Craft Beer NYC

What happens when you combine two powerhouse IPA's like the 90 and 60 Minute from Dogfish Head?  You get a magical hybrid of equal superiority and stature.   Maple Syrup is added and the batches are naturally carbonated right after fermentation and before bottling for the unique taste here.  Ironically this 75 Minute creation is bottled only in 750 ml bottles.  Enjoy this occasional rarity from Dogfish Head during the winter months. 7.5% ABV Perfect 10! http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occasional-rarities/75-minute-ipa.htm

This farmhouse ale or "Saison" is a wheat ale brewed with White Sage.  As all their artistic creations at Stillwater, they approach this one with just as much rigor and pride.  This craft ale is meant to inspire contemplation as well as refreshment.  The base of German wheat and pale malts is amped up with a blend of Citra and Sterling hops which add a citrus blend flavor and strong herbal tasting notes.  The fascinating label design creates a spiritual allure that is equal in complexity to the delightful American Farmhouse Ale inside the bottle.   Movie Pairing:  The Door in the Floor (2004), Directed by Tod Williams 6.6% ABV 9.0/10 Summer Sunshine on the Farm http://www.stillwater-artisanal.com/cellar_door.html

This new winter seasonal was first brewed in November 2014 from the team in Portland, Maine.  They start with top-fermenting English yeast with Willamette and EK Goldings hops to round out the sugar and spice.  The gingerbread cookie taste is a created by combining brown sugar, molasses, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg.   I have had a few ginger inspired beers that didn't nearly deliver as well as this Shipyard creation.  The label art is a fun image of a gingerbread man riding a carousel horse! Food Pairings: Cookies, Chocolate Movie Pairings:  The Gingerbread Man (1998), Directed by Robert Altman 4.6% ABV 8.5/10 ginger beers http://shipyard.com/beer/gingerbreadhead For some ginger beer info- click here http://reedsinc.com/product/reeds-extra-ginger-brew/

Here's an insightful experiment from the very first micro-brewery in Colorado.   They combine an unfiltered amber ale for the "Hazed" and during dry-hopping it get "Infused" with Crystal and Centennial hops.   This creates a fun and unique aroma for the IPA or a medium bodied beer fan.   This is a creative spin on an American Pale Ale, and a very drinkable session hopped beer. Movie Pairing:  Dazed and Confused (1993)- Directed by Richard Linklater 5.0% ABV 8.0/10 Boyhood Charms http://www.boulderbeer.com/beers/hazed-hoppy-session-ale

Established by Ken Grossman in 1980, Sierra Nevada is one of the pioneers in the American craft beer movement.  They are responsible for the creation of the new American Pale Ale back in the early 80's using fresh hops from Washington State, developing and refining the recipes for intense hop infused beers that have defined the American style of brewing over the last 30 years.   The Torpedo IPA uses a brand new tactic of dry hopping the beer with a stainless steel vessel, where the fermenting beer is pumped out of the main tank through whole-cone hops sealed to protect them against the pressure of the continuous journey in and out of the "Torpedo".   The intensity of the flavor is controlled by skillfully varying the speed, temperature, and timing of the process.  This extra dry-hopping doesn't add any more bitterness, but adds a robust flavor to the hop profile.   They use Magnum hops for the initial bitter profile, and then dry hop a combination of Magnum...

Here's another quality offering from the team at Rogue.  I enjoyed this one and recommend it highly for a winter seasonal.   Created with Rogue Rebel Hops with rolled oats, and roasted barley to create a subtle creamy ale with a mild chocolate finish to round out the tasting notes.   Hand crafted in Oregon with their own farm grown Dare and Risk malts, Rogue continues to embody the spirit of the American craft brewer using all natural and locally grown ingredients and no preservatives or artificial additives.  Best poured into a goblet to go along with dinner or desert, or can serve as a stand alone desert. Food Pairing:  Chocolate Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip cookies 6.1% ABV 8.0/10 Winter's Tale http://www.rogue.com/rogue_beer/shakespeare-oatmeal-stout/