I don’t think there is a beer from the Brooklyn Brewery that I don’t like. Every single one of them can stand out on its own and they have arguably one of the best lines of craft beers around with both core and seasonal brews to choose from.
This time, it was their Summer Ale that I fell in love with. I’m always on the lookout for great tasting, yet very drinkable beers, that are good for almost any occasion. It is light in alcohol, only 4.5 ABV, so you can make a session out of it. Here is what they have to say about it…
Brooklyn Summer Ale is a modern rendition of the “light dinner ales” brewed in England throughout the 1800′s right up until the 1940′s. They were also called “luncheon ales” or even “family ales”, because they were refreshing and flavorful without being too heavy. We brew our Brooklyn Summer Ale from premium English barley malt, which gives this light-bodied golden beer a fresh bready flavor. German and American hops lend a light crisp bitterness and citrus/floral aroma, resulting in a beer with a very sunny disposition.
It is perfect for socializing on a hot sunny day. It is light, but not weak. Brooklyn suggests that it can be paired with salads, seafood, quiches, and light spicy foods. They also say that it is great at brunch… my kind of people!
[rating: 4.0/5]
Yeah. Brooklyn is solid.
Have you ever been on a tour of the brewery?
I went a few years ago. Very modest place. Used to be a cannon ball factory, then a matzo ball factory, then a vacant factory, before becoming a beer factory…
They gave each person who took the tour two free pints of beer (out of plastic solo cups). Additional beers were only $2.50 each. Possibly the best beer deal in NYC.
And they had a one-off beer on tap, an organic porter. Very good.
After the tour we stopped at a Polish deli down the street from the brewery and got some of the best smoked kielbasa I’ve ever had.
Haven’t tried the summer ale yet. Hope to see it on tap somewhere soon.
Never been to the Brewery in Brooklyn, but I have toured the Utica brewery where they (and a lot of others) contract brew at. I mention this because I noticed the Summer Ale I was drinking was brewed in Utica NY.