Sorry for the delay on this week’s wrap-up of the beers to drink in the city over the weekend. But the good news: it’s a long weekend, so you’ve got one extra day to sample these bad boys!
Mystic-al Beer
Cottrell Brewing, out of Pawcatuck, Connecticut, has entered the New York market. To throw objectivity out the window for a second, these guys make one of the best IPAs east of the Rockies, Mystic Bridge IPA. Their signature American Pale Ale, Old Yankee Ale, has won fans throughout Connecticut and Rhode Island, and is now available on tap at Standings, in growlers at American Beer Distributors, and in six packs at select Whole Foods. Mystic Bridge is being poured at The Diamond and ReBar as we speak.
Mystery Beer
Meanwhile, another new import from out-of-state is Blue Canoe Brewing, or so it seems. Last night, The Pony Bar’s Twitter stream announced that a Blue Canoe brew called Canadian Monk was on tap there. Blue Canoe is straight out of Titusville, Pennsylvania. Where’s Titusville? Why, right by Oil City. Where’s Oil City? Right by Clarion. Okay, it’s in the middle of nowhere. So celebrate the fact that you don’t have to go to the far reaches of Western Pennsylvania to sample something from this brewery. So here’s the rub: we can’t find any proof on the Internet that this beer exists beyond The Pony Bar’s own web site. They describe it as “an Imperial copper-hued ale with a frothy head and easy drinking profile." It clocks in at a hefty 9.0% ABV. Strangely, this beer is not listed on the brewery’s site, and there’s not a single review on Beer Advocate, either. But the west side of Manhattan is a lot closer than the west side of Pennsylvania, so even though we know virtually nothing of this beer, we suggest you give it a whirl.
Misty-eyed Beer
The Saints won the Super Bowl, and it’s Mardi Gras week. So raise a toast to Louisiana with a brew from Abita Springs, Louisiana's Abita Brewing Company. Our personal favorite is the brown ale Turbodog, which has a sweet roasted malt taste and a little bit of an alcohol kick. You can pretty much find it anywhere this weekend, as every beer bar seems to be riding a New Orleans high. We caught it on draft at Swift Hibernian Lounge, David Copperfields, and complimenting the BBQ at Wildwood. Plus, Standings will be having a Mardi Gras party on Tuesday with lots of Abita on tap and free pizza. No word on if the beer will contain actual tears from Drew Brees.
Happy Drinking!
