Beer Talk - Brooklyn Brewery Profile

Beer Talk by Art of the Table
November 10, 2010

Brooklyn Brewery has a lot to brag about. Its humble beginning of two neighbors watching Mets games together in 1986 started the conversation. One brewed home brew beer, and the other saw a potential for pre-prohibition ales and lagers in the U.S. market ~ more specifically in the greater Manhattan area. In 1987, it was official, they were brewing and started to grow their Brooklyn Lager.

Mayor Rudy Giuliani cut the ribbon in 1996 to the new facility in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY. Ever since then they have been growing, brewing quality beer, educating and doing everything they can to run their business in a environmentally responsible manner. In fact, back in 2003, they became the first company in New York City to switch to 100% wind generated electricity.

One of the most important and influential things Brooklyn Brewery has done thus far is hire Garrett Oliver as the brewery's Brewmaster. Garrett is the foremost authority on the subject of traditional beer in the United States. He also crafts some brilliant beer. A beer dinner at the Brooklyn Brewery will make you seriously question whether craft beer or fine wine pairs best with serious cuisine. Garrett Oliver has been described by the New York Times as "brilliant" at pairing flavorful beer with great food.

Oliver also writes for periodicals on the subject of craft beer and has authored leading books on the subject of craft beer and where & how they have a place in fine dining.

It's one thing to tell you all of the great things they do. It's another for you to try the beer for yourself to see if it's something you enjoy. Brooklyn Brewery crafts beer of multiple styles and varieties. What they do well is create a balanced beer, full of flavor and quality assured.

Brooklyn Beer Bash

Brooklyn Lager

A Vienna styled Lager, golden blond in color, dry hopped and crisply refreshing. It's really hard to find quality micro-brewed lager for two reasons. One being, lager is particularly hard to brew, especially with consistent quality. The second reason being, ales are much more popular. Most breweries don't care about crafting a quality lager or pilsner because it's much harder to create and it doesn't sell nearly as well as a flavorful ale variety. This friends, is a good, quality beer with a lot of care given to it.

Brooklyn Brown Ale

Blended from 6 different malts, and 3 different hop varietals, this beer is a balance between northern and southern English brown ales. Northern being more dry and strong in flavor profile, with southern styles being more sweet and mild. This beer has dry hop qualities, sweeter malts (not too sweet, balanced) and an honest medium body. Tradition and creativity don't always play nice,
but this beer has figured it out.

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale (IPA)

A very well balanced and flavorful IPA. The malt is present, making it rather earthy. Using a balanced blend of Kent Golding, Willamette, Northdown, Centennial and Amarillo hops, combined they add to the earthiness and give character and refreshing citrus tones. This is also an IPA that pairs well with many foods. It's strong enough to stand up to big flavors, and balanced enough to pair with
delicate dishes. All in all, a wonderful beer...
sometimes tradition is the right way in fermented form.

Brooklyn Local 1

Large format bottling, and 100% bottle re-fermentation. This traditional brewing process is rarely done now-a-days, even in Europe. Local 1 is an unfiltered golden ale with Saison and Belgian yeast influence. Slightly funky, with great depth and layered malting and hopping. An immediate classic pairing with spicy seafood, this is an awesome choice to pair alongside your next home cooked paella.

Brooklyn Monster Ale Barleywine

Barleywine was traditionally brewed by butlers for the European and American aristocracy. Heavily malted, sweet and usually wicked high in alcohol by volume (this particular beer weighs in at 10.8%), this is reminiscent of sherry, with citrusy hop notes and delicate sweet fruits. A bit vicious when young, aging will mellow this beer out wonderfully...not that vicious is bad, especially after a day of tending to your employers every beck and call...oh Reginald!
My tea needs to be refreshed....coming Madam!

The Staff @ Art of the Table

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