Hello Beer Friends Nation! Tonight we are back at Idle Hands for the slightly official kickoff of New York beer week with Kelso, Empire and the newcomer Singlecut. As always thanks to Rev and .rob for the awesome event and Dan at That Burger for TATCHOS!!!!!!! Let’s get started!
Phil’s First: Kelso Rauchbier – I’m a big fan of the Rauchbier. graham and I have agreed its not a real pint contender unless you’re looking for a sipping beer. Wonderfully smokey this one keeps the beer taste on the down low, but that’s not a bad thing. I would usually only have one or two of these a night, but that because its a bit more specialized than others. Fortunately we have Jarlsberg cheese here with some samples to go along with the smokey goodness, a well balanced bitterness that helps balance the sweet smoke of the Kelso.
Graham’s First: Kelso Rauchbier – Rauchbier is a delicious flavor of beer that I rarely get a chance to drink, and probably for good measure. If I had it all the time I probably would get smoked out. In the rare circumstances that I enjoy a Rauchbier I, well, enjoy it. Especially when it’s paired with smokey Jarlsberg cheese like tonight. The Kelso Rauchbier has a hint of bacony meat smoke with a great earthy flavor behind it and a light hop bitterness that is delightfully embraced by the cheese.
Phil’s Second: Empire Amber – always a good showing form the Empire crew, the Amber is a solid malt forward offering that hits well in the second round. A slight combination after taste of the malts and the hops finished cleanly and get you ready for the next taste.
Graham’s Second: Empire Amber – Ambers are not usually my favorites: too heavy on the malts and not enough hop action. This one is mostly the same with the exception the nice hop bitterness in the back end of the back end. In reality, I’m not as praising of this beer because I’m some sort of hop monster, in the end it’s one of the most well-balanced, easy-drinking ambers out of the northeast.
Phil’s Third: Singlecut 18 Watt IPA – OH MAN is this good! Super hoppy in the best way. The aroma hits you even before your bring the glass up to take a sip. A lot of floral hop flavor right off the bat, bewitch a good sweetness on the back end that only compliments the hops you tasted 2 seconds before. This is one I will be getting another glass of, right after this glass! Can’t wait to hit up the brewery for some fresh IPA. Yum yum.
Graham’s Third: Singlecut 18 Watt IPA – I could talk about this IPA as having a super hoppy herbal aroma, or having a complex hop flavor or being a super drinkable 5% ABV. Or I could talk about the secret tasting of a rum barrel aged dopplebock that will eventually be poured in a nitrogenated fashion. Not that these two awesome things happened at the same time or anything…
Thanks again to Rev and Rob for the amazing event. Thanks to the breweries Kelso, Empire and Singlecut! Singlecut we’ll be seeing you real soon for some more IPA/Rum aged Doppelboch in the very near future, Trista it was great to meet you!
Till next time BF Nation! (next week probably, who are we kidding)
We are all looking ahead to this Friday, when NYC Craft Beer Week officially kicks off at craft beer bars and restaurants across the 5 boroughs. Check back here later this week for The Beer Friends top choices for NYCBW. Here are a few events for the week to keep you occupied as you wait.
Tuesday, February 19 – Tuesday Night Tastings: Cellar Raid @ Jimmy’s No. 43, Manhattan:
When it comes to Jimmy’s No. 43, one of the oldest craft beer bars in NYC, the most coveted part of the bar is not what’s coming out of the taps but what’s beneath them: the cellar beer. They’ll be breaking out some of their cellar favorites for (more…)
We know why you’ve come here today, just sit back and let us plan your week of beer swigging events…
Monday August 20th -
Murray’s Cheese is a locals favorite of most New Yorkers – legendary on Bleecker, I recently had a true New Yorker get so excited that “Murray’s now sells beer!” As if the craft beer revolution was now official in his mind. Well, those of us who’ve been following for quite some time welcome Murray’s Cheese to the table and let’s see what they got! On Monday, August 20th, Murray’s Cheese pairs with the Shelton Brothers to present “Belgian Beers and Cheese” – the problem is (with Murray’s being new to the craft beer scene – we’re very cheap) it’s $75 to get in and availability is limited (10 seats for this class).
Over the hump… 101. Feels good. Idle Hands in Alphabet City NYC does some great events – one happened a few weeks ago was one to remember. Empire Brewing came in and swept 3/4 Beer Friends away (1/4 of the Beer Friends couldn’t make it – otherwise they would’ve been batting a thousand). Two staples you can find of Empire Brewing are their Cream Ale and the IPA, but we became resourceful and got our hands on a growler of Strong Ale. The beer is delicious, the events are great and we’ll buy you a pint if you spot us there! Beer Events! 101! Drink Local!
Phil here tonight we are live logging from the awesome basement bar Idle Hands in New York City for Empire Brewing’s tasting night. The brewery is joined by Finger Lakes Distillery for a little compare and contrast. Paul and Graham will do the comparing and I will probably be the contrasting opinion……so sit tight, we’re gonna grab an intro beer and a burger and when the party gets started we’ll let you in on the fun!
Phil’s First: we have started off the evening with the Finger Lakes Distillery White Pike Whiskey. I am definitely the farthest thing from a whiskey fan here at The Beer Friends, but I have to say that this one out of all of the times I have had whiskeys in the past, this is the ONLY time I have not been completely turned off and can finish the one shot taster. I actually could have a full serving of this, which coming from me, says a lot.
We had a great time at Rattle n’ Hum last night at the Empire Brewing Company event. Being a fan of the Empire Cream Ale I was excited to try some of the brewery’s other offerings. Of course, they did not disappoint. The “Dragons” were the standouts to me. I tried both and am interested to try these, and more like these, again. The addition of the basil to the Belgian style was great, and it almost got Phil to call a Belgian ale delicious…
If you missed out last night, NEVER FEAR! Empire is hitting NY Craft Beer Week hard and you should make sure you don’t miss it.
They have 2 events scheduled tonight; one at Spring Lounge and at Puck Fair. If you miss those, then you can hit up Dive Bar tomorrow night.
I suggest you try to get out to one of these events, and check below for what Phil and I thought of the night as it unfolded.
All dressed up and nowhere to go on June 19th? Well you are in luck, my friend, because the 4th annual NY Brewfest just happens to be on that very day!
Right now they are listing 26 breweries from NY State, 38 breweries from the rest of the US of A, and another 15 breweries of the international variety. Click through for more details. (more…)
dingerc
Brad
Corporate Kerouac
Phil
