Siciliano's Market News, April 8 Edition

This week's list of new and returning products follows a brief tribute to Ren Hanselman

RIP Ren

Preamble by Steve Siciliano

I can't remember exactly when but I do know exactly where I first met Ren Hanselman. It was at the old Founders brew pub on Monroe sometime back in the mid 1990's. The now iconic brewery had yet to hit its stride but the brews were solid and there was a friendly, communal vibe in the taproom. Gradually it became the home pub for a growing group of regulars who shared the common denominator of an affinity for craft beer. One of those regulars was Ren.

When Barb and I first met the short, stocky, loquacious, affable and raspy voiced character who flitted around the taproom we didn't know what to make of him. He seemed to know everyone's name and everyone seemed to know his. He shuffled up to our table, asked us ours, then sat down and recounted his story.

Ren was universally admired by all who were familiar with that story. When he was in his teens he suffered a fractured skull in an automobile accident and was in a coma for sixteen days. The severe injury affected his speech and balance but his mind was sharp and he had a steel trap memory. He graduated from high school, went on to community college, eventually graduated from Ferris State with a degree in occupational safety, was accepted into the army and was ultimately granted an honorable medical discharge. To say he made the most of the difficult hand he was dealt is a huge understatement.

Ren wore many hats during his long tenure at the store. He sorted the bottle and can returns, helped with the pricing, bagged ice, shoveled snow, cut grass and broke down our weekly shipment of beer and wine-making supplies. In the ten years or so that he was a part of the Siciliano's Market family he was never late and he never missed a day of work.

When Ren showed up in the mornings the back room and warehouse were usually a mess. After making a pot of coffee he dove into action. When he left in the afternoon everything was in tip top shape. "Looking good back here Ren," I would often tell him when I went into the warehouse for a case of bottles or a fifty pound bag of grain. I now wish that I would have taken the time to tell him that more.

Ren Hanselman passed away unexpectedly last week from natural causes. He was 60 years old.

Featured Wines of the Week

Chateau de Montgueret, 2020, Rose D'Anjou, France, $13.19/750ml-

Varieties: 100% Grolleau.

Color: Brillant, pink, ruby glints.

Nose: Powerful and elegant with floral notes developing into red fruits, reminiscent of grenadine.

Taste: Supple fresh beginning with pleasant fruit forward finish.

(Source)

Collines De La Moure, Ombre, 2020, Rose, France, $11.29/750ml-

Grape Varieties: 100% Grenache.

Color: Pale pink with bright reflections.

Nose: Small red berry aromas and white flower frangrances.

Taste: Peak freshness, pink grapefruit, pleasant soft finish.

(Source)

Pagos del Galir, Spanish red, $17.49/750ml- Intense aromas of red and black fruits accompanied by spicy, fresh and balsamic notes. The palate is balanced, complex, and full bodied with firm tannins. The finish is long and driven with vibrant acidity. (Source)

Paul Jaboulet Aine, 2015, Biographie Cotes-du-Rhone, France, $17.39/750ml- Jaboulet Biographie (2015) is produced by Paul Jaboulet Aîné, a producer that has become the benchmark in the Northern Rhône, with the iconic Hermitage ‘La Chapelle’ having some of the best wines there. Ten years ago, the Frey family purchased this historic property, immediately converting the estate vineyards to biodynamic principals and encouraging sustainable practices from every family grower they work with. This is one of France’s finest estates, the crown jewel of the Rhône Valley. Oenologist and proprietor Caroline Frey, alongside Winemaking Director Jacques Desvernois, are producing the authentic standard for quality Syrah across the Northern Rhône. The wine grapes for this wine grow on vines that average 40 years old, with some as old as 80 years. On the nose and palate the wine is dark cherry, blackberry compote and a touch of smoke. - Community Wine Reviews (Source)

Schuchmann, Pirosmani, 2018, 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)

Buy three or more bottles of wine get 10 % off.

"It's our mission at Siciliano's to sell quality wine at affordable prices

New and Returning Products

Alesmith Limeberry Twist, $2.59/12oz-This refreshingly sour and deliciously fruity beer brings the bright flavors of limes and the soft sweetness of raspberries with a pinch of sea salt. Cheers! (Source)

Arbor Tree Bear, $2.19/12oz-Treebeard IPA is a deliciously dank Midwest-style IPA that blends flavors of mango, pineapple, orange, and woodsy qualities of Mosaic, Simcoe, and Comet hops. The pale Vienna and caramel malts provide a rich malt character, light biscuit finish, and pungent hoppiness. (Source)

Arclight How's You Do That, $5.09/16oz-A collaboration with Nanodog Brewing and Monochrome Brewing.Double Dry hopped with Citra, Medusa and Strata. (Source)

Austin Brothers Blood Brothers, $1.99/12oz-An unfiltered IPA brewed with blood orange giving a crisp and refreshing citrus nose and flavor profile. (Source)

Austin Brothers Northern Lights, $1.59/12oz-Light in carbs, light in calories, light in body, light in color, but full of flavor. 2.4 grams of carbs and only 95 calories, because we believe you should always be able to count on us for a good beer, no matter what you are counting. (Source)

Collective Arts Good Monster, $4.39/16oz-This New England style DIPA is a beast, but not in a ‘lurking in the shadows,’ ‘evil' kind of way; in a ‘flavour explosion, delicious hops,’ GOOD Monster kind of way! Double dry hopped with 24g/L of Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe and Amarillo; notes of tropical mango and passionfruit, juicy peach, and bright orange, lemon, and grapefruit shine! (Source)

Collective Arts IPA #16, $4.39/16oz-IPA No.16 is a refreshing blend of juicy and floral. Brewed in honour of International Women’s day, the nose is fragrant while retaining a strong backbone of hoppy aromatics. The complex hop blend was designed by the Pink Boots Society, an organization created to assist, inspire, and encourage women in the beer Industry, and lends a subtle floral sweetness. The beer finishes with an effervescent pop of pithy grapefruit for an elevated IPA with a distinct and striking flavour combination. (Source)

Collective Arts Smoothie Bowl, $4.39/16oz-This sour has everything you'd find in your favourite morning smoothie bowl! We might not be able to say this beer is exactly healthy, but we put all the good-for-you ingredients into this legitimate breakfast-esque Smoothie Sour. Strawberries, Blackberries, Acai Berries, Banana, Granola and Milk sugar, all heightened with bright acidity. (Source)

Evil Twin Scandi Noir, $6.29/16oz-Imperial Stout w/ Peanuts & Vanilla

Fair State Big Doinks, $3.29/16oz-Extra dank IPA with the stickiest of hops available (Source)

Fair State Double Strata, $5.49/16oz-IPA - Imperial / Double New England

Fair State Vienna Lager, $3.29/16oz-Our interpretation of the classic Vienna lager - pale amber in color, medium bodied, ever so slightly toasty from Munich and Vienna malts, complimented by a grassy noble hop nose. (Source)

Grand Armory Mother Schmucker, $2.19/12oz-A blonde ale with 100 pounds of raspberries added to the fermenter. Try pairing with Nutter Your Business for a Grand Armory PB&J. (Source)

Hofbrau Mai Bock, $2.19/12oz-By tradition, the first barrel of Maibock is tapped in the Hofbräuhaus in the last week of April, in time for the merry month of May. The success story of Munich’s oldest bock beer goes back as far as 1614. With its powerfully aromatic flavour and its alcoholic content of some 7.2% volume, Hofbräu Maibock marks one of the high points in the beer-lover’s calendar! (Source)

Hofbrau Session Lager, $2.99/16oz-Lager - Euro Pale

Hubbards Cave Accident, $7.59/16oz-Stout - Imperial / Double

Hubbards Cave Calm Classroom, $3.29/16oz-Mosaic IPA that is crystal clear PSA to the haze drinkers. (Source)

Hubbards Cave Coco Van, $9.29/16oz-Imperial Stout with Coconut and Vanilla

Hubbards Cave Fresh IPA, $4.09/16oz-This Fresh IPA is a little hazy, has amazing aroma and fruitiness balanced by bitterness. (Source)

Left Hand Gettin' Tiki with It, $2.99/16oz-Gettin Tiki With It is a vacation in a can. Bursting with pineapple and coconut, this Pina Colada Wheat Ale is your nitro passport to paradise. (Source)

Pigeon Hill Grapefruit Renny, $2.29/12oz-Ever met a crushable Double IPA? Now you have. We took our Renny “session” DIPA, added grapefruit, and turned it up to 11. The addition of grapefruit pairs perfectly with the citrus aroma and flavors that come from the use of Amarillo and Simcoe hops. Warning: It’s way too drinkable. (Source)

Rockford Fuzzy Nuggs, $2.39/12oz-This pale ale was brewed with 100% Michigan grown barley and wheat. Also unique to this beer is the fact that it is brewed with 100% Nugget hops. Nuggets are usually used only to add bitterness, however we used them throughout the boil for bitterness, flavor and aroma. The flavor and aroma is described as being green, resiny, herbal and floral. We also get a small fruity character in the front that plays well with the clean malty flavor of the Michigan grown malt. (Source)

Rockford Something Hoppy, $2.39/12oz-Brewed with pilsner malt for a very light body with Simcoe and Mosaic hops and a crisp finish. (Source)

Saugatuck Ghost of Neapolitan, $1.89/12oz-A drinking experience unlike any other. The Ghost of Neapolitan has all the flavors of our iconic Neapolitan Milk Stout, but with a new twist. This beer drinks like a stout from mouthfeel to flavor, but you’ll be surprised when you open your eyes to find a copper colored ale. You will taste the rich chocolate, vanilla, and strawberry in this fascinating White Stout. (Source)

Short Fuze Very Bad Kids, $3.79/16oz-Sour ale made with watermelon sour patch kids and watermelon puree. (Source)

Shorts Psychedelic Cat Grass, $2.09/12oz-Psychedelic Cat Grass is a triple dry hopped American India Pale Ale brewed for Hopcat. Aromas of pineapple, mango, and grapefruit accompany the brews slightly hazy, pale orange color and lasting white head. A dry finish is preceded by balanced flavors of tropical fruit and bitter hops. (Source)

Shorts Treefer Madnessm, $2.59/12oz-Treefer Madness is an American IPA first brewed in celebration of HopCat’s 4/20 Party. Dank aromas of pine, grapefruit, guava, and floral notes blend with a bready backbone. Slightly hazy and orange in color, this beer has a prominent white head. The flavors mirror the aroma with dank pine notes complemented by juicy citrus. Well balanced and medium bodied, Treefer Madness finishes dry. (Source)

Speciation Exaptation, $11.69/375ml-Spontaneous Amber Ale Aged in Norden Aquavit Barrels - This old world inspired spontaneous amber ale was aged first for 1.5 years in a foeder, and then for 8 months in three Norden Aquavit barrels. The final product is a complex wild amber ale with layers of nordic botanicals and a slightly savory finish. (Source)

Speciation Laurentian Michigan Cuvee, $25.59/750ml-Blend of 2 and 3 year old spontaneous ale - A blend of 2 oak puncheons, loosely inspired by the classic Cantillon beer Lou Pepe - The first barrel was brewed by Bike Lake Brewing on 4/18/18. It was coolshipped about a mile away from Lake Michigan in my parent’s front yard. The second barrel was brewed by Stormcloud Brewing on 11/12/19. Tasting notes: Bright, citrussy, lemonaid, classic lambic funk. (Source)

Surly Havoc Machine, $1.99/12oz-West Coast Style India Pale Ale

Transient Friends Forever, $3.79/16oz-DDH IPA collaboration with BLiS, double dry hopped with Citra, El Dorado, Amarillo, Mandarina, and Motueka hops. (Source)

Une Anne Framboise, $5.99/16oz-American Wild Ale with Raspberries

Une Anne Triple, $2.79/16oz-Belgian Abbey Ale

Upper Hand Sugar Bush, $2.19/12oz-Introducing Sugarbush, brewed with help from our friends at Yooper Forestry and MSU Extension. This late-winter red lager has a kiss of caramelized sweetness and a dash of Upper Peninsula-harvested, open vat maple syrup. (Source)

Upper Hand Yellow Hex, $2.19/12oz-Gose style ale with lemon, lemongrass, and salt.

Urban Artifact Rose Brut Fruit Tart, $3.59/8oz-Rosé, our newest addition to our lineup of Brut Fruit Tarts, is made with a field blend of red and white grape varieties. This beer is bright and tart, balanced nicely by a hint of bitterness. (Source)

Watermark Chop Top, $4.39/16oz-India Pale Ale w/ Amarillo & Mosaic

Watermark Moon Boots, $5.49/16oz-IPA - Imperial / Double

Witches Hat Doedish, $3.59/12oz-Massive double IPA brewed with an intense amount of Simcoe Hops. “Big Doedish” is the nickname given to our head brewer by his grandpa. (Source)

Stay safe. Please wear a face covering in indoor public spaces. Spread kindness not germs!