New York City Beer Week Event Guide, 2013
Unlike Fashion Week, which celebrates elegance and exclusivity, NYC Beer Week is arguably close to the opposite. The annual hops celebration brings folks together to kick it casually across the city at hundreds of different venues to meet new people and try new brews. The event returns to New York City on February 22. New York City Brewers Guild brings together all twelve NYC craft breweries, along with nationally and internationally renowned breweries. These are our picks for the week's best beer events and special foodie offerings. By Sarah Shaker.
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Kick off NYC Beer week on February 22 at the Opening Night Party in Brooklyn. Tickets include an official NYC Beer Week 2013 tasting glass and unlimited beer tastings from over 20 American craft breweries including NYC Brewers Guild Members 508 Gastrobrewery, Bronx Brewery, Chelsea Brewing Co., La Birreria at Eataly and Rockaway Brewing Company, just to name a few. Sip and mingle from 7-10 p.m. while live tunes are played. $45 per ticket.
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After major damage from Hurricane Sandy, Luke's Lobster in the Financial District is proudly reopening on Thursday, February 21st - just in time to celebrate NYC Beer Week! Swim on over to Luke's Lobster for their Beer Week Dinner for Two any evening during this week of brews starting on February 22. This seafood feast includes two half chowders, two half lobster rolls, two half crab rolls, two half shrimp rolls, chips, pickles and three Maine microbrews to share for $50. This special is also available at their UES and UWS locations.
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Alewife, one of NYC's best beer bars, is teaming up with Get Real Beer to bring us 'aPORKalypse Now', a local beer and pork festival on March 2nd to end your NYC Beer Week completely stuffed. Pig out on pork dishes expertly created by New York City based chefs and wash them down with craft and local beers, including rare cask ales and special homebrews. Order your tickets from Eventbrite.
All week long, Hospoda will serve a Czech-inspired three-course menu with beer pairings. Dishes will be prepared with Pilsner Urquell, Brooklyn Brewery's Black Chocolate Stout and Brooklyn Brewery's Winter Ale. And for $15 from February 25-28, stop by for a Pour Your Own Beer special. Play bartender as you get behind the bar and draft Pilsner Urquell and featured Brooklyn Brewery beers in four different styles. When you're finished sipping, your Hospoda mug is your parting gift. Diners can fill up their mug with beer twice before heading home for the night with their souvenir.
Brewers Choice, City Winery
155 Varick St
New York, NY 10013
(212) 608-0555
brewerschoice2013.eventbrite.com
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If you make it to just one NYC Beer Week event this year, make it this one. The beer and food pairing event, held at SoHo's City Winery, features over 20 brewmasters from across the country, as they pour attendees some of their favorite hops concoctions. Make your way around the floor to sample delicious small bites from standout city venues as well as visiting breweries. There are all sorts of delicious, seasonal craft beers being served up across the city all year round - check out our favorite bars for beer selection in New York City.
We all know cheese and wine make a perfect pair, but Murray's Cheese Bar and Brooklyn Brewery are about to blow our mind with beer pairings. On March 3rd, join Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver and Murray's Cheese head buyer Aaron Foster for a beer dinner from 5-7 p.m. at Murray's Cheese Bar. For $75, these experts will pair cheese and ales including tastes of rare ghost bottles and the debut of the latest Brooklyn collaboration brew with Italy's Amarcord brewery. The evening starts with a decadent spread of cheese and charcuterie and finishes with retro beer floats.
If you haven't adventured an hour out of the city to sip and dine at Peekskill Brewery, you're in luck – as they'll be bringing their ales to you for this Beer Week event. On March 2, Peekskill's head brewer Jeff O'Neil will mark the brewery's first pours in Queens with a Peekskill Tap Takeover at The Queens Kickshaw from 5:30pm-1am. They'll feature a Peekskill Ice Cream Coffee Labs Affogato this evening to celebrate a delicious collaboration with Coffee Lab Roasters. Peekskill brews available include Eastern Standard, Hop Common, Simple Sour, Skills Pils, Shotgun Willy and a special one-off cask, with Coffee Labs Roasters.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.
