Strong Ale Fest Today!

Today at Spuyten Duyvil they are having their (annual?) Big Beer/Wood Aged Beer fest. The lineup of course is being featured on beermenus. Looking forward to having my first ever Struise on tap, as well as some other good looking rare import bottles. It's a pretty intimate space, I think this one will definitely fill up. Hope to see you all there.

Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast

Not quite as rare as the Beer Geek Brunch but equally as highly regarded. When I procured the Brunch I had to go for the Beer Geek Breakfast as well. This recent batch was brewed at Nogne-O in Norway, not sure why, but hey I love Nogne-O as well. Can't hurt can it? Beautiful fragrant nose, something in between floral perfume and then dry dark notes. It's interesting. The beer is a battle between oat and coffee flavors with a quick diminishing mouthfeel. It leaves a little to be desired in the mouthfeel department, but it is nonetheless unique. Deep vinous coffee flavors with some spicy hop flavors in the finish. Earthy and dry in the finish. This beer is unique, flavorful and with great drinkability...all the markings of a great ale. Mikkeller produces some great and very aging ready ales, and I pretty much approve of anything with the Scandinavian Craft Brewers Guild seal of approval.

Sixpoint, and the NYC standard (not Brooklyn)

I just washed my mouth out with a Troegs Nugget Nectar. It's official. I've given Sixpoints all their opportunities to prove themselves. I've bought the made in Brooklyn long enough. And don't get me started about Chelsea. Beer is about being unique and offering bold flavors that are very much in line with the brand essence of that particular brew. It's about standing out, and doing it in the right way. The NYC standard just does not deliver when it comes to local brews, and that is except for one particular brewery: the original, The Brooklyn Brewery. Aside from this great institution, Sixpoints and Chelsea just do not deliver, their beers are bland and boring. I tried the Sixpoints Gemini and well, it's not the Southern Tier Gemini I'll tell you that much. Just generic for a style that gives particular output to the brewer to choose the hops to establish that unique flavor. I had to ale bust this one, it's just been too long coming on these brews. The Brooklyn Blunderbuss that I had after the Sixpoints was an overflowing amount of flavor, much more enjoyable and what I expect from craft beer. It's a good thing we have the Brooklyn Brewery which without we might not have Black Ops or Blast! And the great selection of bottled beer. NYC has an incredible amount of great bars and even better beer on tap, but it usually doesn't come from NYC and maybe there is good reason for that. Someone might have to do something...

The Gingerman NYC

This bar is sort of sentimental for me. It was the first real beer bar I had ever been to and one of the bars I credit with starting my beer education. But I haven't been going there so often lately and I think I remember why. I went there yesterday looking to sample some DFH World Wide Stout, which beermenus stated that they were going to have as part of their DFH day/night. When I got there, there was no WWS and all I could focus on with the menu, was a DFH Olde School for $9 or even worse the 120 min IPA for $10! Approaching obscene levels, I had to opt for a cheaper alternative as did my date. I went for a Boulder Mojo 'Risin and my date a Brooklyn BCS. This was hardly satisfying. I first noticed a change in their beers as my palette really developed....their beer was always off. Sometimes I figure it's just me and I shouldn't be so harsh, but I will say this...their draft lines are awful. Not only do they just uniformly just tap those kegs with no regard to PSI, but you can really taste the dirtiness of the lines on those IPAs. Not too bash this fine institution which is NYC's biggest collection of tap lines and a great space. But just let it be known, It will cost you and the beer might not taste like what you expect. And yes, Barcade has spoiled me.

Some Friday

Well the package came today. And to know one's surprise it was packed beautifully and the contents even more beautiful. I think it's so awesome to be able to do this, and it just reaffirms my belief in the attainability of beer. Sure it may take a little work and maybe some extra cash to get it, but I can still get it if I really want it. And that isn't always the case with other alcohol products. Anyways, check out the pics, the contents speak for themselves.

Session Ales and Big Boys

So I thought I'd take a moment to talk about the craft beer spectrum and I'd like some feedback on the topic if possible. In preparation of the forthcoming WLV package filled to the brim with big bold brews, I bought a Brooklyn variety pack to have on the side. I like doing this, it helps save some cash and it also extends the life of your rare brews. To those who have trouble cellaring, this might help. I'll usually start off with something big and dark, whatever that selection may be, and I follow that up with either a session ale or in some cases a big hop bomb, like say a Bell's Hopslam or something like that. But it's the session ales that will begin to shine later in the night. When my palette is a wreck and I still want something quality, I can have it, and I may even enjoy it more than if i started with it. I think this is one of the greatest aspects of the craft brew culture. Forget the guy at the bar who asks "what's the lightest thing you have?" or even better the infamous "what's like Stella?" and I know you know what I'm talking about. I'm talking about real craft beer session ales...all of them, and balancing them with their bigger, badder brothers. It's always great to have an order to the evening, especially when new brews are being had. I generally like to drink my ales dark to light, against common etiquette, but I love the refreshment of a nice hoppy beer after a dark ale to really showcase all of craft beer's great flavors. Of course sometimes you just want something and you gotta have it. What about you guys?

Troegs Nugget Nectar

My first time trying this super hyped-up hop bomb. Wow, is all I can say. I haven't been particularly impressed by Troegs before, but this one blew me away. Great clean hop flavor, complex with all the components I love. And the best part, it is uniquely flavored, like an IPA I've never had before. These are hop varieties I'm not that familiar with and they definitely don't let me down. Flavors of bubble gum, cantaloupe and sweet honey accentuate this brilliantly tasting brew. It's great to easily be able to acquire such a fine brew. I noticed that East Village Tavern has a cask of this amazing beer -- going to have test the difference. I recommend any hop lovers in NYC taking a similar action.
In other news, I placed a shipping order from West Lakeview Liquors in Chicago. There were definitely some items that particularly caught my eye that I've been wanting for awhile. Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch is probably the most notable and highest ranked beer. But the great selection of Three Floyds doesn't hurt either. I'm expecting that package sometime this week, so stay posted.

More Events and the Cellar

More great events tonight at Blind Tiger and Rattle-N-Hum -- check out beermenus.com for more information. It looks like I might be making another PA trip soon, need to spice things up a bit. That and a fear of missing out on Bell's Hopslam, have got me hankering for a trip to Shangy's. Every beer mission has a purpose and a long-term goal: the cellar. It must constantly increase in size and variety. There are some great treats in there that I busted out for consumption. DFH Immort Ale '06 and some Big Black Voodoo Daddy and Black Albert reserves have been holding me over. I'm looking to add a cellar list coming soon...