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I’ve Found My Island

Kills Boro Brewing Co.
Plain Jane Pink Guava
Kettle sour brewed w pilsner & white wheat conditioned on pink guava
4.9 % ABV
Staten Island, NY
Sean Torres, Michael Caridi & Vincent Lima

Rose tinted orange with a lovely white head and active bubbles tracing designs on the surface as it breathes. After the pour here come scents of Valencia orange with a blend of other citrus, orange & cherry blossoms passing through on a breeze, guava, a little pineapple, and a little touch of a Mexican cookie I used to get at that long gone bakery on Grand St. Well this certainly wakes up my mouth…wooo! Tasting that tangy citrus cocktail again with a delicate sweetness (just the right balance), guava, papaya, and don’t laugh but a little mix of Sour Patch Kids. I want to know why on earth such a fabulous Berliner Style Weiss is called “plain”. She’s a true beauty.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO!

Full disclosure, I have not spent a lot of time on Staten Island (shhhhh not even the ferry). This may have to be remedied soon because this can has me totally intrigued. Kills Boro has a great tag line 🍺🏝️ FIND YOUR ISLAND! 🏝️🍺. Not only do they showcase their fabulous brews but also where you can find them at local pubs, restaurants and even when you go catch a Staten Island Ferry Hawks home game. It’s a win-win for both parties. Speaking of parties, they have a very cool pizza one coming up that’s not just a reason to drink in the sun but also for a good cause. “Join us on July 29th for “PIZZA PARTY!,” a craft beer and pizza fundraiser aimed at raising money for Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden.”

What can you expect?

  • 4 Hour, Outdoor Picnic-style event
  • Unlimited Beer Samples from Kills Boro Brewing Company and other Local Breweries!
  • Fresh Pizza made by some of the best Staten Island Pizzerias in NYC.

Get your tickets while you can!

#pizzaparty #killsboro #snugharbor #pizza #Weiss #beer #ビール #party #findyourisland #nyc #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #worldbyglass #craftbeer #sour  #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #vin #vino #vinho #wein #winestagram #instawine #StatenIsland #NY @cheezits @killsboro

 

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Light My Fire!

Social Hour Cocktails
Harvest Whiskey Sour
13 yr. Whisky (George Dickel Tennessee)
20% ABV
250 ml and serves 3, so remember that and share
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Amber apple cider. Sniffing apples & cider, cinnamon, maple with a little vanilla butter cream frosting, cardamon, and a whisky spark.  Sipping and all of the scents are in the taste along with a lemon zesty twist. Calls for striking a match, setting the fireplace ablaze and cozying up because it tastes even better off someone else’s lips.💋 Baby you can light my fire!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: don’t even open the bag

This can is Social Hour Cocktails’ 1st limited release, so I recommend grabbing a 4-pack as soon as you find them, or you might miss out. They also suggest make it hot or on the rocks, and if you want to dress it up just add some apple slices, orange peel, rosemary sprig, or toasted marshmallows. O.K. I say ick to the marshmallows and opt for a side of crispy bacon…it’s so much more sexy!

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #whiskey #whisky #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit #worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #cannedcocktails @georgedickel @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Recipes Run In The Family

Social Hour Cocktails
Prizefighter
Ragtime Rye Whiskey, Massenez Crème de Pêche, Faccia Brutto Fernet Pianta
11.5% ABV
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Pineapple gold with a good thick white head at first pour which leads to vibrant scents of whiskey, herbal bitters, a little Ricola, and a pineapple and peach smash. First crisp sip and my tastebuds are greeted by whiskey with a mellow butterscotch, pear, lovely white peaches, a little dried pineapple, a tiny cola, mild bitters and a shake of white pepper that balances everything. This is damn good! Oh and I have this one on the rocks, but hey if you’re lacking a glass just kick it back straight from the can. Heading to a family holiday party? Stash a few of these in your bag…especially if it’s a full on “Griswold” happening (Squirrel!!!!).

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it really doesn’t do much and that’s a good thing

This is my second cocktail from Social Hour Cocktails and yeah, they totally brought their “A game”. The more of these canned goodies I try, I think I may have to branch out from the usual Cheez snack and take it up a notch. From what I’m reading, the Macy family was all in for their “Social Hours”. Tom’s father even created the perfect snacks to pair (John Wm. Macy’s Cheese Sticks). He whipped up the recipe in the 70s in CA before making his way to NYC and baking them from his EV walk-up apartment. Looks like delicious, fun, and portable creations run in the Macy family.

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #Aperitivo #holidayparty #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #RagtimeRye #facciabrutto #JohnWmMacys @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Flying into the Holidays on Dragonwings

Woodstock Brewing
Baby Dragon
Pale Ale
5.5% ABV
Phoenicia, NY
Founders: Rick Shobin and Scott Shimomura
(Originally caught in the wild at Sugarburg)

Warm golden pour with full on thick white foamy head, and lots of teeny tiny active bubbles. It’s a crisp fresh breath of air with an easy breezy mix of tangerine, grapefruit, a little lemon zest, and a pinch of pine needles that make me go “Hello Christmas!” Sipping and again it’s crisp with some welcome bitter herbiness, lemon, pineapple, and mixed citrus zest. This is one easy drinker.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: perfect snack pairing

So for those of you that love holiday trivia and the chance of winning a $500 tab, then you’ll want to drop by Sugarburg (the place I caught this dragon in the wild). The place looks like Christmas exploded in it and there’s 15 hidden items/scenes from your favorite movies/shows. Just grab a drink, wander through the wonderland, find those festive moments, fill out the answer sheet and cross your fingers! Happy holidays and keep your eyes out for mistletoe!

#beer #craftbeer #paleale #ale #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #holidays #dragons #babydragon #Phoenicia #NY #Woodstock #wine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @sugarburgbk @woodstockbrewing @cheezits

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I Love Spirited Surprises!

Golden Moon Distillery
Golden Moon Gin
45% ABV
Golden, CO (A little Golden city trivia, this is where Jolly Ranchers were born!)
Founder, CEO, and master distiller: Stephen Gould

Nice clear pour. Nose tingling juniper berries are followed by mint, lavender, coriander, and a breeze of wild flowers. This baby is very fragrant. In fact when I was binge watching with my S.O. this past week and he was sipping away (I had my fave glass of cava), I was so impressed with how the scents flew through the room. Ooh…my mouth is vibrating in a good way. Fabulous tastes of juniper, a few pine needles, mint, lavender, fresh ground coriander, rosemary, thyme, and anise at the back of my tongue along with a smidge of candy cane. Do we see a holiday theme going lately? It’s explosions of all the flavors at once. I recommend to chill well and serve neat. Don’t mess it up by covering it up in a cocktail.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: As would be said on “Wayne’s World”: HURL!

This bottle was quite a surprise gift, and it blew past all expectations. As y’all know, I love when people work with what they have local, and Golden Moon sources as much as they can in Colorado, and they also give back to the earth post distilling by recycling the waste back into compost. Kind of like their own little “Circle of Life”. Also if you want some cocktail cues from the master (Stephen Gould) check out his videos on “The Distiller’s Basement”.

#Gin #distillery #cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Golden #Colorado #CO #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram @goldenmoondistillery @cheezit

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What We Sip in the Shadows

Social Hour Cocktails
Strawberry Rhubarb Spritz
Faccia Brutto Aperitivo bitters, strawberry rhubarb cordial, and white wine
8.7% ABV
Brooklyn, NY
Cocktail makers and shakers: Julie Reiner & Tom Macy

Shining pale strawberry cocktail blush. Pour on the rocks. Nose tickling strawberries, rhubarb, and herbal aromatic bitters. Here goes the sip and it’s sweet at first and full of berries and rhubarb pie filling, then out pops herby bitters in the back, orange peel, and a small bite of red Twizzlers. Fresh, crisp and a fun party you can take on the go, or just kick back at home and binge watch “What We Do in the Shadows”.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blerg ack

Y’all know I’ve had a soft spot for these pre-made cocktails during the lockdown, and now I can’t give them up. Julie Reiner & Tom Macy both come from lauded bartending and bar owning backgrounds and took a huge and smart leap into the canned cocktails market in the summer of 2020. They want what you have at home to be as good as what they’d concoct for you in person. It’s also pretty special that they work with New York products, like this spritz’s Brooklyn born “Faccia Brutto aperitivo”. Cheers to supporting local!

#cocktails #cocktailsofinstagram #spirits #bitters #Aperitivo #wine #vino #vin #葡萄酒 #ワイン #cheezit @worldbyglass #Brooklyn #NY #pairswithcheezits #winetasting #winestagram #FacciaBrutto @socialhourcocktails @docwineshop @docwinebar @cheezit

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Beer is Our Food

Moody Tongue
Scotch Barrel Aged Peated Scotch Ale
2019 Vintage
Aged in Laphroaig barrels
11.8% ABV
Chicago, IL
Brewmaster Jared Rouben
Executive Chef: Jared Wentworth

Mahogany with a small pale beige head. Pop the cap and oh yeah baby it smells like toffee, caramel, brown sugar, and warm smooth peat. This is sooo sleek! Tastes of smoky peat beautiful scotch, toffee, and something with a bitter herbiness or a little burnt cinder edge of a brown sugar cookie that balances it all out. This bottle is freaking fab and I’m glad I took the chance on it!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: BLEEP NO!!!!

What do you get when you pair a brewmaster with an established culinary and brewing background with a 10 time Michelin star executive chef…well you get a Michelin 2 star brewpub. You can either go relaxed and laid back in “The Bar” or fancy it up in “The Dining Room” where you can get a tasting menu/beer pairing. Either choice you’re going to get a unique experience with their “culinary brewing” and as they say “Beer is our food”. I so want to get my hands on their “Shaved Black Truffle Pilsner”. Yeah, yeah I can hear some of you shaking your heads, but if it’s as good as their “Scotch Barrel Aged Peated Scotch Ale”, I’m all in.

#beer #craftbeer #scotchale #ale #scotch #beerstagram #michelinstar #beerlife #beersofinstagram #chicago #illinois #wine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @moodytongue @BeerBoutiqueNYC @cheezits

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A Stellar Pour

Fifth Hammer Brewing Co.
Moons Of Jupiter
Oatmeal Stout
5% ABV
Long Island City, NY

Crack the can, pour and it’s a glass of dark chocolate/black coffee with a caramel head. Smells like unwrapping a chocolate bar along with a chip of baker’s chocolate, roasted coffee beans, and a little toffee. Kicking it back and there’s tastes of deep very dark chocolate and almost bittersweet baker’s, really roasted toasted black coffee (but not Charbuck’s) and burnt brownie edges. It’s a crisp yet smooth easy drinker and not overly heavy. I would love work on a pint for a while and follow up with another. Delicious!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO!

It’s that time of the year again! No not that darn pumpkin spice crap. It’s stout season. Actually I ❤️ stouts 365, but then I’m a chocoholic. If I could I’d swim in a vat of it but that might end up a bit messy. A better idea would be to cue up some old Armin van Buuren and take a 4-pack of these cans for an evening dancing under the twinkling night sky.

#beer #craftbeer #stout #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #MoonsOfJupiter #arminvanbuuren @fifthhammerbeer @BeerBoutiqueNYC @indiebeer_ @cheezits

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Reunited and it Feels So Good

Harviestoun Brewery
Old Engine Oil
Black Ale (Best Porter of 2010)
6% ABV
Scotland, UK

Deep dark of night with a small caramel head that fades. Oh man, just raise that mug and here comes that deep smell of dark chocolate, baker’s chocolate, coffee grounds, toffee, and a hint of black pepper. Memories of years past are being conjured up. Now after all that here comes the taste. There’s again cark chocolate that goes bitter super dark with a crispy dry end, burnt brownie edges, black coffee, and a smidge of vanilla. It’s just black velvet and mouth coating, and after all these years it is still a constant friend.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oh God no!

When I saw this beer in my friend’s hand, I felt like Christmas came early! It has been years since I have had this glass of deliciousness. It was back at the old (and now gone) Mugs Alehouse, and anytime I saw it on their list, it was an immediate go to order. How on earth had I lost touch with this old bestie. I totally blame myself for not searching it out. Feels so good to be reunited!

#beer #craftbeer #OldEngineOil #porter #blackale #ale #stout #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits #faithnomore #reunitedanditfeelssogood #Scotland #UK @harviestounbrewery @sugarburgbk @cheezits

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One Step Too…

Tox Brewing Co. & Skygazer Brewing Co. Collaboration
Water Lily
Sour Ale with Blueberry, Chocolate, Marshmallow, and Milk Sugar
6% ABV
Brewed and packaged for Tox Brewing by Twelve Percent
North Haven, CT

Electric magenta with purple pops. Well, it smells just like the can reads…blueberry, chocolate, marshmallow, and milk sugar, just like a 1970’s kids cereal. Think of a mashup of Franken Berry, Count Chocula, and Boo Berry. Here we go for the taste and it again is blueberry, chocolate, marshmallow, and milk sugar but the chocolate is a Tootsie Roll that turns into a mochaccino and a little tiny lemon hint.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: NO NO NO NO!

I do like the experimentation and the collaboration, and know a lot of you will love this sour ale (all over IG people are raving about it), and I’m going to get chastised for this, but I just wish there wasn’t any chocolate. Just one step too far for me. Yes, it’s a “wacky dessert smoothie” flair, and maybe I’m a party pooper. I think it’s the Tootsie Roll taste. They were the dreaded candy for me at Halloween. I never could understand why people would give them out, and while I’m on my soapbox, who thought boxes of raisins were a good idea too?!

#beer #craftbeer #sourale #ale #tootsieroll #skygazerbrewing #ToxBrewing #beerstagram #beerlife #beersofinstagram #wine #winestagram #instawine #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #cheezit #pairswithcheezits @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @cheezits