The whole Happy Hour Guy crew gets involved in our yearly tradition of looking back over our favorite stops of the previous year. And as we're on the threshold of our 300th episode (which will drop in 2015) this one, which is OUR SEVENTH (!!) is pretty special.
Press play for a look at where we've alighted in 2014, with special guest appearances by rock star brewers, the Amish, and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper. Cheers, Happy New Year, and here's to a great 2015!
Having just opened to the public in 2013, de Garde Brewing in Tillamook, Oregon is making waves in the big beer ocean of the Pacific Northwest. They were heralded by Beer Advocate as the best new Oregon brewery in early 2014. And considering their spontaneous fermentation, barrel aging, and unique plan of attack right out of the gate, we can see why.
De Garde Brewing in Tillamook, Oregon.
Squigs here. On Christmas Day, I was reading an article about the top-rated beers in each state. Although the chosen stats seemed a bit arbitrary, I was intrigued to see an Oregon brewery listed that I hadn't heard of. As a native Oregonian (now living in NY), even I can't keep track of what's new and exciting in Oregon brewing. I was already planning a trip to the Oregon coast, and a visit was a great possibility.
Sampling the wares: Rojo Dos, Bu, Imperial Peach Bu, Berry Bu.
Trevor Rogers and Linsey Hamacher wanted to make spontaneously fermented wild ales so they had to seek out a place where the air was alive with happy strains of bacteria and yeast. They found it in the fertile dairy land already home to renowned cheesemongers including the Tillamook Cheese Factory. Add to this the coastal breezes wafting over the Coastal Mountain Range and you've got a diverse array of critters ready to party down in the de Garde coolship and barrels. And with assistant brewer Will (formerly of Pelican Brewing) and taproom maven Sierra, they assembled a great – albeit VERY busy – team.
The menu board.
As an example of their wares, on my visit I sampled a selection of their Bu Weisse (a take on a Berliner Weisse, named with a Moroccan Berber possessive word meaning "my" or "mine" that Linsey picked up in the Peace Corps). The base Bu and a couple brewed with local fruit: Berry Bu (with blackberries, boysenberries, and blueberries) and the Imperial Peach Bu. Rounded out the tasting with the Rojo Dos (sour red). All were incredible, but I returned to a full pour of the amazing Imperial Peach. And of course I had to take a couple bottles to go: The Lucy (a Lambic based brew with muscat grapes) and the Deux Tetes (a wild collaboration with Pippin apple juice from Portland-based cidery Reverend Nat's).
They periodically host bottle releases and other popular events (as attested by de Garde fans at 5th Street Growlers in Corvallis) and you can find some of their bottles in local markets. I'd love to see beer and cheese pairings which would be a mind-blowing sampling of all the region has to offer. Wow!
Keep an eye on de Garde. And if you find yourself on the Oregon coast, don't miss a chance to drop by. See their website for hours. They're located at 6000 Blimp Boulevard which is named for the neighboring blimp hangar that houses the Tillamook Air Museum. They seem to be quite a fitting neighbor for a brewery where the brews seem to be flying out of the place.
The Team makes the very quick trip from NYC up the Hudson River to the heart of the Hudson Valley Craft Beer renaissance and the Newburgh Brewing Company. Things have changed in a big way for Craft Beer lovers in the Hudson Valley region in the past few years. And Newburgh makes their case for a position as leader of that pack, with a beer list that is varied nearly beyond belief (and more coming every month), a special beer that can only be found at the brewery and one other special location; and also the fact that in all that variety, they do not make one very VERY popular style of beer. Join Mark and Squigs as they spend an afternoon with Paul, Sam, and Chris. Enjoy!
Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor (26 W. 8th Street, Greenwich Village, NYC) is a special place for many reasons: The rotating beer list, the draft system, their commitment to the 'Arts & Crafts' movement - but at the end of the day, as with all bars, the Community they form is the core of why people become fans of this place and come back over and over again. Here's a sample of the community you might find when you step through the door. Cheers!
Our second in a five-part series featuring Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor (26 W. 8th Street, Greenwich Village, NYC): What happens in that last several feet between the keg downstairs and your glass at the bar? How does a bar like Arts & Crafts serve great Craft Beer in the best, and most caring way possible? Click play to learn about the Ferrari, no check that, the Bugatti of Draft Systems, moving beer beautifully from keg to glass in a place you'll want to come back to over and over again. Many thanks to Don Borelli and Robert LaFrance at A&C (you really need to meet these guys), as well as stellar camera work by Squigs and Dane. Cheers!
More coolness: As we continue to improve the great coverage you've come to expect from us, we go heavily in depth on one great bar:
In the heart of NYC's Greenwich Village (26 W. 8th Street) lies a Craft Beer gem: Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor. Click play to see just what makes A&C so special, from the always rotating Craft Beer list, to the draft system, to their commitment to the spirit of 'Arts & Crafts' - this is truly a place you'll want to come back to over and over again. Here's the first in a series of 5 features on this bar; enjoy an overview of Arts & Crafts.
Cheers!
In 2012, a huge addition to the pantheon of Craft Beer bars opened in Midtown Manhattan: Beer Authority. Located directly across the street from Port Authority bus terminal, this massive space includes 3 separate floors, a roof deck, and a sincere devotion to Beer. Mark and Jimmy (with Squigs on the camera) interview owner Joe Donagher to get the 311 on this terrific bar, and his plans for the future. Cheers!
