The Bruery Trade Winds Tripel & Breckenridge Vanilla Porter

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I curate beers.  A lot of beers.  It’s kind of like collecting baseball cards for me.  I get waves of pleasure by looking at a well-organized beer list.  And when each name on the list has a story behind it, it all becomes personal.  Now that I’ve had a baby, I can’t say they’re really […]

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On First Avenue, in Manhattan’s East Village, lies a little sliver of German sausage paradise…and, oh, the beer list…the sweet, sweet beer list.  From Currywurst to Bratwurst, and a few side routes into such hearty, meaty delights as Veal Loaf (Leberkaese) and Lamb Sausage, Wechsler’s transports one to Berlin instantly upon crossing its threshold. As […]

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Every couple of months or so, a new brewery’s name starts to dot about the NYC beer community and cause a kerfluffle.  Emails start flying, tweets start chirping and one literally feels the buzz turn into a hum. One such brewery that sparked a fire of interest is Nebraska Brewing Company.  Nebraska, I first thought? […]

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As I launch into my 36th year on this planet (don’t even get me started about my lifetimes on other planets), I’d like to take a moment and say thanks for all the great friends I am fortunate to have in my life.  I salute your humor, irreverance, loyalty, wit, charm and passion.  Continue to […]

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  I’d like to officially welcome these fine specimens into my collection.

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A couple of weeks ago, I was fortunate to go on a journey.  A journey deep into the heart of darkness.  In the world of beer geekery, few names elicit such awe as Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout.  A rather new offering to the scene, it shot straight to the forefront of our collective, suds-filled, hearts […]

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After months of being on allocation, six bottles of Cantillon Fou’ Foune finally arrived today at Hearth.  I might as well just stash them deep in the recesses of the beer room under the East Village for my own personal sipping.  Maybe, just maybe, I’ll decide to let them see the light of day and […]

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St. Nicholas de Bourgueil (100% Cabernet Franc), La Mine, Yannick Amarault, 2008, Loire Valley Southampton Publick House, Vic (antique porter aged in oak), New York Chassagne-Montrachet Rouge (100% Pinot Noir), Phillipe Colin, 2008, Côte de Beaune

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B.R. Rolya, my rep from Shelton Brothers Importers, stopped by Hearth today with a cornucopia of new beers for me to try for the winter season.  Hot damn, on days like this when everything that hits my palate snaps me to attention, I’m reminded of three things: 1) I love beer. 2) There is a […]

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After 6 1/2 years at the tall grey building on the corner across from C Town, tomorrow morning we move to a bigger stable.  Goodbye 32-06; you’ve been an awesome place to hang the hat.  Here’s to hoppier beers and greener pastures ahead…

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Oh hell yeah.

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I was fortunate enough to lead New York Post writer, Chris Erikson, through a tasting last week in anticipation of NY Cider Week; we had a blast (final article above–click to enlarge). Over the course of two hours, I poured eight different hard ciders from around the world and circled back to illustrate how the […]

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