Daughters of Beer

Just a few friends over to help bring in the New Year thanks to @FTBottles, @bottleworks, @belmontstation.

This DoB just returned from an amazing trip to New York City to celebrate her Mom’s first visit to the city and a very special birthday.

This time I chose to stay in a new location at the Hotel Belleclaire in the Upper West Side. It turned out to be a great neighbourhood close to many conveniences and away from the craziness of mid-town and other busy areas of Manhatten.

On our first day we had fun with the Maurizio Cattelan exhibition at the Guggenheim (where his entire body of work has been suspended from the rotunda), walked along 5^th Avenue, and explored the neighbourhood and picked up provisions for our hotel from the many fabulous green grocers, markets, and deli’s nearby. An early night (and over the next few nights) found me sampling from my beer fridge which included Sierra Nevada Celebration, Harpoon IPA, Centennial IPA, Brooklyn East India Pale Ale and Anchor Porter.

Highlights from the beer fridge include: Sierra Nevada Celebration Fresh Hop Ale, a well-balanced seasonal beer full-up on hops using Chinnook for bittering, Cascade and Centennial for finishing and dry hopping, with a nice caramel background and a bitter current throughout; Anchor Porter, silky and smooth with a nicely balanced taste of malts and chocolate, highly drinkable and paired well with the pumpkin tart bought at the Euro Deli near our hotel.

On our second day we toured around Grand Central Station and visited the Morgan Library and Museum, former residence and private library (come museum) of Pierpont Morgan, famous financier and avid collector of rare books, manuscripts, drawings, prints and ancient artifacts. We lunched just around the corner at the Ginger Man Pub where I enjoyed a Chelsea Hop Angel IPA on cask. In the evening we walked through Times Square, saw the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Centre and took in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Hall.

For the third day I met up with a friend from Vancouver who happened to be in town and is also passionate about art and beer. We toured some galleries in SOHO which included an exhibition of Jean-Frédéric Schnyder at the Swiss Institute and featured a charming animated film titled “Corso Schnapsparade” (Liquor Parade), where small hand-crafted wooden horses pull trailers of liquor bottles! 

After the tour we ventured over to my favourite pub The Blind Tiger where we sat by the fireplace and sampled a few; Southampton Imperial Porter (warming, malty), Captain Lawrence Freshchester Pale Ale (highly drinkable), 21^st Amendment Fireside Chat Spiced Ale, and Ballast Point Sculpin IPA (hoppy and floral just the way I like them).

The final day included a visit to the American Museum of Natural History, a quick bite at Shake Shack which has fast become a famous roadside burger stand serving amazing burgers, hot dogs, shakes and more.

There is no shortage of places to source craft beer and amazing food such as the Westside Market just below our hotel where amidst the amazing fresh food you could buy a 6 pack of Brooklyn East India Pale Ale for $9. Similarly there were great finds at Trader Joe’s just down the street.

The best find, however, was the “Brew York City Growler Bar” at Duane Reader Pharmacy where you could get your prescriptions filled along with your growler for $8.99! On tap were seasonal findings such as Sierra Nevada Celebration, Peak Organic Winter Session Ale, Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, Six Point Bengali Tiger IPA and Diesel, Founders Dirty Bastard, Ithaca Cold Front, Wolavers Alta Garcia Coffee Porter. Follow them on twitter @brewyorkcity or learn more about them here. Only in New York City!

There is never a shortage of fabulous experiences in New York City and I cannot wait to return.