Beer Authority (New York, NY)

Taking the A train from JFK to Manhattan for G's birthday weekend, we emerged from the Port Authority station directly across the street from Beer Authority.  After a long flight, it was a great way to start our weekend.

On a Thursday night, there was a DJ playing music a bit loud but we survived sitting around the edge.  Our waiter was friendly and efficient, bringing beer and the daily special in short order: a vegetarian shepherd's pie.  Dinner was great with a lentil based that tasted a lot like our favorite camping dish but with a thick, creamy head of mashed potatoes.  We just wonder why this sort of meal isn't readily available in Minnesota.

Believing in drinking local, I started by trying a couple of brews from Spider Bite. Eye Be Use, a Double IPA, was disappointingly unrefined but I still followed up with Boris the Spider, a Russian Imperial Stout.  Slightly better but the blunted hops couldn't come through the unbalance RIS.   Nice experiment but I'm not a fan.  I accidentally spilled the last of this beer on my blue jeans; generously, our server brought me a short pour to replace my clumsiness.

During research, I came across the new Bronx Brewery and happily got a chance to try their Black Pale Ale.  No Sublimely Self Righteous, but this American black ale has a solid malty base and a clean dark bite that makes is a good choice.  We ended with a draft of Dogfish Head Noble Rot, an earthy and interesting saison that we returned to on Sunday.

We tried to repeat our first stop on Saturday night after seeing Tom Hanks in Lucky Guy.  An extremely poignant play based on the life Mike McAlary, a 1980s tabloid columnist in New York. Not only did we intimately learn about a part of NYC history and culture, but the gritty, authentic underbelly of the newspaper business written by late Nora Ephron.  Unfortunately, we weren't able to discuss any of this at Beer Authority.  The band joked about playing too loud and continued to shake the rafters.  We put in ear plugs while I drank a beer and finally starting texting each other out of desperation, leaving disappointed and had to talk over the play while kicking our way through the late night crowds of Times Square.

On Sunday afternoon, we needed to head back to the hotel to pick up our bags after a visit to the 9/11 memorial.  I wanted to give Beer Authority a chance in the daylight and to give the mac & cheese a try.

Happily, this visit was pleasant.  I started with a Green Flash West Coast IPA, a favorite hoppy treat when I get the chance. By the time we ordered the mac & cheese, I was on to Ommegang Barrier Relief, a Belgian IPA that's a collaboration ale with Barrier Brewing to rebuild that Sandy ravaged brewery. A beautifully blended IPA with a Belgian funk was a solid choice for a last beer in NYC. The beer paired surprisingly well with the mushroom and garlic Mac & Cheese, unusual and intriguing, I would gladly order it as a meal again.

On the way out, we ran into an intrepid band of beer hunters, one also a blogger at Hoptical Allusions.  Need to leave for the train to fly home, we didn't have to time for more than a pic and a cheers on the way out.  Each had a tray of four tasters—sixteen on the table.  After two trying visits, a third with a chance encounter with fellow beer travelers bolstered my spirits and our experience.  With great beer that is well served, Beer Authority is the go-to place in the heart of Manhattan for craft beer.  However, in the future, I will make this our pre-show stop to relax and unwind before hitting Broadway, saving the post-show discussion for a much quieter place.

Three Penny Taproom (Montpelier, Vermont)

6/26/11

This stop was one of my best missteps ever. After doing the very touristy but interesting tour of Ben and Jerry's down the road in Waterbury, we tried to hit the Alchemist in town--not open until 3 or 4 pm. Without daylight burning we continued down the road and I used BA to find the next closest pub or bar for lunch; Three Penny Taproom sounded familiar (could be the monthly ad in BA mag, I guess), so we stopped.

Started with a DFH Burton Baton, and then went local with Hill Farmstead's Everett and Double Galaxy. Not bad for a lunch stop (thanks to my wife driving instead of drinking). Really would've been nice had our hotel been here overnight instead of the next stop. Oh well. Next time.

For lunch, we had a simple but amazing cheddar cheese sandwich, which may be the best cheese sandwich I've ever had. Just a spectacular fresh taste and done perfectly. Spent the rest of the trip lusting over local cheddar and never matched it.

If near (or not so near), stop. Next time I'm in Vermont, this is home base. And, all of this goodness is in spite of suffering a recent flood and rebuilding their bottle stock and business. Good luck to a truly great place in recovering from this set back.

Dogfish Head Alehouse (Falls Church, VA)

6/21/08

Very good stop at the Falls Church Dogfish Head, starting with and Alehouse 75--a mix of 60 and 90 min IPAs: I may have found a new favorite. Really an amazing blend, which I, on general principle, am against blending beer with anything  including other beer beyond a black and tan. Follow upped with a bottle of Burton Baton, another mixed ale of English brown ale with the 90 min that's then aged: fantastic beer and worth the trip to DFH to get it. In fact, I'm on a quest to get more of it asap.

Food at Falls Church was significantly better than at Rehoboth Beach, so it is a different place. The extremely knowledgeable beer geek waiter was hanging out chatting beer with us in between serving his other tables. Wish we had had more time to hang out until it slowed down. Alas, time is rarely the friend of a beer drinker.  Excellent pub to check out DFH mainstays and off-centered ales, especially if a trip to Rehoboth Beach isn't possible.

Cape Wine & Spirits (Lewes, DE)

A bartender at Dogfish Head sent us over hear to pick up DFH on the way out of town.  Picked up $9 bottles of World Wide Stout that was two years old--exceptional beer at a very good price.  Also grabbed some Stone Ruination and Old Guardian as well.  All beers were in fine shape and there was a great range of beers overall.  I was a bit concerned about the bright fluorescent lights all over the place, but it didn't affect the quality of any of the beer we bought; however, I did grab bottles from inside a box for the world wide stout and from the shade on the shelf. But, that's just me.

Dogfish Head Brewings & Eats (Rehoboth Beach, DE)

6/21/08

I've reach beer mecca. Over the course of the last several years, my wife and I have tried to get to Dogfish Head and have never been able to plan the drive out to Rehoboth Beach.  Finally, on a trip to DC, we rented a car and headed out on a Saturday morning to check out the home of off centered ales for ourselves.

And, we weren't disappointed.  Pints of 60 min IPA, India Brown and Raison D'etre were all fresh and well served by our friendly bartender.  In addition, their more exotic ales on tap, Theobroma (Aztec beer) and Palo Santo Marron (Paraquayan wood aged), are beyond belief to have two such cool beers on tap at the same time.

Not a lot of vegetarian options on the menu, but the pizza was very good and the onion rings were better than ok.  Neither matched the beer, which is a high bar, so order up some food, and drink more DH--don't waste time when you're drinking at mecca.

Pub opens noon-ish, as it says on the door, so don't rush down. Hit the beach or the bar next door for an early beer (cheese plate and DH on tap were both great).  A nice walk on the beach is a great idea give you some time before needing to drive home.