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Before we begin, please send
me all suggestions for drinking in New York City. I'm interested in what, and where, you like to
drink!
I like beer. I like the way it tastes. I don't particularly enjoy getting drunk, although that is sometimes a necessary byproduct of drinking lots of beer. I don't consider anything made by Anheuser-Busch, Coors or Miller to be worth drinking if you insist on calling it beer. If you want a detailed explanation, ask and I'll be happy to tell you. In the middle of the 1990s, small-time brewers had their day in the sun. While some were content to remain local microbrewers and bottlers, and others full-fledged brewers (I'm thinking Sam Adams here), some simply sold their wares fresh from the vats in their own restaurants without wanting to bottle and sell their fine products elsewhere. Later there was a sort of shakeout in the business, and those who couldn't run their business well, or keep up their funding, fell by the wayside or were absorbed by macro-brewers. I respect all of them for their commitment to providing true beer: four ingredients, no corn filler for alcohol's sake, no trendy, laughable "Ice" or "Dry" or "Frost-brewed" labels. I may not enjoy them all, but at least they're trying. I even worked stocking beer on weekends for the local North Carolina Coors/Rolling Rock/(insert name here) Malt Liquor distributor, but somehow I would never be tempted to drink on the job. When I came to New York, I thought I was in trouble since the better beers cost so much in the "supermarkets" but I think I've solved that problem (see below). Beer Reviews -- I grandly announce that I am posting my own thoughts on bottled and tap beers to be had in New York City and places I visit. (By the way, check Pubcrawler for beer establishment reviews around the country.) I've a couple of wonderful sources for beer in the city now (besides vom fass at the better bars) as well:
On to the Beer Links...
NYCBeer.org is a good site for information on the
New York City beer scene. Most of the site still gets updated regularly, but unfortunately
sections on good beer bars have fallen into disuse. Still, upcoming events are noted
quickly here, and the places I go for a beer are listed. It's best to call the pubs in
advance if you want to know what's on tap.
If you can't tell your styles apart, and you want to sound smart, you'll need a primer on different beer styles. And this one is incredibly complete. Another good source for beer taste information and brewing in general would be the Homebrewer's Digest. Lots of quality links from there. Don't be afraid to look at my website's main page for a few other useful links. If you want it delivered every month to your doorstep, and you have a doorstep, try the Hog's Head Beer Club. To join the Hog's Head Beer Cellars, call them at (800) 992-CLUB. I used to belong, but I can do pretty well buying beer in the city or trading with friends across the country. Hog's Head seem very professional about the whole business, and they're nice over the phone. They charge $29.95 for two six-packs of microbrewed beers from various places in the U.S., including S&H. I am not making anything off them as a corporate shill, I do this to make you happy. There is always Realbeer.com for more links to homebrew clubs around the country. And you can always post to rec.food.drink.beer and see if anyone's willing to trade beer with you through the mail. |
send a brewery link!
Local
Brewery Ommegang, Cooperstown NY Brooklyn Brewery Cooperstown Brewing Co., Cooperstown NY Chelsea Brewing Co., Manhattan Carnegie Hill Brewing Co., Manhattan United States
Abita Brewing Co., Abita Springs LA Alaskan Brewing Co., Juneau AK Anderson Valley Brewing Co., Boonville CA Appalachian Brewing Co., Harrisburg PA Atlantic Coast Brewing, Boston MA Ballast Point Brewing Co., San Diego CA Baltimore Brewing Co. Big Sky Brewing Co., Missoula MT Blimp City Brewery, Akron OH BridgePort Brewery, Portland OR Capital Brewery, Middleton WI Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Rehoboth Beach DE Flying Fish Brewing Co., Cherry Hill NJ Frederick Brewing Co., MD Free State Brewing Co., Lawrence KS Full Sail Brewing Co., Hood River OR Goose Island Beer Co., Chicago Great Lakes Brewing Co., Cleveland Hair of the Dog Brewing Co., Portland OR Hangtown Brewery, Placerville CA Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont CO Long Trail Brewing Co., Bridgewater Corners VT Magic Hat Brewing Co., S. Burlington VT Mendocino Brewing Co., Ukiah CA Nor'Wester Brewing Co., Oregon Pyramid Breweries, Seattle WA / Berkeley CA Rogue Ales, Newport Saxer Brewing Co., Lake Oswego OR Shipyard Brewing Co., Portland ME Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., Chico CA Victory Brewing Co., Downingtown PA Weeping Radish Brewery, Manteo NC Widmer Bros. Brewing Co., Portland OR Yakima Brewing (Bert Grant), Yakima WA Yuengling, Pottsville PA International
Beowulf Beer, Birmingham England Boddington's, Manchester England Bowen I. Brewing Co., Ltd., Vancouver BC Brains Brewery, Cardiff Wales Caledonian Brewing Co. Ltd., Edinburgh De Koninck Brewery, Antwerp Belgium Duvel, Breendonk George Gale & Co. Ltd., Hampshire England Guinness, Dublin Ireland Paulaner Bräuhaus, Munich Unibroue, Quebec (French site) |
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