A different kind of beer bubble, pictured above.

In an article about the growth of breweries in New York City in this week’s issue of Crain’s, there’s suddenly talk that the estimated 20 breweries in the five boroughs open by next year is too many. The Crain’s article quotes Manhattan Beer Distributors’ Robert Mitchell, who expresses concern that “there’s clearly not enough room at the table for those looking to sit down,” speaking of a “shakeout” in the New York craft beer scene like the one that took place in the 1990s.

Tom Acitelli, who is the author of the a comprehensive history about America’s craft beer industry, The Audacity of Hops, wrote a missive written in response to the article. Acitelli has some knowledge about craft beer bubbles bursting. In the mid-90s, as he documents in his book, the craft beer industry went south nationwide, and the decline was felt in New York especially:

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It’s good to see local brewers getting the attention of the local media. Folks from Sixpoint, Chelsea, and Bronx Brewery appeared on Fox 5 on Wednesday morning during Good Day New York. Even though hosts Rosanna Scotto and Greg Kelly acted like they had never seen a local craft beer before in their lives (we never can tell if their oblivion is an act or the real thing), it’s great to see the mainstream media getting the word out about the local craft beer movement.

Our favorite moment, though, came when Greg Kelly made the face above when tasting the Bronx Gin-Barrel Aged Pale Ale. Yes, it’s an acquired taste… one that poor Greg certainly hasn’t acquired (he did, for the record, enjoy the Bronx Pale Ale).

Anyway, onto the weekend’s beer events, which include a Peekskill tap takeover in the East Village, a showcase of New York State beer in Williamsburg, and yes - a Sriracha beer in Jersey City. Enjoy!

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It’s Thursday, July 25th. Here’s our list of recommended beer-related events in and around New York after work tonight:

• Forget Cooperstown, Belgium Comes to Spring Lounge (48 Spring St., at Mulberry St., Little Italy) tonight starting at 5pm. Enjoy beers from Ommegang like Fleur de Houblon, Adoration, Gnomegang, Barrier Relief, and more, plus free eats from Blind Tiger chef Tommy Harder.
  
  
• 61 Local (61 Bergen St., at Smith St., Carroll Gardens) hosts New Jersey’s Carton Brewing tonight at 7pm, with a stronger-than-the-storm lineup that includes the Boat Beer, Carton of Milk, Monkey Chased The Weasel, and more, plus the debut of Digger, a Gose brewed with local clams and lemongrass.
  
  
• Bierkraft (191 Fifth Ave., at President St., Park Slope) hosts Founders with a tap takeover tonight at 7pm. On tap, they’ll have 12 brews from the Michigan brewer, including the Dirty Bastard, Devil Dancer, 2011 Imperial Stout, the Doom, and more!
  
  
• Celebrate Avery Brewing’s 20th anniversary tonight at Coopers Craft & Kitchen (87 2nd Ave., at 5th St., East Village). Starting at 7pm, they’ll pour the brand-new Twenty, their anniversary double IPA, plus White Rascal, Karma, the IPA, and more!
  
  
• This week’s Thursday Tap at Jimmy’s No. 43 (43 E. 7th St., at 2nd Ave., East Village) will be from Queens’ Bridge & Tunnel Brewing, fresh off brewer Rich Castagna’s appearance at last night’s Craft Beer Jam. The beers will be on tap starting at 5pm.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for ongoing updates, like us on Facebook to spread the word, and check us out on Foursquare for great lists of beer bars, stores, and breweries.

Earlier this summer, Ben & Jerry’s launched their City Churned effort, which created a special flavor for New York based on local input and local food purveyors. For beer geeks in the city, there’s a pretty neat ingredient in the final flavor chosen: Sixpoint 3 Beans, their rich porter brewed with cacao and coffee.

The flavor also includes ingredients from Brooklyn-based Liddabit Sweets and Spoonable Caramel.

There are no plans to put the ice cream in pints, but you’ll be able to taste the flavor at two events this weekend - on Friday Night on Pier 57 from 5-7pm, and on Saturday during a community service event in Yonkers from 10am-1pm. You can RSVP for both with Flavorpill.

It took a while, but we visited Citi Field for the first time this season earlier this week. While their craft beer selection is a vast improvement over their rivals in the Bronx, it’s not much better. Six of the nine beers served at the “Craft Beer” stand in left field on the Field Level are not craft beers, by the Brewers Assocation definition.Craft beer continues to grow in demand nationwide, but Aramark, the company that runs the concessions at the stadium, has consistently made it more difficult to find a craft beer at Citi Field each season since its opening.

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It’s Wednesday, July 24th. Here’s our list of recommended beer-related events in and around New York after work tonight:

• The series of Good Beer Month events at The Greene Space (44 Charlton St., at Varick St., SoHo) wraps up tonight with Queens Craft Breweries. Robby Crafton of Big Alice Brewery, Rich Castagna of Bridge & Tunnel Brewery, Ethan Long of Rockaway Brewing Company and writer Chris Schonberger join Jimmy Carbone for one last Craft Beer Jam event celebrating the beer of Queens. Learn why Queens is becoming a hotbed for craft beer, taste these breweries’ beers, and enjoy music from The Great Apes.. Tickets are $25.
  
  
• It’s Christmas in July at Blind Tiger Ale House (281 Bleecker St., at Jones St., Greenwich Village)! All night long, they’ll be pouring some holiday beers fresh from last winter, like Sierra Celebration, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Scaldis Noel, and more… including a 2011 Avery Old Jubilation.
  
  
• Celebrate our friend Rev’s 40th birthday at Idle Hands Bar (25 Avenue B, at 2nd St., East Village), during the bar’s weekly $10 Bourbon and Beer Tasting Series. Taste the six different mystery beers from six different breweries, match the six beers to a list of the beers being poured, and be entered to win a prize!
  
  
• City Swiggers (320 E. 86th St., at 2nd Ave., Upper East Side) hosts a Sierra Nevada tonight from 6-9pm. Swing by to try the FOAM “Phish” Pilsner, Narwhal Imperial Stout, Ovila Saison, Hoptimum, and more. Flights of the draft beers are $12.
  
  
• Dive 75 (101 W. 75th St., at Columbus Ave., Upper West Side) hosts Widmer Brothers tonight at 7pm, with several beers on tap, including all three variants of their collaboration with Cigar City called The Gentlemen’s Club.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for ongoing updates, like us on Facebook to spread the word, and check us out on Foursquare for great lists of beer bars, stores, and breweries.