Hello Happy Hour Nation! Squigs scoots less than an hour north from New York City to experience the fantastic new Port Chester Hall. Take a peek inside this reclaimed train station and learn about some of what you will find here. Beer! Food! Trains!
And watch to the end for a wee travel tip for the thousands of you who schlep through Grand Central Terminal each day.
Video #285: BEERmuda Triangle in Avon and Upland!
Rounding out our time with the BEERmuda Triangle Tour last summer for Bagger Daves, here's our last stop, Upland Brewing and the BDVs store in Avon, Indiana. What an amazing trip this was!
New Adjunct Faculty, and #CraftBeer in Panama!
Steve Smith, an old friend of Jimmy's, reached out recently with an exciting proposition: He travels worldwide constantly for work and wanted to contribute to THHG! After much thought (2 or 3 seconds) we heartily agreed. Please welcome our newest contributor, the Frequent Flyer Guy, with a report from Panama!
Something's Brewing in Panama: Craft Beer
Like in many countries, beer options in Panama have been historically limited to large established domestic and international brands. SABMiller, for example, presently holds 66% market share in Panama, both through its indirect ownership of Panama's Cerveceria National (Atlas and Balboa brands), and as a result of its recent introduction of international brands like Miller Lite. But a fledgling craft beer movement is taking root and gaining momentum in Panama, and the prospects are looking bright for the nation's beer lovers.
The origins of the Panamanian craft beer movement can be traced to 2005, when the Istmo Brew Pub opened in the El Congrejo neighborhood of Panama City. After nearly 9 years in operation, Istmo's business definitely doesn't seem to have gone flat, drawing a large Friday night crowd of locals, ex-pats, and tourists when I visited. This is thanks in large part to its selection of house-made "cerveza artesanal", including the refreshing Istmo Colón (pictured), one of five varieties offered.
In the historic and now-trendy Casco Viejo neighborhood, the La Rana Dorada brewery has burst onto the craft beer scene. It currently features four diverse selections: a Belgian blanche, a German-style pils, an English-style pale ale, and a classic English porter. La Rana Dorada enjoyed a brisk business comprised mostly of locals when I visited, so much so that two of the four beer selections had sold out by the time I arrived later in the evening.
Adding to craft beer's momentum, Panama hosted its inaugural Micro Brew Fest in 2013, with Istmo Brew Pub and La Rana Dorada as two of the four domestic craft breweries participating, Also participating were Oregon's Rogue Ales and Scotland's BrewDog. 2013's success brought an expanded roster of 10 breweries in 2014, more evidence of growing interest in craft beers in Panama.
As I have traveled this past year and a half, the discovery of craft beers and breweries in unexpected places around the world has been surprising. Panama City, Bangkok, and even Shanghai are now home to thriving craft breweries, bringing to mind an image of Chairman Mao cheerfully sipping a hoppy IPA. No longer just a North American or European phenomenon, the craft beer movement has gone global, bringing choice and flavor to beer lovers everywhere.
Steve Smith is a software developer and former technology entrepreneur who is presently on a multi-year adventure exploring the food, drink, and culture of the world. Born in Detroit, Michigan, and based in San Francisco, California, he currently spends the majority of his time abroad. Steve's favorite international destinations include Paris, Bangkok, and Buenos Aires. His preference in bars tends toward neighborhood pubs, feeling that they offer the best opportunity to interact and meet new people while traveling. Some of Steve's favorite watering holes include San Francisco's R Bar, Finnerty's in New York, Le Galway Irish Pub in Paris, and The Game in Bangkok.
Outpost: Colorado.
One of the greatest things about The Happy Hour Guys has always been that the show is so very portable. As Actors, Mark and Jimmy are always traveling around then world for various projects, and where they go, The Happy Hour Guys inevitably follows.
This summer, while Mark holds down the fort on Broadway in NYC, (Newsies, The Musical) Jimmy will be spending 10 weeks in Aspen, Colorado doing the musical The Full Monty at Theatre Aspen. And there is much to cover in and around that frontier outpost! (But can a town with a Prada flagship store ever truly be called an outpost?!?!?)
Be sure and drop us a line or leave a comment if you're interested in seeing us at your place, or are looking to do a fun event - either in CO or NYC.
Its going to be a terrific summer!
Video #284: Artsy's Craft Report - SAVOR 2014!
The Craft industry is filled with one-of-a-kind experiences; but very now and then you get to be a part of something really special. One of those Very Special Events is the yearly gathering of Brewers and tasty bites called SAVOR. The video below features some very talented folk matching incredible beer with outrageously great food (and now I'm out of adjectives, srsly...)
Our top ten favorite pairings from this year's tasting are HERE.
Now click play... and have a drool napkin handy!
Our top #SAVOR pairings.
First of all, it's criminal that we had to narrow this down to 10. Because out of the 140+ food and Craft Beer pairing available on the blessed day of Friday, May 9th at the National Building Museum in DC, there wasn't a single clinker in the lot. (Not that I had them all, I would have exploded. But the entire Happy Hour team was in on this one!)
SAVOR, The Craft Beer and Food Pairing experience put on by the Brewers Association is, for us, one of the most anticipated Beer Events of the year. The food, the beer, the setting, the people... it was a night or the ages. Enjoy the pairings that were so good they almost took the top of our heads off:
1. Cigar City Brewing Guava Grove Sour Saison, paired with Strawberry Rhubarb Pie
2. Devil's Backbone Brewing Danzig Porter, paired with Espresso-Crusted Bison on Black Bread
3. Bell's Brewery Bear Hug Imperial Stout, paired with Foie Gras with Lingonberry
4. Odell Brewing Tree Shaker Imperial Peach IPA, paired with and Pickled Shishito Pepper, Lemongrass, Thai Mussels on the Half Shell with Coconut
5. Founders Brewing Company Backwoods Bastard Barrel Aged Scotch Ale, paired with Duck Sausage
6. Country Boy Brewing Papaw’s Red, paired with Rice Pudding
7. Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Snow Wit and the 7 Dwarf Hops IPA, paired with Fresh Chevre on a Honey Tuile with Orange, Fennel and Pork Crackings
8. Reuben's Brews Imperial Rye IPA, paired with Smoked Brisket on Yucca Chips
9. New Belgium Brewing Company Le Terroir Wild/Sour Ale, paired with Coconut Cheesecake with Coconut Meringue
10. Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Gingerbread Imperial Stout, paired with Dark Chocolate Budino
Thank you, SAVOR. Thank you. Everyone, you may register your curses in the comments below. ;)
Oh, and one of Jimmy's favorite seminars happened to be about Craft Beer and Doughnuts.
Don't hate.
A SAVOR preview. #TREATS
We'll just give you two brewery pairings, so this baby:
And this:
To say that we're in for a treat... is an understatement of epic proportions. This is gonna be AWESOME! Watch the feeds tonight. We're headed to DC!