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A Graceful Collaboration of All Parts

Public Access (in collaboration with Root + Branch)
Grandeza
Gose style ale w/pineapple + dragonfruit
8% ABV
North Haven, CT
Brewers: Ramón Manrique Hung, Anthony Sorice, and Ryan Mauban

Looks like a watermelon/grapefruit cocktail with a small light pink head. Beautiful scents of pineapple, dragonfruit, grapefruit, and spring flowers. This just smells delightful! Now on to the taste and there’s a salty mix of pineapple, dragonfruit, papaya, mango, and watermelon jolly rancher at the end. This is perfect for a sunny day and would be great for slow cooking pork!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: doesn’t change a thing

Public Access and Root + Branch are currently both nomadic beer projects, but Root + Branch is working on building their own space in Copiague, NY. Public’s Ramón Manrique Hung has a true American Dream story. From Venezuela, he knew he wanted more and made his way to the US, worked his way from the bottom up in the beer/bar world, and is now a US citizen and a Certified Cicerone® (beer sommelier). It is true as cheesy as it sounds, that if you have a dream and determination you can make it happen. As for the guys from Root, Anthony Sorice went from home brewing to full on professional through stints with Three’s Brewing, Coney Island Brewing, and most recently head brewer at Long Island City Beer Project. And to think he went to college for European History…hmmm. Not to forget is his partner Ryan Mauban who is also a Certified Cicerone® who has worked for Michelin Star chefs, and in 2017’s Wine Enthusiast Magazine, he was one of the only beer professionals picked for their Top 40 Tastemakers Under 40. All three of these guys deserve accolades for how far they have come and how fab their creations are. Also have to give a nod Public Access’ graceful label art by Gizem Karatas (you can see more of her designs on their site). I’ve been trying to find a her site/portfolio, so if anyone can point me to it, I would love to view it. If the rest of it is anything like these labels, it’s going to be beautiful.

@BeerBoutiqueNYC @publicaccessliquids @rootandbranchbrewing @gzmkaratas @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #northhaven #ct #gose #ale

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Gifting Part of Your Heart

Marlowe Artisanal Ales
Eager To Share
American Pale Ale
Citra and Mosaic hops
5.4% ABV
New Haven, CT
Brewer: Zac Ross

Hazy yellow/light gold pour with a white head. Crack and bam there’s those hops, citrus, tangerine, orange zest, grapefruit, and good light funk. Sipping all that citrus…tangerine, orange zest, grapefruit, lemon, and then also pineapple/pears which is a nice smooth combo. There’s also something like a slightly over baked croissant, and a little bitter end but that’s what makes it so good. This is an overall graceful pale ale, much like those seagulls haunting the label.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Bleh ick no

Marlowe Artisanal Ales is affectionately named in honor of Zac’s grandfather. I wish I knew more about his family story. From what I’ve found, their logo is his grandfather’s signature from a musical piece he made especially for Zac’s parents’ wedding. What a beautiful intimate present, composing for loved ones, it’s like gifting a part of your heart that will last forever. Also want to point out Kat Manning’s beautiful label. I know a lot of you are not always enamored with seagulls, but these float and dance effortlessly along with bits of citrus. Kat’s hand on this design is so elegant. Love it so much I just picked up one of her shirts. You can also check her out on IG @katmanning Cheers!

@marloweales @BeerBoutiqueInc @zacross @katmanning @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #newhaven #ct #Citra #Mosaic #hops #AmericanPaleAle #ale

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A Beer For Any Hour

Fifth Hammer Brewing Co
Midnight Sauce
Belgian Dark Strong Ale
9% ABV
Long Island City, NY
Their first can conditioned beer (2020)
Co-founders: Chris Cuzme, Mary Izett, and David Scharfstein

Medium amber with a frothy creamy head. Welcoming scents of caramel, brown sugar cookies, hoppy, and toffee. Mmmmm delicious sips of Christmas comfort flavors, again caramel, toffee, dried Turkish figs, and a little black pepper. It’s rich and lively and has me craving shortbread cookies and bacon.

Pairs with Cheez-it’s: Meh, not really a good idea. Stick with the shortbread cookies.

Midnight Sauce is a really special ale that you can drink at any hour. Honestly, I first tasted it before 10am. Don’t look at me like that, it was just staring at me when I opened the fridge. I had a lot of writing ahead of me, and it was the breakfast of champions, and like I said before it goes well with bacon. BTW I noticed on Fifth Hammer’s FB page as of 3/18, those wonderful words so many wish to hear, THEY ARE HIRING! If you’re looking to join their brew and taproom crew, then get that resume ready. Life is opening up again, so drink local! There’s pick up, outdoor seating and now 50% indoor seating too! Oh it feels so good that my solitary glass may be rejoining others again for one big long cheer!

@fifthhammerbrewing @BeerBoutiqueInc @independentbeer @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #midnightsauce #drinklocal

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Seriously, Who Doesn’t Love a Pile of Baby Kittens

Fat Orange Cat
Collaboration with Twelve Percent Project
Baby Kittens
Hazy New England Style India Pale Ale
6.5% ABV
Simcoe, Citra, and Galaxy Hops
East Hampton, CT

Super hazy yellow straw with a fluffy white head. Before even get near it it’s full of hoppity scents, tangerines, citrus zest, mango hints, and fresh cut grass and pine in the back. Kicking this beauty back and it’s smooth with a bitter piney pop, then mango, tangerine, peaches, and papaya. Keep drinking and the bitter chills out. The longer this wriggling baby kitty breathes, I start to think of fruity shortbread cookies.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: it’s ok, but I don’t recommend it. Wait…no, I absolutely do not recommend it. You lose the fruity blend.

Snuggle up with a whole pile of these Baby Kittens. They’re so friendly, easy to drink and are purrfect. I have been soooo waiting to get my hands on one of these ever since I tried their “All The Kool Kats On The Back Of The Bus” in January. Revisited their site this morning and read the news that they are permanently closing their tasting barn, but don’t cry…there is hope and good news! They are reopening online ordering and drive-thru pick up on April 3rd! Also looks like for the big day, they have a treat in a 750 ml bottle of “DREAMBOAT ABBEY Belgian Tripel”. It’s only available at the brewery so get the car ready for a little road trip.

@fatorangecatbrewco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits  #neipa #ipa #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #Simcoe #Citra #Galaxy #hops

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Fortitude + Determination + Family and Friendship = Resilience

Schilling Beer Co.
Resilience American ale project
Geppetto
Milk Stout brewed with coffee
6.3 % ABV
Littleton, NH
Co-founders: Dr. Bruce Cozzens, Jeffrey B. Cozzens, Stuart Cozzens, and John Lenzini

Black coffee pour with a caramel head. Dark coffee and chocolate float out first. Next there’s candy sprinkles like the ones on cupcakes (you know those cupcakes you eat in the dark while watching bad tv you’d never admit in public), brownie edge of pan corner goodness, and a bit of hoppity. Kicking back coffee, chocolate brownies again with more burnt ends, and a touch of vanilla marshmallowy cream. It’s not heavy or thick, very easy to drink, and sweet with a nice bitter bite at the end.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it a lot sweeter

A father, sons, and a best friend came together to make Schilling and Resilience a reality in Littleton. Their backgrounds vary from dad being a retired veterinarian, one son has research published on international security matters, another came from a mix of business and religion studies, and their friend was a chemistry teacher and coach. Other than beer, they also share a love of fishing/fly fishing and their community. Their epically long list of Schilling Beers are influenced from their experiences and flavors of Europe and the brews found there, but Geppetto (even though it’s an Italian name) is from their Resilience line which is dedicated to American ales, hoppiness, and is an expression of the struggles and successes of their making their way in the beer realm. From what I’m reading on the FB page, their resilience is paying off and they hope sometime this month to reopen their brewpub and kitchen for indoor dining. The tasting room and store is already open from 12-8 for beer and their delicious looking pizzas. They’re even looking forward to events from Oktoberfest, their anniversary, and the R.J Schilling Fly Fishing Festival’s charity event. Looks like life is on its way to getting brighter and brighter.

@resiliencebyschillingbeerco @schillingbeerco @BeerBoutiqueNYC @cheezits #beer #milkstout #stout #ale #Resilience #wine #winestagram #cheezit #instawine @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #Littleton #NH #newhampshire #Geppetto

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Mama Knows, She Always Knows Best

MÀKKU
Blueberry Premium Makgeolli
Unfiltered Rice Beer
6% ABV
All natural 100% Korean ingredients: young Gimpo rice, Gapyeong mountain water, live cultures, and 100% real blueberry purée
Brewed just outside of Seoul, Korea
Owner: Carol Pak

Give it a little shake but not too hard before you pour, or you’ll miss out. It’s a Pink Panther pink with lots of active fizzy bubbles and hazy from the rice. Instantly the scents are reaching my nose as I’m still pouring. It’s an aromatic blend of rice, blueberry, and a mellow candy smell that reminds me of as a kid opening the bag of jelly beans in my Easter basket. Now I’m tasting a refreshing and creamy blend of blueberries, old school Hubba Bubba bubblegum, fruity jelly beans (except the licorice one), and all those lovely bubbles. Fun and fresh!

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: makes it even sweeter, wow! Not what I expected.

This is a completely different experience than Hana Makgeolli’s makgeolli which shows the versatility and how you can transform these recipes from wine to beer to more. Again nuruk is used but this one is a wheat-rice blend. From what I’m reading, Carol Pak’s friends were part of why MÀKKU exists. While she was in Korea they coerced her into a makgeolli bar and she realized this wasn’t just an old person’s drink. After researching Korean craft brewers and their unique differing styles due to terroir much like wine, she knew she had to bring this to the US, but she wanted it to be natural. Try as she might, it took mom stepping in to get it just right (she’s a licensed herbologist), and now it’s their gift wrapped up in this pretty can for us.

@drinkmakku @BeerBoutiqueInc @cheezits #beer #ricebeer #makgeolli #wine #ricewine #winestagram #cheezit #instawine @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #makku #Seoul #Korea #nuruk #막걸리

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Nomadic Tropical Trip

Abomination Brewing Company
Tropical Fog
Tropical Edition
Milkshake Style DIPA with Pineapple, Coconut & Milk Sugar
8.6% ABV
Brewed at Twelve Percent Beer Project
New Haven, CT
Co-founders and nomadic brewers: Joe Feldman and Josh Arno

Hazy golden orange murky tropical punch with a active white head, The scents full on hit you as soon as you pop the can. It’s a super cool tropical punch just like the can says…pineapple, coconut, creamy, and a bit hoppy. First sip and damn that is active and is really something. As before there’s pineapples, coconuts, punchy and mellow at same time. Also tangerine, singed orange peels, and a little bitter herby hoppity hop. This should be served out of a coconut with a little umbrella, and don’t forget your sunhat and shades.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: Pulls forward the coconut and makes it more bitter, so I have to give it a thumbs down and don’t pair.

So Abomination Brewing, is a nomadic brewery and they love hooking up with like minds and working across the beer community. During our pandemic world, they had to come up with a way to create a social distance collaboration brew with a DDH DIPA, and have a slew of breweries that are joining them and putting their own spin on it too. So check out these on IG: @saintsrowbrewing @KinsmenBrewing @hoofheartedbrewing @henorthbrewery @breakerbrewing @rotundabrewingcompany @evergrainbeer @pilgerruhbrewing @ten7brewingco @frontporchbrewing @tatteredflagbrewery @icarusbrewing @bolerosnort @lost_tavern_brewing I think this is a great way to bring people together even though we are still so far apart. So crack a can and raise a glass to Abomination, their creativity, and their beautiful beers.

@abominationbrewingco @BeerBoutiqueInc @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro @abomination_josh @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #DIPA #IPA #wine #winestagram #cheezit #instawine @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #beerlife #beermonster #milkshake #SocDisBeer #NewHaven #CT #tropicalfog

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From Biology to Brews

Brasserie Dieu du Ciel!
Solstice d’Eté
Sour Berliner Weisse brewed with raspberries
Freestyle Series
5.9% ABV
St. Jerome, Quebec, Canada
Co-Founders: Jean-François Gravel and Stephane Ostiguy

A vibrant raspberry-rose pour with light bubbles, and the last pour shows just how unfiltered it is. Inhaling raspberries, strawberries, and a smooth candy. As it opens, more yeasty scents pop. On to that beautiful sip and it’s tingly and awakening. There’s those raspberries again but now sweeTart sour, and a delicious lemon-lime aftertaste. Quite a little fun character living in this bottle.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: yuck! Noooooooooo do not try

Dieu du Ciel! Had humble home brew origins with Jean-François tinkering alongside his studies in Applied Micro-Biology. Next came a research project that brought Stephane Ostiguy into the brewing plans. Time and other people have been in and out of the picture and a business/brewery was built by hand in Montreal. Eventually it came time to expand to the St. Jerome microbrewery. You can grab brews and chews at both spaces, but keep your eye on their site for hours due to well, the situation the world is in. Reading more on their site and am touched that they care about their workers. That is so incredibly important to listen, care, and all work together. Here it is in their own words, “Respect, communication, initiative, and passion are the essential ingredients of our business. Our employees are at the heart of our progress. Starting with our established recipes, it is through collaboration that we manage to constantly innovate and expand to new frontiers.” They even say their team is as unique as their beers, which if you look at their beer list, they must all be pretty darn cool.

@brasseriedieuduciel @BeerBoutiqueNYC @cheezits #beer #ale #sourale #sour #frambroise #wine #winestagram #instawine @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram #montreal #StJerome #Quebec #Canada #dieuduciel

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A Phantom Dance of Life and Death

Nightmare Brewing Company
Colombian Necktie
Gose Ale
Soured on Mangoes, with Lulo, Soursop, and Colombian Lime Zest
7.2% ABV
Brewed & Canned by Dorchester Brewing Co. for Nightmare Brewing
Boston, MA
Founder and Phantom Brewer: Billy Powell

Very deep orange/deep gold with a small head, dancing bubbles, and some light sediment has settled the bottom. Scents of exotic mangoes, pineapple, and limes. This is a beautiful tropical drink! Transports me to a warm island, and would be wonderful with fish grilled on the beach under the stars. Glassful of mangoes, lime, strawberries, pineapples, rhubarb, kiwis and the bubbles make it so elegant. What a crazy description for a Gose named, “Colombian Necktie”. Although, after doing a little poking around, I did find this beer is influenced by Champús that has ties to funeral rituals in South America, which would explain the “necktie”. It was/is a form of tortuous death used to send a message and sometimes would be done post mortem, and appears to have started in Colombia during their La Violencia, civil war (1948–1958). Well…death may be the inspiration, but this goes is full of life.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: brings out the lime

2019 was a smashing year for Nightmare Brewing (Farmingdale, NY). They were named Best New Brewer in NY, Best New Brewer in US, and 2nd Best New Brewer Worldwide, and they keep cranking out the hits. All inspired by horrific history, mythology, torture, and of course death. What else would you expect though from Death Metal brews…cute puppies and unicorns? Oh, definitely not, just check out their labels (collaborations with metal artists) that leap off the shelf at you. This can has a concept sketch by Billy Powell after a break with his original artist this past summer, and is the last label that he calls, “sketched like a toddler”, because he’s found wonderful new artists after a post on IG. Bravo for the move, Mr. Powell!

@NightmareBrewing @BeerBoutiqueInc @DorchesterBrewingCompany @twelve.percent.beer.project @twelve.percent.nyc.metro  @hkarlphoto @cheezits #beer #Gose #sour #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram

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Anyone Want to Share an Igloo?

Mast Landing Brewing Co.
Coffee Gunner’s Daughter
Milk Stout
Brewed with sustainable and fair trade coffee from On the Road Coffee and other natural flavors
5.5% ABV
Westbrook, Maine

Deep dark of night, I can’t see through black coffee with a cappuccino head. Bam! It is a punch in the nose of strong coffee, just what I would need in the morning. There’s some nuttiness which has to be peanut, dark chocolate, and caramel. Heading in for that first slosh back and it’s sizzling and tingling dark coffee with a splash of cream and maybe a little chocolate cruller dunked in. Oh this is like the perfect piece of dense cake. I am in love.

Pairs with Cheez-It’s: I’m really scared to try this because the beer is fab on its own. Ok the beer stands up and overpowers the cheez-it, that’s a new one!

Mast Landing Brewing Company started out in 2015, and has always been socially conscious and care about their neighbors and local community. They even have a page for local charities, etc. to sign up for donations. Also in this crazy time, you can reserve an igloo and they also come with heaters. They are even doing trivia nights on Wednesday from the igloos. How cool is that!

@mastlanding @BeerBoutiqueInc @independentbeer @cheezits #beer #milkstout #stout #wine #winestagram #instawine #cheezit @worldbyglass #pairswithcheezits #craftbeer #beerstagram #beersofinstagram