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This Weekend in Brooklyn: @BKPour Craft Beer Fest
I really do hate to say goodbye to summer, but with the beginning of autumn comes what has become an annual tradition for me: The Village Voice Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival.
Before I started going to this festival, my knowledge of beers was limited to Corona and Blue Moon! It is here that I learned about the pilsners, IPAs, stouts and lagers of the world. It really opened up my eyes — I had no idea there were so many delicious beers out there to suit my tastes — this year, 125+ beers from over 70 different brewers to be exact.
As usual, there will be demonstrations, beer talks, food court and more. And new for this year, Brooklyn Pour will feature and official BKPour Game Area, presented by Dave & Buster’s, featuring beer pong, air hockey, Beirut, basketball toss and more.
Lucky for you, tickets are still on sale for this event that will take place this Saturday, September 27, in Brooklyn. Another plus is that you get to feel really fancy and sophisticated, sipping your stouts in Brooklyn’s historic and breathtaking Skylight One Hanson, otherwise known as the old Clock Tower.
The details:
- Date: Saturday, September 27, 2014
- Location: Skylight One Hanson, Fort Greene, Brooklyn
- General Admission: 3:00 – 6:00 PM
- VIP Doors: 2:00PM
- Early Entry Doors: 2:30PM
- Ticket Prices: $85 VIP / $65 Early Entry / $55 General Admission
To purchase tickets, visit: www.villagevoice.com/
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Coming Up: @VillageVoice #BKPour Craft Beer Fest
Wow, time flies. It’s already time for Village Voice’s Brooklyn Pour! I covered it last year and had a ball while tantalizing my taste buds and learning a ton about beer. It literally changed my life (as related to beer).
Before Brooklyn Pour
Me: I’ll take a Corona with a limeAfter Brooklyn Pour
Me: What kind of IPA (that’s Indian Pale Ale) do you have…or maybe I’ll go for a Belgian wheat ale…In case you don’t know what BK Pour is all about, it’s a craft beer festival featuring 60 brewers with over 100 beers to taste. It’s held at the historic, and absolutely breathtaking Hanson Place in downtown Brooklyn. This year, BK Pour will give attendees the opportunity to amp up their beer knowledge while they sip, offering three Beer Talks and Demos per session–because knowing about what you’re drinking is way sexier than ignorant consumption.
There will also be an outdoor food court with delicious eats that will make you wish you had an extra stomach on hand!
BK Pour isn’t only about the booze, though–proceeds from the event are going to BK Pour’s charitable partner, Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC), a nonprofit organization looking to provide a safe haven for abandoned animals and to find permanent loving homes for them.
VIP tickets for Session 1 have already sold out and I’m sure the remaining tickets will be gone soon, so don’t procrastinate if you want to attend!
See you there!
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@VillageVoice’s @ChoiceEats = Delicious
On Tuesday night I attended Village Voice’s sixth annual “Choice Eats” event.
Just picture this…you walk into the 69th Armory, a huge, historic armory built in the early 1900s, filled with 83 restaurants from the five boroughs, serving tastings of their most delicious dishes. Let’s not forget the craft beer, spirits and wine companies, serving up cocktails and pours to accompany the eats. If you’re even the slightest bit of a foodie, you’d think you died and went to heaven–so imagine how it was for me (definitely, absolutely a foodie)!
Each of the restaurants was hand-picked by Robert Sietsema, food critic for Village Voice.
If you missed this year’s event, there’s always next year. But be sure you buy your tickets early because it sold out completely this year, and I’m sure it will be the same for next year. Also, keep an eye on Village Voice’s calendar of events. They have various festivals throughout the year, like the Brooklyn Pour Craft Beer Festival I attended in October, and the upcoming Choice Streets food truck tasting event in April.
And the winner is…
Allswell: Gentleman’s Relish with roasted garlic and anchovy spread on housemade sourdough and topped with soft boiled eggThis was my absolute favorite dish in the entire event.
My tasting glass
The event was sold out!
Juliette: Cured Arctic Char & Maine Diver Scallop Shooters
From top left: Red Hook Lobster Pound~Shrimp Rolls, O Lavrador~Carne de Porco a Alentejana (pork tenderloin with clam and potatoes), Pataniscas de Bacalhau com Molho Verde (codfish fritters with Portuguese vinaigrette sauce), Smorgas Chef~72 hour house cured aquavit gravlaks with creamy dill cucumbers and mustard sauce.The lox from Smorgas Chef were unbelievable!
Red Hook Lobster Pound’s mascot!
From left: Fay Da Baker~pork bun and honey bubble teaBest pork bun ever!
Whole Foods had bags for everyone!
Dirt Candy: Tomato chipotle cotton candy
Mama’s Food Shop~Slow Roasted Pork Shoulder with Roasted VegetablesSuch a simple description, but this had to one of the juiciest, most flavorful roasted pork dishes I have ever tasted!
Vandaag~Gravlax Smorrebrod
Surprised to see the neighborhood spot! I can’t even count how much Peppa’s Jerk Chicken I’ve had since moving to Brooklyn!
Enjoying!
Smuttynose~Let’s say I had the random and bizarre impulse to jump over the table to grab a beer or something–I would definitely NOT do it with this guy standing there!!
Yummy cocktails by Bulldog Gin
Goat Town: Goat Face Sangwich
Gazela: makes delicious sangria
Northern Spy Food Co~Savory Buttermilk Pannacotta with roasted carrots, almonds and licorice
Sottocasa: Tiramisu
Doughnut Plant: P&J doughnutsOne of my local favorites! Even though I was sooooo full, I managed to make room for this and it couldn’t have been better!
This guy is so smart. While everyone else juggled their plate, glass, and event brochure, he was super smooth with his items laid out on a lavish platter, er, green tray!
Blue Point: Craft beer
Svedka, anyone?
Ditch Plains: hot dogs covered with mac ‘n cheeseDelicious…don’t judge me!
Until next time!!
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The @VillageVoice @BKPour Craft Beer Festival
When I arrived at the historic Skylight One Hanson (formerly the Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower) for Village Voice’s first annual Brooklyn Pour craft beer festival, I knew I was in for some serious beer 101. I dabble in your standard beers, like Corona, Blue Moon and Negra Modelo, but the 100+ beers within the walls of this festival would be new territory.
Now, schooled in the world of craft beer, I don’t know what took me so long to explore all of the variety and creativity that these delicious brews have to offer.
Some of my favorites:
- Tröegenator Doppelbock by Tröegs Brewing Company: This beer came to my attention when a man behind me who had just tasted his sample screamed out, “yes!” Never the one to ignore such a strong recommendation, I decided to take whatever he had! Although I didn’t have the impulse to shout, I was not disappointed by this smooth, flavorful beer.
- Smuttynose Robust Porter by Smuttynose Brewing Company: This was the “comfort food” of beers, with a light, smooth, dark chocolate taste. A great beer for fall.
- Torpedo Extra IPA by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: I discovered that I have a thing for IPAs (Indian pale ale). I enjoy their richness and complexity. This one is a perfect “everyday” beer (I’m not necessarily saying you should drink it everyday!). Something you might crack open after a long day at work to enjoy its balanced, smooth taste.
- Ithaca Apricot Wheat by Ithaca Beer Company: Wonderful natural apricot flavor without being overpowering.
- Raging Bitch Belgian Style IPA by Flying Dog Brewery: I don’t usually care for bitter beers, but the sweetness of this brew paired perfectly with the slightly bitter finish.
Cute, little tasting glass–now a souvenir of my beer tasting adventures
Gorgeous venue!
Personally, I hate pretzels, but they make a good palate cleanser for beer tasting–and cool necklaces.
I tasted home-brewed beer that was pretty good!
And here are tools and ingredients for making your own beer.—kisses, Olisa -
This Weekend: @BKPour Craft Beer Festival
The Village Voice will host the first annual Brooklyn Pour craft beer festival on Saturday, October 15, 2011 at Skylight One Hanson (formerly Williamsburg Savings Banks), located in Ft. Greene Brooklyn.
Whether you’re a beer aficionado or just looking to dip your feet into the world of craft beers, this incredible tasting event will put 100+ local, area craft beers at your fingertips, under one roof.
Purchase tickets in advance: $40 for general admission ($60 VIP are sold out). All tickets get you a complimentary souvenir tasting glass to conduct your 100+ tastings with. There will be entertainment, demos and food will be available for purchase.
For more info on the event and to purchase tickets, visit: www.villagevoice.com/brooklynpour
Pssst…once the beer fest is over, the fun it not done! Immediately following Brooklyn Pour, starting at 6pm, the Der Schwarze Kölner biergarden will host an after party with free admission and discounts throughout the night for ticket holders.
When: October 15, 2011, General Admission: 3-6pm
Where: Skylight One Hanson – 1 Hanson Place, Brooklyn
Skylight One Hansonkisses, Olisa
