Craft Beer NYC

The name says it all-  Intergalactic fantastic oak aged stout- born in Scotland.   I thought the 11% insanity from Weyerbacher was the pinnacle of crazy oak aged brews- but this one from Brew Dogs is actually insane.   Almost impossible to drink in one sitting- this 18.2% liquor is one for the ages.   Everything from cranberries and jasmine mixed with speciality malts soaked over a bed of French toasted oak chips produces an intense and aromatic experience- every beer fan should have at least once.  Season 2 of Brew Dogs on Esquire is now in production! Check out a great episode from Season 1 where the guys visit Boston Beer Company founder Jim Koch and take a Sam Adams beer bath. 9.5 out of 10 Space Invaders 18.2% ABV (seriously)- not a typo http://www.brewdog.com/beer/tokyo http://tv.esquire.com/shows/brew-dogs Enjoy responsibly- and you will fall down if you are not careful and use a buddy to prop you up!

The Tavern Ale is a recent find, it hails from Delaware and is brewed by the Fordham Brewing Company.  The Fordham operations started in Annapolis, Maryland in 1995 honoring the namesake of the 1703 charter from Queen Anne.  The brewing facilities moved in 2003 to Dover, Delaware and then in 2009 joined forces with Old Dominion Brewing Co. to create the larger entity of the Mid Atlantic- Fordham and Dominion Brewing Company.    Their American Pale Ale has a nice finish with west coast Cascade hops, blending a citrus aroma with the standard malts and a bold spicy hop flavor.   It's a nice balance for a spring afternoon under the sun.   Look for the Dominion and Fordham portfolio in the NYC area soon. 6.1% ABV 6 out of 10 Peacocks

This Florida offering is brewed with Cascade hops from the Pacific Northwest-  very far from it's home of Melbourne Florida on the Atlantic coast.   The Hurricane Reef had the honor of being a silver medal winner from the 1998 World Beer Championship.  Not sure if they have gone stale in their magic, but I don't find anything special here.   It has a nice finish and a medium red color, but the nose doesn't bring anything too interesting to the table.  This entry is a fine fridge beer for any occasion, but don't expect anything special. 5 out of 10 Florida Gators 5.0% ABV

The Saint Louis Brewery- makers of Schlafly has the proud honor to be the largest locally owned independent brewery in Missouri, having been established in 1991.   They were the first brewpub to open in Missouri since Prohibition made the midwest a dry dust bowl.  Co-founders Tom Schlafly and Dan Kopman are local legends and brewmasters.  The coffee stout is part of their seasonal winter selection.  It is a strong entry in the ever crowded coffee stout flavored arena.   Brewed with premium french roast java from local roaster Kaldi's Coffee, it provides a nice smooth taste full of malts and dark aromas.  They use a special cold extraction process to get all the caffeine juice out of their coffee with less acidity than normal roasts.    A nice dark black color with caramel, roasted barley and oats to round out the nose. 5.7% ABV 8 out of 10 Mississippi beans

The Stone Brewing Co. was established in 1996- and as a piece of Al Gore created the WWW nostalgia they have kept up their original web page in all it's HTML 1.0 glory, circa 1997.  Steve Wagner and Greg Koch are credited as the co-founders back in San Marco, California, before moving to their current location in Escondido in 2005.   Their award winning IPA was first brewed back in August 1997 and delivers on all cylinders.   The Stone IPA is powered by a great balance of citrus and hops with a mild malt finish.   It's a must pour into a tall pint glass like all deserving IPA's.   This has become a fridge staple for all year round enjoyment!   In the spirit of the Gargoyle- the fearsome figure that is made from Stone wards off modern day evil like chemical preservatives, additives, and adjuncts! Next up- Ruination IPA 9.5 out of 10 Gargoyles ABV 6.9% http://www.stonebrewing.com