Monthly Archives: September 2009

Grub Street's All Up In Our Reinschweinsgebot

love at first sight

From NYMag.com

We just about lost it when we heard Brooklyn Brewery brew master Garrett Oliver was working on a beer made from Benton’s Country Smokehouse bacon, and now it’s a reality. The catch is: You’ll have to pay $350 for a taste of Reinschweinsgebot, as Oliver is calling it. The beer is part of a pairing dinner at Per Se on September 18 at 7 p.m. (the first of its kind there), which will also feature the Manhattan Project, a rye-based beer made with David Wondrich that’s aged in Rittenhouse Rye barrels and flavored with herbs, spices, and cherry so as to echo the taste of a Manhattan. The Manhattan Project is going out to bars in New York and across 21 states this week (it’s currently on tap at Rattle & Hum), and Oliver is quite pleased with it: “It tells me that we got it right that several bartenders I’ve served it to smelled the beer and just burst out laughing.” Since he’s also pleased with the bacon beer, will it too become commercially available?

(read more)

Brooklyn's Rubber Meets The Road


The Brooklyn Brewery was presenting sponsor of this year’s Transportation Alternatives’ Century Ride on September 13. This was the 20th anniversary of the ride, which begins at the north end of Central Park and winds through all New York’s five boroughs before returning to the park.
I am on the TA Board and I rode in the event with my wife Ellen and daughter Lily. Ellen and I rode only 15 miles because we had tickets for the US Open Women’s final on September 13. (OK so we’re wimps.) Lily and her friends rode 55 miles.
Brooklyn brewer Dan Peterson, his sister and brother-in-law rode the full 100 miles. On Tuesday morning, Dan said he was still medicated with Advil.
Transportation Alternatives is an advocacy organization that promotes bicycling, walking and other alternatives to internal combustion locomotion in the New York metropolitan area.
This year’s Century Ride drew 5,500 riders. There are 185,000 bicyclists in New York City today. At the first Century Ride in 1990, there were 400 riders. At that time, New York had 53,000 bicyclists.
We all were outdone by Brooklyn Brewery General Manager Eric Ottaway during the Braking The Cycle ride. He rode 100 miles on Friday, Saturday and Sunday in bicycling from Boston to New York—a total of 300 miles. That ride raises money for AIDS research.

–Steve Hindy, Founder & President

Garrett Oliver Presides Over First Beer Dinner At Per Se

per se

Per Se is pleased to announce a unique evening featuring Brewmaster Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery on Friday, showcasing innovative concepts and approaches to beer and food pairing. Highlighting selections from Brooklyn Brewery’s collection paired with a seven-course tasting menu created by Per Se Chef de Cuisine Jonathan Benno, Oliver will lead an informal discussion throughout the evening to discuss his techniques, influences as well as the fundamentals behind each pairing. Oliver will also debut new selections during the event, offering guests an opportunity to experience upcoming Brewery releases.

The evening will open with a standing reception beginning at 7pm, followed by a seated dinner.

$350 for Seven-course dinner paired with Brooklyn Brewery Beer
Tax and gratuity not included
Seating is limited to 60 guests with all reservation requests handled through Per Se’s Private Dining Office, reachable by phone at 212-823-9349.

St. Arnold Pops Into Brooklyn Brewery

Brock back in TX

Brock back in TX

St. Arnold Brewery owner Brock Wagner dropped in to Brooklyn to say hello today.  A few years back, Brock and I served on the board of the Brewers Association together.  We had a good talk.  Brock’s cellphone was ringing constantly because he released Divine Reserve #8 today, a special limited volume beer that is much in demand in Texas.  St Arnold is in Houston.

Brock said he hoped to open his new brewery with a 127-barrel German brewhouse in November.

Garrett gave him a tour of the Brooklyn Brewery and a preview of Brooklyn Rheinschweingebot.  I showed him around the conditioning rooms across the street where Brooklyn Black Ops and Brooklyn’s Manhattan Project are gestating.

Brock was in town serving his fine beers at Fashion Week.  (I kid you not.)  It was some sort of boondoggle organized by the powers that be in Houston to showcase a Texas designer.  I never pictured Brock as a fashionista, but craft beer is opening many doors these days.

–Steve Hindy

Garrett Pontificates on Craft Beer Week, Among Other Things

garrett_cheers

Q&A: Garrett Oliver on craft beer

Kicking off Craft Beer Week: The Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster on America’s rise and Germany’s fall

By Bret Stetka

Special to Metromix
September 9, 2009

Just in time for Craft Beer Week (which runs from Sept. 11 through 20), Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver shares his thoughts on what to drink and where, as well as musings on Philly vs. NYC, Bud Light Lime and Thomas Keller. (more)