Some recent out-of-town guests allowed me to spend some time being a tourist in my home city, something I love doing.  Our adventures included a tour of awesome beer spots spread across Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens.

Manhattan

It all started just before dusk on July 4th.  In need of a quick pre-fireworks snack, we hit up Pioneers Bar.  The atmosphere was laid back (the joint was almost empty) and the beer selection was decent.   Everyone who went into the restroom pooped.

Their website boasted a good array of sandwiches; in reality, all they had was grilled cheese and hot dogs.  Our group ordered several of each.  It remarkably took the folks in the “kitchen” (a panini press and hot plate behind the bar) over a half-hour to prepare these complicated dishes.  The “chef” displayed a hyperfocus usually reserved for neurosurgery and racecar driving.  Pure speculation, but I suspect his attention was being chemically enhanced.  In the end, we did get our snack (our four hot dogs were conveniently arranged on two baguette slices, which we had to split manually) and hurried on our way.   This place used to be called Comedy Bar, a name that was far more fitting.

Post-fireworks, we were seeking a spot to hide away while the crowd cleared.  The Gastromarket fit the bill nicely.  Their cask selection was smaller than on my previous visit, but was good nonetheless, and the keg and wine selection helped round out the evening for all concerned.  Note to the folks who run this lovely place: try opening your kitchen after a major public event in your neighborhood, and perhaps your bar won’t sit half-empty all night.  Just a thought.

We spent a few days spent trolling museums and hitting up excellent food spots, like Bareburger, The Dutch,  and Cascabel Taqueria – I highly recommend them all.  Then it was back to  drinking in earnest.

Brooklyn

Saturday.  We started at the Brooklyn Brewery.  The tour was fun, as always.  They expanded their bottling line again.   We mourned the passing of Monster, the brewery cat, who befriended me on a previous visit.  Everyone found a beer or three they liked.   Sorachi Ace is a real winner on tap. Two boroughs down.

Queens

A short bus ride across Newtown Creek, and we were in Long Island City, a.k.a. the Williamsburg of Queens, headed for Alewife, which has been on my to-visit list for many months.  Allow me summarize:

• Atmosphere: beautiful, warm, open, and awesome (rather empty on our visit, as bars in NYC on hot summer weekends tend to be)
• Taps: 28 fucking fantastic to choose from.  Belgian-themed and extremely well selected.  I think I had tried one biere de garde in my life before; they had three, plus a half-dozen saisons.  Plus sours, bretts, lambics, and a couple of nice Berliner weiss choices.  Hophead happiness too, with a variety of IPA’s.  Printed tap lists at the table: bonus points.  Fucking cornucopia and shit.  Damn.
• Bottles: we didn’t go there (the tap list was far too tempting) but the menu is impressive.  A small book, actually.  Belgian-style dominated, with all of the expected actual Belgians (the legal limit of Trappists were present), some rarities (hello, Cantillon), and a good smattering of American-Belgians (Mikkeller, The Bruery, Allagash, and pals).   Lots of other stuff too, with the U.S. craft market filling in the bulk of the pages.  Nice.
• Food: the real surprise of the visit.  Fantastic.  We tried Lime Spiced Edamame, Harissa Buffalo Wings, Sautéed Brussels sprouts, Beer-steamed Mussels, and several pizzas, and it all was delish.  The vegetarians and carnivores alike were delighted.

I’m a bit late to the party on this one: Alewife was voted best beer bar in NYC by several mags last year (Time Out NYC, to name one).   I can’t say I’ve been to better.  Ok, I know it’s Queens, but it’s only one subway stop from Grand Central, which makes it easier to get to than some other places I like a lot less…  If you like beer and food, GO HERE NOW.

That completes the RFK 3-Boro tour of beer and food.