Enjoy your AI-PA
Three new NYC beer openings and a computer-generated brewery
“What’s your favorite brewery in New York City?”
It’s a question I get asked all the time. And I never really have an answer, because there are a lot of great breweries here. I often say that what our city lacks in quantity of breweries, we make up for in quality of breweries. But recently, I decided instead to start asking other people here what their favorite brewery in New York City is, just to get a barometer of what’s popular these days. It’s an unscientific poll of my friends, fellow beer nerds, and randos I meet at breweries, bars, and beer events (apologies to any subscribers here who think they fall in that third category — to be fair, you probably fall in the second category, too). And the results have been unsurprising: there. is. no. consensus.
There are probably five or six breweries that are the most frequent answers, but even then, someone will spike in an unexpected answer that has me thinking I should revisit a place I haven’t been in a few months. Sometimes, the answers are geographically biased based on where these respondents live — someone in Long Island City will likely favor a brewery in their neighborhood over one that requires a long trek deep into Brooklyn on the G Train.
But above all, these answers reflect something I’ve known and harped on for years: beer tastes are wholly subjective, and an “A+ beer” for you could be a “C beer” to me. We all have our personal style preferences and flavor biases. It’s why I don’t review beers. It’s why I’d rather follow a thousand TikTok accounts of people that shotgun cans of beer before I follow a single TikTok account of a “beer reviewer.” Let your tastes be your own guide.
Three new NYC beer openings
The new year is here, and after a slow Dry January, some new beer venues are just getting off the ground. Here are some noteworthy recent openings for beer drinkers in the city.
ICONYC Brewing has moved to a new taproom — but don’t worry, they haven’t ventured far from their LIC location. In fact, it’s so close that they’re keeping their existing patio. The space is in the building just to the north of the patio, and it’s a huge upgrade from their old indoor space, with a long bar, plenty of seating, and a stage for live music and events in the months to come. And you can continue to order delicious Mexican food from their partner kitchen just steps away, Sobremesa.
Keg & Lantern Brewing’s third location in Brooklyn celebrated their grand opening last weekend in Williamsburg. It’s at 104 South 4th Street, in the former Randolph Beer that closed last year. They’ve got a full lineup of beers from the brewery (including flights for the indecisive among us), four-packs of cans to-go, and some familiar Keg & Lantern touches, like a food menu that includes wings, burgers, and nachos, plenty of TVs for sports viewing, and their signature wall of vintage beer cans. The space is open daily from 11am-2am.
Top Hops’ empire has expanded again with another bar inside an Urbanspace Food Hall. Urbanspace Union Square — at 124 East 14th Street — is their latest addition, with 20 tap lines along a long bar at the back of the hall. Among the taps on a recent visit were Return Come Back Kolsch, Drowned Lands Amai Belgian Strong Ale, and Equilibrium Fractal Mosaic/Citra IPA, and KCBC Fellowship of the Bling Barleywine. Take your pick of food pairings from a dozen food vendors in the space, including Bobwhite Counter’s fried chicken, Bao by Kaya’s bao and noodle bowls, and Wafels & Dinges Belgian-style waffles.
I asked an AI bot to create a brewery taproom menu
Welcome to Harvest Hops Brewery!
We are proud to offer you a carefully crafted selection of beers, brewed with the finest ingredients and a passion for quality. Our tap list features a variety of styles, from classic ales to bold and daring stouts, each with its own unique flavor profile and character. Whether you're a seasoned beer drinker or just starting to explore the world of craft beer, we have something for everyone.
Our friendly and knowledgeable staff is always here to help guide you through the menu and make recommendations based on your personal taste preferences. So sit back, relax, and let us help you discover your new favorite beer.
Cheers!
BOHEMIAN BLONDE
A crisp and refreshing Czech-style Pilsner that pays homage to the classic pilsners of the Czech Republic. It is light in body with a bright golden color, and has a medium carbonation that provides a lively and effervescent mouthfeel. The aroma is dominated by the spicy and herbal notes of the noble hops used in the brewing process, while the flavor is a perfect balance of bitterness and malt sweetness. The finish is clean and dry, making it the perfect beer for any occasion. With its traditional flavor profile and smooth drinkability, Bohemian Blonde is a must-try for fans of classic pilsners and those who enjoy easy-drinking beers with a hint of hop character.
SUNNY SIDE WIT
A light and refreshing Belgian Witbier that brings a touch of sunshine to every glass. It has a hazy, pale yellow color and a light body, with a crisp and effervescent mouthfeel. The aroma is filled with notes of citrus, coriander, and orange peel, while the flavor is a delicate balance of spices and malt sweetness. The beer is brewed with a unique combination of wheat, barley, and spices, which gives it its distinctive flavor profile. The finish is clean and dry, making it a perfect beer for sipping on a warm day or pairing with light summery dishes. Whether you're relaxing on the beach or simply looking for a bright and cheerful beer, Sunny Side Wit is sure to bring a smile to your face.
COPPER HAZE AMBER ALE
A smooth and balanced amber ale that brings a touch of coppery warmth to every glass. It has a rich amber color and a medium body, with a blend of malt and hop flavors that creates a harmonious taste profile. The bitterness level is moderate, and is balanced by a slightly sweet maltiness. The hops used in this beer provide notes of earthy and floral, while the malt contributes a slightly nutty and toasty character. The finish is clean and smooth, with a moderate carbonation that provides a satisfying mouthfeel. Whether you're looking for a comforting beer after a long day or simply want to enjoy a smooth and balanced amber ale, Copper Haze Amber Ale is sure to please.
WILD WEST PALE ALE
A classic American Pale Ale that captures the bold and adventurous spirit of the American West. It has a deep amber color and a medium body, with a strong hop aroma and flavor that dominates the taste profile. The bitterness level is medium to high, and is balanced by a subtle malt sweetness. The hops used in this beer provide notes of citrus, pine, and resin, making it a perfect beer for hop lovers. The finish is clean and crisp, with a moderate carbonation that provides a lively mouthfeel. Whether you're enjoying it after a long day on the range or simply looking for a refreshing and hoppy beer, Wild West Pale Ale is sure to satisfy.
COASTAL CRUISER
A bold and hoppy West Coast IPA that takes you on a journey along the rugged coastline. It has a deep golden color and a medium body, with a strong hop aroma and flavor that dominates the taste profile. The bitterness level is high, balanced by a subtle malt sweetness. The hops used in this beer provide notes of grapefruit, pine, and resin, making it a perfect beer for hop lovers. The finish is crisp and clean, with a moderate carbonation that provides a lively mouthfeel. Whether you're cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway or simply looking for a bold and hoppy beer, Coastal Cruiser IPA is sure to satisfy.
GREEN MOUNTAIN HAZE
A juicy and hazy New England IPA that takes you on a journey to the lush and verdant hills of New England. It has a hazy, golden-orange color and a full body, with a strong hop aroma and flavor that dominates the taste profile. The bitterness level is low to medium, allowing the juicy and fruity hop notes to shine through. The hops used in this beer provide notes of citrus, tropical fruit, and berries, making it a perfect beer for hop lovers. The finish is smooth and creamy, with a low to medium carbonation that provides a velvety mouthfeel. Whether you're exploring the rolling hills of Vermont or simply looking for a juicy and hazy beer, Green Mountain Haze IPA is sure to satisfy.
COCONUT ISLAND BROWN
A rich and full-bodied beer that combines the smooth, nutty flavor of brown ale with the sweet, tropical taste of coconut. It has a deep, amber color and a medium carbonation, which creates a smooth, creamy mouthfeel. The aroma is filled with notes of toasted coconut and hints of chocolate, while the taste balances the sweetness of the coconut with the bitterness of the hops. This beer is a great option for those who love a unique twist on a classic style, and is perfect for sipping on a warm day or pairing with grilled meats and spicy foods.
CHOCO-JAVA DREAM STOUT
A rich and indulgent stout that combines the classic flavors of chocolate, coffee, and vanilla to create a truly dreamy experience in every sip. It has a deep, dark color and a full body, with a strong aroma of freshly brewed coffee and dark chocolate. The bitterness level is balanced by a smooth and creamy sweetness from the chocolate and vanilla, and a bold, roasted flavor from the coffee. The mouthfeel is silky and full, with a moderate carbonation that adds a creamy texture to the beer. Whether you're looking for a decadent dessert beer or simply a satisfying coffee-forward stout, Choco-Java Dream Stout is the perfect choice for any occasion.
Nope. That’s not scary at all. This came from ChatGPT, where I asked the bot to suggest beer styles, names, and descriptions, a name for the brewery, and a welcome message for the menu. I, for one, welcome our new computer overlords… as long as they can brew a good Coconut Brown. That sounds tasty.
Brewery Tracker
Total brewery count: 2,917
Total breweries visited in 2023: 22
Total breweries visited in New Jersey: 53
Brewery Visit of the Week
Brewery #2891, Birdsmouth Beer, Oceanport, New Jersey (Visited 30-Dec-2022)
Hear me out: an all-lager brewery in an spacious old army commissary in Jersey. It’s real, and it’s spectacular. Birdsmouth only came to my attention days before I took an impromptu trip via NJ Transit down to Monmouth County to hit some new-to-me breweries during the holiday break, and Birdsmouth was the first of six that day, and undoubtedly my favorite. The space is airy and a little sparse, but I’ll chalk that up to it being quite new (they opened in October), so it’s not really “lived-in” yet.
The mantra of Birdsmouth is “everyday lagers,” and that was apparent in their beer lineup, with simple, straightforward, easy-drinking menu options, like their all-malt Original Lager (a Helles-style lager), a roasty-but-sessionable Black Lager, and a Hoppy Pilsner that lives up to its name. For such a young brewery, the beers were remarkably clean and well-executed — so much so that I grabbed some cans to take home with me to let my beer friends in the city know about this up-and-comer.
Birdsmouth’s goal is to keep their distribution small and local to preserve freshness, with plans to be New Jersey’s lager brewery, not sending their beer beyond the Garden State’s borders. So you’ll have to head to Jersey to try their stuff, and it’s well worth the trip.
Long Listen of the Week
Friend of Brew York Adam Zuniga has launched a new podcast series called No Life ‘Til Lager, where he interviews a lineup of lager makers from across the country. His first episode featured Kevin Davey of Portland, Oregon’s Wayfinder Beer — originator of the controversial Cold IPA. It’s worth a listen, and I’m looking forward to future episodes and seeing some New York brewers in the mix, too.
One Last Thing
A shout-out to Strong Rope Brewery for putting on a great event on Saturday. Their 7th Annual Caskiversary at their Red Hook location was an absolute joy — great beers, great people, and a great sunset across the harbor (pictured above). Even on the most frigid of days, I didn’t mind the long trip for a long lineup of cask beers. Also: lots of respect to the handful of breweries who were purists about their casks and didn’t throw in a whole bunch of adjuncts. A cask ESB can stand on its own, and it should stand on its own!
Cheers,
Chris