Video #293: Arts & Crafts Beer Parlor - An Overview.

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!

THHG at Beer Film Fest!

As part of Good Beer Month in NYC, we had the good fortune to be a part of this event curated by the one and only Jimmy Carbone. Here are the episodes we had featured, from our visits to Carton Brewing, in Atlantic Highlands, NJ, and Peekskill Brewing in the Hudson Valley:

...and this recap from Jane Van Arsdale at Local Bozo:

"The month of July is considered Good Beer Month and in celebration of all things suds, Anthology Film Archives would host a short but effective Beer Film Festival on Tuesday night, welcoming in local lovers of craft beers for an informative and interactive affordable evening. Curated by Jimmy Carbone, the active owner and proprietor of craft beer haunt Jimmy’s No. 43, dozens of guests were welcomed into the Second Avenue theater and subsequently plied with tasty eats and distinctive beers during the evening’s reception. But not until after having the opportunity to watch some finely crafted beer related short films.

The three hour event would feature roughly seven films- some as brief as commercials for intricately made brews (Sixpoint’s “Dr. Klankenstein” Stein creation and their collaboration with Stumptown Coffee Roasters andMast Brothers Chocolate - “3Beans”) and others, more dynamic looks at local brewers and their brewing processes. Features on the likes of Carton Brewing Company in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey and Peekskill Brewing, courtesy of online beer duo The Happy Hour Guys were particularly informative, enticing viewers to take the short trip to each place. Other clips from Sierra Nevada and promotional pitches for ‘Beer For Beasts’and Rockaway Brewing Company’s canning line and a Beer Nation TV trip to Newburgh Brewing Companyrounded out the hour long run of films.

Following the string of short films, guests were welcome to enjoy an unlimited supply of refreshing beers courtesy of Sixpoint, Rockaway Brewing and 508 Gastrobrewery as well as an array of creamy cheeses, fresh charcuterie and salty pretzels, all washed down with splashes of tasty beer. Rockaway Brewing Company’s “Toasted Summer” was our favorite of the night similar to many of the other attendees that we interacted with during the casual afterparty. The relaxed setting was just the first Beer Film Festival hosted by Carbone and his friends, but it’s almost certain to set the stage for a much larger, grander event in the months to come."

- Jane Van Arsdale

Frequent Flyer Guy finds a Bangkok Beer Oasis.

Our own Frequent Flyer Guy, Steve Smith, reports in from one of his favorite cities in the world:

Bangkok Beer Oasis:

In a city known for many pursuits besides brewing, great craft beer is on tap if you know where to look:

Bangkok, Thailand.

Bangkok, Thailand.

I love Bangkok. It is one of my favorite international destinations. For me it has nearly everything a great city should have: Great restaurants, delicious street food, friendly locals, a large international community, and of course the bustling nightlife for which it is famous. But Bangkok, like many Asian cities, is not known for a thriving craft beer scene. While I have encountered craft beer on occasion in Bangkok, it has often been disappointing. Most craft beer I have come across in Thailand is imported, which unfortunately can mean a steep price tag (due to Thailand's high tax on imports), and unreliable quality (due to improper product handling during shipping, storage, and distribution).

Mikkeller Bangkok!

Mikkeller Bangkok!

Just this year, however, a brand new player emerged on the Bangkok beer scene, and has brought world-class craft beer to the city. In January, 2014, nontraditional Danish brewer Mikkeller opened just its second international beer bar in Bangkok. (Its first was opened in San Francisco in 2013.)

Located well off the beaten path on a sleepy, residential side street in Bangkok’s upscale Ekkamai neighborhood, Mikkeller Bangkok is a destination bar to be certain. It is located far away from many of the tourist and ex-pat neighborhoods like Khaosan Road and Sukhumvit, and receives zero benefit from foot traffic. Yet on my visit on a Saturday evening, the bar was full, loaded with tourists and ex-pats who managed to navigate the sois of Ekkamai for great beer. “This is the best craft beer bar in Asia,” I was told by a IPA-loving British ex-pat from Hong Kong, who said he now makes a point to visit Mikkeller every time he comes to Bangkok. And its easy to see why.

Don't waste time. Just get there.

Don't waste time. Just get there.

The first things you notice when you enter Mikkeller are the taps: 30 of them. This might not be surprising in Europe or the USA, but in Asia a tap arsenal of that size is almost unheard of. And the selection is excellent. Mikkeller, being a “collaborative” brewer, features not only its own creations in its bars, but also a fantastic rotating selection of offerings from other brewers around the world. In addition to its own labels, at the time of our visit Mikkeller Bangkok offered beers from Brewfist (Italy), To Øl (Denmark), Siren (England, UK), Rogue (Oregon, USA), Boon (Belgium), and 8Wired (New Zealand) among others. Stouts, IPAs, lambics, brown ales, pilsners, porters, pales, Belgian ales, as well as ciders, meads, and craft spirits are offered... and our thirsty group sampled many. We even tried a chipotle- and coffee-infused stout, which was admittedly a bit challenging for many of our palates. By and large, however, the selections we tried were excellent and ran the gamut of varieties offered.

Yes please.

Yes please.

The last thing that impressed us about Mikkeller Bangkok was that the staff are sticklers about quality. We spoke with one of the managers about the issue of maintaining quality with imported beer, and he talked at length about their relationship with their importer and the standards they have for handling the product properly, to ensure quality during shipping and storage. And on our visit, we found the imports to be spot on, as if their journey around the globe had been just a short trip around the block.

Before visiting Mikkeller, I wouldn’t have considered Bangkok to be much of a destination for anyone serious about craft beer. But like in so many other cities around the world, beer drinkers in Bangkok are seeking out more options in flavor and in brewers, and Mikkeller is delivering, putting Bangkok on the craft beer map in Asia.

For more information, visit Mikkeller Bangkok's web site: http://www.mikkellerbangkok.com

Asia travelers? What Craft Beer gems have you found out there? Leave them in the comments section.

Cheers!

Video #289: Beer Hero - Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper.

Our Beer Heroes documentary series continues: Welcome Brewer, Geologist, former 2-term Mayor of Denver and current Governor of Colorado, John Hickenlooper!

The Governor, Duncan Clauss (owner of ABC) and Jimmy

The Governor, Duncan Clauss (owner of ABC) and Jimmy

Our latest Beer Hero couldn't be more deserving: The first Brewer to occupy a State Governorship since Samuel Adams in 1793, Governor Hickenlooper's involvement with Craft goes back a long way. From humble beginnings as a homebrewer, to becoming an owner of a brewpub that helped rebuild the defunct LODO section of Denver, the Governor has always known that Craft Creates. 

So after finding that the Governor would be in Aspen for the Ideas Festival, we contacted his communications staff and asked for an interview. Initially we were told that we had 5 minutes; the Governor ended up staying nearly a half hour. 

Click play above for seat at the Aspen Brewing Company's production facility just outside town, and a past, present and future look at this talented politician and downright terrific guy. Cheers!