Good Beer Seal

Tune in to this week’s Beer Sessions Radio to hear the first set of Jimmy Carbone’s recordings from the annual Belgium Comes to Cooperstown, which ran from August 2-4 up at Ommegang Brewery! Hear from Ommegang’s Simon Thorpe and Phil Leinhart as they discuss their popular Game of Thrones beers. Hear from lots of regional and new breweries and brewpubs who made it up to the festival.

Plus, Bill Herlicka of New Hampshire’s White Birch Brewing talks about his hops and yeast selections, the rise of local hops, and the growing craft beer scene in New Hampshire. Plus, “drop by” interviews from Cooperstown with Jonathan Moxley, Mike Lovullo, Tommy Ortega, John Langley, and the Radiant Pig team! Listen to the full episode here, and be sure to check out the Beer Sessions Radio Facebook page for lots of cool photos. And don’t forget to tune in next Tuesday at 5 p.m. for part deux of BCTC.

This is a great week to be visiting a Good Beer Seal Bar. From beer dinners to tap takeovers, you can count on the Good Beer Seal to ensure you’re in the right place for great craft beer.

Coming up this week, one of our newest Good Beer Seal bars, The Queens Kickshaw is collaborating with Queens’ newest brewery, Big aLICe to bring you a four course beer-paired tasting menu for $60. Courses include:

• Biscuit Slider with Purple Potato Chips – paired with Purple Potato Tripel
• Green Papaya Salad with Tumeric & Orange Dressing – paired with Lemongrass Tumeric White Lager
• Patty Pan and Summer Carrot Papillote – paired with  Curry Leaf Lapsang Smoked Beer
• Avocado Shake Palate Cleaner
• Big aLICe Chocolate Morel Stout Cake with Chocolate Ice Cream – paired with Star Anise Hybrid Baltic Porter
  

This dinner can be enjoyed at any time from 6-9:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20th. Just e-mail the bar with your reservation request.

Then on Wednesday, August 21st, Mission Dolores will be having its Dog Days of Sour event, featuring some killer sour beers all day long with drink specials from 7-10 p.m. The line-up (subject to change):

• Carton Monkey Chased the Weasel
• Cuvee des Jacobins Rouge
• Bruery Tart of Darkness
• Bayerischer Bahnhof Berlinerweisse with Potatoes
• Fritz Briem Grodziskie (sour smoked wheat ale)
• Dilewyns Vicaris Tripel Gueuze
• Tilquin Gueuze
• Freigeist Peated Abraxxxas
• Drei Fonteinen Beersel Blonde
• Vanberg & Dewulf Lambickx DeTroch

If European is your flair, head on over to Jimmy’s No. 43 for their Thursday Tap™ this Thursday, August 22nd, when brewer Filip Govaerts from Brouwerij Het Nest will be bringing some of his favorites and drinking with patrons. Plus, they’ll be pairing beer with Lawless Jerky.

And if it’s a tap takeover, Barcade (Brooklyn, their Jersey City branch is also a new GBS bar), will have a Barrier takeover from 4 p.m. on next Thursday, August 29th, with Craig Frymark and Evan Klein in the house pouring a killer beer list.

 

 

It’s a ladies’ night as host Jimmy Carbone gets down to talking about local grains and their importance in making great beer. Joining him in the studio are Maia Raposo, spokesperson for Brooklyn Brewery, and June Russell, Manager of Farm Inspections and Strategic Development for Greenmarket/GrowNYC. Plus, Andrea Stanley from Valley Malt in Massachusetts phones in.

Maia and June discuss their collaboration beer, Greenmarket Wheat (currently available at Union Square Greenmarket on Wednesday and Saturday; also at the Brewery and some restaurants in the Union Square area). This beer was made with >70 percent local grains, beating the Greenmarket’s 60 percent local threshold. Local grain is a big deal at GrowNYC, where even the bakers at the Greenmarket must source over half their grain locally. $4 from each bottle of Greenmarket Wheat goes to support GrowNYC.

And although we’ve got awhile to go until Halloween, you’ll be singing, “We did the Mash… the Brooklyn Brewery Mash!” Maia talks about the Brewery’s nation-wide 11-city tour bringing Brooklyn beers on the road to DC, Philly, Chicago and Miami, among others. Partnered with Slow Food USA, Brooklyn Brewery is collaborating with local chefs and artisans in every city on the tour to create unique experiences while drinking Brooklyn Brewery’s finest.

And Andrea discusses People’s Pint’s Emmer beer, made from an ancient grain that grows well in the region and looks to have a future as part of the local craft beer industry. Plus Valley Malt’s upcoming Barleyfest (October 12th) and Jimmy’s birthday (August 17th). All on this week’s episode of Beer Sessions Radio™.

 

 

This week on Beer Sessions Radio™, we welcome a new GBS bar, The Owl Farm, to the show, along with a new brewer, Sloop, from Poughkeepsie. We have Ben Wiley and Steven Baird from the former, while Adam Watson and Justin Taylor of the latter make their Brooklyn debut with two beers: Red Sea Red IPA and Sour Peach Berliner Weisse.

Which launches a discussion into how best to make a Berliner Weisse, with or without added fruit flavors? Adding to the discussion led by host Jimmy Carbone is Joe Callender, aka the Craft Beer Coach, who has launched the latest addition to the beer ap field, a tasting profile ap called BrewHorn.

Also in the studio are soon-to-be-wedded T.J. and Jaime, who are on a Scavenger Hunt to find the best beers in a 50-mile radius of where they’ll be getting married to bring to the reception. So, what’s the recommended line-up for great wedding beer (courtesy of Ben, and not all local):

1. Open with Peekskill’s Hop Common
2. For the Champagne toast, pull out Mikkelller Nelson Sauvin Brut
3. For a general crowd pleaser, Carton’s Red Rye (or Boat Beer)

Jimmy is also getting ready for this weekend’s Hudson Rising in Beacon on 8/11, which will feature beers from Sloop (off MetroNorth). Or listeners are invited to stay in town and join Heritage Radio Network for their Hawaiian BBQ party.

You can listen to all of Episode 175 here.

 

The Good Bear Seal is growing again, and this year (our 5th) we’ve burst the seams of the five boroughs and expanded to Long Island and New Jersey.

First up, the scene at last night’s Good Beer hosted by Edible Manhattan. For a great summary, check out Brew York’s column or Local Bozo. With dozens of food and beer purveyors at 82 Mercer, there was a little something for everyone. However, the big news came at the launch of the party, when 10 new Good Beer Seal bars were awarded the Good Beer Seal. Good Beer Seal Bars are committed to the presentation, promotion and enjoyment of good craft beer; seeking out the best beers from local, national and international producers. They also are key venues for Good Beer in their communities.

This year’s Good Beer Seal Awards went to bars in three boroughs (Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens), Long Island and New Jersey:

• The Owl Farm (297 9th Street, Park Slope, Brooklyn)
• Proletariat (102 St. Marks Place, East Village)
• The Pony Bar UES (1444 First Avenue – at 75th Street)
• Alewife (5-14 51st Avenue, Long Island City, Queens)
• The Queens Kickshaw (40-17 Broadway, Astoria, Queens)
  
• Black Sheep Ale House (78 2nd Street, Mineola, NY – LONG ISLAND)
• Tap and Barrel (558 Smithtown Bypass, Smithtown, NY – LONG ISLAND)
• T.J. Finley’s (42 E. Main Street, Bay Shore, NY – LONG ISLAND)
• Barcade Jersey City (163 Newark Avenue, Jersey City, NEW JERSEY)
• Pint (34 Wayne Street, Jersey City, NEW JERSEY)

This brings the number of GBS bars to a nifty fifty, and we congratulate these leaders in the craft beer community. Cheers, and welcome to the Good Beer Seal.

And that’s a wrap! July Good Beer Month ends today, with the upcoming announcement of the Good Beer Seal Awards (it’s gonna be a heck of a party, with 10 – count ’em 10!!! – new GBS bars coming into the fold). In the meantime, Beer Sessions Radio™ host Jimmy Carbone is closing out July with an eclectic and dynamic group of industry friends, including first-time visitor Betsy Andrews from Saveur Magazine, who shares some of her favorite beers and contemplates why there’s Amazeballs but not Amazeboobs (which would, of course, be a milk stout).

Also in the studio is GBS bar owner Joe Carroll from Spuyten Duyvil, Peekskill Brewery‘s head brewer Jeff O’Neil, Andrew McLeod of Sixpoint, Sean McCain of Bronx Brewery, and Hilary Krishnan with The Barman’s Fund, an organization whose bartenders commit to donating one day’s tips each month to charity. With chapters in NYC, New Orleans, Charlotte and now Austin, The Barman’s Fund is helping make a difference in communities nationwide.

The group also discusses the IPA v. Pale Ale evolution, and where to find great beer. The answer? Everywhere! Or as Jeff O’Neil puts it perfectly, “There’s so much good beer available now. It’s an embarrassment of riches.”

Catch the full episode here.

 

For five years Edible Manhattan and The Good Beer Seal have joined forces to promote the enjoyment of delicious, well-crafted beer in New York City. Edible’s Good Beer event has been the capper to NYC July Good Beer Month since its inception in 2009 when a handful of independent bar owners pulled together to create The Good Beer Seal, an organization designed to  recognize and celebrate the dedicated, community-oriented bar owners who are on the front lines of the craft beer revolution.

Each year an independent panel of knowledgeable beer writers get together to explore the New York City craft beer landscape to identify bars that serve both beer and their local communities with distinction. As of this writing, 41 New York City bars have been awarded The Good Beer Seal, a sign to consumers that the beer they are about to enjoy have been handled with the utmost care by local business people whose fingerprints are literally and figuratively all over their bars.

July has been declared NYC July Good Beer Month by Mayor Michael Bloomberg and these 31 days are a whirlwind of local bar events and media focus on good beer culminating in Edible Manhattan’s Good Beer at 82 Mercer and the much anticipated Good Beer Seal Bar Awards.

Join us to discover which groggeries make the cut! Special bottles and food selections will be available for guests of this invitation only event.

A handful of general admission tickets remain for Good Beer (get them here).

How many NYC bartenders does it take to make a killer beer cocktail? Well, on this week’s Beer Sessions Radio™ (Episode #176 – listen here), host Jimmy Carbone welcomes an eclectic—albeit super cool—group into the studio (and onto the Pilsner Urquel van!) for a discussion ranging from the history of beer on Staten Island to the desire of Czech brewers to perfect their beer pour stateside.

And harkening back to last year’s Beer Cocktail Brunch-Off at Jimmy’s No. 43, Cara Tallon from Tavern 29 and Pine Box Rock Shop’s Tony “TK” Pontius (winner of the NYC Hot Sauce Expo’s Bloody Mary Mix-Off Competition) face off with several amazing cocktails (recipes below), which get passed around the studio to additional guests, Good Beer Seal bar owners Ken Tirado Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn and Heather Rush from Pine Box Rock Shop, plus the aforementioned van proprietor Bryan L. Panzica from Pilsner Urquel.

What makes a great bartender? How to get the pour in your beer? Bryan, who was the 2012 NYC winner of the International Master Bartender Competition (he went on to claim second in the World Championship in Czech), shows how Pilsner Urquel is doing everything from cold shipping to providing traditional faucets to perfect the pour of the Pilsner.

Plus Ken reminisces about early settlements and the history of beer bars on Staten Island, and Jimmy questions why good spirits and great beer go together. In Cara’s words, “Beer cocktails make a beer that’s pretty great even better!”

Cara Tallon/Tavern 29’s “Pearl Street” Beer Cocktail

• 1.5 oz. Bushmills Irish Whiskey
• 1 oz. fruit puree (preferably peaches)
• RJ Rockers Son of a Peach unfiltered wheat beer

Mix whiskey and fruit puree, add ice and RJ Rockers beer. Garnish with mint.

Tony “TK”/Pine Box Rock Shop’s “IPA Manhattan” Beer Cocktail

• 1.5 oz. Rye Whisky
• Founders Devil Dancer (120 IBUs)
• Dash Vermouth
• Dash Brandied Cherry brine

Pour whisky over ice, adding Vermouth and Cherry brine as you would for a traditional Manhattan. Top with Founders Devil Dancer in place of bitters.

And view the NYC Hot Sauce Expo Bloody Mary Competition here.

 

Do you know who Jack McAuliffe is? How about the youngest (and female) brewer in Belgium? Have you heard the history of New Amsterdam? Well, this week on Beer Sessions Radio™, host Jimmy Carbone welcomes Tom Acitelli (author of The Audacity of Hops) in leading a craft beer history chat, while celebrating July Good Beer Month with Good Beer Seal bar owners, James Langstine of Bronx Ale House and Chris Genua of The Double Windsor. They ruminate on what defines a Good Beer Seal bar, along with the challenge for brewers to meet the consumers’ demand for “something new.”

Speaking of new, “nomadic brewers” Joe and Lauren Grimm premiere their From the Hip Saison, which will be available this week at Jimmy’s No. 43 (on Thursday) and The Double Windsor (on Friday). To round out the cast of characters, Wynkoop’s Beer Drinker of the Year, Warren Monteiro, opines on what makes a great craft beer and his own history of drinking craft around the world. Plus, a couple of special guests from a charity auction get to see the inside of the Heritage Radio Network studio at Roberta’s. From ancient beer (Tom opens a fizzy-but-old New Amsterdam amber ale from 1985) to brand-spanking new, this week’s episode (listen here) has something for everyone.

TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE GATE

The Good Beer Seal, Beer Sessions Radio™ and Biba of Brooklyn are happy to announce the first annual NEW YORK STATE FOOD& BEER EXPO to be held on Saturday, July 27^th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the waterfront at Williamsburg’s East River Park. Beer Sessions Radio™ host Jimmy Carbone has brought together more than 20 of New York’s top brewers—including Kelly Taylor with KelSo of Brooklyn—for this featured event of July Good Beer Month. The Expo will have exclusive beers and farm-to-table foods sourced from regional farms. Breweries expected to be in attendance include:

• Alphabet City
• Barrier
• Blue Point
• Bronx
• Brooklyn Brewery
• Captain Lawrence
• Crossroads
• Defiant
• Empire Brewing
• Greenport Harbor
• Keegan Ales
• KelSo
• Newburgh
• Olde Saratoga
• Ommegang
• Port Jeff
• Peekskill
• Radiant Pig
• Rockaway
• Rushing Duck
• Shmaltz/Coney Island
• Singlecut Beersmiths
• Sixpoint
• and Southern Tier, among others TBA.

As part of the festivities Empire Brewing Company owner, David Katleski, will be receiving a special award in recognition of his years of leadership and service to NY State craft beer as president of the NY State Brewers Association.

In addition, a wide array of food options will be available courtesy of Jarlsberg Cheese, Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen, Chef Dennis Hatzinger and NY Handmade Breads. Menu items (some only available with VIP ticket) include:

• Hickory Smoked sliders with grilled Honey Ridge Farms balsamic onions, created by Chef Dennis Hatzinger from Idle Hands and DJA Catering NYC
• Savory Classic Jarlsberg Grilled Cheese, created by Ron Johnson of Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen
• Signature Jam Goat Grilled Cheese—made with Woolwich Dairy Chevrai goat cheese, strawberry jam and mint—created by Ron Johnson of Mrs. Dorsey’s Kitchen
• Wild Hibiscus Flower Co.
• Wild Hibiscus Ice Tea Stand
• Breads courtesy of NY Handmade Breads

Ticket packages (21+, on sale here) start at $20 and include a VIP option. General admission tickets are $10 at the gate (enter at 90 Kent Avenue at 8^th Street and Williamsburg riverfront). Check back for updates!