It was pouring rain, I mean REALLY pouring, on the way in, so I survived the traffic and found a parking garage near my destination. I got in a bit early, so I went over to the spot where I first started beer bloggin’, Mugs Ale House. This place is a great neighborhood bar, with a solid tap selection and offering good food (although the kitchen doesn’t open until 5PM, sorry steak burrito). I tried several New England beers, as I worked a crossword puzzle and watched wet people walk by. I had the Crossroads Brady’s Bay Cream ale and the Kelso IPA. Both were excellent, but after a while I needed to brave the weather myself so that I could make it to the Brooklyn Brewery.
The Brooklyn Brewery has become more famous in recent years with the marketing of Garrett Oliver, their brewmaster. Brooklyn has been better known for their big beers (i.e., Monster and Black Chocolate Stout) rather than their other beers (i.e., Pennant and Lager). Our favorites are now Black Ops, Local 1, and Sorachi Ace, and then they offer their Reserve series. The tour was more tasting than tour, although I did find out that they were looking to expand and they started out by contract brewing with FX Matt (and they still do). I tried “The Concoction”, a peaty beer made with lemon juice and ginger (kind of like a beer cocktail). It was really good.
Since I was in Brooklyn, and there was no way I was going to get back into that traffic willingly, I decided to walk to The Diamond, one of Beer Advocate’s top 100 beer bars for 2011. It’s described as a hole in the wall, but it wasn’t that bad. But honestly, I’m not sure why it was on the list. The beer selection was limited (~10 drafts and some bottles), I had the Barrier Spelunker and the Defiant Little Thumper Ale. Both were good, but after that and an overpriced (and too small) ploughman’s, I was ready to go to my hotel. I hit Black Forest brewpub in Farmingdale for a snack, a German pretzel (and a summer ale).The next day we had our meeting, and I was able to get off the island at a decent time. My brother Dave recommended I stop at a bottle shop in Brewster, and I sure am glad I did. DeCicco’s had a great bottle selection (I picked up a Captain Lawrence Birra Decicco Limone Luppolo, The Brewery’s Marron Acidifie, and Ommegang’s Aphrodite), a whole lot of specialties for groceries, but what set them apart was their own bar in the corner. It was great, and I arrived on a special day when they were performing a tasting for Founder’s brewing, a top notch brewery from Michigan. I had tried several of their beers in the bottle, but here they were on draft for the tasting. I had their Old Curmudgeon (I’ve been called that several times myself), their Imperial Stout, Kentucky Bourbon Stout (aged in bourbon barrels), and their Canadian Bourbon Stout (aged in maple syrup barrels, and one of the most delicious beers in the world). A great experience, and a must stop for any beer enthusiast that is driving by.
A great trip, planned appropriately, and if it wasn’t for the traffic around the city it would have been perfect. I can’t wait to go back and explore some more. – 5795/11193
"Where brewing is an art and partaking is a passion." – Ommegang Slogan
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