It’s a new legislative year! You might think that means that our esteemed legislators in Albany are working hard to introduce new legislation that will loosen its stranglehold on the beer industry.

Well, not exactly. Essentially, it means that the same bills that stalled out last year - some never making it to committee - are back again this year for another try. Thankfully, some of them are getting a fair shake, including three significant bills that will be up before the Senate Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business Committee next Wednesday. These bills will all have an impact on the beer industry in New York.

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There are few bars we love more than Mugs Alehouse (125 Bedford Ave., at N. 11th St., Williamsburg). It’s the place your dear editor learned craft beer. It’s where he had his first barleywine (the 2001 Brooklyn Monster), it’s where he had his first Belgian beer (Delirium Tremens), and it’s where he learned what that weird citrusy taste in his beer was.

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It’s Thursday, January 12th. Here’s our list of recommended beer-related events in and around New York after work tonight:

• It’s Smuttynose Night at Standings (43 E. 7th St., at 2nd Ave., East Village) starting at 6pm. They’ll pour the Gravitation Quad, S'muttonator Doppelbock, Satchmo Porter, and more! And they’ll have free pizza at 8pm.
• Breukelen Bier Merchants (182 Grand St., at Driggs Ave., Williamsburg) hosts Ballast Point and Two Brothers tonight from 7-9pm. Among the beers from Ballast Point:  Victory at Sea Imperial Porter and Abandon Ship Smoked Lager. From Two Brothers: Domaine DuPage and the Bare Tree barleywine. Two breweries for the price of one!
• Get your beer and cheese on tonight at Bronx Ale House (216 W. 238th St., at Broadway, Kingsbridge). Starting at 6pm, enjoy a tasting of New York State beers from Sixpoint, Bronx Brewery, Keegan and Defiant paired with New York State cheeses supplied by Chelsea Market Baskets!
  
• It’s Stout Night at Bierkraft (191 Fifth Ave., at President St., Park Slope) tonight at 7pm. They’ll be rolling out a bunch of beers on tap to put some meat on your bones for the impending cold snap, including Dieu du Ciel Peche Mortel.
• Over in New Jersey, The Iron Monkey (97 Greene St., at York St., Jersey City, NJ) hosts Great Divide tonight starting at 7pm, with beers like Fresh Hop Pale Ale, Smoked Baltic Porter, and Belgian Style Yeti Imperial Stout all on tap.
  

For more updates, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and check us out on Foursquare for our lists of beer bars, stores, and breweries!

It’s Wednesday, January 11th. Here’s our list of recommended beer-related events in and around New York after work tonight:

• Ballast Point pays a visit to The Double Windsor (210 Prospect Park West, at 16th St., Windsor Terrace) tonight starting at 7pm. They’ll be pouring San Salvador Saison, Victory at Sea Vanilla Coffee Imperial Porter, the venerable Sculpin, and more… all for just five bucks!
• #OccupyStagsHead! Sixpoint takes over the taps tonight at The Stag’s Head (252 E. 51st St., at 2nd Ave., Turtle Bay). Starting at 6pm, they’ll pour Gorilla Warfare porter, Lil Buzz, Mad Scientists #4 (Hibiscus Ale), and, appropriately, Occupation Ale. They’ll also be passing around free mini calzones starting at 6. Power to the people!
• At Mudville 9 (126 Chambers St., at W. Broadway, Tribeca), get your Oskar Blues on from 6-8pm with free samples of eight beers like Gubna, G'Knight, Mama’s Lil Yella Pils, and a few surprises direct from Lyons, Colorado!
• The next beer from Jonas Bronck’s Beer Company releases tonight at 7pm at Bronx Ale House (216 W. 238th St., at Broadway, Kingsbridge). Taste the new Kingsbridge Kolsch, an easy-drinking German-style Kolsch. Support your local beer company!

For more updates, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and check us out on Foursquare for our lists of beer bars, stores, and breweries!

Just a couple weeks ago, we were opining about the lack of good beer festivals in New York. Well, our prayers may have been answered with the NYC American Craft Beer Festival. On March 3rd, Manhattan’s Lexington Armory (68 Lexington Ave., at 25th St., Rose Hill) will be invaded by beers from dozens of American craft breweries, along with artisanal foods for purchase, live music, seminars, and some access to rare brews.

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It’s Tuesday, January 10th. Here’s our list of recommended beer-related events in and around New York after work tonight:

• Dogfish Head visits Sunswick 35/35 (35-02 35th St., at 35th Ave., Astoria) tonight from 7-10pm. Among others, they’ll pour Indian Brown Ale, Miles Davis Bitches’ Brew, and the new Ta Henket, their new Egyptian-inspired beer with chamomile, dom-palm fruit and Middle Eastern herbs.
• This week’s Ten Buck Tasting at Jimmy’s No. 43 (43 E. 7th St., at 2nd Ave., East Village) features International IPAs! $10 gets you six tastings of beers like Dieu du Ciel! Corne du Diable, Nøgne-ø IPA, and Wintercoat Double Hop. The tasting gets underway tonight at 7:30pm.
• Bierkraft (191 Fifth Ave., at President St., Park Slope) hosts the German beers from St. Killian Importing’s portfolio, which includes brands like Lammsbrau and Würzburger. The free tasting gets underway at 7pm.
• Black Horse Pub (568 5th Ave., at 16th St., South Slope) hosts Smuttynose tonight from 7-10pm, with Finestkind IPA and Winter Ale on tap. Screw the New Hampshire Primaries; drink the New Hampshire beers!
• Downtown, Brewery Ommegang is at Ulysses’ Folk House (58 Stone St., at Pearl St., Financial District) tonight from 5-8pm for their Tuesday Brewery Night, pouring free samples and kicking off a full month of Ommegang beers on tap!
  

For more updates, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook, and check us out on Foursquare for our lists of beer bars, stores, and breweries!