I think this is what we’ve been waiting for: the first real week of Spring. And the start of the Spring Craft Beer season here in NYC. The events aren’t much different than the events that happen during other seasons, it’s just that the weather is nicer, the windows are open at the bars and more people show up in less clothes. (more…)
Archive for April, 2011
Beer Review 61: Peak Organic IPA
April 26, 2011Hello Beer Friend Nation!
To celebrate Organic Beer month the Beer Friends grabbed a sixer of Peak Organic IPA and tried it out. Organic Beer month was the creation of Bison Brewing Company to celebrate Earth Day all month long. Peak Organic is out of Portland, Maine and has a pretty decent line up (10 beers including the IPA and pale ale which seem to be the most readily available) and makes some pretty decent beer. Organic! Beer! Mother Earth!
Beer Apps: Beerby
April 22, 2011Beerby is an app that follows the lead of Foursquare, but (obviously) focuses its energy on the beer you are drinking, where you can, and are drinking it. Beerby runs on the game platform Levlr to allow you to track your beers and locations as well as keep your stats so you can compete for “Badgers.” Much like Foursquare, this is a game, but it’s one that everyone wins. First you are drinking delicious beverages, and second you get to earn achievements that are known in this app as (the aforementioned) “Badgers.” (more…)
Beer Review 60.5: Red Hook Long Hammer IPA Ballpark Review
April 21, 2011Hello Beer Friends Nation!
Baseball! This week the Beer Friends go on location and review Red Hook Long Hammer IPA from Citi Field, home of the Amazing Mets! (Although this Beer Friends was cheering for the Colorado Rockies!) We all enjoyed the selection from the Big Apple Brews bar located behind the center field scoreboard AND on the 500 level behind Home Plate. Great selection including Kona Brewing, Redhook, Goose Island and about 15 others – with a Blue Smoke and Shake Shack, Citi Field might be the perfect place to watch a game, if only we could do something about the home team…
Featured Brewery: Dostal Alley Brewery
April 20, 2011Hello Beer Friends Nation!
Central City is a small Colorado Gambling town with a big heart. Located 45 minutes West of Denver, Central City is often over-shadowed by Blackhawk which is a slightly large gambling town down the road, before you get to Central City, but one thing that Blackhawk will never have is the Dostal Alley Brewpub and Casino. Dostal Alley is a casino, family dining establishment, and brew pub – but just like the hills of Colorado – there’s some hidden gold, you just have to pan for it. Dostal Alley offers a variety of beer styles including their own Root beer and cream soda which are worth the in-between of a stout and porter. The brewmaster Buddy Schmalz discusses the history of brewing (with Dave Thomas) in Gilpin County and continues the tradition while also adding to it. (more…)
Beer Review 60: Blue Point Hoptical Illusion
April 19, 2011Hello Beer Friends Nation!
This week the Beer Friends head back out to Billy Joel’s native land, Long Island for Blue Point’s Hoptical Illusion. This is the third beer the Beer Friends have reviewed (Spring Fling and Supreme Pumpkin) but the first you can get year round from Blue Point Brewing. We had a great time at the Brew House (I mean who doesn’t have a great time at a brewery?) Check out Hoptical Illusion for a nice year round hop flavor! Beer! Islands! Year Round flavor!
BFF4 Winner!
April 15, 2011Hello Beer Friends Nation!
Wow, what an exciting tournament it was. 64 beers entered from 60 different breweries, Stouts to Pilsners, West Coast vs East Coast. Over 73,000 votes counted and (unfortunately) only one winner – Nebraska Brewing Co Brunette Nut Brown Ale. Nebraska’s Brunette Nut Brown Ale beat out solid competition in Cape Cod Beer Red – which received the most total votes over the span of the tournament. Thanks to everyone who voted, everyone who drank, and most importantly everyone who Brews. Beer! March Madness! Nebraska!
Beer Apps: Untappd.com
April 14, 2011Hello Beer Friends Nation!
Welcome to 2011, where everyone has a blog, makes 14 tweets a day and “there’s an app for that.” Recently the Apple App store has been filling up with “craft beer apps” that can do any number of things from find a beer on tap to give you food pairings. This is the first post in the Beer Friends App Reviews that will walk through these apps to find (trumpets) “The Ultimate Beer App!” (end fanfare.) (more…)
Beer Review 59: Founders Red Rye PA
April 13, 2011Hello Beer Friends Nation!
We are down to the final two. The Second Annual Beer Friends Final Four Tournament is coming to a close. While Cape Cod Beer Red and Nebraska Brunette Nut Brown Ale are delicious beers, this week we visit another Final Four brewery, Founders [twitter] - from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Founders has always impressed the Beer Friends, not once, not twice, but thrice! So let’s see if they bring their A-game with Red’s Rye PA. Enjoy! Vote here! Watch below! Beer!
dingerc
Brad
Corporate Kerouac
Phil
