DIVIDED WE DRINK (Brooklyn Brewery’s Scorcher #366 at Rosamunde Sausage Grill)

My search for the best beer in New York continues….

The reason beer is so incredibly diverse is because of the diversity of its ingredients. For instance, roasted barley malt could give off chocolate or coffee notes, while pilsner barley malt could taste like biscuits or honey. And that’s just one ingredient that gives every beer its unique flavor characteristics.

Today I’m going to focus on hops because Brooklyn Brewery’s recent Brewmaster’s Reserve beer makes me really ponder all the flavor possibilities of that magical little flower. They use a new, very rare hop breed. It’s so rare in fact that the hop doesn’t have an official name. It’s very scientifically refered to as “HBC 366.”

Scorcher #366 is a low-alcohol IPA but with unique flavors from those hops. Instead of the expected piney and grassy notes, the first flavor of the orange-golden brew is ash or charcoal. It rounds out to be more earthy and white peppery with a very pleasant dry, citrus finish.

Judging from the response on the Brewed in Brooklyn tour, people either love or hate this beer. Many people might say that the minerally flavor is a little too harsh. But I actually really like it.

In fact, after my tour, I found myself at Rosamunde Sausage Grill, which is known for their long list of  tap craft beers, ordering another pint. It paired nicely with the meaty and smoky sausage.

After leaving the bar, I found myself beginning to crave more of that peppery tingle on my tongue. It’s a good thing the ABV is only 4.5% otherwise I’d quickly stop pondering the nuances of beer and start pondering the nuances of the floor.

Is Brooklyn Brewery’s Scorcher #366 the best beer in NY? Some people will disagree with me, but I give it a 9 out of 10 because I loved the unique earthy qualities and its utter drinkability.