selection process guarantees a certain degree of batch-by-batch variation, every bottle of Belle Meade Reserve is rich and full-flavored, showing vanilla, caramel, spice, and stone fruits. (Source)
Glen Scotia, Single Malt Whisky, Campbeltown, Scotland, $52.59/750ml Our Double Cask is matured in the finest first fill bourbon barrels before being finished for up to twelve months in Pedro Ximenez sherry casks producing this outstanding single malt whisky that provides the perfect balance of rich spicy fruits, overlaid with the characteristic sea spray and vanilla oak finish for which the house of Glen Scotia is famous. NOSE: Very sweet. Initially it is all creme caramel, caramelised fruit sugars, wood sugar, toffee and fudge before some apple and peach come through. In time a charred note of bourbon with a pleasing dusty dryness. Has some power. PALATE:
Sweet start and quite fat and though the alcohol gives a little tongue-tingling buzz the result is a good mid-palate weight. The dry distillery character is there still, but there is now depth to counter. Water slightly dismantles the different elements, but adds some dried mint. FINISH: Deep and dark. (Source)
El Dorado, Original Rum Cream, Guyana, $26.29/750ml- “Very inviting nose packed with spice, rum and toffee. Full creamy texture with seductive roundness and extremely smooth flow across the palate. Flavours of spice, toffee and rum fill the mouth with fine spirity lift highlighting everything. Ongoing release of flavours and aromatics in very long, well sustained finish. Absolute delight! (Source)
New and Returning Products
1911 Maple Bourbon, $4.29/16oz - Barrel aged hard cider
2nd Shift Art of Neurosis, $3.59/16oz - Art of Neurosis is an IPA that has everything you could want in one, if what you want is a hop sandwich. It's a 7.7% Simcoe and Columbus delight. (Source)
2nd Shift BBA Black Noise, $13.99/375ml - This version of Black Noise is our Russian-Style Imperial Stout Aged for 18 months in Willet Bourbon Barrels. Drier and less sweet than it's American counterpart, this full bodied base beer has notes of bittersweet chocolate & coffee that meld well with the soft heat of these incredible barrels we received. (Source)
2nd Shift Bridget Foeder, $3.79/16oz - Bridget is our foeder aged American Style Farmhouse Ale with Brettanomyces Lambicus. Soft, tart and refreshing, it's Katy's lil' sister beer with a touch more oak. 5.4% (Source)
2nd Shift Getchyasum, $2.99/12oz - Blond ale
2nd Shift Luggage Combination, $2.79/12oz - A light bodied black lager with malty sweet, rich chocolate & coffee notes. (Source)
Avery Double Didget, $3.69/12oz - Brewed with Rocky Mountain water, malted barley, malted wheat, spelt, flaked oats, hops (Amarillo, Simcoe, Mosaic) & yeast. (Source)
Bear Republic Further Thru the Haze, $3.79/16oz - A Double IPA with ripe and juicy citrus & tropical aromas, creamy mouth feel, and a velvety soft bitterness that will leave you wanting more. Dry hopped with epic amounts of Vic Secret, Amarillo, Azacca, Simcoe, and more. (Source)
Bear Republic Racer 5, $2.19/12oz - This hoppy IPA is a full bodied beer brewed with malted barley, wheat, and crystal malts. The malt base is designed to highlight the unique floral qualities of Columbus and Cascade hops from the Pacific Northwest. (Source)
Bear Republic Sonoma Tart, $2.19/12oz - Sour - Fruited
Bear Republic Thru the Haze, $2.19/12oz - This deliciously crushable IPA emphasizes all the awesomeness of Vic Secret, Citra and Galaxy hops, paired with a dry malt profile. Grapefruit and tropical fruit aromas set the stage for a huge citrus explosion of flavor on your taste buds, without a crushing bitterness. (Source)
Bells Sideyard, $3.89/16oz - Fresh hopped NE style IPA
Epic Lemon Bomb, $2.49/12oz - A tart IPA dry hopped with Citra and Centennial, with real lemon added post-fermentation. (Source)
Founders Imperial Stout 2019, $3.39/12oz - Brewed with an abundance of malts, this stout is smooth as silk, yet complex and rich in body. Best enjoyed at cellar temperature to allow the notes of chocolate, dark fruit and caramel to soar. Put another log on the fire, sit back and enjoy the moment with this full-bodied and utterly delicious cold weather companion. (Source)
Founders Mas Agave, $17.99/15pk - We love cocktails. Like, really love them. If you ask us, few are more refreshing than the tart and tangy margarita and our latest barrel-aged beer pays tribute to that perennial classic. We took an imperial gose brewed with agave, lime and sea salt and then aged it in tequila barrels for just the right amount of kick. Consider it a party in a bottle. Más Agave! (Source)
Mikkeller Catalina Bine Mixer, $4.69/16oz - Golden Strong Ale Brewed w/ Petit Sirah Grape Juice & Blackberry. (Source)
Mikkeller So Cal Distancing, $4.69/16oz - Double Dry Hopped New England Style IPA with Nelson Sauvin and Strata Hops. (Source)
Off Color Aqua Predator, $2.99/16oz - Saison Wet hopped with Michigan Crystal hops... because wet hops are better than dry hops! (Well, maybe they are not better, but the certainly are not worse.) (Source)
Off Color Beer for Pizza, $2.99/16oz - Inspired by pizza and pop parties, Beer for Pizza features sweet crystal malts, Belgian dark candi syrup, and vanilla balanced with acidity from lime juice and citric acid. The flavor addition is inspired by the secret “Seven X” blend of citrus, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a juicy, yet spicy/sweet botanical kick. Kola provides a slight caffeine boost while a crisp carbonation enhances the mouthfeel. (Source)
Prairie Key Lime Pie, $3.29/12oz - Sour ale with key lime and vanilla
Speciation Incipient with Passion Fruit, $9.39/16oz - Foeder Aged Solera Sour Ale
Speciation Udryddelse, $13.99/16oz - Tequila BA Imperial Red Sour w/ Grapefruit, Sabro Hops, Smoked Sea Salt - Dan from Mikkeller SD spent 22 hours in Grand Rapids and never saw the Sun. To warm him up, we brewed something inspired by a mezcal paloma. This collaboration was brewed with Danish Talisman Pilsner malt from Skagit Valley Malting. Chill thoroughly before opening. Cellar in a cool, dark place to experience the evolution of this beverage over the years... but make sure to drink it before extinction. (Source)
Sprecher Abbey Triple, $1.89/12oz - A Belgian Trappist triple yeast culture balanced with the finest imported pale barley, Belgian aromatic malt and oats, gives this golden ale a fruity bouquet and a light refined taste. (Source)
Sprecher Black Bavarian, $1.89/12oz - This intensely dark Kulmbacher style lager has a superb malt complexity with the distinctive flavors and aromas of coffee, caramel and chocolate. (Source)
Sprecher Pineapple Express, $2.19/12oz - Limited edition Belgian Tripel brewed with 200 lbs each of Mosaic and Equinox whole cone hops. Big tropical flavors and aromas of pineapple, melon, and mango! (Source)
Stone Enjoy By 10/31, $3.19/12oz - Just in time for Halloween, we’re releasing our massively-hopped Stone Enjoy By 10.31.20 IPA. Loaded with 10 different varieties of hops and meant to be enjoyed within 37 days, this double IPA is nothing to be afraid of. (Though its packaging will very much show the spooky spirit of the holiday.) The only thing that would truly be terrifying is missing out on this incredibly tasty creation. (Source)
Stone Xocoveza, $3.19/12oz - This insanely delicious take on Mexican hot chocolate is crafted with cocoa, coffee, pasilla peppers, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg. First brewed in 2014 with San Diego homebrewer Chris Banker after his recipe was named the winner of our annual homebrew competition, it quickly became a cross-country sensation as craft beer media and fans cheered for Stone Xocoveza…and clamored for more. We too loved this beer, so of course we caroled ¡Claro que sí! (Source)
Three Blondes True Blue Bear, $2.29/12oz - Belgian Wit brewed w/ Chamomile, Coriander, and Lemon, and finished with local Blueberries from True Blue Farms. (Source)
Untitled Art Cotton Candy IPA, $4.69/16oz - Brewed with Citra, Amarillo, Mosaic, Belma, Galaxy & Sabro
Untitled Art Prickly Pear/Guave Florida Seltzer, $3.09/12oz - Prickly pear and guava hard seltzer.