Sorry to Barge In
A new venue for Opening Bash and a brewery with a barge
It’s good to be home in New York sometimes. I finally got to attend Gun Hill’s Barrel Aged Beer Fest last weekend in Industry City, which was an absolute joy. I really love a beer festival that celebrates a niche segment in beer, so it was fun to see fans of barrel-aged beers flock to a jam-packed brewery taproom. On a related note, Strong Rope Brewing is hosting their 10th Annual Caskiversary next Saturday, February 7th, so if you’re a cask beer fan and looking to celebrate niche beer in a different way, there’s the next item on your agenda.
In the weekend in between, I’m heading up to my old stomping grounds on Saturday for the Rhode Island Brew Fest, a festival I haven’t visited since taking my late father along in 2017, when he discovered Jack’s Abby House Lager for the first time — a beer he would keep stocked in the beer fridge in his garage for both of us whenever I came home. This festival holds a special place in my heart, so it’s exciting to see how it has evolved. For one thing, there are a lot more breweries in Rhode Island now than back then, so there’s a decidedly local skew to the list these days. Maybe I’ll come back Sunday with a new favorite beer from the Ocean State. Or, given the uncertainty of the weather forecast for Sunday, I might not come back at all.
NYC Beer Week Opening Bash returns in new venue
The biggest event on New York City’s beer calendar has returned to North Brooklyn. The New York City Beer Week Opening Bash will be held Saturday, February 21st from 1-5:30pm in a new venue: Brooklyn Monarch, a sprawling concert hall in East Williamsburg. This is the biggest annual celebration of beer in the five boroughs, and this year marks a return to North Brooklyn after six years, when it was last held at a venue in Greenpoint.
While it’s new scenery this time around, there will be a lot of familiar aspects: 40+ member breweries of the New York City Brewers Guild will be pouring their beers in an all-you-care-to-drink format, guest beverage producers will be coming along to broaden your drinking horizons, food vendors will be on hand to soak up the suds, and live music will tickle your eardrums.
Returning this year is a VIP hour that also grants you access to a lounge and a VIP bar pouring unique offerings, a souvenir glass, and designated VIP restrooms so you’re not wasting time in line. There’s also a “fast pass” option for those that want to skip the line to get in.
The event also supports the New York City Brewers Guild, which advocates for and supports the local brewing industry and helps to grow the craft beer audience. Tickets are on sale now for $100 for General Admission and $130 for VIP.
Upcoming Beer Events of Note
Manhattan: 10-Year Anniversary at As Is, Thursday, 1/29 from 6pm, free entry
Manhattan: 30th Anniversary Party at The Ginger Man, Friday 1/30 from 4pm, free entry
Brooklyn: 10th Annual Caskiversary at Strong Rope Brewery Red Hook, Saturday, 2/7 from noon-9pm, tickets start at $22
Manhattan: Curds & Hops Cheese & Beer Pairing at Murray’s Cheese, Friday 2/20 from 6:30-8pm, tickets $110
Brooklyn: NYC Beer Week Opening Bash 2026 hosted by the NYC Brewers Guild at Brooklyn Monarch, Saturday 2/21 from 1-5:30pm, tickets start at $100
Brewery Tracker
Total brewery count: 3,943
Total breweries visited in 2026: 20
Total breweries visited in France: 10
Brewery Visit of the Week
Brewery #3942, Paname Brewing Company, Paris, France (Visited 19-Jan-2026)
Continuing with some of the breweries I visited in Paris, here’s one that practically everyone recommended to me. Not necessarily because of the beer, but because of the patio, which floats on a barge in a canal not far from a drawbridge in Paris’ 19th Arrondissement. Paname, which just celebrated its tenth anniversary, has one of the most American-feeling taprooms in Paris: a long bar, lots of open seating, a kitchen slinging burgers and pizzas, an open production space, and plenty of beers that would feel right at home on a menu in Denver, New York, or San Diego.
Their Barge Du Canal IPA (aptly named given what’s outside) has plenty of clarity and is very much in the realm of traditional old-school American IPAs. It’s also ubiquitous at beer bars in Paris. L’Arme Blanche is an American Wheat that I also came across several times at bars and bistros in town. At the brewery, I went for some limited-batch beers, like the Bavarian Dream Marzen, which had a nice robust maltiness, and their Winter Red Ale, which included cherries and pecans and had a bright red hue.
My only regret is not visiting here first on a warm day, because I would camp out on that barge all afternoon on a picturesque Paris day. If you find yourself in the City of Lights this spring or summer, make plans to do what I couldn’t.
The Doom and Gloom Tracker
At least 2 breweries I’ve visited closed or announced their closure in the past week:
Brewery #2020, Doomsday Brewing Co., Washougal, Washington (Visited 12-Sep-2020)
Brewery #2412, Intuition Ale Works, Jacksonville, Florida (Visited 16-Oct-2021)
The Weekly Reader
One of New York’s great spots for cask ale is in the Finger Lakes [Gary Stoller, Forbes]
How one of the state’s largest brewers is weathering the storm [Will Cleveland, Rochester Beacon]
Hops are hurting [Dave Infante, VinePair]
Building a sustainable brewery comes at a cost [William Georgi, Pellicle]
One Last Thing
For those wondering, I did indeed crack open that bottle of Sam Adams Utopias I mentioned in last week’s newsletter. It’s downright dangerous, but I enjoyed every sip on Sunday while watching football inside and snowfall outside. Stay warm this weekend!
Cheers,
Chris
I had no idea the Ginger Man was back! Also, glad you enjoyed Paname, will always be linked to Teddy Riner winning his 5th Judo gold medal for me!