Ever wonder where our wonderful Beer came from? The good people over at Manolith.com have found a great little piece of artwork to help us on our quest for more Beer Knowledge called The Story of Beer.
Smack full of fantastic little tidbits, this one is worth printing out and hanging on the back of the door in your bathroom, for some in depth study.
Hello Beer Friends Nation!
Today we begin our Winter Beer reviews with Boulder Beer Companies Never Summer Ale. While we did this review slightly before Thanksgiving, there is a lot of Winter Beers (warmers, Christmas Ale, etc…) out there to review so we started early to help you find the perfect beer to take home for the holiday, or to the first holiday meeting with the significant other’s parents, or to be the most popular one at the company holiday party! Holiday beer!
Hello Beer Friends Nation!
Today we reviewed one of the people responsible for the craft beer culture in the USA, Sam Adams. Surprisingly this is the first IPA that Sam Adams has mass produced and the second beer to fall under the “bitter” category (along with Sam Adams Pale Ale). With a lot of us Beer Friends being “hop heads,” let’s see how this stands up! Boston Beer!
Happy Thanksgiving Week to all you Beer Friends out there! This is one of our favorite times of year: the leaves have now all changed to those warm fall reds, browns and yellows, the anticipation of reuniting with friends and family starts to grow and you can already smell the turkey, gravy and stuffing. One of my favorite thing to do each year at this time is to try and find a new beer(s) to pair with Thanksgiving dinner. Whether it’s a hoppy IPA to accent the spices, a hearty winter brew that warms you up or a pumpkin ale to go with desert, beer and Thanksgiving are connected at the hip. Let’s see what NYC has to offer us on this Thanksgiving week.
Monday, November 22 – Sixpoint Tasting Event @ GRAB Specialty Foods, Brooklyn: Sixpoint will be showing up at GRAB Specialty Foods in Brooklyn with a nice collection of brews for you to taste. Expect to see Sweet Action, Sweet Re-Action, Signal IPA, Righteous Rye, Belgian Rye and the Sehr Crisp Lager. Sixpoint is a good way to start the week.
Grab Specialty Foods is located at 438 7th Ave between 14th and 15th streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Tuesday, November 23 – Greenpoint Harbor Brewery Tasting @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn: Greenpoint Harbor, from Long Island, will be heading into one of Brooklyn’s finest beer bars Tuesday night with some of their regular favorites and a new exciting edition for your palate. Check out tastes of Harbor Ale, Leaf Pile, Black Duck Porter, Hopnami and a cask of their new barley wine: Anti-Freeze. I’m sure you won’t have a problem staying warm with that one.
Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Avenue between Sackett and Union streets in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Wednesday, November 24 – Thanksgiving Eve Party @ Peekskill Brewery, Peekskill, NY: We try to keep our events to places you can get to by taking an NYC subway ride, however we’re making an exception with this one. The Wednesday night before Thanksgiving is widely regarded as the biggest going out night of the year. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t partake in a craft brew style by heading up (on the metro north – it’s not the subway, but it’s definitely more comfortable) to Peekskill Brewery for their yearly Thanksgiving Eve Party. A short trainride will get you traveling through the fall foliage straight to a great upstate brewery where you will drink and eat to celebrate the end of an early workweek. They’ll also be tapping a special cask at happy hour. And since it’s a brewery, there’s no reason one couldn’t pick up a bottle for the train ride back. Nothing like having a beer on the train.
Peekskill Brewery is located at 55 Hudson Avenue, Peekskill, NY (a very short walk from the Peekskill metro-north stop)
Thursday, November 25 – Thanksgiving with Friends @ Rattle n’ Hum, Manhattan: Most of us immigrants to the city flee to beat the traffic as soon as work is over on Wednesday afternoon. Those of us who don’t have the opportunity to make it home now have something to do. Head to the cozy atmosphere of Rattle n’ Hum and celebrate Thanksgiving with good people and good beer. They’ll have a special beer and food menu for the day, including a feast of beer brined Turkey and Ham. Here’s the best part: you can get all this, along with an 8 hour open bar from 2 – 10 pm for only $55. If you are in the city for Thanksgiving you should cancel your plans and do this.
From all of us at the Beer Friends to all of you craft beer brewers, pourers and drinkers we wish you a happy and healthy Thanksgiving Week! Enjoy the food and enjoy the beer!
Rattle n’ Hum is located at 14 E 33rd Street between 5th Ave and Madison Ave.
Are you tired of your current wardrobe? Are you jeans somewhere between Brooklyn-Too-Tight and Too-Baggy-To-Be-Cool? Have no fear, the Garb Stylist over at www.uncrate.com have answered your prayers:
Uncrate.com Garb: Brewery Tour
From a comfy shirt to a swanky set of shorts, not to mention a few good selections of our favorite beverage from Fort Collins, Odell, and New Belgium, they’ve got you covered. don’t be surprised if you see one of us sporting the whole ensemble…alright be surprised, but it would be cool wouldn’t it?
Hey there all you New York City Beer Friends! We have an exciting week of craft beer events coming our way this week! Let’s check em’ out…
Tuesday, November 16 – Tuesday Night Tastings with Smuttynose @ Bierkraft: A little taste of New Hampshire is coming Brooklyn’s way tomorrow night. Smuttynose will be hosting a tasting night at Bierkraft in Brooklyn. Bierkraft is one of the best places to grab a growler in the entire city, not just in Brooklyn. The prices are right and the beer is good. Grab some Smutty Big A IPA and have a chat with Pat Fondiller, Smutty’s NYC regional sales rep, about the inner-workings of the genius flowing from Smutty’s taps.
Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Ave between Union and Sackett.
Tuesday, November 16 – $10 Dollar Tuesday’s – Fancy Dutch Beer @ Jimmy’s No. 43, Manhattan: The next installment of $10 Dollar Tuesday’s at Jimmy’s No. 43 will feature the Roll’s Royce’s of Craft Beer. The Dutch have been brewing for longer than anyone can remember and have developed a penchant for brewing some very high class beers. If you’re not familiar with Dutch fancy brew then this is a perfect place to start getting familiar.
Jimmy’s No. 43 is located downstairs at 43 E 7th St. between 2nd and 3rd Aves.
Tuesday, November 16 – Sixpoint Night @ The Pony Bar, Manhattan: Sixpoint is back at the Pony Bar for their 2nd Annual Pre-Thanksgiving Blowout. This event is special for the Beer Friends as it is legend that the idea behind our existence stems from a previous Sixpoint Night at the Pony Bar. Come on over and get some liquid inspiration from Sixpoint as they take over the Pony taps with the finest they have to offer – Bengali, Otis and the now-in-season Gorilla Warfare Coffee Stout. We will see you there!
The Pony Bar is located on the Northwest corner of 45th St and 10th Avenue.
Wednesday, November 17 – Peak Organic Camping Party @ The Stag’s Head, Manhattan: The Beer Friends have had some excellent brewery tours over the past two years and in-between the brewery trips we spent a good deal of time camping. Nothing feels better than sitting around the campfire, eating some hot dogs and having a good craft beer. Peak Organic and the Stag’s Head have realized this and are throwing their own camping party. Come by to get some s’mores, baked beans and toast and some delicious Peak Organic. Featuring Maple Oat and Espresso Amber that will warm you up like a campfire.
Stag’s Head is located at 252 East 51st st. at 2nd Avenue.
Thursday, November 18 – Bear Republic Draft Takeover @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn: Bierkraft has got a busy week set up for themselves. Enjoy delicious Smuttynose brews at the tasting on Tuesday then head back on Thursday for a complete draft takeover by Bear Republic. We’re talking Green House Lager, Stickball Alt and a NYC first-timer, the Cher Ami, a Belgian Singel. There will probably be some Racer #5 and maybe even a Crazy Ivan too. It’s times like this that I wouldn’t mind living in Brooklyn. Next door to Bierkraft.
Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Ave between Union and Sackett.
Friday, November 19 – North Coast Tasting Event @ GRAB Specialty Foods, Brooklyn: The newest installment of GRAB Specialty Foods tasting series brings North Coast Brewery straight from Mendocino, California. Sample some Pranqster, Old Rasputin, Red Seal and Brother Thelonius. The proceeds from Brother Thelonius will support the Brother Thelonius Jazz Institute. You can drink delicious beer and feel like your doing a good deed at the same time!
GRAB Specialy Foods is located at 438 7th Ave between 14th and 15th streets, Brooklyn.
Hello Beer Friends Nation!
This week is a special beer review – it’s a growler! This week we travel to the mysterious Redhook , Brooklyn to try Sixpoint Brewery. Now it is no secret to faithful Beer Friend followers (thanks Mom!) that the Beer Friends love Sxipoint brews, so this one is a gimme. The SPotW is Bengali Tiger, the readily available I.P.A. from Sixpoint. Check it out at the special Sixpoint Brewery event at The Pony Bar on Tuesday, November 16th! Brooklyn Beer!
What what! Winter feels like it’s here and it is starting to taste like it as well. Winter Warmer is on the shelves, Howl is back in action and I saw somebody order a Sam Adams Winter recently. Let get right to the cold beer that will help you survive the cold winter nights that NYC is starting to throw at us.
Wednesday, November 10 – Craft Cans and Grilled Cheese Night @ Nita Nita, Brooklyn: Favorite thing to do on a rainy day: Make grilled cheese and tomato soup and watch the rain from inside. Favorite thing on any other day: Drink craft beer from a can and eat grilled cheese. Finally, us grilled cheese and craft beer fanatics have a place to head to. Nita Nita, out of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, host the Craft Can and Grilled Cheese Night every Wednesday. They will shell out any 2 cans from their canned craft beer selection, add in a cave-aged Gruyere grilled cheese sandwich and throw it at you for just $15. New favorite thing to do during rainy and non-rainy days: Go do this.
Wednesday, November 10 – Meet Scott Vaccaro of Captain Lawrence @ The Stag’s Head, Manhattan: Stag’s Head is inviting you out to meet Scott Vaccaro of Captain Lawrence. He’ll answer any brewing and Captain Lawrence question you have. Like, what exactly inspired the name Freshchester – The name of the county where Captain Lawrence is located or Fresh Prince of Bel Air. My guess is the latter, but who really knows – probably Scott Vaccaro. You can also drink some delicious Captain Lawrence brews – Freshchester, St. Vincent’s Dubbel and the Smoked Imperial Porter.
Thursday, November 11 – Palm Brewery Night @ David Copperfields, Manhattan: The Beer Friends are mostly American Craft Beer fan, but every once in awhile we got represent for the roots of creative craft beer brewing: Belgium. Head on up to the UES and join David Copperfields in celebrating some original Belgium creativity. Palm Brewery will be pouring everything from the regular Palm Ale, to Flambics and Sours. Take one day off from American Craft Brew and try some old Belgian styles. Get back to your roots.
Thursday, November 11 – Dogfish Head NOVEMBERFEST @ Standings, Manhattan: Why is it fair that only one month of the year gets a Fest? Well the guys at Dogfish Head and Standings agree it’s a slight that will go on no longer. Introducing (for the 6th year in a row): Novemberfest. Dogfish Head will be pouring Punkin Ale, Bitches Brew, Palo Santo Marron and Red and White. There will also be some specially selected rare bottles being poured. And free pizza! I like this fest-equality-movement. Can’t wait for January-fest.
Thursday, November 11 – Sixpoint Tap Takeover @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn: Alright, put your seatbelt on. Sit down. Put your legs up. Drink some water. Whatever else you can do to prepare yourself for this. Beirkraft is featuring Sixpoint on Thursday, by featuring I mean allowing them to takeover their taps. They have 14 taps. Name 14 Sixpoint brews and pick out the ones you don’t like. You should have zero names. You should also go to this.
Saturday, November 13 – The New York Beer and Brewery Tour @ Chelsea Brewing Co., Manhattan: Ask yourself: How much do you love craft beer? Ask yourself: How much do you love New York City? If the answer to both those questions are “I would sell my kidneys to continue drinking it/living there” then you should check out this Chelsea Brewery Event. Grab a ticket ($100, you better love both a lot) and you get a chartered afternoon trip through three of NYC’s boroughs where you will learn about the history of beer brewing in NYC, hit up two breweries, one of the city’s best beer bars and do some archaeology in Brooklyn’s ‘old brewer’s row’? There’s also generous beer sampling at each stop. Ask yourself this question: Is it worth it? Yes.
Hello Beer Friends Nation!
This week we continued the Magic Hat IPA on Tour series with hI.P.A. As the Beer Friends enjoy their second stop on the I.P.A. tour, we take a short trip down memory lane. Memories + Beer! Beer Memories!
The other day I was standing in a bodega in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan gazing at the beer cooler. I must’ve stood there for 5 minutes with a content grin on my face. Craft beer took up 4.5 of the 5 coolers dedicated to brew. There was so few American Lagers and Corn/Rice Pilsners that I had to actually look to find them. Not that I was looking to find them. I walked out with a sixer of Smuttynose IPA and a sense that maybe the country isn’t totally heading in the right direction. Perhaps instead of looking up to dirty politicians and corrupt above-the-law athletes as our role models we should look to the hard working, steadily growing, creatively inspired people of the craft beer world.
On that note, let’s see what some of those people are up to this week…
Tuesday, November 2 – Victory Takes the Taps @ Rattle n’ Hum, Manhattan: Speaking of Craft Beer All-Stars, Patrick Donagher and the employees at Rattle n’ Hum are coming at us with a big one: Victory Brewing Company will be taking over ALL the taps. ALL of them. That’s 40 lines. Every beer that makes your mouth water when you’re thinking about Victory will be on. Another Craft Beer All-Star Bill Covaliski, Victory Brewmaster and the founder of craft beer in Philly, will be leading the celebrations. Tell ya what, I don’t need to say anything else besides this: I’m off of work at 5, I’ll see you there.
Rattle n’ Hum is located at 14 East 33rd Street, between Madison Ave and 5th Ave, Manhattan.
Thursday, November 4 – Longtrail Night @ David Copperfields, Manhattan: Alright anyone who has access to the 4/5/6 trains, here’s a treat for you. Jump on the uptown line and head straight to the UES for the Longtrail Brewing Company event at David Copperfields. We’re talking Hibernator, Imperial Porter and Double Bag to warm you up. It’s been cold out recently and you deserve it.
David Copperfields is located at 1394 York Ave, corner of 74th street, Manhattan.
Thursday, November 4 – Lagunitas Night @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn: This might be the best event of the week. Lagunitas will be bringing some of their rarest and best craft brews out to the Brooklyn’s best beer haven. Bierkraft will be featuring the Bourbon Aged Cappuccino Stout, Habanero IPA, Wethop IPA, Hop Stoopid and Fusion 4 (rumored to be the only keg in NYC). They also are pouring my personal Lagunitas favorite: Maximus. Except this one will be cask-conditioned. I feel like I’m repeating myself with this one, but, I get out of work at 5. I’ll see you there.
Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Ave, between Sackett and Union, Brooklyn.
Saturday, November 6 – Dogfish Head Brewery @ GRAB Specialty Foods, Brooklyn: GRAB has really earned a regular appearance on our events listings recently. Each Saturday they feature a craft brewery and they have been bringing in some heavy hitters recently, including Great Divide and Sixpoint. Well they aren’t backing down this week. Dogfish Head will be bringing in many of our regular favorites 60 and 90 Minutes, Chicory Stout. You know, the usual’s. They’ll also be bringing some of their, well, heavy hitters: Theobroma, Midas Touch and Red & White. I’ll see ya there? Definitely.
GRAB Specialty Foods is located at 438 7th Ave (between 14th and 15th streets), Brooklyn.
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