RATTLE, HUM, AND OTHER NOISE (Captain Lawrence’s Golden Delicious and Greenport Harbor’s Black Duck Porter)

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

I guess when most people get out of work, they want to hole up in a cheap bar with lots of other people for Happy Hour. Maybe it’s because I don’t work in a quiet office, but these places generally don’t do it for me.

The thing with Rattle n Hum is that all the selections from their almost 40 draft and 75 bottle selections can be considered craft beer. So nobody can get away with drinking the cheap stuff here. Unless you take advantage of their $1 off Happy Hour deals.

The first time I came to this Irish owned spot, it was before the work crowd came out and I got to admire their extensive beer selections and spread out at one of the wooden communal tables. I couldn’t help but serenade my beer with U2 songs.

I was drawn to Captain Lawrence’s Golden Delicious. Whether the name held true or not, it sure got my lips puckering. It wasn’t completely golden, but veered more to the burnt orange hue. The nose was terribly fragrant with juicy apple backed by powerful wisps of alcohol. The strong beer was delicious with honey apple notes backed by yeast and crisp malts. It’s similar to a hard cider, but without any sugariness and much more complexity.

My second visit to the bar fell a little later in the day so the crowd had already descended. It was dark, loud, and packed and not really my scene. I was craving a beer so I found a little area at the bar to try something out.

This time I checked out Greenport Harbor’s Black Duck Porter. The lack of lighting and the dark reddish brown beer made my photo opportunity rather difficult. The porter smelled of roasted coffee, hazelnuts, and cherry. The flavor matched that with a bit of chalky chocolate up front followed by a finish of bitterness and deep roasts. It was light and easy to drink. In fact, I downed it in no time. I think I was eager to escape the crowd.

Rattle n Hum, with their diverse craft beer selection and crowded bar room, is the place that everybody wants to be. I just want to be here before everybody else arrives. Then I’d say I’ve finally found what I’m looking for.

Is Captain Lawrence’s Golden Delicious the best beer in NY? It gets a 9 out of 10 for being truly delicious and well balanced with hints of honey goodness and alcohol seriousness.

Is Greenport Harbor’s Black Duck Porter the best beer in NY? A dark, roasty porter with light body and a bitter finish like this earns an 8 out of 10. It’s dark and drinkable.