Cheers to Billie!

Fat Orange Cat
Collaboration with Twelve Percent Project
All The Kool Kats On The Back Of The Bus
New England Style India Pale Ale
8.4% ABV
Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic and Nugget Hops
North Haven, CT

Hazy golden orange with a big frothy head. Inhaling all that NEIPA citrus goodness: grapefruit, tangerine, clementines, orange zest, and pine needles. Tasting all the same citrus fruit goodness again added with pineapple and apricots. Then bitter, pine, herbal (like singed sage) and something a little toasty and dark. A very smooth easy drinker that gives you that delightful tingly feeling on your tongue and lips.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Makes it more herbal and floral…hmmm

I head over to Fat Orange Cat’s site to see how they’re doing and am greeted by a post that says their open air drive-thru is closed till April 2021, but you can still pick up their beers at your local purveyors and also Twelve Percent Project, who works with them on their large batch beers. Their small batches are made back at their brewery East Hampton, CT with great care to their land, their ingredients, local agriculture, and recycling as much as possible. This is a socially conscious brewery that was once overseen by their “brewmaster” and fat orange cat, Billie who is sadly no longer. There are pics of him on their site in case any of you other cat crazy people, like me, would like to see how cute he was. Join me in a little dance for him with G Love & Special Sauce – Back of the Bus.

@fatorangecatbrewco @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #neipa #ipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #Simcoe #Citra #Nugget #hops

A Swede and a Buckeye Walk into a Bar

Collaboration from Hoof Hearted Brewing & Dugges Bryggeri
Faster Than the Future
Imperial Stout with raspberry, vanilla and Marcona almonds added
13.5% ABV
Hoof Hearted Brew Master: Trevor Williams
Dugges Brew Master: Mikael Dugge Engström

Dense dark chocolate color with a small coffee head. Whoa this is total dark chocolate tickling my nose, along with espresso, vanilla, lots of raspberries and nutty. Drinking in tingly chocolate covered raspberries, brownies, sweet and mellow vanilla, espresso that snaps back, and that rich nuttiness of Marcona almonds. Lord, how I love Marconas. I had to cut back on them at one point. It was totally becoming an addiction.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: oddly it makes it super sweet. If you want, try them together, but I prefer the Imperial Stout on its own

So excited when I found this Hoof Hearted collaboration and giddily brought it home. They have so much fun with their irreverent ever changing label art. I think “Don’t Microwave It Don’t Boil It” is my favorite. Love their sense of humor! Heck, the brewery’s name came from a fart joke. They also have such a dedicated following (especially for their IPAs) and there’s good reason for that too…it’s damn good beer! As for how Hoof and Dugges decided to collaborate, I’m not sure of that tale, but would love to hear how this power team came about. Funny enough, the Dugges Bryggeri story page starts out with what sounds like the beginning of an old joke, “An Englishman walks into a bar.” So like Hoof, I’m seeing the humor and also that they also have quite a following in Sweden to the point of their having to expand in 2009, and from what it sounds like on their page they may need to do it again. And I’ll leave it with their own motto, “Brewing our beer. Preaching our brews. Living the dream. And, loving every minute of it!”

@hoofheartedbrewing @duggesbryggeri @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelvepercentbeerproject @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #imperialstout #stout #craftbeer #Marengo #Ohio #Sweden #marconaalmonds

Keep Them Around for Luck

Other Half
Crickets Pilsner/ Kölsch
German pils, Vienna malt, Hopped with motueka
5.1% ABV
Brooklyn, NY

Crisp deep golden with a half inch head. Sniffing a blend of citrus: grapefruit, tangerine, and orange zest. Grass, clovers and their flowers creep in too. It’s a crisp pilsner with some delicate sweetness. On the backend there’s something like licking a sugar cube. It’s not powerful but just reminds me of swiping them from my grandmother’s stockpile as a kid. We didn’t have cubes in my house, so whenever I could get my hands on one it was an amazing treat that I savored. Back to the beer, there’s also light fruitiness as was in scents of grapefruit, tangerine, orange zest, lemon/lime, and also again a grassy splash. Has me craving an everything bagel.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out more sweet and floral hints

So what about this cricket? I’ve searched Other Half’s site to see why and coming up with zip. This little golden chirper is known for good luck, prosperity and wealth, so maybe that’s my answer. And for goodness sake, never accidentally step on one. The ancient tales say you will be doomed…and none of us need that now do we? 2020 was bad enough. Maybe Baby New Year 2020 crushed a couple crickets and that’s what caused this mess. So be kind to the hoppers you find, and treat them well so 2021 will be the best ever.

@otherhalfnyc @BeerBoutiqueInc @cheezits #beer #Pilsner #Kölsch #germanbeer #wine #cheezit @worldbyglass  #pairswithcheezits #motueka #malt #crickets #brooklyn #NY #NewYork #otherhalf

Local Brew

Brooklyn Kura
Craft Sake
Number Fourteen
Junmai Ginjo
Namazake/Unpasteurized
Milling Rate: 50-60%
Made with New York water and rice grown in California (blend of calrose and yamada nishiki)
Brooklyn, NY
Founders Brian Polen (brewery president) and Brandon Doughan (brewer)

Crystal clear glassful. Breathe in the white flowers, cantaloupe, refreshing cucumber, and some apple (but not sure which variety which is killing me). Take a sip and there’s sweetness like an overripe cucumber, cantaloupe, and then there’s that mystery apple again. Tastes floral like it smells. It’s dainty, light, and crisp/dry and an easy sipper by itself.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it even more sweet and robust. Weird I thought I wouldn’t like it paired but actually it’s pretty good with it.

What do you get when you bring together a New Yorker who works in analytics and tech, and a biochemist from Portland? Oh and add to that the fact that they met at a wedding in Japan. You end up with two sake drinking buddies that decide to open a small batch sake brewery in Brooklyn. Who would have thought? They’re making quite a success of it too from what I’m reading. As for reading…this is another beverage where you should definitely read the instructions on the bottle: Keep Refrigerated. Since it’s unpasteurized it needs to keep that chill, so before you put it back in the fridge, pour another glass.

@vinewinenyc @brooklynkura @cheezits #cheezit #wine #sake #craftsake #brewery #brew @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #brooklyn #ny #newyork

For a Good Time…Shake In Bottle

Wandering Barman
Socialite
Old Fashioned with elderflower gin
28% ABV
Ridgewood, NY
Mixmasters/founders: Julian Mohamed, Roxane Mollicchi, and Darren Grenia

Hazy cucumber juice green on the rocks. Mmmm smelling fresh cucumbers, delicate flowers, salt, and gin. I can already sense what is coming before it even hits my lips. Whoooo! Cucumber and elderflower gin that has a bit of a burn down your throat at first but give it a second sip and smoooooth and sweet which is definitely from cane sugar and an aftertaste of light pine. What better drink to have while I’m quarantined due to flying to see my mom. It’s refreshing, cool, elegant, lovely, and dare I say classy.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the sweetness and cucumber

So I was questioning a cocktail in a bottle. I’ve tested some that seemed not quite right, but yes I got sucked in by the label, and it was at a shop I trust. Very glad I went with my gut, and purchased not just one but two and now having a twang of regret that I didn’t grab two more. Follow the instructions on the cap as it says, “shake in bottle” and then pour over some rocks. Had I not been the one pouring this cocktail, I would have thought it was all fresh made. From what I’m reading, restaurants and venues have been snapping them up. Definitely would ease up on time waiting in a line at a concert or play (well, when we get to go back to those again). Also seeing that Wandering Barman creates their own bitters, syrups, and infusions and hold them to a high quality. “Socialite” definitely hits high quality in my book. Oh, just noticing on the back label that 1% of profits is donated to alcohol addiction support groups. Always nice to see people giving back!

@docwineshop @docwinebarny @wanderingbarman @cheezits #cheezit #wine #cocktails #spirits #bitters #gin #worldbyglass @worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #socialite #ridgewood #Brooklyn #newyork

A French Brooklyn Twist

Forthave Spirits
Marseille Amaro
Brooklyn, NY
Purchased in 2018 and just opened
Co-founders and herbal mixmasters: Daniel de la Nuez and Aaron Fox

A neat pour of dark burnt amber. Before the glass even gets near my nose pine and eucalyptus appear. Get a little closer and there’s coriander, cloves, mint, and catnip tea (yes, I drink this, it’s good for your gut). Here comes the first sip and it’s a powerful beautiful statement of pine, gingerbread, cinnamon, cloves, singed orange peel, honey and vanilla. It’s not a dessert or a holiday in a glass, but it could be a combination of both with a warm comforting feeling enveloping you, or shall I even say a hearty hug.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: blurgh! don’t do it and ruin your lovely evening

Not going to lie, when I saw the bottle and design, I knew I had to bring it home with me. Kept putting off for that special occasion to open it, and here we are still in the middle of this pandemic mess. What better time than now! Just look at that Plague Mask on the label. Our N95s are no where near that dramatic. That giant herb filled beak is not what I would want to see my GP wearing during a doc appointment. This Marseille Amaro is built off the historical recipes attributed to the Four Thieves tale, who during a plague outbreak, were stealing from the sick and dead, but had come up with a “secret” vinegar herbal concoction that kept them safe from infection by warding off the fleas. The other more plausible tale is Richard Forthave’s vinegar remedy based on botanical research. Whoever got there first, Forthave Spirits’ contemporary version, I’m sure is far more delicious and aromatic than anything from ages long ago. Absolutely love it, and glad I have many more glasses for future evenings.

@vinewinenyc @forthave_spirits @cheezits #cheezit #wine @worldbyglass #worldbyglass #needmorewine #pairswithcheezits #Brooklyn #NY #NewYork #Flatbush #Bushwick #Marseille #bitter #liqueur #digestif #spirits #amaro #forthavespirits

BEER MEMORIES 3.23.19

Brooklyn Black Ops Russian Imperial Stout 11.6%
Brooklyn Brewery

Consumed at Mugs Alehouse’s very last “Split Thy Brooklyn Skull XX”. Full admission, I remember loving this glass of chocolate and coffee goodness, but needless to say it was a long day with a lot of other strong beers, and memories became clouded. Wonderful day was had by all. A few were staggering halfway through, and I think there may have even been some others singing before the end. Here’s the round up from the menu: Barrel-aged in Woodford Reserve barrels. Brooklyn Black Ops was aged for four months in bourbon barrels, bottles flat, and re-fermented with Champagne yeast, creating big chocolate and coffee flavors with a rich underpinning of vanilla-like oak notes.

Mugs, I can’t believe it’s almost been a year since you shuttered. One of the many happy memories I have of Mugs is meeting Jon and getting introduced to his band “Live Ones”. Check them out.

#russianimperialstout #beer #brooklynbrewery #williamsburg #brooklyn #mugsalehouse @worldbyglass #jonathanczekaj @liveonesfiends #theliveones