The Beer Friends

There are more trends in craft beer each year than in a high school girl’s diary. This year’s: CANS! Those solid, lightless jail cells for delicious hops and malt are the perfect containers for delivering delicious debaucherous brew straight into your body. Sixpoint Brewery aptly used the term “nano-kegs” to describe their brew delivery system however it was not the first time these Beer Friends had heard that comparison.
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Tuesday, May 14 – French Beer Tasting and Disco Night @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn:

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Tuesday, May 7 – The Mega Barrel-Aged Night @ The One Mile House, Manhattan:

We all know what barrel aged means.  The “mega” in this event’s title however, well, that stands for many things.  The big-ness of the beers involved, the amount of big barrel aged beers involved and the beer community’s opinion of these brews.  The One Mile House hasn’t featured a beer event like this yet, but there’s no reason why that should stop you from pulling up a stool and getting into this in a real dedicated sort of way.  Check out this list: (more…)

You must have been quite panicked.  Frightened.  Devastated even.  We imagine that the only conclusion one could come to during our NYC Beer Events hiatus is that the city had completely run out of craft beer.  I know, a terrifying thought.   Let us relieve your worries – there is still craft beer and many events for you to get it at.  Even better than that news?  We’re back to bring it to you.

Tuesday, April 23 – Tuesday Night Tasting: Ballast Point @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn:

Craft beer, distilled spirits and San Diego?  Sounds like a great weekend.  You’re going to get it all in one night – minus the spirits unfortunately.  Ballast Point from San Diego has become very popular over the past 17 years – growing a huge following from the SoCal area to nationwide appeal and starting the first San Diego distillery.  You can grab their best brews for free tonight at Tuesday Night Tastings as well as meet representative Billy Denniston.  They won’t be serving the spirits, but your support will keep San Diego afloat in craft bourbon and beer.

Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Avenue between Berkeley and Union Streets in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Wednesday, April 24 – Dieu du Ciel! @ The Blind Tiger Ale House, Manhattan:

The Dieu du Ciel! brewpub in Montreal has been heralded as one of the most unique brewpubs in the world.  The craft beer they produce is just as unique – styles that, when they first started brewing, were excitingly original as well as styles still unknown to anyone but them – black IPA, imperial coffee stout, kumquat IPA, imperial dark saison, india cream ale, absinth beer and more.

If you’re in the mood to get weird and wild then head over to the Blind Tiger on Wednesday for an event you will not soon forget and a brewery that you will always seek out.

The Blind Tiger Ale House is located at 281 Bleecker Street between 7th Avenue and Jones Street in the West Village neighborhood of Manhattan.

Thursday, April 25 – Founders DOOMsday @ The Gate, Brooklyn:

If the apocalypse happened in a beer it would be this one.  Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial IPA by Founders.  They’ll be serving other Founder’s at this event – Double Trouble, Red’s Rye, Centennial IPA, Dirty Bastard 2011, Porter, All Day IPA.  But honestly, go for this one.  It taps at 9 pm.

The Imperial Stout 2011 taps at 7.  Kentucky Breakfast 2011 at 8.  But when the end of times sounds of Black Sabbath start filling your ears don’t get afraid, embrace the fear – cause it’s 9 pm and DOOM is nigh!

The Gate is located at 321 5th Avenue on the corner of 3rd Street in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Thursday, April 25 – Abita Beer Pairing for Jazzfest @ Alobar, Queens:

We all wish we could be in New Orleans for the next two weekends.  Jazzfest is one of the finest music fests in the country.  Head out to Queens this Thursday for a beer pairing that lives up to New Orleans big brass itself.  You can pay the $50 and get 5 beers and 5 courses of New Orleans style food.  We’re talking Purple Haze, Spring IPA, Restoration Pale Ale, Jockamo and Turbo Dog alongside oysters, crayfish, andoullie red beans and rice, collard greens, pork loin and more.

OR – if you’re not into shelling out the dough for all the food and brew then we suggest popping in for a few pints at the bar and some good eats on your own.

Alobar is located at 4642 Vernon Boulevard in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens.

Tuesday, March 26 – Tuesday Night Tastings: Oskar Blues @ Bierkraft, Brooklyn:

Oskar Blues made themselves famous over the years as the first, and for most of it, only craft brewery to can their beers.  Now they ship a whole line of craft brew all over the states, from coast to coast, for your drinking pleasure.  Head on over to Bierkraft tonight to have Yvon Pasquarello, straight from the brewery, walk you through their most famous and delicious brews.

Bierkraft is located at 191 5th Avenue between Berkeley and Union Streets in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Tuesday, March 26 – Goose Island @ The Pony Bar UES, Manhattan:

What would you say if I told you there was more than one Bourbon County brew by Goose Island?  Would you be interested?  Would you find it immediately?  Even if that meant leaving all your responsibilities behind (work, school, (more…)

New York City Beer Week Continues! 

(don’t forget to check back Thursday for our top picks for the weekend)

Tuesday, February 26 – Harpoon Tap Takeover @ The Stag’s Head, Manhattan:

Harpoon Brewery mastermind Mark DeLuca will be on hand tonight at the Stag’s Head with some of his most devious creations – this isn’t your usual IPA/UFO takeover.  DeLuca will be bringing El Triunfo, Directors Cut, Barley Wine, Uncle Fester, Rodney Solera and Czernobog.

On top of all that you should expect clam chowder croquettes.  On the house. 6 pm.

The Stag’s Head is located at 252 East 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. (more…)

The wildest week of the whole NYC year is finally here!  Brewers, breweries and brews with be filling everything from craft beer bars to restaurants to convention centers to NYU bars to back alleyways (the last two might be the same thing) and we could not be more excited!  You can get the full NYCBW events listing here on the Village Voice website and a super cool decision tree guide to the events made by the social experts at Thrillist.

Here at The Beer Friends we decided to pick and share some of our favorite choices for NYCBW this weekend – the events we’re dying to get to and the ones you’ll find us four or five brews deep by the time you get there.  Hope to see you out on the NYCBW trail and make sure to check back next week for our weekday/beer week finale events!

Friday, February 22 – NYCBW Kickoff with Empire Brewing @ Sunswick 35/35, Queens:

There’s no other way to kick-off NYCBW other than pouring pints of the Empire State’s namesake brewery.  One of our favorites, Empire Brewery (out of Syracuse and now Brooklyn as well) will be setting up shop at Sunswick in Queens for the gala kickoff.  They’ll be pouring a diverse line-up sure to please anyone who happens to show up ready to celebrate or otherwise.  So put on your party pants and head out to Queens.

The List: American Strong Ale, Cream Ale, Golden Dragon, IPA, White Aphro and Winter Warmer.

Sunswick 35/35 is located at 3502 35th Street at 35th Avenue in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.

Friday, February 22 – Beer Mafia Time! @ The Stag’s Head, Manhattan:

NYCBW seems to be the appropriate time for bars and breweries to do something special for us New Yorkers.  The folks over at Stag’s Head agree.  They’ll be pouring special brews from an odd combination, but intriguingly delicious sounding combination of breweries: Lagunitas, Smuttynose and Oskar Blues.  They’ll be bringing a few of their regulars and at least one new brew that you’ve (probably) never even heard of, let alone tasted.

Smuttynose Strawberry Short Weiss

Lagunitas Fusion 9

Oskar Blues Raspberry Smidy

The Stag’s Head is located at 252 East 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan.

Friday, February 22 – Saturday, February 24 – California Week-End @ Beer Authority, Manhattan:

Whaaaat?!?!  A California brewery event during NYC Beer Week?  Seems wrong.  And on some levels it is.  Except for the level that includes the delicious, delicious beer produced all over California that will be featured at this event for the entire weekend.  Bear Republic is headlining (READ: pouring the most taps) but Lagunitas, Mission Dolores, Green Flash, Ballast Point and Alesmith will be showcased (READ: also pouring on many lines).

Californians look better in New York anyways.

Beer Authority is located at 300 West 40th Street at 8th Avenue in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan.

Saturday, February 23 – Tuesday, February 26 – 7th Williamsburg Cask Beer Festival @ dba Brooklyn:

If you’re into craft beer, then it’s time to get into cask craft beer.  This style of brewing less carbonated, slightly warmer cask-conditioned brews will introduce you to layers of flavor in beer that you never even realized were there. The 7th installation of the Williamsburg cask festival was originally scheduled during Hurricane Sandy, which ,needless to say – didn’t work out.  They’ll be throwing this bash from Sunday to Tuesday and will be featuring over 15 rare and interesting casks.  Entry may be a bit hectic due to the anticipation of the crowds but there are no tickets – entry is free and it’s a pay-as-you-go event.  So head over early to get in and spend the day sampling the best that cask brew has to offer.

Check out the official website here.

dba Brookyn is located at 113 North 7th Street between Berry Street and Wythe Avenue in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Sunday, February 24 – Kelso and Empire Tap Takeover @ The Spring Lounge, Manhattan:

Kelso and Empire are a natural pair.  Both craft breweries, both from NYS and both produce some of the highest quality beer in this part of the country.  They’ll be officially pairing up at the Spring Lounge on Sunday for what we’d unofficially refer to as a “craft beer brunch that lasts the whole night” (READ: get there early and stay until well after sundown in order to try all the  pours).

Tuesday, February 12 – Double Digit Night @ The Owl Farm, Bro0klyn:

There’s something mysteriously alluring about BIG beers.  Actually it’s not that mysterious – it’s definitely because of their big flavor and high ABV%.  The Owl Farm, one of Brooklyn’s newest craft brew spots, will be pouring a wide range of big beers, many in the double digit ABV’s.  Check out this list:

Avery The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest (10%)

Carton Pumpkin Cream Ale (9%)

Southern Tier Backburner Bourbon Barrel Barleywine (14%)

Founders Imperial Stout (10.5%)

Great Divide Oak Aged Espresso Yeti (9.5%)

Bear Republic Café Racer XV (9%)

Clown Shoes Muffin Top Belgian IPA (10%)

Allagash Four Quad (10%)

Stone 12.12.12 Belgian Strong (9%)

Alesmith Horny Devil Belgian Strong (11%)

Bottles:

Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious Tripel (12%)

Hebrew Jewbelation Sweet 16 American Strong (16%!!!)

It makes sense that the Chosen People would choose to brew the biggest beer.  Also, special reduction on prices from 6 – 10 pm.

The Owl Farm is located at 297 9th Avenue between 4th and 5th Avenue in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Tuesday, February 12 – Celebrate Mardi Gras with Abita @ Sunswick 35/35, Queens:

What brewery to celebrate Mardi Gras with?  There’s only one:  Abita.  Queens will be honoring New Orleans favorite holiday with it’s favorite brewery by pouring draught lines of Andy Gator, Mardi Gras Bock, Purple Haze, Turbo Dog and Wheat IPA.

Bring your beads, it is in Queens after all.

Sunswick 35/35 is located at 3502 35th Street at 35th Avenue in the Astoria neighborhood of Queens.

Thursday, February 14 – Valentines Day Special @ Downtown Bar and Grill, Brooklyn:

Got a date for Valentines Day but don’t want to give up your daily craft beer intake for some silly romantic holiday?  Take your date to the downtown bar and grill for their beer and chocolate pairing.  For $16 you’ll get a four beer sampler paired with a four chocolate cookie sampler.

Here are your brews:

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Founders Breakfast Stout

Young’s Double Chocolate Stout

Lindemans Framboise Lambic

If you’re into a craft beer type of romance then make a reservation, they predict this special will go quickly.  Shoot an email to contact@downtownbarandgrill.com or call (718) 625 – 2835.  Say the  Beer Friends sent ya.

The Downtown Bar and Grill is located at 160 Court Street on the corner of Amity Street in the Downtown Brooklyn neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Thursday, February 14 – Beer My Valentine! @ The Stag’s Head, Manhattan:

Don’t have a date for Valentine’s?  Or have a date that is super awesome?  Either way head on over to the Stag’s Head for a few browmantic beers.  They’ll be pouring Ommegang’s Adoration and Seduction, Wandering Star Mild at Heart, Magic Hat Heart of Darkness and Chelsea Hop Angel IPA.

Free cupcakes and love at 6 pm.

The Stag’s Head is located at 252 East 51st Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues in the Upper East Side neighborhood of Manhattan.