It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

That’s the tune that started going through my head as browsed my local candy store (er, beverage center) for some great beers for the holidays. I have been thrilled with how the store continues to expand the craft and imported beer section. (sometimes I think that with the amount of money I spend there, they are expanding it just for me) This is by far the best selection in the area and the owner and employees are all great, friendly and helpful.

I also had my new phone with me and I thought I might be able to find a good use for having a camera on a cell phone. Now you get to join me on my shopping trip…

Look at this rack of goodness!

I’m not sure what all this stuff is, but it is unique and promotes the love of beer, so it’s all good.

Here are the imports. (I wasn’t drinking, I swear.)

Interesting stuff… Otter Creek’s Winter Ale and Paulaner hefe-kegs. (and enough Bud to float a yacht)

MMMMmmmmmm… Double Bastard Ale!

My wife loves those brown ales and her latest favorite from Ithica is all out! (which reminds me, I need to blog about our weekend in the Finger Lakes)

Michalob Ultra from New York…? I don’t think so…

This is new here… Hop Hazzard, oh, I’ve got to try that!

He said he would do it and it is finally here! Brown’s in bottles!

Get ‘em before they are banned!

I’ll take one of those… and one of those… (bonus to anyone who can figure out what I bought - but it will be tough because I reduced these photos)

 There’s more selection than this, too. I’ll have to do this again.

Related posts

• The Old Dublin Inn (2)
• Show us your “candy store” (3)
• Old Chicago Experience (0)
• Downtown Albany Pubs (1)
• Captain Lawrence Brewing Company (0)

Clifton Park, New York

The topic for June’s Session was about local beer and I was tempted to mention one of the best pubs around that just happens to be down the road from me. But the topic was about local beer, not local pubs, so I saved this blog entry until now.

The Old Dublin Inn in Clifton Park is just a fantastic pub with a great line of beers on tap. Sure, they’ve got something to satisfy even your Coors Light fan, but the rest of the line up leaves you drooling and pondering just what is it you want to have.

They have Southern Tier, Stone, and of course, every Irish stout you can buy; 30 beers on tap and another 50 choices of bottles in all. The fast and friendly service is a perk and the fairly new deck outside is a great way to enjoy your beer in the summer. In the chilly months, the taproom is a great place to warm up with a beer, especially on evenings with live music.

The Old Dublin Inn is a great pub in location that is otherwise your typical suburbia filled with box restaurants. A review in the Albany Times Union has this to say about it…

Billy and Angie Byrne have taken the plunge, renovating the 18th-century yellow farmhouse that for years had been the Olde Dater Tavern, then briefly Marisa’s Olde Dater Tavern. Now, it’s the Old Dublin Inn, complete with live music, a pub room and seven-day lunch and dinner service.The Byrnes, who were involved with McGeary’s in Albany until last summer, did a seven-week renovation project of this historic building, tucked in a hollow along Route 9 and Farm to Market Road.

A bar … the top made of old church pews … was placed in the largest of the seven rooms, a beer menu headed by 24 beers on tap and a wine list of 50-plus labels were put together, and Erick Brokaw (Parc V, D’Raymond’s) was hired as chef.

The results: a comfortable taproom with exposed beams, a small performance space, and tables as well as bar-side seating; several intimate dining rooms take advantage of the crooked floors, walls and corners.

I’m tempted to mention another Clifton Park pub, Ravenswood, but not because of their beer. (The better beer selection is limited to a couple Sam Adams’s, Saranacs, Guinness, Harp, & Bass) What is worth it is if you get over there on a Monday or Thursday evening; they make a great Beef on Weck and it is all you can eat. Their Buffalo wings are also some of the best around.

Related posts

• Like a Kid in a Candy Store (8)
• Old Chicago Experience (0)
• Downtown Albany Pubs (1)
• Captain Lawrence Brewing Company (0)
• Buffalo: The Ghosts Of Brewing Past (0)