Every week, I document another dish that impressed and satiated me during my food adventures around New York City
Once again, the beer lovers of New York descended on the beautiful Skylight Hanson One in Fort Greene for Village Voice’s annual Brooklyn Pour. I was invited and although my Saturday afternoon was booked with tours, movie screeings, and a dinner event, I somehow managed to slip in at least 45 minutes of celebrating the new and exciting world of local beer.
Breweries from around the world were represented, but since I had limited time, I stuck to those from nearby the city. There were some very exciting sips and any number of these beers could have made my Dish of the Week. I met the guys from Braven Brewery a few months back when they were still planning their soon-to-open brewery in Bushwick. I was thrilled to try their excellent White IPA (currently brewed upstate) and to hear that their facility should open in the next few months. Also new to my tastebuds was Broken Bow Brewery (which is in Westchester County) and their spiced, malty Oktoberfest. Excited to try other offerings from this new discovery.
Some of the newer NYC breweries poured innovative brews right alongside old favorites like Brooklyn, Kelso, and 508. Other Half continues to blow me away – this time with a funky, yet crisp sour wheat ale called Cool Summer, Bro. Transmitter also brought out some excellent funky beers, namely SY1 Saison and a game-changing Black Saison. I’m also always a fan of Paulaner’s fresh, classic German beers and I was excited to see the local brauhaus represented.
But the one beer I was most excited to try was the one I kept talking about for the rest of the night. I wish I drank Finback’s beers more often. Their Queens brewery is a bit out of my usual route and I don’t encounter their beers as much as I would like. But everything I’ve tried here is Dish of the Week worthy (in fact, this isn’t the first of their beers that has that distinction).
I had heard they were brewing what they call an I Pumpkin Ale and my wishes came true when I discovered them pouring it at this event. Unlike many pumpkin beers (which are as trendy as ever right now), this one wasn’t overly sweet or overly spicy. It was perfectly balanced with a subtle (but prevalent) pumpkin flavor and a moderate amount of hops. It was fresh, crisp, and unique. Everything I desire in a beer.
Leave it to Brooklyn Pour to make my wishes (in this case, tasting a specifc pumpkin beer) come true!
| FINBACK BREWERY |
| 78-01 77th Avenue (at 78h Street), Glendale, Queens |
| finbackbrewery.com |
