Assuming you missed Manhattan's Fourth Annual NYC Craft Beer Week (September 14
to 25), there's still something to look forward to — yes, that famed celebration
known worldwide as Oktoberfest. For those of you who think Oktoberfest is a time
to simply quaff beer, pretzels, schnitzel, etc., it is so much more than that.
The "real" Oktoberfest begins on the third weekend of September and ends on the
first Sunday of October (now, in a nod towards the fall of the Berlin Wall, if the
first Sunday is October 1, the fest goes until October 3, German Unification Day).
Locally it can last a little longer, however!
Oktoberfest began with a royal wedding in Munich, Germany on October 12, 1810, when
Crown Prince Ludwig, later King Ludwig I married Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen.
From there we come to the present Oktoberfest, which is the 178th running of the
wedding celebration. Only wars and cholera epidemics have interrupted this 201-year
old tradition, proving nothing gets in the way of a beer drinker and drinking beer.
And speaking of that beautiful, light-headed, many shaded, voluptuously-shaped libation
with the easy-to-pronounce four letter name that guarantees an evening of fun, merriment,
good memories (or lack thereof), let's take a look at some — and not all, by any
means — of the local brews available to beer aficionados.
City Brews
This is a chain of city restaurants (seven sites) that started in 1995 as a brewpub,
and today offers six classic brews and a wide range of seasonal ones. Distinctly
American flavored, the beers are made from indigenous ingredients such as Wisconsin
malt, hops from Washington and Oregon, and American yeast. Try their Bavarian Black
Lager, a black-with-ruby-highlights colored beer, offering a complex and surprisingly
light finish with a flavor of chocolate, caramel, and light coffee.
Started by an AP correspondent (Steve Hindy) and a banker (Tom Potter) in 1987,
Brooklyn Beer began in Utica, NY. Rudy Giuliani cut the ribbon to their Williamsburg
facility in 1996, making it the first successful commercial brewery in NYC since
1976. Try their Oktoberfest (available August through October), it's brewed from
fine German malt and hops, and is full bodied and malty with a bready aroma and
light brisk hop bitterness.
The Bronx Brewery is the latest brewery to come out of New York City (they began
commercial production at their Mott Haven facility in August 2011). Their deep amber,
American-style Bronx Pale Ale is brewed with five different barley malts, generous
additions of Cascade and Centennial hops, and a unique strain of yeast. The British,
German, and American malts used provide a blend of caramel, biscuit, and nutty malt
flavors. The hops provide a gentle, pleasant bitterness with an intense floral and
citrus aroma. It is dry-hopped, unfiltered, and unpasteurized.
No Ashton Kutcher has nothing to do with it. This Greenpoint brewery's name's is
a combo of owner/Brewmaster Kelly Taylor and his wife Sonya Giacobbe. They offer
three year-round beers (Nut Brown, Pilsner, and Belgian Pale Ale) and a selection
of seasonal or special event brews. Try their seasonal Winter Lager. It has a full,
rich flavor of bittersweet chocolate and fresh expresso, mellowed by a traditional
clean finish…and it's 6.5 percent alcohol by volume (ABV). Environmentally friendly,
one of Kelso's slogans is "Save the planet - it's the only one with beer."
Located on Pier 59 in Manhattan this waterfront brewery (and eatery, cigar lounge,
etc.) has been serving its own beers since 1995. Try their Checker Cab Blonde Ale,
a crisp pale golden ale made in the northern German Kolsch style. It uses imported
Noble hops varieties and wheat malt to give it a dry flavor with a complex yet delicate
hop flavor and aroma. Brewmaster Chris Sheehan has been the head brewer for over
13 years and Mark Szmaida has been the assistant brewer for almost as long.
Sixpoint gets its name and logo by combining a time-honored beer symbol (the hexagram)
with a nautical star. This Red Hook brewery was founded in 2004 by Shane Brewer,
a former home brewer from (where else?) Milwaukee, and offers dozens of unique beers.
Nothing special for Oktoberfest, but keeping with the theme, try their Bolshoi,
offering stinging, frostbitten hop bitterness coated in malted chocolate…and the
older the better. This stuff will make you kick; it's 10.2 percent ABV.
Long Island Brews
This Farmingdale brewer will be holding its Oktoberfest from September 23 to October
9. Black Forest's mother company, Privatbrauerei Hoepfner of Karlsrue, Germany has
been brewing since 1798 and shares its knowledge and tradition with the Black Forest
Brew Haus including materials, recipes, and equipment. All Black Forest beer is
fresh brewed on their premises using only the finest imported yeast, hops, malt,
and the purest filtered water. Try their Black Forest Amber, a traditional medium
bodied German Marzen lager with light caramel and toasted notes, perfectly balanced
by German hops; perfect with their schnitzel dishes.
The Blue Point Brewing Company was founded in 1998 by two long-time friends, Mark
Burford and Pete Cotter. Blue Point beer is brewed and kegged under one roof, resulting
in ice-cold, unpasteurized kegs with beer that is always fresh tasting. Their brewery
gear comes from all over the country and the tasting room is built from bricks scavenged
from Patchogue's old lace mill. Try their Oktoberfest, a malty amber lager brewed
in August and September and stored cold for two months to ensure a distinctly smooth
flavor.
Located in the oldest commercial building in Patchogue (c. 1850), the Brickhouse
Brewery (and restaurant) has seven of its own brews on tap (as well as two Blue
Point beers). The Brewmaster is Charles Noll and the brewery is owned by several
partners, mostly locals. They have an Oktoberfest celebration with traditional German
food, etc., on September 24 (Noon to 5 p.m.) Try their seasonal Oktoberfest beer
or their Pumpkin Ale.
Two brothers and a cousin formed Fire Island Beer Company after running Atlantique
Beach's The Shack, and serving their home brew there. True to its Fire Island roots,
the company sums up its philosophy as: "Beer. People. Both are better when they're
chilled." Try their Fire Island Lighthouse Ale (one of two brewed). It sports a
soft carbonation and a light caramel finish with the toasty round body of a classic
American ale.
All Great South Bay's brews are made with all-malt, regional water, no preservatives,
and no additives. The head brewer is Greg Maisch, and the founder and creator is
Rick Sobotka, who comes from a line of brewmasters that goes back to his great-great
grandfather in Poland — and who also happens to be a practicing anesthesiologist.
With the latter in mind, try their Hoppocratic Oath Imperial IPA, a blending of
six hops over the brew cycle leaving just the right amount of bitterness, yet masking
the nine percent ABV for a surprisingly smooth brew.
Started by three college buddies who purchased an old firehouse in Greenport in
2008, the three literally built this operation from the ground up. The head brewer
is DJ Swanson, who got the first shipment out the door in July, 2009, and since
then Greenport Harbor has received nothing but raves for its flavorful brews. Give
their Leaf Pile Ale a shot; it's their autumn ale featuring fresh whole ginger,
cinnamon, all spice, and nutmeg; "a slice of pumpkin pie in a glass."
Long Ireland Beer opened its doors unofficially in July 2011 and had their "halfway
to St. Patrick's Day" grand opening in mid-September making them the newest brewers
on the block. It's owned and operated by Greg Martin and Dan Burke, two home brewers
whose love for the golden nectar prodded them into starting their own Riverhead
brewery. Try their Celtic Ale, which was their first release and is a traditional
Irish ale made with four different malts and a big serving of honey and oats that
give it a sweet but smooth flavor.
If Long Ireland is the newest, Southampton Publick House certainly has to be the
oldest, since it seems brews have been made and served there for well over 100 years.
This microbrewery/restaurant's latest incarnation came about when the Sullivan brothers
bought the restaurant in 1996 and decided to add a brewery. They hired Phil Markowski
as their brewmaster who has turned the brewery operation into one of the most celebrated
and award winning in the US. The Publick House's first Oktoberfest goes off September
30; try their Southampton Altbier, a four-grain, two-hop brew that is malty yet
has a subtle herbal note and a slight crisp fruitiness.
Want to know more about microbrewing, home-brewing and beer? Check out "The Art
of the Brew," an evening of networking and "artisan beer tasting" at Southampton's
Parrish Art Museum on October
4.
For a complete breakdown on Long Island and New York breweries, check out the Long Island Beer Guide
website (also available as a 252 page paperback by the same name). And check
out our Calendar of
Events for all of the month's upcoming beer and Oktoberfest events.
