Newest Threads

spearko520 · 06-08-2012, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mjdonnelly68

June 8, 2012 - Home (TGIF!)
Unfiltered Double Simcoe IPA, Weyerbacher Brewing

i picked up two bottles at wegman's a couple of weeks ago because the price was right and drank one but wasn't thrilled enough to drink the second- what do you think? i am always curious as to NY opinions on PA beer...

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-09-2012, 08:50 PM

June 9, 2012 - The White Horse Tavern, Manhattan
Schaefer Beer

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-10-2012, 02:38 AM

June 9, 2012 - The Algonquin Hotel, Mid-town Manhattan
Duvel Belgian Golden Ale

Drinking in New York City is enough to make you nuts. Earlier today I paid $22 for a Cosmopolitan (for my wife). Now, I have no problem dropping coin for good booze. I'll pay $10 for a 22oz bomber of something new and different. On whole I see the value and can justify the math in my head.

But in NYC, ordering up is like being on another planet. There's neither rhyme no reason to the pricing. Every transaction over the arm rail is a leap of faith. You place your bet (be it for Pabst, Pete's Wicked or Paulaner) and hold your breath when the bill comes. You could pay happy hour or home mortgage pricing. Better hope the beer gods are smiling.

Tonight I paid $7.00 for a ginger ale, $9.00 for a Miller Light and $11.00 for a Duvel. Someone 'splain that to me.

Can't wait to Metro North north tomorrow - back to my home brew and home court where I can buy beer that comes with a coaster instead of a co-signer...

sfrisby · 06-10-2012, 11:09 AM

It's funny, only, because it wasn't me.

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-11-2012, 01:28 AM

June 10, 2012 - The Ginger Man, Manhattan

Is drinking in Manhattan a kick in the nads? Absolutely. But today I was reminded why I often drag my nads down across the Tappan Zee bridge to be kicked.

I spent this afternoon at The Ginger Man on East 36th Street in midtown. The Ginger Man (http://www.gingerman-ny.com/) is a straight up, no bulls**t, beer lovers bar.

Our bartender (Anne) was passionate and knowledgeable about beer. In fact, she was the first female Certified Cicerone in NYC. Needless to say, I let her pick my beers. She started me with a Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA (sublime). Next she poured me a Oskar Blues Deviant Dale's (amazing). After that she pinted up a Green Point Harbor Big TIPA (delicious). All were great, and none put a dent in the number of 'just as great' beers left on the list. In between each round she gave me tastes of sours, saisons, seasonals and specialty beers. It was a little pour of heaven.

I had to leave. It broke my heart to do it. I'll be back soon with a second mortgage and a sleeping bag.

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-11-2012, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearko520

i picked up two bottles at wegman's a couple of weeks ago because the price was right and drank one but wasn't thrilled enough to drink the second- what do you think? i am always curious as to NY opinions on PA beer...

I'm with you. I love Simcoe hops, but I thought this beer was way over the top and in no way balanced. I forced the bomber down and was glad not to have a second one to contend with. I like a lot of PA beer, but this isn't one of them.

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-13-2012, 12:46 AM

June 12, 2012 - IPA Hop Randall Experiment - At Home

Buddy of mine got himself a Hop Randall for his birthday. He gave me a sample of his IPA (on the left) and a sample of his IPA run through the Hop Randall filled with half a pound of Zeus hops (on the right). Can't say as it works for me. A lot more aroma from the Hop Randall, but the flavor added is too vegetal for me. Think I'll stick to dry hopping...

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-14-2012, 02:49 AM

June 13, 2012 - City Beer Hall, Albany
My first homebrew judged by a BJCP certified judge. 35 out of 50 for my Rye PA - I'll take it (thanks Don for being gentle whilst taking my cherry).

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-14-2012, 10:52 PM

June 14, 2012 - The Backyard, post toil
Clown Shoes - Hoppy Feet, Black IPA (7.0% ABV)

Being a beer geek, I love trying new beers. I'm constantly delighted by the way brewers can take something you think you know and make subtle changes to it. Changes that make the beer that much better and that much more interesting. Because of this found fun, I'm always up to try a style of beer that I don't necessarily love because someone says 'you have to try this' (been talked into many a beer with fruit in it this way). Nothing ventured - nothing gained, right?

That being said, sometimes I just feel the need to give up on a style. I'm there with Black IPAs. On it's face, it's a beer I should love. I love dark beers and I love IPAs. But for some reason, I just can't like BIPAs. I've tried. I've tried Stone's Self-Righteous Ale. I've hunted down Firestone Walker's Jack Black. I even went out and found Odell's Double Black IPA. Didn't like one of them.

I tried brewing my own. Didn't like it. Everytime I see a BIPA on tap at brewery or see a new BIPA in a bomber at the beer store, I've tried them thinking that I just haven't found one to my taste. Every single time, I regret wasting precious beer time and beer space on another disappointment.

At this point I'm ready to give up the quest and avoid Black IPAs, India Dark Ales, Cascadian Dark Ales or whatever else they're calling failure this week. Life is too short - I'll have a 'anything else' please...

**mjdonnelly68** · 06-16-2012, 01:45 AM

June 15, 2012 - Yanni's Too, on the Hudson River
Yanni's Brown, Davidson Bros