Craft Beer NYC

Lorenzo Di Vincenzo started Birra del Borgo almost 10 years ago in the small village of Borgorose, about an hour outside of Rome in central Italy.  In 2011 he joined forces with Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, and Teo Musso of Baladin to open Birreria on the Rooftop of Eataly in the flatiron district in Manhattan.  They feature authentic cask ales brewed on the premises from their own recipes as well as other craft ales on draft from the New York area.  His Perle ai Porci or "Pearls for Pigs" offers up a medium bodied stout with tasting notes of minerals and salt from the Oysters added during brewing with their shells intact harvested from the Brittany coast of France. 5.2% ABV 8.5/10 Brittany Oysters Birra del Borgo Website in Italian http://birradelborgo.it/en/birre/scheda/28/perle_ai_porci Available at Birreria at Eataly (Co-owned by Sam Calagione) http://www.eataly.com/nyc%2Dbirreria/

Sam Calagione continues to explore the experimental side of brewing as it relates to art and music.   In a unique collaboration between Dogfish Head and Dan the Automator, Positive Contact emerges as a true work of brewmaster art.  Releasing the Deltron 3030 concept album in 2000, blending Miles Davis inspired hip hop fusion with a Sci-Fi inspired apocalyptic future, and then with a follow up in 2013 they became one of Sam's favorites and inspired him to create a musically and artfully crafted ale.  Positive Contact is a beer hybrid compromised of cider from Fuji apples, farro, cayenne peppers, and cilantro.   The name comes from one of the key tracks from the Deltron 3030 album, the inspiration for this hip hop, beer, cider, culinary experimentation, and Sci-Fi fusion at its finest. 9.0% ABV 8.5/10 Fujisaki Apple's http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occasional-rarities/positive-contact.htm Available at Birreria at Eataly (Co-owned by Sa...

Esquire has posted a sneak peek of the new season- I had the honor of attending the taping of this one in Brooklyn! Cheers and Enjoy! http://tv.esquire.com/now/brew-dogs/full-episode/brooklyn/414368323532

Here's a throwback to an old post for Punk IPA, one of core beers that BrewDogs brought over from Scotland before creating an American Beer Experience in Columbus, Ohio.  Also a pic of me with James and Martin at the 2015 taping on the rooftop of a Brooklyn Warehouse for the taping of the Esquire show.  Cheers!   I just recently experienced the DogHouse in Columbus for the first time, an inspiring and magical place for craft beer fans (and kid and dog friendly) Travel Recommendation!   https://www.brewdog.com/usa/hotels/usa/doghouse-columbus (2015 recipe notes imported version) Here's a total fusion experience of transatlantic delights!   James and Martin deliver combination of fine hops from North America and New Zealand to create tasting notes of Pineapple, Mango, and Grapefruit to balance the bitterness.   The hop profile consists of Chinook, Ahtanum, Amarillo, Cascade, Simcoe, and the special Nelson Sauvin from middle earth.   The boys at BrewDog h...

Would you buy a beer with "Rot" in the title?   Sam poses this very question during the development of this new creation.  Noble Rot is a fascinating non harmful form of grey fungus affecting wine grapes.  Grapes picked at a certain point in this process can produce a concentrated sweet wine.  Sam and Dogfish Head use this unfermented grape must to create their own Noble Rot using grapes from the Alexandria Nicole cellars in Washington State.  This hybrid combines the tasting notes of a Belgian Saison, a fine white wine, and a sour after taste, that culminates in a champagne like experience for craft beer. 9.0% ABV 7.5/10 Botrytis Fungi http://www.dogfish.com/brews-spirits/the-brews/occasional-rarities/noble-rot.htm

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