Craft Beer NYC

Its a little late in the season for fresh Pumpkin Ale but I was able to find some of the last batches left on the UWS of this entry from the Brooklyn based Five Boroughs Brewing Company. The Malt profile uses 2-Row German, Carared, and Carafoam all blends of 2-Row to provide extra body,  and the toasty red color.  The hop profile features Chinook and Cascade.   Fresh pumpkin is added to the Mash vs. the Boil according to Mat Johnson, Head of Brewing and Quality Management at Five Boroughs.   A fresh proprietary spice blend, which probably contains a blend of cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg.  This one is definitely a smooth, but not overpowering blend of pumpkin to make this a very sessionable fall ale.   Five Boroughs has developed a strong portfolio of year-round and seasonal beers in a short time operating out of Sunset Park, Brooklyn.  ABV 6.0% 9 out of 10 Pulpy Pumpkins Movie Pairings: The Nightmare Before Christmas, Halloween (Original 1978 Version...

'Tis the season for Christmas Ale, and DUBCO gives you a perfect pairing to your ugly sweater.   Packed with intense maple, orange peel, Demerara sugar, and cherries aged on bourbon oak this winter warmer does the trick. 9.3 ABV (Don't let Rudolph partake) 8.5/10 Christmas Vacations Movie Pairing:  Triple Feature- A Christmas Story, Lindsey Lohan's Falling for Christmas and The Shining https://destinationunknownbeercompany.com/

I returned to Ditmas Park, for another round of homebrew hosted by The Hoeffner's which is becoming annual tradition of excellence.   This year I focused in on a few new and returning favorites.   The new Kama Citra is a session citrus IPA, brewed with Centennial, Cascade, and Citra hops.   I found myself really loving the balance of tartness with the aroma of fresh citrus infusions, that was so crisp and powerful I think I might have had 3 without even blinking.   The other strong performer this year was the dark and medium/heavy "Hey Oh" Belgian Trappist style, which was the second strongest on the menu.   This ale took on some additional character with the additional aging from the 2017 batch.    Also the returning "Ramble On" gets an honorable mention for sparking a spicy but heavy Imperial Farmhouse Ale that was very drinkable.   Last year "Ramble On" was the darkest and last stop on the menu, but this year 2 others clocked in below it. ...

🍻Happy New Year!   Dogfish sets the bar high with this "cross-Atlantic" collaboration with one of the premier Belgian breweries.  Rodenbach's Grand Cru is one of the finest Flemish style red ales money can buy with their family brewing dating back to 1821.   This fusion takes the Flemish base and then Dogfish Head's brew team waves its culinary magic wand infusing sumac, sweet orange peel, and dry-hopping with Hallertau Blanc hops.  This brings out the malty delightfulness of cherries, and citrus but keeps its dark copper color.  The bottle design is part of the Dogfish Head Off-Centered Art Series from Max Mahn, with a blend of forest green and crimson signaling the signature motif from each brewery.  This seasonal limited release continues Dogfish Head's devotion to high quality culinary style ingredients with the use of sumac, oranges, and the wooden foeder-aging technique where the beer ferments in Oak barrels (perfected by Rodenbach in the 19th Centur...

Captain Lawrence continues to churn out impressive craft beer for distribution all over the NY region.   Their new barrel house in Mount Kisco is a must visit for all seasons (outdoor patio and food truck in the summer months).   Keep the visits coming as we need to support our local businesses, especially a proud member of the New York State Brewers Association.   The drinkable 5.9% pairs well with most meats and beer pretzels.   It pours cloudy so make sure you are ready for a Nor'easter for your Gotham palate The Orbital Tilt balances Pilsner malts with a tropical New England IPA style for all year round enjoyment.   8.5/10 NEIPA Hearts ABV 5.9% https://www.captainlawrencebrewing.com/orbital-tilt/ https://www.captainlawrencebrewing.com/mt-kisco/ https://newyorkcraftbeer.com

This is one the best Hazy IPA's of the year. Not to be confused with the Nick Drake song, this one falls on the heavier side, as well as higher ABV compared to the new wave of the lighter and softer hazy IPA's. Literally on a collision course between the East coast of the US and the East coast of Scotland, this wonderful creation is brewed in the US. Coming in at only 50 IBU's, the hop tasting notes overpower the bitterness here for a New England style IPA. The hop profile consists of Amarillo, Magnum, Hallertauer Blanc, and Mandarina Bavaria which leave the hints of pineapple, mango, and lime. Recommended for all sorts of summer BBQ fare; Spicy Wings, Chicken, Burgers. For me the hazy IPA's help enhance and soften the palate after boatloads of hot sauce. 9.5/10 New England Lobsters ABV 7.2% Nick Drake https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCaDp1gb6D4 Hazy Jane BrewDog Site https://www.brewdog.com/usa/hazy-jane-usa

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