The Beer Friends

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.