Wednesday, December 11, 2013

New York City - Part Six - The Craft Beer Scene


No trip would be complete without a few words about the local craft brew scene.  I’m going to focus on a couple of places within easy walking distance of where we stayed on the Upper West Side, as well as a couple of others.
 
First is George Keeley.  This is a lively place in evenings and weekends as it tends to attract a younger crowd who are there to catch a game on TV.  It’s got a solid selection of around a dozen local brews as well as a couple from as far away as San Diego.  We didn’t see anything from the Northwest though.  The beer was good and the pub food pretty decent.  A solid choice if you don’t mind being in a place that’s a bit on the noisy side.
 
A Nice Day on Amsterdam Street:  Jacob's Pickles
Our favorite was Jacob’s Pickles, which we originally thought was called “Beer, Biscuits and Pickles” as that’s what the big sign out front said.  True to their word, they have great biscuits, some excellent uniquely flavored pickles, and the best selection of beer we found on this vacation.  Their Bronx Rye IPA on cask was tasty after a long day of walking and riding in subway cars.
 
The Busy Biergarten at The Standard Hotel
 For those interested in German style beer gardens there is a large tent in the Chelsea neighborhood near the southern terminus of the High Line where you can get some satisfaction.  It’s called the Biergarten at The Standard Hotel. 
 
Another Happy Customer Leaving McSorley's
 One unique old tavern that’s worth a visit is McSorley’s Old Ale House near Greenwich Village.  This place has been around since 1854.  And it was one of the last establishments to have successfully banned women.  They managed to keep the ladies out until 1970.  You don't go their for the beer, as they're now owned by Pabst and essentially serve pedestrian light and dark lager.  You're there for the atmosphere, history and the cheese plate which consists of cheddar cheese, saltine crackers, raw onion, and pub mustard.  Besides, it's very cool to hang out in an establishment that both Abraham Lincoln AND Hunter S. Thompson used to frequent.
 
The Spartan Cheese Plate at McSorley's
Craft beer in New York is really just getting off the ground.  I think it’s where Seattle was around 20 years ago and it’ll only get better as local brewers will eventually convince the masses that whatever they’re producing is far better than the industrial stuff that you can buy anywhere.  Some of our favorites included:

Harpoon IPA (from Massachusetts)
 
A Final Toast from McSorley's Old Ale House

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