As the months passed and the seasons changed, “pint size” remained untouched, but certainly not forgotten. I’ve tried to think of the great comeback, the post that would get me right into the swing of things, and then I realized—I’d eventually just have to sit down with a beer and “do what’s right” (write!). That’s the motto of Portland’s own Maine Beer Company. Seems particularly fitting, seeing as I’ll be making my way up north to Rangeley in a mere five days. “Peeper Ale,” brewed with 100% American hops is a fine Ale. Mildly malted with a soft finish, this beer’s gentle nature is reminiscent of Maine evenings. Dark skies and calm waters—beauty can arise from utmost simplicity. Like its state of birth, this brew is a pleasure to drink.

I recently Bolted to Philadelphia to visit two dear friends, a couple whom I don’t see nearly enough. One, a household name for nearly 40 years in kitchens throughout the City of Brotherly Love and beyond. The other, a mentor and confidante. Both, family.

Upon arrival, we were greeted with smiling faces and promptly whisked away to partake in a life-altering experience as far as the world of hamburgers is concerned. Just imagine: in place of the bun, two grilled cheese sandwiches. But it’s not what you’re thinking. Forget Kraft singles hugged between two airy slices of Wonder Bread and replace it with thinly sliced and grilled sourdough-like bread with melted white cheddar cheese. The burger itself was cooked to perfection and it had all the right accoutrements (though pickle chips would have been a welcome addition). I’m hopeful that this ingenious concoction makes its way to my neighborhood—NYC could certainly use a little more Love in its life. 

On Saturday evening, we had our meal at home and it was definitely the highlight of the trip. The company and food were divine. Earlier that day, I stopped at the aptly named store, Food & Friends, since I was responsible for curating the beers to accompany our summer supper. For those of you who have never been to this grocery store, they have an extraordinary selection of American and international beers with a fairly knowledgable staff. After assessing my options, I decided to go with two six-packs: the first would be a smattering of favorites easily found in NYC — some of which I guessed might be new to my hosts — the other would be comprised of beers entirely new to me, coming from as far north as Canada and as far west as Wisconsin.

Starting from the left: Flower Power from Ithaca Beer Company, Ithaca, NY; Brawler from Yards Brewing Company, Philadelphia, PA; Big A IPA from Smuttynose Brewing Company, Portsmouth, NH; Pennsylvania Pale Ale from Philadelphia Brewing Company, Philadelphia, PA; Commodore Perry from Great Lakes Brewing Company, Cleveland, OH; The Bitter End from Two Brothers Brewing Company, Warrenville, IL; Keller Pils from Southampton Publick House, Southampton, NY; Proper from Furthermore Beer, Spring Green, WI; Centennial IPA from Founders Brewing Company, Grand Rapids, MI; Racer 5 IPA from Bear Republic Brewery, Sonoma County, CA; Pale Ale from Bell’s Brewery, Kalamazoo, MI; Red Racer IPA from Central City Brewing, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Our first course:

Though beer is not usually the drink of choice for my Philly friends, our pairings that evening seemed to spark their interest, and I could not have been happier for with each pint I saw them fall a little more in love. 

I just got back from a week’s vacation in San Francisco (my hometown), and besides getting my much needed fix of proper Mexican food, I made a point of hitting up some of the city’s best beer spots. Many would argue that the west coast is producing some of the finest craft beers on the scene today, and though it has quite a presence here on the east side, I found myself tasting something new almost every day. Now for a quick rundown of a few favorites:

Zeitgest Bar on Valencia at Duboce: rough around the edges but a sprawling outside space. Brews: “Poppy Jasper”  from El Toro Brewing - Morgan Hill, CA & “Steelhead Extra Pale Ale” from Mad River Brewing Company - Blue Lake, CA

Magnolia Pub and Brewery on Haight at Masonic: quite possibly the best happy hour I’ve come across to date ($5 for two pints). Brews: “Blue Bell Bitter” & “Kalifornia Kolsch” - both Magnolia originals. 

21st Amendment Brewery on 2nd near Brannan: the perfect spot to drown your sorrows after the Giants get swept by the Dodgers. Brews: “Brew Free or Die IPA,” “Imperial Jack,” & “Eurailipa” - fresh from the brewery in back.

In a city with such a rich beer culture, five days only allows one to scratch the surface. Can’t wait ‘til I’m back, so I can continue my discoveries and appreciate one of the cities closest to my heart. 

My godmother has it right, San Francisco is like looking into a bowl of seashells. 

The highlights: Empire, Stoudt’s, Northcoast, Sierra Nevada, Southampton, Ithaca, Captain Lawrence, Harlem, 21st Amendment, Arcadia, Oskar Blues, Abita, Nectar, Two Brothers, Southern Tier, Six Point

NY Brewfest June 19, 2010, Governors Island

Sticky. Fruity. Fantastic!

A bit of hopstory: Tomahawk is a bittering hop of recent origin, bred by Charles Zimmermann. It is the first commercially grown “Super Alpha” variety. In 1998 it contributed to 11% of the USA hop crop.

On my way to La Superior in Williamsburg, a BYOB establishment, I made a pit stop at Spuyten Duyvil Grocery to pick up beverages. The store is actually quite small but this has no bearing on their beer selection which is bountiful. They carry bottles from most of today’s leading American craft breweries and their international section has much to offer as well.  After swapping pre prohibition “Old Fashioned” recipes and commiserating over the tremendous shortage of Angostura bitters in New York City, George (the manager) introduced me to the beer that single-handedly transformed him from a PBR drinker to a full-blown beer geek. I don’t tend to drink German beers that often but with this kind of endorsement, I figured I ought to give it a whirl. Turns out, Bamberger Mahr’s Bräu is outstanding! Hailing originally from Pilsen, Bohemia and dating back to the 19th century, the pilsner style is one of the most common not to mention the most drinkable. Today, craft breweries like Lagunitas, Oscar Blues, Victory, and North Coast are producing excellent representations while incorporating their own unique twists. Nevertheless, tasting the refined simplicity of Mahr’s Bräu renewed my appreciation for the style in its most classic form. Thank you George and thank you Germany. 

Special thanks: To David for being my sexy wrist model. 

My co-worker has been raving about Greenport Harbor Brewing Company on Long Island for months, and it’s now finally made it’s way to my neck of the woods. My first taste was from a Bierkraft growler filled with Harbor Ale, and I knew right away what the hype was about. Later that evening I made a stop at Pacific Standard only to find another Greenport brew on the menu—this time their IPA—and given my penchant for this variety, I ordered two. My drinking partner and I grabbed a spot at the bar, pints in hand. After a few sips, we began discussing the beer, how its flavor was “interesting,” and in fact didn’t taste much like an India Pale Ale at all. Though fearing that I might be wrong, I decided to risk it and take it up with the bartender. He willingly poured me a sample from the same Greenport tap and, sure enough, it looked just like what filled both glasses and tasted just the same. At this point, I was prepared to accept defeat, when the bartender suddenly realized that indeed the draft board was wrong, and what I was drinking was certainly not an IPA and perhaps wasn’t even from Greenport. He politely offered us fresh beers of our choosing and we gladly accepted. What’s the point of my story? Well, so far I am very impressed with this brewery and urge everyone to give it a try. And, Pacific Standard likes to test the palettes of its clientele, and guess what: we’re up for the challenge!

There’s no question that a quality craft brew is key, but where you consume the pint can add a great deal to the experience. In Brooklyn, there are many spots to choose from, but a new beer bar is always an exciting addition to the neighborhood. The brothers responsible for the frequented and highly respected Bar Great Harry on Smith Street decided to spread the love across The Gowanus. Formerly an auto shop, Mission Dolores on 4th Ave., which opened just last week, offers 20 taps and one cask, spacious outdoor seating, and pinball! There I enjoyed a Lagunitas WTF (Wilco Tango Foxtrot) and could not have picked a better way to spend my Sunday afternoon. I plan to be back for round two before the week’s end, and in the meantime, go scope out the new digs for yourself: missiondoloresbar.com/blog 

If you’re a hop-head like myself, this is the beer of your dreams! Until recently, it was brewed in only small quantities, thus making it very hard to come by. But fret not: Big A IPA by Smuttynose is now available year-round, and it’s the biggest, boldest, most awesome India Pale Ale I’ve had in a long time. At an ABV of 9.6%, 16 ounces can really pack a punch but the combination of fruit, floral, and malt flavors make it very easy to drink. If you see this label, you know what to do.