Historical Society Will Host Beer Tastings With Beer Exhibit

New-York Historical Society to Host a Series of Beer Tastings from New York Breweries,

in Conjunction with the New Exhibition Beer Here: Brewing New York’s History

New York, NY – To celebrate its summer exhibition Beer Here: Brewing New York’s History, the New-York Historical Society will host a series of beer tastings that showcase the thriving brewing culture in New York City and State. Beer Here will examine the social, economic, political, and technological history of the production and consumption of beer, ale, and porter in the city from the seventeenth century to the present day. The beer tasting program, run by Starr Restaurants’ catering group – Stephen STARR Events, will take place in the exhibition’s beer hall on Saturday afternoons from May 26 through August 25, 2012.

The half-hour beer tasting events, which will occur at 2 pm and 4 pm, will offer visitors the chance to hear directly from brewers and brewery founders about the history and process of making beer. In addition to tasting local artisanal creations, visitors also will experience first-hand the hops, whole leaf flowers and other ingredients used to make beer. Tickets for a tasting event are $35 each (Members $20) and may be purchased online. A six-pack special discount, featuring tickets to six separate tastings, is $150 (Members $100; all purchases by telephone or in-person only). A complete tasting event schedule follows below.

In addition to the beer tastings, New-York Historical also will host Beer Appreciation Night on Tuesday, July 10 at 6:30 pm, featuring Beer Here curators Debra Schmidt Bach and Nina Nazionale; Garrett Oliver, brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery; Steve Hindy, co-founder of Brooklyn Brewery; and Gabrielle Langholtz, editor of Edible Brooklyn and Edible Manhattan. A special tasting of Brooklyn Brewery beers will follow the program. Combined tickets for the program and beer tasting are $49 (Members $37), and program-only tickets are $24 (Members $12).

Beer Tastings Schedule & Participating Breweries

• May 26– Matt Brewing Company
• June 2 –Kelso Beer Co.
• June 9 – Keegan Ales
• June 16 – Bronx Brewery
• June 23 – Harlem Brewing Company
• June 30 – Blue Point Brewing Company
• July 7 – Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
• July 14 – Genesee Brewing Company
• July 21 – Heartland Brewery
• July 28 – Ithaca Beer Company
• August 4 – Matt Brewing Company
• August 11 – Bronx Brewery
• August 18 – Keegan Ales
• August 25 – Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.

The Matt Brewing Company
Saturday, May 26, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm; Saturday, August 4, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

The Matt Brewing Company has prospered at the foothills of the Adirondack Mountains in Central New York for over a century. Under the leadership of the third and fourth generations of the Matt Family, the Brewery has earned the reputation as one of the most respected specialty brewers in the country and continues its family tradition with the celebrated Saranac family of beers. The tasting will feature Saranac White IPA, bursting with Citra hops and the refreshing fruitiness of orange peel and coriander, and the softening characters of wheat malt and oats, as well as other special selected beer.

Kelso Beer Co.

Saturday, June 2, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Kelso Beer Co. was founded by Kelly Taylor, a brewmaster at Heartland Brewery, and his wife, Sonya Giacobbe in 2006 to create fresh, flavorful, low-alcohol session beer. The tasting will feature Saison, a Belgian style ale; Recessionator, a big bold doppleback; India Pale Ale, a punchy, bright and unique beer; and Pilsner, a classic European pils, with a floral nose, slightly sweet with a dry finish.

Keegan Ales

Saturday, June 9, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm; Saturday, August 18, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Keegan Ales was founded in early 2003 when Tommy Keegan learned about an empty building in Kingston that nobody would buy because there was a defunct brewery stuck in it! The Keegan Ales tasting will feature Mother’s Milk, a dark and creamy milk stout with hints of oatmeal, chocolate and milk; Hurricane Kitty, a coppery and heavily hopped India Pale Ale; and Barley Wine.

Bronx Brewery

Saturday, June 16, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm; Saturday, August 11, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Bronx Brewery, a craft brewer and distributor based in the South Bronx, was launched in 2011 by a small team with two things in common: a maniacal focus on creating high-quality beer and a passion for the Bronx. Bronx Brewery will serve its Bronx Pale Ale, a deep amber, American-style pale ale. A second, yet-to-be released, spring beer may also be available.

Harlem Brewing Company

Saturday, June 23, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

The Harlem Brewing Company story starts about 86 years ago. Legend has it that during Prohibition a special beer was being made and this secret brew could be found in Speakeasies and after-hours spots all over Harlem. This tasting will feature Sugar Hill Golden Ale, a medium bodied golden ale known for its drinkability, with a subtle citrus accent and a finish of hops and malt flavor.

Blue Point Brewing Company

Saturday, June 30, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Blue Point Brewing Company is Long Island’s only microbrewery. It was founded in 1998 by two long-time friends, Mark Burford and Pete Cotter. The brewery’s unique direct-fire brew kettle imparts a lightly toasted, complex taste to produce a line of ultra-premium microbrews.

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company

Saturday, July 7, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Started by Scott Vacarro, an avid brewer from the young age of 17, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company opened in 2006 and is named after Captain Lawrence Drive, the street where Vacarro grew up. After much success, Vacarro recently expanded the brewery into a new location in Elmsford, NY with more brewing capacity and a large tasting room. The tasting will feature Captain Kolisch, Liquid Gold, and Pale Ale.

Genesee Brewing Company

Saturday, July 14, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Genesee Brewing Company, based in Rochester, NY, is one of the largest and oldest continually operating breweries in the United States. The Brewery makes the Genesee line of beers, including the original Genesee Cream Ale, Dundee Pilsner, the award winning Dundee Pale Bock, Dundee Stout, and Dundee India Pale Ale.

Heartland Brewery

Saturday, July 21, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Heartland Brewery opened as New York’s first American style brewpub on Union Square in 1995 and has been igniting New Yorkers’ passion for craft beers ever since. Heartland has consistently brewed New York’s freshest craft beers, including Heartland’s classic six as well as a wide range of unique seasonal brews.

Ithaca Beer Company

Saturday, July 28, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

In December 1998, Dan Mitchell, founder of Ithaca Beer Company, created the first local brewery in Ithaca that exemplifies “The Spirit of the Finger Lakes.” Ithaca Beer Company was recently awarded two medals at the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado in 2008. The tasting will feature Nut Brown, with subtle hints of both chocolate and coffee; CascaZilla, a red ale; and Apricot Wheat Ale, an easy-drinking wheat beer.

Greenport Harbor Brewing Company

Saturday, August 25, 2012: 2 pm & 4 pm

Founders John Liegy and Rich Vandenburgh met in college and dreamed of opening a microbrewery. That dream became a reality when in in July of 2009, the Greenport Harbor Brewing Company was founded. Today, Greenport’s beer is served in more than 200 locations on Long Island and in New York City.

About the New-York Historical Society
The New-York Historical Society, one of America’s pre-eminent cultural institutions, is dedicated to fostering research and presenting history and art exhibitions and public programs that reveal the dynamism of history and its influence on the world of today. Founded in 1804, the New-York Historical Society has a mission to explore the richly layered history of New York City and State and the country, and to serve as a national forum for the discussion of issues surrounding the making and meaning of history.

The New-York Historical Society is recognized for engaging the public with deeply researched and far-ranging exhibitions, such as Alexander Hamilton: The Man Who Made Modern America; Slavery in New York; Nature and the American Vision: The Hudson River School at the New-York Historical Society; Grant and Lee in War and Peace; Lincoln and New York; The Grateful Dead: Now Playing at the New-York Historical Society; Nueva York; and Revolution! The Atlantic World Reborn. Supporting these exhibitions and related education programs is one of the world’s greatest collections of historical artifacts, works of American art and other materials documenting the history of the United States and New York.

About STARR Restaurants

Founded in 1995 by Stephen Starr, Philadelphia-based STARR Restaurants is one of the fastest growing multi-concept restaurant companies in the country. STARR Restaurants include Buddakan, Morimoto, The Continental, Barclay Prime, Continental Mid-Town, El Vez, Jones, Alma de Cuba, Pod, Parc, Butcher and Singer, Pizzeria Stella, El Rey, Ranstead Room, The Dandelion, Talula’s Garden, Frankford Hall, Il Pittore, Route 6 and seasonal food-stand SquareBurger in Philadelphia, as well as, Morimoto and Buddakan in New York City’s thriving Meatpacking District. STARR Restaurants expanded to Atlantic City, NJ, with Buddakan and The Continental located in the Pier Shops at Caesars in 2006, and to Florida with Steak 954 at the W Hotel Fort Lauderdale in 2009, and Makoto in the Bal Harbour Shops in 2011. Stephen STARR Events is the group's full-service catering and special events division, managing projects including Granite Hill at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Caffè Storico located in the New-York Historical Society, Serai at the Rubin Museum of Art in New York City, and Rat’s Restaurant at Grounds For Sculpture in New Jersey.

Stephen Starr has earned numerous awards and accolades, and was named “Restaurateur of the Year” by Bon Appétit magazine in 2005 and Zagat Survey New York City in 2007. Starr also received the TimeOut New York Readers’ Choice Award for “Best New Out-of-Town Restaurateur” in 2007.

For more information, please visit www.starr-restaurant.com.

Find us on Facebook: facebook.com/StarrRestaurants and facebook.com/StephenStarrEvents or follow us on Twitter @StarrRestaurant and @StarrEvents.

Conkling Hall Calling Homebrewers and Cooks

Hot, mild, veggie, white, or local. If you make a mean chili that can be called traditional hot, traditional mild, vegetarian, white (made with domestic poultry), or local (made with 3 or more ingredients from local farms), you are invited to participate in Conkling Hall’s 2011 Chili Cook-off and Artisan Beer Tasting to be held on October 1, from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. at Conkling Hall in Rensselaerville. Chili contestants will compete for cash prizes. The entry fee is $15 per batch. Each entrant must bring 1.5 gallons of chili in a crock pot and a 12-foot extension cord. Complete information and on-line registration materials are at www.blacksheepdesigns.com/chili.html or call Tim Lippert at 518-339-6030. Registration deadline is September 28th.

This year, the Chili Cook-off will be paired with the opportunity to sample regional artisan beers from Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown and Keegan Ales in Kingston. Homebrewers are encouraged to enter their brews in the following categories: Lager/Pilsner, Porter/Stout, Brown Ale, IPA and Wild Card. Entree fee for brewers is $15. Please bring 2 gallons, +/-.

Conkling Hall is a 160-year old historic center that offers cultural programming and space for such activities as performances, senior lunches, exercise classes and children’s events. Net proceeds from the Chili Cook-off and Brewers Festival will help Conkling Hall continue to serve the local community.

Conkling Hall to Host Beer Fest and Chili Cook-Off

Autumn leaves, mountain views and a pot of chili at the end of the road.  It’s a combo that can’t be beat.  Conkling Hall’s 2011 Chili Cook-off and Artisan Beer Tasting, on October 1 from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. in Rensselaerville, will offer all that in one of the most picturesque settings in the Capital Region.  Contestants will compete for the best chili in five categories: Traditional Hot, Traditional Mild, White (domestic poultry), Vegetarian and Local (three or more ingredients must be from local farms).  A ticket to try four chilis is $12.  New this year will be a homebrewer's competition and tasting!  Homebrewers are encouraged to enter their brews and compete for cash prizes. And if tasting doesn’t fill you up, there will be Conkling Hall “house” chili and beverages for sale as well.  
Contestants are invited to enter their best chili or homebrew.   The entry fee is $15 per batch.  Each chili entrant must bring 1.5 gallons of chili in a crock pot and a 12-foot extension cord.  Brewers should bring 2 gallons (or as much as you can carry!).  Complete information and on-line registration materials are at www.blacksheepdesigns.com/chili.html or by calling Tim Lippert at 518-339-6030. Registration deadline is September 28^th.

This year, the Chili Cook-off will be paired with the opportunity to sample regional artisanal beers from Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown and Keegan Ales in Kingston.  Admission to the beer tent is $19 for those of legal drinking age only. ID will be required and checked.

Conkling Hall is a 160-year old historic center that offers cultural programming and space for such activities as senior lunches, exercise classes and children’s events.  Net proceeds from the Chili Cook-off and Brewers Festival will help Conkling Hall continue to serve the local community.

Blue Point Brewery To Tap World's Largest Cask

PATCHOGUE, NY - March 29, 2011. Award-winning Long Island microbrewer, Blue Point Brewing Company, will tap the world's largest cask when it hosts the 7th annual Blue Point Cask Ales Festival on Saturday, April 9th, 2011 from 2:00-6:00 pm at the brewery headquarters in Patchogue, NY. This year's cask will be filled with BP Toxic Sludge, a limited-release black IPA, brewed to benefit Tri-State Bird Rescue and Research in support of their "Spreading Our Wings" Capital Campaign which provides relief to birds affected by BP's Gulf Coast oil spill. The Blue Point Brewery is located at 161 River Avenue in Patchogue, NY 11772. Tickets are $45 ($15 for designated drivers) and can be purchased at www.BluePointBrewing.com or at the brewery prior to event day. The event will also serve as a food drive for the Long Island Cares Harry Chapin Food Bank. Attendees are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item for donation. This is a 21+ event.

Cask Ale, or Cask Beer, is the term used in the U.S. to refer to unfiltered and unpasteurized beer that is conditioned and served directly from a cask. Attendees at the Blue Point Brewing Company event will be able to walk right up to the cask and get the freshest, highest quality beer they've ever tasted. "This is such a unique opportunity and such a fun event, we look forward to it all year long," said Mark Burford, Brewmaster at the Blue Point Brewing Company.

The Blue Point Brewing Company's cask holds nearly 10,000 pints of beer and, this year, is filled with BP Toxic Sludge, a new style Black IPA, hopped at four stages of the brewing process to combine a hoppy India Pale Ale with a richer, darker malt base for a full bodied beer that's big on flavor. For many, "this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to taste the beer right out of the tank like the brewers always do," said Burford.

More than 25 other breweries have been invited to attend and showcase their own special cask brews. Joining the lineup will be several of Long Island's hometown favorites, including Black Forest Brew Haus, Blind Bat Brewery, BrickHouse Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, Great South Bay Brewery, Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., John Harvard's Brew House, Kelso of Brooklyn, Long Ireland Beer Company, and Southampton Ales & Lagers. Also scheduled to attend: Captain Lawrence Brewing Company (NY), Cricket Hill Brewery (NJ), Defiant Brewing Company (NY), Firestone Walker Brewing Company (CA), Green Flash Brewing Company (CA), Keegan Ales (NY), Peekskill Brewery (NY), Smuttynose Brewing Co. (NH), Southern Tier Brewing Company (NY), Stone Brewing Co. (CA), Stoudts Brewing Company (PA), Two Brothers Brewing Co. (IL), and others. Three of largest home brew clubs on Long Island, the Brewers East End Revival (B.E.E.R.), Long Island Beer and Malt Enthusiasts (LIMBE), and Rocky Point Artisan Brewers are preparing casks to be shared with festival attendees. Local BBQ restaurant and caterer, Bobbique, will offer food for sale. Live music will add to the day's festivities.

The Blue Point Cask Ales Festival will take place rain or shine on Saturday, April 9, 2011 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Blue Point Brewing Company located at 161 River Ave., Patchogue, NY 11772. General Admission tickets are $45.00 each, designated driver tickets are $15.00. Tickets can be purchased online at www.BluePointBrewing.com or at the brewery prior to event day. A limited number of tickets will be sold. Once the event sells out, no additional tickets will be available. General Admission ticketholders will receive a half-pint English-style souvenir glass and six beer tasting tickets. They will also receive a coupon redeemable for one free half-gallon growler of beer on their next visit to the brewery. Only those 21 and over with valid photo ID will be admitted to the event. No children or pets permitted.

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Peekskill Brewery Pairings for Hudson Valley Restaurant Week

For the duration of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, The Peekskill Brewery will be showcasing local ingredients on its prix fixe menu, but will also be offering Hudson Valley Beers and Wine to be paired with menu items. To further capture the essence of Hudson Valley Restaurant Week, The Peekskill Brewery will specially pair beers from The Peekskill Brewery, Keegan Ales (Kingston, NY), Defiant Brewing Co. (Pearl River, NY), Captain Lawerence Brewing Co., (Pleasantville, NY) and Ithaca Beer Co. (Ithaca, NY). Menu items will also be paired with wines and spirits from Millbrook Vineyard (Millbrook, NY), Whitecliff Vineyard (Gardiner, NY), Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery (Warwick, NY) and Tuthilltown Spirits (Gardiner, NY). The prix fixe menu can be ordered stand only at $28 or with pairings for $40. Call 914-734-2337 for reservations or visit www.opentable.com. Menu will be available from March 15th-March 28th.

Prix Fixe Dinner Menu
3 Courses/$28
Paired with Hudson Valley Beers or Wine/$40

FIRST COURSE
(choice of)

Mixed Green Salad
Pickled Radish, Toasted Almonds, Sherry Vinaigrette

Crispy Pork Belly
Braised Red Cabbage, Soft-boiled Egg

Pureé of Tomato Soup
Topped with Parmesan Tuille

SECOND COURSE
(choice of)

Cumin-crusted Pork Loin
Compote of Local Apples, Mountain Products
Smokehouse Bacon, Wild Rice

Seared Salmon
Preserved Lemon, Goat Cheese, Roasted Baby Beets, Wild Rice

Grilled Flatiron Steak
Cumin Marinade, Butternut Squash Purée, Roasted Vegetables

THIRD COURSE
(choice of)

Ginger Infused Flan
Ronnybrook Dairy Milk and Whipped Cream

Chocolate Porter Cupcake
Chocolate Ganache Frosting

Pear Cheesecake
Poached Pears and Walnuts

(prix fixe price does not include beverage, tax or gratuity)

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North Fork Beer Festival

North Fork Beer Festival

The North Fork Beer Festival will take place tomorrow at Martha Clara Vineyards in Jamesport, NY. The festival features 50 craft breweries with over 120 beers. The event will feature New York breweries such as Blue Point, Brooklyn, Captain Lawrence, Cooperstown, Ithaca, Keegan and many more. Tickets are $50 online and will be $70 at the door. There is also a VIP option for advanced ticket purchases of $75 which will allow admission into the VIP session taking place from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. General admission will take place from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Keegan Ales Belgian White

Keegan Ales' newest brew poured a hazy cloudy straw color with a sizeable white foamy head. The body is crisp, with plenty of wheat, spices and corriander. There is a citrusy lemon flavor that is prevelant on the finish. This beer is light, yet complex, with plennty going on. As the case with most wheat beers, Keegan's latest offering would go great during the summer months.

Keegan Ales Four Philosophers

On Friday, I took a trip to Keegan Ales to try out their new specialty beer Four Philosophers. I had heard a lot about this beer and the combination of Keegan's strong history of brewing good beers combined with the expectations of naming it after Ommegang's great Belgian style quadrupel had me waiting in anticipation. I decided to try the beer before doing any research on it. The beer poured an amber color with a thin white head. The beer had malts on the first sip and continued into the middle palate. The finish was slightly dry with a small amount of hops appearing at the end. The beer seemed quite strong and later on I found out I was right as it checked in at 8% ABV. After finishing my pint, I sat down with Tommy Keegan and asked him about his new brew. He told me that Four Philosophers was a Belgian style Abbey Tripel and that those who enjoyed this offerring can look foward to his Belgian White that he thinks will be ready sometime in late April or early May. Overall, this was a delicious beer that if bottled at all could probably be cellared for a couple of months. I highly suggest getting to Kingston ASAP to try this fast moving beer. Cheers to the people at Keegan Ales for making another very good beer.