Tom Pavlich

What Ales You: Dark Matter at Brooklyn Brewery

June 26, 2009 By Tom Pavlich Leave a Comment

Anywhere you go in the country you are bound to find a craft brewery or brew pub serving up fresh beers for the local public, but here in North Brooklyn we are very privileged to have one of the best. The brewery is located right in our back yard near the border of Greenpoint and Williamsburg, and it is very easy for New Yorkers to take such a great institution for granted. Everyone knows their beers, especially Brooklyn Lager, but occasionally you find one on tap, or cask that you have never seen before…and this weekend that beer is Dark Matter.

A couple months ago Garrett Oliver, the brew master of Brooklyn Brewery, spoke to the New York City Home Brewers’ Guild at one of their monthly meetings. He discussed the the brewery’s beers, told stories, explained that they are not relocating but expanding their operation right here on North 11th Street in Williamsburg, and he also brought beers for everyone to taste.

Most people are familiar with Brooklyn Brown, one of the flagship ales that the brewery makes. Brooklyn Brown is a fine American Brown Ale with hints of caramel, rich chocolate undertones, just a hint of coffee, and balanced perfectly with hops. Brooklyn Brewery originally only made this ale as a holiday specialty, but it has since become a year-round offering…and for good reason. One of the beers that Mr. Oliver brought to share with the Home Brewer’s Guild was a beer called Dark Matter. He explained that it was a beer that was brewed specifically for himself and the other members of the brewery team to enjoy. Dark Matter is the Brooklyn Brown ale aged 9 months in Woodford Reserve bourbon barrels. The already delicious brown ale picks up hints of vanilla, a touch of bourbon, and a bit of booze during this aging creating one of the most drinkable bourbon aged beers out there.

What Ales You: Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales

June 16, 2009 By Tom Pavlich Leave a Comment

Today marks a very special occasion for beer drinkers in New York City. Spuyten Duyvil, in Williamsburg, is hosting a very rare event by Beer Advocate Magazine’s 8th Best Brewery In America (and my personal favorite): Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales. This event will feature four of Jolly Pumpkins ales on tap, and one on cask. Jolly Pumpkin is located in Dexter, Michigan, and the brewery has a strong focus on “old world craftmanship.” They brew “rustic country style beers” that employ the methods of open fermentation, oak barrel aging, and bottle conditioning.

Jolly Pumpkin’s Artisan Ales are not your average beers, but all you have to do is look at these ales in a different light to fully appreciate them. Jolly Pumpkin makes Belgian and French style ales, and you should approach them the same way you would any Belgian Ale or fine wine. The smell of the beer is equally as important as the taste. Before you sip you should inhale deep, get the flavors in your nose before they ever touch your mouth, and only at that point should you take your first sip.

What Ales You: Brett at The Diamond

June 1, 2009 By Tom Pavlich Leave a Comment

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Last week, The Diamond, on Franklin Ave. in Greenpoint, received one of only ten kegs of Brett, a new beer from Kelso of Brooklyn. Brett is brewed with brettanomyces yeast, a strain found in many Flemish and Belgian ales, known for its sharp, sour flavor. The most well known ales with brettanomyces are Lambics, but their sourness is typically masked by the addition of fruit syrups (like in Lindemans Framboise or Kreik). The signature sour beer is the Flanders Red Ale, the best known of which is Rodenbach.

Kelso takes a more delicate approcach to this often-overpowering yeast. Their Brett is a tart ale with notes of strawberry in the nose. There is just a hint of sourness in the begining of each sip, but the aftertaste is mild and clean. It’s a great summer beer, and a great sour beer for beginners. People who love pale ales, hefeweizens, white ales, and pilsners should all give this one a shot. I think you will be pleasantly surprised by the use of the brettanomyces yeast, and it’s hint of sourness might even become a flavor that you crave. I know I do.

What Ales You: Coney Island Meets Greenpoint

May 19, 2009 By Tom Pavlich Leave a Comment

sideshow1 Brouwerij Lane, Greenpoint’s most recent addition to the craft beer scene, has a big event lined up for Thursday May 21st from 7-9pm where they will be showcasing the Coney Island Craft Lagers. Coney Island Craft Lagers, brewed by Shmaltz Brewing Company (also known for Hebrew, “The Chosen Beer”), made their unofficial debut at the 2007 Mermaid Parade.

In America right now the ale is king, but Schmaltz has stepped it up and is producing unique lagers all paying homage to the Coney Island Sideshow. Brouwerij Lane will have all four of the currently available Coney Island Craft Lagers for sale this Thursday!

The Human Block Head is a thick dark robust lager, similar to a German Doppelbock, that weighs in at 10% alcohol. It has a little bit of sweetness and notes of dark fruit (think cherries or raisins). The Sword Swallower is the lager equivalent of an American pale ale, and perfect for this beautiful weather. It is light in color and very refreshing. Both of these beers will be available on tap for purchase in 8oz samples to enjoy in the store, or by the 64oz growler for take home.