During my most recent trip to the Big Apple, I ventured over to Brooklyn to take in an awesome brunch with friends and then “tour” the Brooklyn Brewery. I tried a number of the beers there, but before I get to those, let’s discuss this free brewery “tour” that is touted so much.
Honestly, anytime something is free in the New York area, it’s kind of hard to complain about what you are getting for no cost. The “tour” is in quotation marks because it’s not really a tour, it’s more of a standing seminar in their large brewing room on how the Brooklyn Brewery makes beer. No free tastes (bullshit), the tub of beer-looking liquid is actually iodine (also bullshit!) and you don’t really learn anything that can’t be found on their web site. Skip the tour and nab a seat when the other suckers vacate a table for the tour.
On to the beer. Before and after the “tour” our group spent a good portion of the afternoon in Brooklyn Brewery’s indoor drinking area, throwing back some of the finest beer they have to offer. We also ordered up a couple pizzas, sold off one of the chairs we weren’t using and almost got in a fight. All in all, it was a good day.
Savoir Faire - I was immediately drawn to this beer, as it’s 8.0% alcohol was by far the highest of those being served at the brewery. Usually you expect a beer with this much alcohol to be heavier and darker, this was not the case. The Savoir Faire was a beautiful amber color with just a hint of fruit flavor. After trying a couple of other beers, I went back to the Savoir Faire…this could be the reason we almost got in a fight.
East Indian Pale Ale - This seemed to be the favorite of my friends - possibly because two of them were Indian - but more likely because as an EIPA (instead of a regular IPA), this beer had a distinctive taste compared to your traditional pale ales. As the web site says, it has the taste of lemongrass, pine and citrus fruit…definitely unique and worth the try.
Brooklyner Weisse - Hefeweizen and ambers are my favorite beer, so you know I had to try their variation of the hef. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. Although it looks like your normal weisse or hefeweizen, the taste and fruitiness of the beer was kind of bland. Also, maybe it’s by design, but it just didn’t feel right without a lemon.
The Brooklyn Brewery is known for their Friday happy hour, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. I’m not really sure what their specials are during this time, but it’s a great stop for a couple beers before heading to dinner or just getting the weekend started on a high note, or just stop in over a weekend for a beer from the source.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
Did you go to Brooklyn Brewery and not have the Lager? It’s their signature beer, a nice dark lager. Really smooth and drinkable.
Tell me you at least had some Yuengling while you out in NYC?
Brooklyn Brewery moved their actually brewing operations up North a while ago (maybe 2001?). I think their main brewhouse is up towards Albany now.
How does FrankTheTank know more about the brewery than the guy that actually stood through their beer “seminar”?
@ FrankTheTank & Mitch: Drank the Lager, just not at the brewery… had to try stuff I hadn’t drank before.
And yes, I know about the moving of their brewing operations, they still produce about a quarter of their beer in Brooklyn.
Learned that on the “tour”. Knowledge dropped!