NYC Craft Beer Week Wrap-Up

Lobster and I made it out to some more events during Craft Beer Week.

TUESDAY NIGHT - WEST VILLAGE

Venue: Blind Tiger Ale House

Featured Brewery: The Bruery (though per passport Sixpoint)

Beer Sampled: Hottenroth Berliner Weisse

Alien - cloudy, pale, tart, delicious, sour apple-y, a very good sour, but not as good as Ommegang Zuur (Alien's favorite)

Lobster - smells like hamster pee, sour, nice, like beer-ade

Beer Sampled: Autumn Maple (cask)

Alien - red in color, honey and maple, delicious
Lobster - didn't like it
Beer Sampled: 7 Grain Saison
Alien - very good, smells more like a beer than tastes like it

Lobster - abnormally drinkable, much better cold (previously drank it at the Cask Festival)

Beer Sampled: Barrel Aged Coton

Alien - tastes like liquor, Southern Comfort-ish, very dark in color

Lobster - yuck, like hard alcohol or after dinner drink, smells like caramel, molasses

Beer Sampled: Brett Blond

Alien - little darker than 7 Grain Saison, a little red-ish, tastes Belgian

Lobster - like black tea



A Selection of Bruery Beers.



Venue: The Half Pint

Featured Brewery: Flying Dog
Beer Sampled: Doggie Style Pale Ale
Alien - amber color, smells like beer, nothing distinct
Lobster - well balanced, dry mouthfeel, not too hoppy or bitter

Venue: Amity Hall
Featured Brewery: Speakeasy
Beer Sampled: Big Daddy IPA
No notes due to buddies showing up and distracting us.



THURSDAY NIGHT - MURRAY HILL

Venue: Rattle N Hum
Featured Brewery: Ommegang Night
Beer Sampled: Ommegang Zuur
Lobster and I first sampled the Ommegang Zuur at the Cask Festival and instantly fell in love. After talking with the brewery rep we learned that this beer was limited and almost entirely gone from NYC. When we heard that it would be available at the Ommegang Event at Rattle N Hum we had to go for one last taste. Surprisingly, we had never been to Rattle N Hum before, and after our experience it's possible we may never go back. Sure the bar was crowded with an after work crowd, however it took over 20 minutes to get a bartender to take our order. We may not be the tallest people in the crowd, but the two guys sitting at the bar in our way even parted so we could slither in and try to be more aggressive. Lobster and I are two non-assuming beer drinkers, there's no reason why would have been targeted, but it almost felt like we were being ignored on purpose. If we were there for any other beer other than the barely available Zuur we would have left. Finally after 20 minutes I spotted a table and made a mad dash for it.

The 2 Zuur's arrived in brandy snifter type glass. Both Lobster and I thought the beer was just as delicious as we remembered it. It was tart without being overly sour, and though it is brewed with cherries it didn't resemble any other cherry beers I've had (which is a good thing). I wish our experience had not been so awful, as I would have enjoyed a second glass, but neither Lobster nor I could justify giving Rattle N Hum anymore of our business our Craft Beer Week time.

Venue: Bar XII
Featured Brewery: Harpoon
Beer Sampled: Cider
In contrast to Rattle N Hum, Bar XII was a pleasure. We were finally delighted to actually have a brewery rep show to a bar where their beer was featured. I was hoping that Bar XII would have the full line (or at least a lot) of Harpoon brews, but unfortunately that was not case. Nonetheless I was happy to drink their cider, especially because Lobster and I were able to bend the ear of the brewery's rep. This stop on week-long tour was exactly what we were hoping Craft Beer Week would be like. We can go to craft beer bars any night of the week and try something new, but we can't always talk to the people who make the beers or distribute them. Finally, at Bar XII our expectations were fulfilled.