Come try the Flying Dog Kerberos Tripel tonight, at Bar Great Harry. This beer has never been kegged until now. The brewery describes it: “Named after the mythical Greek three-headed dog that guards the gates of hell, Kerberos is a traditional Belgian-style Tripel with a dark golden color that has a sweet flavor with a dry and spicy finish.” Along with this rare find, Bar Great Harry will be pouring Barrel-aged Gonzo Imperial Porter, Dogtoberfest Oktoberfest, Tire Bite Golden Ale, Doggie Style Pale Ale, and In-Heat Wheat. Come try these great beers and chat with guys from Flying Dog.

BeerMenus recently had the privilege of interviewing Dan Adams, the lobbyist for the New York State Brewers Association. Mr. Adams allowed us a few questions regarding craft beer in New York.

When asked about the state of the craft brewing industry, Mr. Adams proclaimed, “The craft brewing industry is presented as a growing industry contributing to the economic well being of the state and is highly respected and favorably positioned.” Mr. Adams even suggested that with all the economic turmoil, the craft beer industry will remain strong. As he states, “Tracking beer shipments and tax collection reports for over 40 years in this business show that our consumers continue to enjoy our products even when the economy fails.”

We brought up the status of the S 6101 Bill, which impacts craft beer across the entire state. Mr. Adams let us know that the bill, which would allow small breweries to terminate their contracts with distributors with more ease and less expense did pass, but was vetoed by Governor Paterson. However, Mr. Adams is working with the Governor’s Chief of Staff to revise and sign the bill by early 2009.

Mr. Adams responded warmly to our question of what BeerMenus.com users could do to help support small breweries in New York, letting us know “Purchase only New York State Craft brewed beer, and drink only New York State Craft brewed beer.”

This year for Halloween try something different. Try beer and chocolate pairings. Charlie Papazian, author of the homebrewer’s bible The Complete Joy Of Homebrewing and founder of the Great American Brew Festival, wrote an article yesterday in the Examiner about beer and chocolate pairing titled Chocolate and beer is a taste match from heaven – No tricks, just treats.

The article mentions the presentation by chocolate maker Steve DeVries of Devries Chocolate in Denver, Colorado where he paired several of his own chocolates with beers from our local Shmaltz Brewing Company. Chocolate nibs with the Jewbellation and carmelized nibs with the Bittersweet Lenny’s RIPA. The criteria for beer to go with chocolate: "Generally, I find beers with alcohol levels between 7% and 12% a good starting point. I seek chocolate matches with beer portraying a degree of caramel, toffee, roast, coffee, cocoa malt character. "

Charlie concluded: “What does this all have to do with Halloween? “Boo.” Take a pass on the kisses and tricks. This Halloween treat yourself to some chocolate finery. It will change your world. The kind of change you can believe in, giving you another occasion to enjoy, savor and share your beer discoveries. Tricks, treats, boo, Halloween, chocolate.”

Read the full article here

Try our local chocolate maker Nunu Chocolate.

The Spuyten Duyvil Oktoberfest event starts tomorrow at noon. This event has the most impressive Oktoberfest beer selection. You will look at the list and ask yourself, are they serious? It’s no joke. It’s true what they say, the best things in life are worth waiting for.

On Tap:
1. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Monks Dunkel
2. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Monks Fest
3. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Monks Altfrankish
4. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Monks Kloster Sud
5 Keesmann Lager
6. TBD (most likely a Mahrs beer)

In 20L Gravity Barrel:
1. Hofmann Dunkel
2. Rittmayer Kellerbier
3. Beck (not Beck’s) Lager
4. Sonnenbrau Lager
5. Roppelt Lager
6. Weiherer Lager
7. Weiherer Rauchbier
8. Fassla Lager
9. Fassla Pils
10. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Kloster Sud
11. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Bonifatius Dunkel
12. Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Altfrankish

In 30L Gravity Barrel:
1. Neder Hell
2. Gunther Brau Bernstein
3. Mahrs Kellerbier
Plus a VERY RARE Pine-Tar Pitch Lined Wooden Cask of Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Altfrankish

Bottles:
Scholl Marzen, Drummer Dunkel, Leitner Marzen, Hartmann Kellerbier, Huppendorfer Vollbier, Simon Spezial, Sonnenbrau Kellerbier, Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Kloster Sud, Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Altfrankish, Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Marzen, Weissenohe Klosterbrauerei Classic Organic Export, Rittmayer Hausbier, Neder Schwarze Anna, Monchsambacher Lager, Trunk Nothelfer Ernte Bier, Gunther Brau Schwarzbier, Greif Capitulare Jubilaums, Hebendanz Annafestbier, Hebendanz Marzen
NO JOKE

Last weekend the Great American Brew Fest, one of the largest and oldest brew fests in America, took place in Denver, Colorado. 46,000 people attended the event with over 2900 beers competing in over 75 categories. Each category awarded a gold, silver, and bronze medal. Some of our New York Winners…

Chelsea Black Hole XXX Stout – Bronze medal in the Foreign-Style Stout category.

Captain Lawrence Xtra Gold – Gold medal in the American-Belgo Style Ale category.

Captain Lawrence Golden Delicious – Silver medal in the Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer category.

Ommegang Rare Vos – Bronze medal in the Belgian and French Style Ale category.

Ithaca Cascazilla – Silver medal in the American-Style Amber/Red Ale category.

Ithaca Brute – Silver medal in the American-Style or German-Style Sour Ale category.

Saratoga Lager – Silver medal in the German-Style Marzen category.

Every Fall Sam Adams releases the Imperial Pilsner, a true showcase of Hallertau hops from Bavaria, Germany. On the bottle it says “An Internse hop experience” that uses “enormous, almost reckless quantities of Hallertau hops.” For you hop heads out there who generally drink imperial and double IPAs, this beer is a must try. This beer was recently released and is only around for a few weeks, so make sure to give it a try and email us places where you found it so others can enjoy this intense Sam Adams brew.

From 6-10PM this Friday, head over to the Gowanus Canal in Brooklyn to feast on a roasted 200 pound berkshire hog. Celebrate the Fall season with a plate of pork tacos, roast corn, fresh salsas, greens and warm apple crisps. There will be live music and seasonal brews from Sixpoint.

Buy tix here.

Read more here.

This limited release brew commemorating the 400th anniversary of the founding of Quebec City is a strong blonde ale clocking in at 7.5%. Starting with a nose of ginger and citrus, this beer is malty with hints of hops and spice. Available in bottle-conditioned 750 ml corked bottles, this beer has the Quebec City coat of arms on the label.

Check it out at the following places:

David Copperfields

Wholefoods Bowery

Old Castle

Hop Devil Grill

dba

Ginger Man

Bierkraft

Here is a list of several of the pumpkin beers available on BeerMenus with the brewery descriptions. They come and go quickly so track them down while they last…

Southampton Pumpkin – A unique amber-colored brew that has particular appeal during the autumn months and the holidays of Halloween and Thanksgiving. We use a generous amount of pumpkin as well as traditional pumpkin pie spices to give this unusual brew a definite seasonal character.

Elysian Night Owl Pumpkin Ale – Brewed with 150 lbs. of pumpkin in each batch. Made with Pale, Munich and Crystal malts green and roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin in the mash, boil and fermenter. Bittered with Horizon hops. Spiced in conditioning with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, ginger and allspice. This brew tastes like pumpkin pie, with a rich smoothness.

Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale -This 8.0% ABV pumpkin ale is heartier, spicier, and more “caramelly” and “pumpkiny” than its faint brethren! Perfect finisher on a cool autumn night, or match it up with a slice of pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream. If you don’t agree this is the mother of all pumpkin ales, then you just don’t like mothers!

Wolaver’s Pumpkin – The pumpkins were grown by Will Stevens and his wife Judy, of Golden Russet Farmin Shoreham, Vermont. They have been growing organic vegetables and flowers for over 25 years.
Their farm is less than 15 miles away from our brewery!

Fishermans Pumpkin Stout – 2007 New England Microbrew Champ and Silver Medal winner at the 2007 Great International Beer Festival! This very unique style is more stout than the usual “pumpkin pie” ales that are out there, with hints of real pumpkin & spice and a dark, coffee, stout flavor!

Captain Lawrence Pumpkin – Recently added. Description to come…

Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale – Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale is our homage to the craft and heritage of America’s brewers. Recipes calling for the use of pumpkins in beer date back to early colonial times, when brewers sought to extend their supply of costly imported malt with locally grown ingredients, such as squash and “pompions.” In that spirit, we brew our ale with the addition of pumpkin to the mash, along with traditional spices to create a delicious American original.

Southern Tier Pumking – Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from which they return forever changed. Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of the year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let it’s deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape the Pumking.

Dogfish Head Punkin Ale – Punkin’ Ale is a full-bodied, spiced brown ale brewed with baked pumpkins, cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar. Dogfish Head Punkin’ Ale is named after the annual Punkin’ Chunkin Festival held near Lewes, Delaware the weekend after Halloween.

We have some great news. Today we’re launching BeerMenus Free Beer.

With BeerMenus Free Beer, bars can list a limited number of coupons for a free beer. Until the coupons run out, beer lovers can enter their name and email to receive a coupon they can print and bring to the bar for one free beer.

A big thank you to the five amazing bars that partnered with us for the launch! Cherry Tree Bar, Bar Great Harry, David Copperfields, Rattle ‘N’ Hum, and East Village Tavern.

View all free beer offers, and don’t forget to sign up for the free beer mailing list to make sure you never miss a free beer offer.

Cheers,
The BeerMenus Team