Good beer store in NYC?

[Derekt2]

I'm heading up to a trade show on Friday at:

Metropolitan Pavillion & Altman Building
125 West 18th Street (between 6th & 7th Avenues)

I doubt I will have enough time to do anything other than grab a couple of sixers and/or bombers before hitting the train back to DC. Any suggestions for someplace a quick train ride, or better yet a cab ride, away might be?

[newportstorm]

New Beer Distributors (2 miles from your location):
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2229/

Whole Foods Market (half mile away):
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/8697/

Happy Deli (less than 2 miles away):
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1531/

Cheers!

[Derekt2]

Thanks Newport!

[Derekt2]

Okay, based on Newport's recommendations I checked out the Whole Foods but only bought one bottle of beer there because it was the first stop of the day and I did not want to lug a ton of stuff just yet. Anyway, I bought a bottle of Demolition by Goose Island which is a Belgian Golden Strong at 9%. Who knew? I've always equated them with Honker's Ale and such which I can easily get in Virginia. Beyond that there selection was really quite good. I could have easily bought a case of mixed beers which for me is rare.

Next it was on to the Chocolate festival which is what brought us up to begin with. We were going to go to Katz's Deli for luch but -- urp! -- were too full from eating lots and lots of sweets.

So, now it was time to head to New Beer distributors in Brooklyn. Wow! Whoa! Holy crap! This place is the Holy Grail for beer lovers and the prices fall somewhere between wholesale and retail which is to say they are cheap!!! Now was the time to load up so I bought a cave-aged Hennepin, some Middle Ages, some Hansen's ales, some Southhampton Saison, a Rogue Juniper, etc., etc. All told I dropped $34 which translates to $50+ in DC prices.

After this we headed over to a Belgian flavored beer bar deeper in Brooklyn called the Spuyten Duyvil (www.spuytenduyvil.com). I though we had good beer bars in DC but not even close compared to this place. It's in an odd part of town but it is a must visit destination foor good beer lovers. I started with a hand-pulled bitters which was insanely fresh followed by a Heavyweight Saison which I shared with some people at the bar, then a Gose (yummy but salty) and finished with a Goose Island Matilda which is a Brettanomyces fermented Belgian pale. Very horsy and damn good too. Other notables: this place has a Cantillon product blended just for them (didn't try -- too pricey) and the only food available is charcuterie which was perfect. You get to pick a combination of three cheeses and meats to go along with a big bowl of crusty bread for $10. We had Port Salut, Sopresseta, and some goat cheese I don't recall the name of. It smelled strongly but tasted like Manchego and was very good. With only a few exceptions there prices were also very good. Everything I drank plus a glass of mead for my wife and the cheese board came to $52 and that was after a healthy tip.

I cannot tell you how much I would encourage, no insist, that every good beer lover visit these two places. They are worth it hands down. I can't wait to go again.

[chazwicke]

I love Katz's but you would have been way too full to drink after a lunch there. It, BTW, is within easy walking distance of D.B.A., Burp Castle and McSorleys.

[Derekt2]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I love Katz's but you would have been way too full to drink after a lunch there. It, BTW, is within easy walking distance of D.B.A., Burp Castle and McSorleys.

Interesting. Burp Castle doesn't appear on BA's NY guide and I'm not sure McSorley's does either. d.b.a. does but it was not nearly as well rated as Sp. Duyvil. I'm telling you, run there asap. It's a dive but a very, very cool one.

[sundontlie]

www.bierkraft.com

seems to be a gourmet food/beverage store.. pretty awesome selection, i'm dying to visit, hopefully during this holiday season..

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by Derekt2
Interesting. Burp Castle doesn't appear on BA's NY guide and I'm not sure McSorley's does either. d.b.a. does but it was not nearly as well rated as Sp. Duyvil. I'm telling you, run there asap. It's a dive but a very, very cool one.

http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1908/

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by Derekt2
Interesting. Burp Castle doesn't appear on BA's NY guide and I'm not sure McSorley's does either. d.b.a. does but it was not nearly as well rated as Sp. Duyvil. I'm telling you, run there asap. It's a dive but a very, very cool one.

All of these are listed in BA's BeerFly. They aren't listed in RateBeer's Manhattan beer tour - probably listed under "Places". Guess the members there don't feel any of those are must see places. Sometimes, you have to blaze your own trail and find those hidden gems (could I use any other cliches?).

Cheers!

[fretlessman71]

Well, all of those cliches are "tried-and-true", so I'm sure you're okay. ;)