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Welcome back from the holidays! It’s 2011, and here’s your first look at the beer-related going(s)-on after work tonight:
Here are the beer-related goings-on after work tonight:
Here are the beer-related goings-on after work tonight:
Over the past week, a handful of local blogs have been abuzz with news that a new bar had opened downtown that lets you pour your own beer. I was suspicious. The concept of pouring your own beer sounds much better in theory than in practice, I thought. And while I’m still skeptical about what type of person will be drawn to this quirk, Keg No. 229 (229 Front St., at Peck Slip, Financial District) has credentials that make it a promising venue for craft beer downtown.
First, the whole self-serve beer thing is much more toned down than an all-out draft beer free-for-all. There are four kiosks with two taps each that can be used by larger groups of people (there are four seats at each kiosk). You’re limited to those two beers, but there’s usually two contrasting beer styles paired on those taps (for example, above is Kelso Pilsner and Captain Lawrence Brown Bird Brown Ale). And if there’s something that doesn’t suit your fancy on those two taps, you can always order from their ten taps at the bar.
The beer is dispensed through a metered system, which is pre-programmed based on how many ounces of beer you purchase through your server. You pay by the ounce - 37 cents an ounce, to be exact - which works out to about $6 a pint. A screen embedded in the table at each kiosk measures your consumption.
Since this system takes only one corner of the bar and can only serve about two dozen people, it may not turn Keg No. 229 into the sh*tshow that I feared. In fact, despite being quirky, the self-serve beer system is ideal for watching sporting events (there’s a big flatscreen TV right next to these kiosks) or a night out with a few friends.
A side note, by the way: if you’re going to pour your own beer, do it right and refer to this manual from the Brewers Association on the perfect draft pour.
But let’s say you’re going out for a quick beer or two and would rather someone else do the beer pouring for you. That might be the better option. After all, why limit yourself to two beers and struggle with pouring a beer with the perfect head? Even as a stand-alone craft beer bar without the quirky self-pouring contraptions, Keg No. 229 holds its own.
The beer list is a work-in-progress and Keg No. 229’s owners say it’s already rotating, but it already boasts a strong variety of draft, bottled, and canned American craft beer, including selections from Ithaca, Southern Tier, Full Sail, Oskar Blues, and local selections from Sixpoint, Kelso, and Captain Lawrence. They’re also reasonably-priced, with bottles and pints averaging about $6. There’s food, too - including burgers, wings, and the usual bar food that complements beer well. It’s sister to Bin No. 220 across the street, which lends credence to its food credentials.
The vibe of Keg No. 229 is upscale, but the service is friendly, not snobbish. It’ll fit in well downtown, serving the Financial District crowd and the tourists from South Street Seaport alike. But people live around here, too, and this neighborhood was in desperate need of a craft beer option. Now, they have one. You might know someone who lives down here and mock them openly for living in a “dead zone.” Now, it might actually be worth venturing downtown to visit them.
If writing about beer was my day job, I’d be providing tons of content for you each day. Unfortunately, it’s not. But here are some quick hits from the city’s beer scene:
DOUBLE THE TAPS
The folks at Beer Table (427B 7th Ave., at 15th St., Park Slope) announced this week that they’ve added three new taps to their small restaurant, bringing them to a total of six to complement their well-curated bottle selection. To celebrate, they’ll be pouring some special selections during happy hour (3-7pm) today and tomorrow. Among the kegs they’ll tap are Hill Farmstead Edward, White Birch Hooksett Ale, and Schneider Aventinus.
TIS THE SEASON
Brouwerij Lane (78 Greenpoint Ave., at Franklin St., Greenpoint) will hold their holiday party on Wednesday, December 22nd from 6-8pm. There’s free food and beer to be had. Just bring cookies! For festive beers, this week and next week, The Double Windsor (210 Prospect Park West, at 16th St., Windsor Terrace), Rattle-N-Hum (14 E. 33rd St., at 5th Ave., Midtown), and Sunswick 35/35 (35-02 35th St., at 35th Ave., Astoria) are all having ongoing, weeklong winter beer events.
HAPPY NEW BEERS!
If you’re looking to spend your New Year’s Eve with your one true love (craft beer, of course), Blind Tiger Ale House (281 Bleecker St., at Jones St., West Village) is having a celebration with open bar and finger food from 9pm-2am. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at the bar now. As of earlier this week, there were only 15 tickets left, so hurry up to snap them up. Uptown, The Stag’s Head (252 E. 51st St., at 2nd Ave., Turtle Bay) is doing the same thing: open bar, finger food, and a champagne toast for $100 as well. Info is on their site, and you can call 212-888-2453 to reserve your spot.
GRAB YOUR GROWLER IN GREENPOINT
Folks in Greenpoint are exceptionally lucky. With a handful of craft beer bars and a great beer store already, they’ve now been blessed with another place to fill growlers: Eastern District (1053 Manhattan Ave., at Freeman St., Greenpoint). The shop opened in late November, and it’s already gotten some pretty damn positive reviews on Yelp. In addition to growlers, the store sells bottled beer, plus a selection of cheese and locally-sourced snacks like cupcakes, caramels, and pickles. They’re open Tuesday-Saturday from 11-8 and Sunday from Noon-6.
PRESCRIPTIONS, TOILET PAPER, DRAFT BEER
While they’ve been at it for nearly six months now, the (familiarly-named) Brew York City Growler Bar at Williamsburg’s Duane Reade (250 Bedford Ave., at N. 3rd St., Williamsburg) is now updating their menu on BeerMenus, with locally-geared selections from Sixpoint, Brooklyn, and Kelso. There’s probably not going to be anything groundbreaking on tap here, but at $7.99 for a half-gallon fill, it’s one of the best growler deals going in the city.
We in New York City haven’t been graced with much beer from New Hampshire. Sure, we know Smuttynose. We see a bit of RedHook every now and then. And beer geeks know about The Portsmouth Brewery, mostly for Kate the Great, a Russian Imperial Stout that people clamor for each year during its on-site March release.
But we haven’t seen a small craft brewery from New Hampshire make waves in New York City in a while. Enter White Birch Brewing of Hooksett, New Hampshire, who makes its New York debut tonight at Blind Tiger Ale House (281 Bleecker St., at Jones St., West Village) with a small but impressive selection of high-gravity and barrel-aged beers.
The brewery - just 18 months old - is now working with a seven barrel brewing system that allows them to expand their footprint while also trying out some experimental, seasonal, and one-off brews in addition to their flagship beers. Brewer Bill Herlicka has taken careful steps in modifying existing recipes to experiment with some truly different flavors. His Belgian style and barrel-aged beers are becoming the brewery’s specialties - and it shows in what White Birch is bringing to Blind Tiger tonight.
The full list is after the jump.
