Where to Celebrate NYC Beer Week 2013

Trust us… we don’t need a whole lot of incentive to get excited about drinking beer.   After all, New York  is home to some of the best breweries, artisan ale shops, and craft beer bars around.  But it’s hard not to get especially psyched about suds during the 5th Annual New York City Beer Week.  Coordinated by the New York City Brewers Guild, over 100 different venues throughout the boroughs will host more than 300 beer-centric events.  Think limited edition tastings and cask tappings at Bierkraft in Brooklyn, beer-pairing dinners at Hospoda in Manhattan, and an “aPORKalypse Now” Beer and Pork festival at Alewife NYC in Queens.  Looking to raise a pint glass every day this week?  Check out these other can’t miss celebrations and events.

Where to Celebrate Beer Week

Tuesday, Feb. 26th

d.b.a Brooklyn
Address: 113 N 7th St., btwn Wythe Ave & Berry St.
Phone: (718) 218-6006
Website: www.dba-brooklyn.com
Craft beer haven, d.b.a Brooklyn, plays host to the 7th Annual “Williamsburg Cask Beer Festival” this week.  Not only will they be tapping 1 dozen specialty casks over the course of four days, they’ll hold a “Mega Beer Raffle” fundraiser, featuring lots of rarities and vintage bottles.  And you’ll be drinking for a cause greater than NYC Beer Week.  All raffle proceeds will benefit the family of the late Ray Deter, founding partner of the original d.b.a. in the East Village.

Hospoda
Address: 321 E 73rd St., btwn 1st & 2nd Aves.
Phone: (212) 861-1038
Website: hospodanyc.com
Hospoda, the New European bar and eatery in the Bohemian National Hall, is going all out for this week.  There will be a three-course beer pairing menu nightly, featuring Chef Katie Busch’s modern take on Czech fare.  Think Beer Goulash and Mashed Potatoes, accompanied by a hoppy Pilsner Urquell.  And DIY-enthusiasts will definitely appreciate the “Pour Your Own Beer” special.  For $15, guests can get behind the bar and fill up their own glasses (twice) with Brooklyn Brewery beer.  Yes, you can keep the glass, too!

Wednesday, Feb. 27th

Blue Ribbon Kitchen
Address: 35 Downing St., btwn Bedford & Varick Sts.
Phone: (212) 337-0404
Website: www.blueribbonrestaurants.com
Blue Ribbon Bakery Kitchen may not immediately spring to mind when it comes to the city’s top brew spots.  And yet, the West Village bistro is featuring plenty of inspired programming for NYC Beer Week.  They’re making interesting use of their 140-year-old wood-burning oven, highlighting the connection between freshly baked bread and a newly tapped cask of seasonal KelSo beer.  They’ll also be pairing brews with signature, Blue Ribbon dishes, like a KelSo Rauchbier with the Foie Gras Terrine, and Gaffel Kolsch with their famous Fried Chicken and Collard Greens.

Jimmy’s No. 43
Address: 43 E 7th St., btwn 2nd Ave & Taras Shevchenko Pl.
Phone: (212) 982-3006
Website: www.jimmysno43.com
Check out this chummy East Village gastropub on Wednesday for their special “Meet the Brewer Night.”  Marcus Burnett from Rockaway Brewing will be on hand to tap his newest creation, Hi Plains Drifter Scottish Ale.  The 7.2% ABV (higher than is standard) brew is made in small batches, which all taste slightly different.  Just be sure to balance out all of that alcohol with a few of Jimmy’s particularly tasty dishes, like Skillet Fried Beer Sausages with Mustard, and a Banh Mi Hot Dog with Vietnamese Slaw.

Thursday, Feb. 28th

Bierkraft
Address: 191 5th Ave., btwn Berkeley Pl & Sackett St.
Phone: (718) 230-7600
Website: www.bierkraft.com
There’s no way that Bierkraft would let NYC Beer Week slip by unnoticed.  The unparalleled Park Slope specialty brew shop, which carries over 1,000 selections, is throwing a “Brooklyn Brewery Tap Takeover” on Thursday.  They’ll feature all of the usual suspects from Williamsburg’s top breweries, like Brooklyn Lager, Brooklyn Pilsner, and East India Pale Ale, along with seasonal releases, and a couple of rare, vintage editions.  The actual line-up is still TBA, but when Bierkraft and Brooklyn Brewery come together, you know it’s gonna be good.

Chelsea Brewing Company
Address: 59 Chelsea Piers., at Pier 59
Phone: (212) 336-6440
Website: www.chelseabrewingco.com
Come winter, we’re all about Chelsea Piers for a couple of spins around their ice skating rink, followed by a pint at the onsite microbrewery, Chelsea Brewing Company.  But we’ll probably just nix the blades and head straight for the beer this Thursday, for their special “Customer Appreciation Night.”  The party starts at 6 PM, and will feature live music, a Pig Roast, $2 beers, and the release of their house-brewed Black on Black Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout.  Just remember, please don’t drink and skate!

Friday, March 1st

The Queens Kickshaw
Address: 40-17 Broadway., at 41st St.
Phone: (718) 777-0913
Website: www.thequeenskickshaw.com
This Astoria saloon makes a killer Grilled Cheese, but sandwiches are second to suds during their “All Queens Tap Takeover.”  The outer borough gets some extra love all week long, with brews coming exclusively from Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Beyond Kombucha, SingleCut Beersmiths, and Rockaway Brewing Co.  Incidentally, we’re sure they’d all taste great with Melted Gruyere on Rye with Pickled and Caramelized Onions, Wholegrain Mustard, and Napa Cabbage Caraway Slaw.

Brooklyn Brewery
Address: 79 N 11th St., btwn Berry St & Wythe Ave.
Phone: (718) 486-7422
Website: www.brooklynbrewery.com
Brooklyn’s beloved, fully operational microbrewery is holding a special release party on Friday, for their brand new, yet to be named Double White.  Inspired by “Grand Cru,”  a past Brewmaster’s Reserve, the beer will not be available in the US after the event.   So you’ll definitely want to move fast on a ticket if you want to be one of the first (and only) to nab a taste of this special, top secret brew.

Saturday, Feb. 2nd

Mugs Ale House
Address: 125 Bedford Ave., btwn 11th & 10th Sts.
Phone: (718) 486-8232
Website: www.mugsalehouse.com
Mugs Ale House is pulling out all the stops for “Split Thy Skull XIV,” a highly anticipated, annual Williamsburg event.  The pub will be pouring around 20 beers on Saturday and Sunday, which each clock in at 8% ABV and higher – yikes!  Look for Dogfishead Burton Baton 2011 Imperial IPA (10%) Goose Island Bourbon County Stout 2008 Imperial Stout (15%) and a cask of Blood Brothers IPA, brewed by Brooklyn Brewery for Mugs’ 20th Anniversary.  Split Thy Skull indeed!

Alewife NYC
Address: 5-14 51st Av., at Jackson Ave.
Phone: (718) 937-7494
Website: alewifequeens.com/
This hops-happy, Long Island City spot is throwing a festival as fabulous as its name.  “aPORKalypse Now” will feature 10 whole hogs, prepared by a group of New York-based chefs prepared in a multitude of ways.  Guests will pair their plates of pig with craft beers from 20 all-local brewers (like Sixpoint, Blue Point, Ommegang and Ithaca),  who will also share some specialty bottles and rare cask ales.

Sunday, March 3rd

Murray’s Cheese Bar
Address: 264 Bleecker St., btwn Cornelia & Morton Sts.
Phone:(646) 476-8882
Website: www.murrayscheesebar.com
Forget about wine and cheese.  Brooklyn Brewery and Murray’s Cheese Bar are joining forces to prove that beer is, in fact, the perfect alcoholic accompaniment to dairy.  Guests will kick off the evening with a decadent spread of cheese and charcuterie, followed by a multi-course dinner.  Each dish will be paired with a Brooklyn Brewery beer, including tastes of rare ghost bottles. Dessert?  Tasty, retro beer floats, of course!

Birreria at Eataly
Address: 200 5th Ave., at 23rd St.
Phone: (212) 937-8910
Website: www.eataly.com
New York Beer Week’s official closing party will be held at Birreria, the retractable‑roofed beer garden atop the Italian megastore, Eataly.  The event will showcase various beers from participating NYC Guild Breweries, paired with food selections from Eataly’s lunch menu.  It’s a pay-as-you-go event, with no fixed price, but reservations are limited, so make a move!