GSN Alert: Winners Announced for Eighth Annual New York State Craft Beer Competition

The New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) is excited to announce the winners of its eighth annual New York State Craft Beer Competition, presented by Ultimate Brew Service. The awards ceremony was hosted by Malteurop and took place Mar. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at the Albany Capital Center, as the closing event of the New York State Brewers Conference. Breweries and craft beer enthusiasts throughout the state tuned into the ceremony via livestream on the New York State Craft Beer YouTube Channel.

During the highly anticipated awards ceremony, 96 awards were presented across 30 style categories, including two new categories this year: Cream Ales and Dark Lagers. In addition to gold, silver and bronze medals awarded in each category, judges selected the “NYS Governor’s Craft Beer Cup” as the best-in-show beer, which was awarded to Kingston Standard Brewing Co. for Love is Overtaking Me in the Barrel Aged (Sour) category.

 The “NYS Brewery of the Year” award was given to the brewery with the highest number of points in the competition based on the number of medals won. Grimm Artisanal Ales claimed the title for its third time, also winning Brewery of the Year in 2021 and 2022. 

“It’s incredible to not only see many of the same breweries win medals each year, but it’s a true testament to the quality of the beer in New York State to see so many new breweries win for the first time,” said Paul Leone, Executive Director of NYBSA. “It reaffirms the fact that quality continues to be of the highest priority to the brewers in our state.”

Winners of the 2024 New York State Craft Beer Competition are:

Light Lagers (Traditional)

  • Gold: Eleven – Strong Rope Brewery
  • Silver: Bezucha Brothers – West Kill Brewing
  • Bronze: Brook & Reed – Drowned Lands

Light Lagers (Modern and Contemporary)

  • Gold: Contiguity – Threes Brewing
  • Silver: UN1 Basmati Rice Lager – Transmitter Brewing
  • Bronze: There & Back Helles – Bright Eye Beer Company

Amber Lagers

  • Gold: Pleasantbräu Oktoberfest – Soul Brewing Company
  • Silver: Fly In Any Weather – Rising Storm Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Polotmavy Pekar – Wayward Lane Brewing

​Dark Lagers (NEW!)​

  • Gold: Dark Encounter Druthers – Brewing Company
  • Silver: Nightfall – Wagner Valley Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Heavy Handed – Kills Boro Brewing Company

Wheat Beers (American, Wit, Hefe)

  • Gold: Grimm Weisse – Grimm Artisanal Ales
  • Silver: Gather House – Drowned Lands
  • Bronze: Lit Wit – Shep’s Brewing Company

Golden & Blonde Ales​

  • Gold: Prototype – Kings County Brewers Collective
  • Silver: Freudian Sips – Active Ingredient Brewing Company
  • Bronze: KOLSCH NO.2 – EBBS Brewing Company

Cream Ales (NEW!)​

  • Gold: Cream Ale – Prison City Brewing
  • Silver: Premium Cream Ale – 18th Ward Brewing
  • Bronze: Wolves Den Cream Ale – 1812 Brewing Company

Amber & Red Ales

  • Gold: NYS Celtic Red Ale – K2 Bros. Brewing
  • Silver: Altbier – Swiftwater Brewing
  • Bronze: Prince Sager-Heimer – Sager Beer Works

Pale Ale

  • Gold: Moderance – Wild East Brewing Company
  • Silver: Lighter Than Air – Grimm Artisanal Ales
  • Bronze: RIP Pale Ale – Wood Kettle Brewing

​Hazy Pale Ale​

  • Gold: Future Memory – 18th Ward Brewing
  • Silver: Kaaterskill – West Kill Brewing
  • Bronze: Particle – UNDERGROUND BEER LAB 

American IPA

  • Gold: Golden Hour – Long Island Farm Brewery
  • Silver: Frisco Kid – Okay Beer Company
  • Bronze: Venomous Villains – Kings County Brewers Collective

Hazy IPA

  • Gold: Variable – UNDERGROUND BEER LAB
  • Silver (tie): Spectral Mass – UNDERGROUND BEER LAB
  • Silver (tie): Citmo IPA – Resurgence Brewing Company
  • Bronze: The One V-56 – New York Beer Project

Experimental IPA

  • Gold: Island Addition – New York Beer Project
  • Silver: Forever Ever – Other Half
  • Bronze: River Swell – Drowned Lands

American DIPA​

  • Gold: 5 Cent Deposit Double IPA – Bright Eye Beer Company
  • Silver: Pacific Dawn – Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Lean To – West Kill Brewing

Hazy DIPA

  • Gold: FaultLine – Barrier Brewing Company
  • Silver: Jasper – Fidens Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Over and Out – Wayward Lane Brewing

Barrel Aged (Sour)

  • Gold: Love Is Overtaking Me – Kingston Standard
  • Silver: Something Something Something – Prison City Brewing
  • Bronze: Brewers Reserve BA Sour Blend – New York Beer Project 

Barrel Aged (Non-Sour)

  • Gold: Portuguese Squeeze – Strangebird
  • Silver (tie): Bourbon-Barrel Aged Dormancy – Grow Brewing Company
  • Silver (tie): Oak Aged Aeon – Aurora Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Double Barrel Aqueduct 2023 – Big Ditch Brewing Company 

Belgian Farmhouse

  • Gold: Saison Blend One – ONCO Fermentations, Inc
  • Silver: Wandering Bine – Threes Brewing
  • Bronze: Starling – Arrowood Farm Brewery 

Belgian Other

  • Gold: Trappist at the Track Belgian Tripel – Artisanal Brew Works
  • Silver: Man’s Best Friend – New York Beer Project
  • Bronze: Duncan’s Quadrupel – Duncan’s Abbey

Experimental

  • Gold: Shadowtricks – Wayward Lane Brewing
  • Silver: States Of Being – Threes Brewing
  • Bronze: El Tepache Loco – Talking Cursive Brewing Company

Fruit & Vegetable Beers (Non-Sour)

  • Gold: Crispy Boys Blood Orange – Prison City Brewing
  • Silver: Blackberry Kolsch – Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Co.
  • Bronze: Kettle Lakes Coconut Cream Ale – ONCO Fermentations 

Fruit & Vegetable Beers (Sour)

  • Gold: Mimosa Sour – Valcour Brewing Company
  • Silver: Collaborations: Carmenere – Greenport Harbor Brewing
  • Bronze: Key Lime Pie Sour – No BS Brew Company

Specialty Beer: Stouts & Porters

  • Gold: Coconut Cluster – Heritage Hill Brewhouse
  • Irish Coffee Stout – New York Beer Project
  • Chocolate Peanut Butter Porter – Horseheads Brewing

Specialty Beer: Light & Amber Ales, Lagers

  • Gold: Holiday Ale – No BS Brew Company
  • Silver: Lavel Up – Druthers Brewing Company
  • Bronze: Pumpkin Cream Ale – Keuka Brewing Company 

​Brown Ale

  • Gold (tie): Lithology Brown Ale – Lithology Brewing Company
  • Gold (tie): Brown Ale – Watershed Brewing Company
  • Silver: Brooklyn Brown – Brooklyn Brewery
  • Bronze: Alternator – Wood Kettle Brewing

Porters (Non-Imperial)​​

  • Gold: Hold Fire – Weiss Ferments LLC
  • Silver: Portmanteau – Wayward Lane Brewing
  • Bronze: McNally Porter – 18th Ward Brewing

Stout (Non-Imperial)

  • Gold: Carlow – Drowned Lands
  • Silver: Velvet Panda – Mill House Brewing Company
  • Bronze: STOUT NO.1 – EBBS Brewing Company

Imperial Stouts & Porters

  • Gold: EB Baltic Porter – Take Two Brewery
  • Silver: Belgian Stout – Brewery Ardennes
  • Bronze: Double Negative – Grimm Artisanal Ales

Strong Ales

  • Gold: XXXXX – Grimm Artisanal Ales
  • Silver: Biteanator – Spider Bite Beer Co.
  • Bronze: Nicnevin – Crafty Ales and Lagers

Kettle and Simple Sours​

  • Gold: There Gose the Watermelon Farm – Good Nature Brewing Company
  • Silver: Incandenza – Hudson Valley Brewery
  • Bronze: Leipzig Gose – Big Slide Brewery & Public House

Wild & Sour Ales

  • Gold: Ambient Fizz Koyo Berries – Grimm Artisanal Ales
  • Silver: Breaking Bird – Strangebird
  • Bronze: Family Tree 13 – Rare Form Brewing Company

The competition was produced by two non-profit organizations, NYSBA and Raise a Glass Foundation. Judging for the categories took place March 2-3 in Rochester, NY. This year’s competition saw 1,421 beers, the highest number of submissions to date, entered by 232 breweries. Entries were blind judged by a panel of respected and influential individuals in the New York beer industry based on pre-established criteria and using a custom scoring sheet developed by NYSBA. The top three finishers in each of the beer style categories received gold, silver and bronze medals.

“The Raise A Glass Foundation is the unsung hero of the New York State Craft Beer Competition presented by Ultimate Brew Service, as we’ve cemented ourselves as the largest state run competition in the country once again this year,” said Emily Forrester, NYSBA Membership & Events Manager. “Their volunteer-driven efforts aid us in creating a platform where New York State’s Craft Beer culture can shine, showcasing the craftmanship and ingenuity that our brewers bring to the table. In addition, Genesee Brewery’s contribution of sensory training to our esteemed panel of judges is a prime example of collaboration and community within our industry.”

“I’m very excited that in our 8th year of holding the NYS Craft Beer Competition we once again drew a record number of beers!” exclaimed Hutch Kugeman, NYSBA Board President. “We know that New York breweries produce some of the best beer in the country, and the feedback from our judges proved it. The judging was extremely competitive this year and every brewery that wins a medal should be incredibly proud.”

The 2024 New York State Craft Beer Competition is sponsored by Ultimate Brew Service, a New York-based supplier of brewing equipment and services.

“We are thrilled to be this year’s craft beer competition sponsor,” said Justin O’Donoghue, Vice President of Ultimate Brew Service. “It’s an event that has a special place in our hearts. Nothing makes us happier than seeing the people we work with get recognition for their dedication to the craft. Winning a medal can make a difference for a brewery and we hope our sponsorship helps NYS continue to hold the largest statewide craft beer competition.”

The 2024 Competition Award Ceremony was hosted by Melteurop, one of the world’s largest malt producers.

“Congratulations to all the NYS Craft Beer Competition winners! We were so happy to sponsor this amazing event that continues to get better and better each year,” said Jeff Loranger, Northeast Craft Sales Manager of Malteurop Malting Company.

For additional information about the competition, please visit nyscbc.com. For approved images of the winners, please click here

About New York State Brewers Association

Founded in 2003, the New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) promotes, protects and educates about the culture and business of New York State breweries. Their goal is to defend the vital interests of the New York State brewing industry while encouraging the consumption of fresh, local beer across the Empire State. With over 500 breweries, it’s easy to Think NY, Drink NY. More information is available at thinkNYdrinkNY.com and newyorkcraftbeer.com

About Raise a Glass Foundation

The NYSBA partnered with the Raise a Glass Foundation for their expertise producing competitions held to the highest level of integrity. It is only with their support that the New York State Craft Beer Competition has grown to become the largest state-level competition in the US. The Raise A Glass Foundation™ is a registered NY 501(c)(3) non-profit organization created to help save and improve the lives of adults and children around the world. They accomplish their mission by collecting and donating to deserving charities a valuable asset – thousands of award-winning bottles of wine, beer and spirits – which they use in their fundraising galas, dinners, auctions and other events. More information is available at raiseaglassfoundation.com.

GSN Review: Eden’s Harvest Chaga Mushroom Beer

Eden’s Harvest, Inc. recently announced the release of the first 2 offerings in its line of functional mushroom craft beers, a Six-mushroom IPA (8.8% ABV) and a Passion Fruit Wheat Ale (4.9% ABV). These are the world’s first alcoholic brews featuring liquid extracts of single-source, sustainably harvested chaga from boreal forest birch trees in Alaska. Their proprietary methods utilize only the purest ingredients, with the highest antioxidant properties.

“What makes Eden’s Harvest’s beers so good, starts with the source of these mighty fungi,” said Tulsy Ball, Chief Chaga Officer of Eden’s Harvest. “Our Chaga mushrooms are wild-harvested from Alaska, through exclusive relationships with the native Inuit who harvest them traditionally, so they have nutrients that cannot be found in mycelium grown on grain in a lab. All of our other mushrooms like lion’s mane, reishi and turkey tail are log-grown fruiting bodies, which means they have the highest possible potency.”

Eden’s Harvest Brewmaster Chris Anderson started brewing in 1998 at Midnight Sun Brewing in Alaska and has won over 400 medals and ribbons in competitions around the world, including 7 gold medal winners and Best in Show at America’s Finest City Beer. 

Chaga mushrooms (Inonotus obliquus) have been used for centuries in traditional medicine particularly in Siberia and other parts of Asia and are known for their potential health benefits due to their rich nutrient content and bioactive compounds. Some of the benefits attributed to Chaga mushrooms include improved liver function, skin and cardiovascular health, along with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and blood sugar regulation effects. 

Eden’s Harvest has crafted the only beers that incorporate Chaga and other mushrooms, during both the initial brewing process, but also infuses them during fermentation. They start right at the beginning with premium quality raw mushrooms during the first stage of brewing. Other brewers may have added chunks of chaga or extract powder during the brew or while aging, but none have Eden’s Harvest’s proprietary 5-stage liquid extract infused during the entire fermentation and aging period. This process utilizes pressure and varying temperatures and solvents to generate an ethanol-free, full spectrum liquid extract which has the highest level of nutrients. Because the liquid extract is naturally sweet, it reduces any bitterness in the beer, improves the flavor and eliminates aftertaste. The high antioxidant levels from Chaga help activate your liver, thus also helping to relieve hangover symptoms before they even start. One 12 oz. Eden’s Harvest Beer has the equivalent antioxidant power of eating 6 lbs of blueberries. 

Addressing booming markets in both craft beer (expected to hit $200 billion globally this year) and alternative, innovative wellness beverages, Eden’s Harvest’s beers will initially be available direct from the brewery to restaurants and stores in California in the second quarter of 2024, with distribution expanding rapidly across the country throughout 2024. Additional alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beers, hard seltzer beverages and other adaptogen-powered drinks are coming soon. 

Six-mushroom IPA (8.8% ABV) – GSN’s Remarks: Medium golden color out of the can, with a light head. The hops is apparent on the nose, and seems rather piney. Upon tasting, the initial flavor is unexpectedly sweet, almost fruity, but this is rapidly replaced by an intense hop character that has a very long finish. For those who like a high IBU in their IPAs, this will please. It’s an unusual beer to be sure, and the kind that defies categorization. I’d liken it to an experimental brew that could shine if it had a lighter touch on the hops boil. GSN Rating: B

Passion Fruit Wheat Ale (4.9% ABV) – GSN’s Remarks: Lovely light golden color in the glass with a medium head after poured. The nose is passion fruit forward, with a tropical and fresh note. On the palate, there is an intense burst of passionfruit that quickly softens into a mild, semi-creamy mouthfeel and easy-going session style flavor. We like this one a lot, especially for the upcoming summer months. Then again, it can bring a taste of the tropics in the middle of winter. GSN Rating: A

For more information go to: Eden’s Harvest

#Eden’sHarvest

GSN Review: OPEN Lager Beer

New Belgium Brewing has acquired a minority stake in OPEN Beer, a Los Angeles -based company committed to crafting contemporary lagers. New Belgium is renowned for all kinds of beers, but straight-ahead lagers have never been one of them. In addition to acquiring a minority stake in the company, New Belgium will contract brew all of OPEN beer’s products, offer technical support and share resources according to Brewbound.

As part of OPEN Beer’s Artistic Collaboration Series, each can of OPEN Beer features one-of-a-kind artwork from prominent members from OPEN Beer’s creative community, with a new series of artists introduced bi-annually. The inaugural series showcases pieces by Joe Roberts , Katsu Sawada, and Meryl Smith.

GSN’s Remarks: A solid lager that meets all of the criteria. Session style, low hop and packaged in eye catching cans. It’s about time that canned beer gets an upgrade. GSN Beer Rating: B+ / GSN Can Rating: A

For more information go to: Open Brewing

#OPENBeer

GSN Review: Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale 2023 Release

New Belgium Brewing and Four Roses Distillery announces the 2023 release of Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale – a beer brewed using a custom-built, proprietary infusion method which pulls flavors from bourbon-steeped charred oak sourced from Four Roses’ barrels and marries it with a malty sweet, deep amber ale. 

First released by New Belgium in 2018, Oakspire quickly became a favorite among beer and bourbon lovers alike. This year, seeking to up the ante, the brewery collaborated with Four Roses Bourbon, known for their smooth, fruit forward and slightly spicy bourbons, to invent a brewing process that would represent the best of both beverages.

How exactly are those signature flavors extracted? To start, over the course of a year, Four Roses collects charred oak chips from inside their bourbon barrels as they are emptied. This process enables Four Roses to re-use the char derived from the brand’s barrels in a sustainable manner. These oak chips contain caramelized wood sugars, which add color and notes of
brown sugar, caramel, and toffee to the whiskey while it ages. Next, a barrel maker in Minnesota toasts a custom blend of oak spirals which are then soaked in Four Roses’ bourbon. Meanwhile, New Belgium’s brewing engineers use a series of custom, stainless-steel vessels to hold the charred oak and wood spirals. New Belgium’s high-rye base ale then circulates through the vessels during maturation, infusing the flavor from the charred oak and bourbon-soaked spirals.

“Oakspire takes a different approach from the traditional bourbon barrel ale that brings the rich Four Roses flavor notes forward in quite a remarkable way,” says Four Roses Chief Operating Officer, Ryan Ashley. 

Oakspire Bourbon Barrel Ale (9% ABV) is available for purchase for $14.99 at select retailers across the country, New Belgium Brewing taprooms and the Four Roses Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. 

GSN’s Remarks: For all of it’s hefty 9%, this goes down as easily as a 6% brew. A fresh ale flavor with tight carbonation, coloured with sweet, oaky bourbon essence greets the tongue. Each sip has a dark roasted tree fruit flavor reminiscent of apple or pear, which keeps things on a festive seasonal note.  The body is lighter than expected, which adds to its crushability. A flavorful, well balanced release that is especially welcome now that we have passed the winter solstice. GSN Rating: A

For more information go to: New Belgium

#NewBelgium #Oakspire

GSN Review: Switchback Brewing Co. Katie’s Love Poem Grodziskie

Push the boundaries of your palate with Katie’s Love Poem. Brewed as a traditional Grodziskie, this polish wheat beer has a light and lofty body enhanced by a classic touch of smoke. With a low alcohol content and easy drinkability, this delicate beer is perfectly refreshing and affectionately known as Polish Champagne. 

Switchback’s Flynn on Fire: Smoked Beer Initiative explores the endless possibilities of smoked malt. Each of the expertly crafted beers in this series proves that, when done right, smokiness adds complexity and character. 

All Switchback beers are brewed in Burlington, Vermont and are carbonated during fermentation by the yeast itself, resulting in a 100% naturally conditioned beer. After aging, they move the beer to the keg or bottle, leaving it unfiltered for the freshest,most natural flavor possible.

GSN’s Remarks: An uber light beer at only 3.2% ABV with a wisp of smokiness and a feather touch of hops. This is easily a session beer, but also a terrific one to pair with BBQ, chili or Mexican cuisine. We really like the lightness of the smoke, making this a great introduction to someone curious to try a rauchbier. We applaud Switchback’s continuing innovations and celebrate this latest release. GSN Rating: A

For more information go to: Switchback VT

#KatiesLovePoem #SwitchbackBrewing

GSN Review: Brooklyn Black Ops 5th Edition

Brooklyn Brewery and Four Roses Distillery recently unveiled the 2023 edition of Brooklyn Black Ops (12% ABV). This collaboration once again unites craft beer pioneer Brooklyn Brewery with bourbon icon, Kentucky-based Four Roses Distillery for their fifth annual release, now available throughout the U.S. The latest Black Ops – a Russian Imperial Stout – matured for 9 months in Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon casks specially-chosen by Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott.

This year is particularly poignant, marking the 35th anniversary of Brooklyn Brewery’s flagship beer and the 135th anniversary of Four Roses. To honor the occasion, Black Ops boasts a refreshed design, inspired by Four Roses’ global brand update, their first in nearly two decades.

The 2023 Black Ops edition features a balanced profile of decadent cocoa nib and milk chocolate, highlighted by a vanilla-forward oak presence. This combination creates a richly layered, and truly indulgent tasting experience, made even better by sampling with Four Roses Small Batch. Tasting them side by side illuminates the shared flavor profiles, and how complementary the subtle bourbon influence is within the beer’s complex character. In addition to the bourbon and beer pairing, the 2023 Black Ops goes well with dark chocolate ganache, buttery pastries, strong aged cheese, and also as a Black Ops Float, with vanilla ice cream.

Brooklyn Brewery’s James Beard Award-winning Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver explains: “Black Ops is a modern classic with its own personality – brisk, light on its feet, and complex without being heavy. The Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon barrels take this beer where no other barrels could carry it, and I’m very proud of working with Brent and Four Roses’ brilliant team.”

This limited edition 2023 Brooklyn Black Ops, with its new can design, will be available in 16-ounce four-packs (MSRP: $19.99) throughout the U.S. where Brooklyn Brewery products are sold as well as the Four Roses Distillery visitor center located in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky.

GSN’s Remarks: A ton of vanilla on the nose, with a dry espresso-like bitterness counter balancing the sweetness. A rich, enveloping mouthfeel with a heady dose of alcohol that teeters just on the edge of being intense. A quite festive libation that has a lot of dark notes of coffee, cocoa, burnt caramel and the piece de resistance, bourbon. The Four Roses comes through quite clearly and adds a spirited air to the brew. We recommend this one with creamy or butter forward desserts. GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Brooklyn Brewery

#BrooklynBlackOps

GSN Review: Switchback Ale

The Switchback Ale you’ve known and loved for twenty-one years is now available in freshly designed 16oz 4-packs. Switchback Ale was developed as a flavor concept, not adhering to any style guidelines. Using only traditional ingredients, Switchback Ale is an unfiltered, reddish-amber ale which is particularly well-balanced, allowing for complexity of flavor coupled with an unusually smooth and refreshing character.

Five different malts, select hop varieties, and Switchback’s own specially cultivated yeast create an ale which leads with hop flavors and a subtle impression of fruit (the yeast’s contribution), followed by a palate pleasing malty finish.

Switchback Ale is 5.0% ABV, 28 IBU, unfiltered and 100% naturally carbonated.

GSN’s Remarks: A remarkably smooth, low hopped ale perfect for year round drinking. The body of this beer is exceptional and almost has a nitro feel on the palate. Flavorful and entirely balanced, this is a great brew for BBQ or tailegate parties. We also like the new can design which tells you everything you need to know at a glance. If you have never tried Switchback Ale, this is your wake up call. If you are already a fan, you know how good it already is. GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Switchback VT

#SwitchbackAle

GSN Book Review: Beer Hiking New York State

Beer lovers and hiking enthusiasts, these 33 New York hikes are for you! Each carefully selected hike leads you through a stunning natural landscape and ends near a brewery or a brewpub where a local craft beer awaits you! This full-color guidebook by Jason Friedman and Philip Vondra.features the best one- to six-hour beer hikes in the Empire State.

It takes you along the Hudson River, up to the grand vistas and waterfalls of the Catskills and Adirondacks, through the vibrant neighborhoods of New York City and over historic upstate railway bridges. Each trail description includes details on access, difficulty, duration, points of interest, and, at trail’s end, a recommended beer, with notes on its appearance, aroma, and taste. You’ll also get an inside look at the creative and passionate craftspeople behind the brewing process.

GSN’s Remarks: A thorough book of great hiking locales throughout New York State. The majority happen to be near “the city”, but there are still many more Upstate, in the Southern Tier, and the Fingerlakes region. Having done a few of these hikes myself over the years, it’s nice to have a recommended brewpub to finish the days adventures. Filled with interesting stories behind the trails, the breweries and suggested beers, this full color guidebook will whet the appetite of outdoors/beer enthusiasts for weekend getaways . A fun book with everything from easy strolls (Green Lakes) to challenging climbs (Prospect Mountain). GSN Rating: A

For more information go to: Helvetiq

#BeerHiking

GSN Review: Paulaner Grapefruit Radler

Paulaner Grapefruit Radler combines 50% Paulaner’s classic Münchner Lager and 50% naturally hazy, grapefruit infusion, resulting in a tangy flavor with 2.5% alcohol. Paulaner Grapefruit Radler is available in 16.9 oz 4-pack cans.

“With the continued rise in flavored beers and hard fruity seltzers, it was an easy choice for us to introduce our Grapefruit Radler here in the United States,” says Steve Hauser, CEO of Paulaner USA. “Its success is in the combination of our expert brewmasters and the quality ingredients used to brew the product. This has resulted in a premium, flavorful thirst quencher that consumers won’t be able to put down.”

The new Paulaner Grapefruit Radler is a fruity-tart refreshment that is 100% natural and not too sweet. It will be available this summer, so be sure to taste one (or four) for yourself.

GSN’s Remarks: Very fruit forward, with a sweet/tart flavor. Best served ice cold. We liked this on a hot summer day to pair with a meal. A good beverage to have on hand for outdoor events. GSN Rating: B+

For more information go to: Paulaner

#Paulaner #PaulanerGrapefruitRadler

GSN Review: Dooley’s Belated Porter

Switchback Brewing Co., home to Switchback Ale has released their cult favorite, Dooley’s Belated Porter, in 16oz cans for the first time. The move marks the first of many Switchback Specials that will transition their way from 12oz bottles to cans throughout 2023.   

Dooley’s Belated Porter (named after the brewery’s first employee) was first brewed in 2009 and quickly became an annual favorite for die-hard Switchback fans. It features a blend of roasted and caramelized malts giving it a luscious malt signature that has an earthiness derived from the non-traditional use of flaked barley. The use of Simcoe hops for both bittering and aroma highlights this hop varietal and balances the malt to create a robust, yet smooth finishing American porter. The newly designed label embodies the dark, snowy nights of Vermont’s coldest season – the perfect time to enjoy a Dooley’s. 

Find 16oz cans of Dooley’s Belated Porter in limited quantities at the brewery and at select stores throughout Switchback’s distribution footprint. 

GSN’s Remarks: Smokey, hoppy and delicious. In some ways this reminds me of a hopped Russian stout. The nose is enticing and the pour gives a nice tuft of foam. In the glass it is dark, mysterious and substantial. We like this one with a hearty beef stew, shepherd’s pie; or with red meats, wild boar and game birds. Seek this one out while you can. GSN Rating: A

For more information go to: Switchback VT

#DooleysBelatedPorter

GSN Review: 2022 Brooklyn Black Ops

Bourbon lovers and beer fans alike can yet again raise their glasses to the release of the 2022 edition of Brooklyn Black Ops (11.5 % ABV), a collaboration between craft beer innovator Brooklyn Brewery, and Kentucky-based bourbon brand, Four Roses Distillery.  

The collaborative brewing partnership between Brooklyn Brewery and Four Roses dates back to 2019 and stems from a longstanding friendship between Brooklyn Brewery Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver and Four Roses COO and Director of Operations, Ryan Ashley. The much-anticipated 2022 edition of Black Ops – a Russian Imperial Stout – was aged for approximately 9 months in Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon barrels, hand-selected by Four Roses Master Distiller Brent Elliott, resulting in a beer with just the right hint of bourbon character.

“Black Ops is unlike any other barrel-aged imperial stout. Rather than being thick, sweet, heavily roasted, and cloying, this beer is brisk and light on its feet, despite its 11.5% ABV,” explains Brooklyn Brewery’s James Beard Award-winning Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver. 

“Collaborating with Garrett has led to extremely unique, high quality releases over the past four years and the new edition of Black Ops is no exception.” said Brent Elliott, Four Roses Master Distiller “The mellow fruit, spice and oak tones of the Small Batch Bourbon barrels perfectly complement the rich, malty character of the Russian Imperial Stout, creating layers of complex flavors that both beer and bourbon drinkers will appreciate.”

GSN’s Remarks: A ton of vanilla on the nose, with a dry espresso-like bitterness counter balancing the sweetness. A rich, enveloping mouthfeel with a heady dose of alcohol that teeters just on the edge of being intense. A quite festive libation that has a lot of dark notes of coffee, cocoa, burnt caramel and the piece de resistance, bourbon. The Four Roses comes through quite clearly and adds a spirited air to the brew. We recommend this one with creamy or butter forward desserts. GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Brooklyn Brewery

#2022BrooklynBlackOps

The Good Spirits News 2022 Holiday Gift Guide – The Beers

Good Spirits News shares their annual selection of gift ideas for the 2022 Holiday season! Today, we share the best of the beers that have been brewed this year. We start off with our recommendation for the holidays which will be sure to please the Zylophile in your life!

Returning for the third year in a row, Clown Shoes’ 12 Beers of Christmas mix pack offers their most diverse mix pack of 12 beers yet. This year, 8 beers have been added to the mix pack for the first time, bringing a wide selection of past favorites and first-time releases that craft beer novices and aficionados can enjoy. Some beers that are new to 12 Beers of Christmas are: Baked Goods – An American Pale Ale that bursts with tropical citrus flavor, minimal hop bitterness, and a smooth malt body at 5.5% ABV. Cosmic Waffle – A modern take on Clown Shoes’ original Belgian IPA recipe, this 7% ABV beer offers Azazza and Cryo Pop hops brewed with wheat and honey malts and a classic Belgian yeast strain. Burnt Caramel – A Brown Ale brewed with 1,200 pounds of Dark Candi syrup, Nigget and Mt. Hood hops, and roasted barley, coming in at 7% ABV. Lucha – A 5.8% ABV Mexican-style lager that was brewed using the most premium ingredients.

We also recommend the following beers this year:

GSN Alert: Cocktail, Spirits, Wine & Beer Publications Holiday Gift Guide 2022

GSN presents our yearly round up of upcoming books of interest for the imbiber of all things alcoholic. Whatever your interest, you’re sure to find a few new volumes to add to your wish list!

It taste like maguey: Eleven species of agave through the eyes of a mezcal lover 359 libros; 1st edition (October 2, 2022) This book is a tribute to the maguey. And not only to the culture and society created from it and its transformation into mezcal, but also to its biology, morphology and conservation. This is based on the fact that its author, Juan Valde-rrama Cicery, has cultivated it on different scales, geographies, and methods in Mexico, to the point that he was able to compile a catalog of eleven species of magueyera that he shares with us in this book. Cheers to all those who are passionate and curious about the maguey!

Champagne Secrets: the wine guide to learn about champagne, choose the best sparkling wines, be comfortable to taste like a pro, and recognize the grape varieties by Sylvie Schindler Bulles d’Émotion Éditions (October 3, 2022) Secrets de Champagne is the first champagne guide to learn sparkling wines easily and smartly. It will give you the skills to impress your guests, be more confident for tasting, and make you a true wine connoisseur. All the answers are in this champagne bible written by the Parisian specialist Sylvie Schindler. You will become an informed wine lover. You will know how to recognize a good champagne, how to recognize winemaking styles, and how to advise your friends. Identify the appellations, understand the labeling information, recognize the aromas, choose the best vintages, all the tips to serve champagne well… This wine book on champagne is clear, elegant, didactic, and very useful to discover the secrets of champagne.

American Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Original Spirit by Clay Risen Scott & Nix, Inc. (October 3, 2022) What is going on with rye whiskey? Suddenly both experienced and new whiskey lovers are turning to rye as their primary object of interest. And just as suddenly the market is flooded with new offerings of this “old fashioned” spirit—the growth from just a dozen brands 15 years ago to more than 225 today is unprecedented. Author and spirits expert Clay Risen now offers a road map to the phenomena of rye. A detailed introduction includes a history of rye, how it’s distilled, aged, and earns its distinguishing qualities. Sections include info on how to start collecting rye, read a whiskey label, and how to have a whiskey tasting. Extensive rye whiskey accounts are organized alphabetically by distillery and brand and each of more than 225 expressions include a color photo of the bottle, info on proof, age, average price, tasting notes (nose, palate, finish), and is rated on a four-star scale. The author with a group of expert tasters “blind tasted” each and every one—a first for a spirits book of this scale. The result is a groundbreakingly innovative and invaluable asset for the whiskey lover navigating the world of American rye.

Modern Classic Cocktails: 60+ Stories and Recipes from the New Golden Age in Drinks by Robert Simonson Ten Speed Press (October 4, 2022) One of the greatest dividends of the revival in cocktail culture that began in the 1990s has been the relentless innovation. More new cocktails—and good ones—have been invented in the past thirty years than during any period since the first golden age of cocktails, which lasted from roughly the 1870s until the arrival of Prohibition in 1920 and included the birth of the Martini, Manhattan, Daiquiri, and Tom Collins. Just as that first bar-world zenith produced a half-century of classic recipes before Prohibition, the eruption of talent over the past three decades has handily delivered its share of drinks that have found favor with arbiters on both sides of the bar. Among them are the Espresso Martini, White Negroni, Death Flip, Old Cuban, Paper Plane, Siesta, and many more, all included here along with each drink’s recipe origin story. What elevates a modern cocktail into the echelon of a modern classic? A host of reasons, all delineated by Simonson in these pages. But, above all, a modern classic cocktail must be popular. People have to order it, not just during its initial heyday, but for years afterward. Tommy’s Margarita, invented in the 1990s, is still beloved, and the Porn Star Martini is the most popular cocktail in the United Kingdom, twenty years after its creation.

Pour Me Another: 250 Ways to Find Your Favorite Drink by J. M. Hirsch Voracious (October 4, 2022) You know what you like to drink—but what’s next? Expert mixologist and James Beard Award-winning editorial director of Milk Street J.M. Hirsch has the answer in Pour Me Another, where every recipe helps you choose your next drink. No matter your taste or liquor of choice, Pour Me Another guides you to a new world of drinks you’ll love. It’s an essential handbook for cocktail lovers and home mixologists everywhere.

Bohemian Mixology: Alternative Spirits & Modern Cocktails by Mr David Jordan Melia Independently published (October 6, 2022) Bohemian Mixology: Alternative Spirits & Modern Cocktails opens your eyes to the lesser known spirits used in the drinks industry, and shows you a different way of thinking about cocktails. By placing a ban on the use of traditional base spirits, you can allow your creativity to flourish, or at the very least, you can have a lot of fun. Focusing on 6 ‘Bohemian’ spirits, such as Absinthe, Pisco and Poitín, it will walk you through all aspects of making a cocktail from simple sours to advanced infusions. Stunning full page imagery of each drink will facilitate even more creativity, as you get to grips with a new way of thinking in the world of mixology.

The Creation of Flavor; from a Bartender’s Perspective by Whitney Marie Independently published (October 10, 2022) The Creation of Flavor; from a Bartender’s Perspective guides readers in how flavor is created through taste and aroma from how their molecular structure is perceived to how it can be manipulated. The author shares their methodology and understanding of ingredients to create cocktails that are drinkable works of art. Starting by breaking down the most common tastes in cocktails; sweet, sour, bitter, and salty, as well as common sources of each used in drinks. A further understanding of how their unique attributes are explored and how together these tastes can be utilized food the creation of balanced drinks. This will set the foundation of any good cocktail. Next aromas are delved into, from floral and citrusy to peppery and earthy, and the unique chemical makeup that allows aromas to be sensed through smell. Further understanding of aromatic showcases how the minute difference in molecular structure with aromatic compounds as well as different preparation creates different experiences within this category. This allows for the creation of layered and nuanced aromatic experiences. Aromas being one of the most powerful creators of memories and thus strong emotional connotation is the bridge used to traverse from a balanced cocktail to art in a glass. The Creation of Flavor; from a Bartender’s Perspective endeavors to find a more precise process for the development of new drinks through a better understanding of the ingredients that compose drinks. Just as an artist masters both technique and medium so can any enterprising bartender create a truly memorable drink.

Cocktails with a Curator by Xavier F. Salomon (Author), Aimee Ng Giulio Dalvit Luis Serrano (Illustrator), Simon Schama (Foreword) Rizzoli Electa (October 11, 2022) Join the curators of the Frick as they present engaging histories of works of art paired with creatively inspired cocktails—a crash course in art history and a delightful introduction to the treasures of the esteemed New York collection. Based on the critically acclaimed video series of the same name, Cocktails with a Curator is a collection of lively and informative essays. Paintings, sculpture, furniture, and porcelain—from medieval times through the glorious Renaissance to the early twentieth century—are discussed for their exemplary status. The creators are some of the greatest artists and include Rembrandt, Vermeer, Whistler, Manet, Velázquez, and Veronese, and the stories (of both artists and subjects) are tantalizing. Cocktails, with recipes, are thematically paired with the works: a Jaded Countess (absinthe, vodka, lemon juice, and simple syrup) with Ingres’s portrait Comtesse d’Haussonville; a classic Pimm’s Cup with Gainsborough’s depiction of English beauty Grace Dalrymple Elliott; and a Bloody Mary (named after the last Catholic regnant queen of England) with Holbein’s painting of Sir Thomas More, who opposed the Reformation of Mary’s father, Henry VIII. The perfect addition to any art connoisseur’s library, this book is an innovative and intoxicating way to enjoy the treasures of a world-renowned art collection.

A Sense of Place: A journey around Scotland’s whisky by Dave Broom Mitchell Beazley (October 11, 2022) A personal journey exploring Scotch whisky through its terroir, including the land, weather, history, craft and culture that feeds and enhances the whisky itself. In this beautifully crafted narrative, award-winning writer Dave Broom examines Scotch whisky from the point of view of its terroir – the land, weather, history, craft and culture that feed and enhance the whisky itself. Travelling around his native Scotland and visiting distilleries from Islay and Harris to Orkney and Speyside, Dave explores the whiskies made there and the elements in their distilling, and locality, which make them what they are. Along the way he tells the story of whisky’s history and considers what whisky is now, and where it is going. With stunning specially commissioned photography by Christina Kernohan, A Sense of Place will enhance and deepen every whisky drinker’s understanding of just what is in their glass, as well as open their eyes to where whisky can go.

The Newfoundland and Labrador Cocktail Book by Peter Wilkins Breakwater Books (October 15, 2022) The definitive guide to cocktails in Newfoundland and Labrador from the co-founder of the popular Newfoundland Distillery, including recipes from the top mixologists and bartenders across the province. Cocktails are allabout pleasure and celebrating the finer moments in life. With recipes compiled and tested by Peter Wilkins, the co-founder of the Newfoundland Distillery, this is the essential guide on how to effortlessly make classic and contemporary cocktails using the best local ingredients available. Peter introduces us to a range of delightful drinks in a variety of tastes and styles to make sure there is a cocktail for everyone.

New Mocktails Bible: All Occasion Guide to an Alcohol-Free, Zero-Proof, No-Regrets, Sober-Curious Lifestyle by Anne Schaeffer Fox Chapel Publishing (October 16, 2022) Never run out of alcohol-free ideas for mixed drinks, smoothies, milkshakes, and more with the refreshing guide to concocting the best mocktails, New Mocktails Bible! Whether you’re pursuing a sober-curious lifestyle or simply striving for more health-conscious libations, this must-have recipe book is perfect for enjoying any social setting or seasonal celebration without it going to your head. These aren’t the old super-sweet drinks made with only sweetened sodas, juices, syrups, and purees that appeal to a child’s palate—the drinks inside these 208 pages are carefully crafted to be delightful and delicious to the most discerning adult, including tea-based beverages, savory delights, and refreshing elixirs! Featuring an insightful introduction on the endless possibilities of nonalcoholic drinks, inside these pages you’ll discover more than 250 drink recipes organized into different categories, from New Signature Mocktails and Traditional Mixed Drinks to Unusual Mixers, After Dinner Drinks, and even Dessert Drinks!

60-Second Cocktails: Amazing Drinks to Make at Home in a Minute by Joel Harrison & Neil Ridley Princeton Architectural Press (October 18, 2022) Mixology in a minute! This cocktail recipe book from award-winning drink experts offers 60 delicious cocktails you can create in 60 seconds or less. Whether you have classic or adventurous taste, this guide to easy cocktail creation is the perfect addition to your home bar. The recipes include original drinks as well as tasty twists on the classics. Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley prove that mixing cocktails at home doesn’t have to be time-consuming or complicated; it’s fun, simple, and affordable! Featuring 60 cocktails that utilize a variety of spirits—including tequila, gin, rum, whiskey, vodka, and more.

The Whiskey Cookbook: Sensational Tasting Notes and Pairings for Bourbon, Rye, Scotch, and Single Malts by Richard Thomas Cider Mill Press (October 18, 2022) Wine isn’t the only drink that can accompany a good meal. In this cookbook, whiskey takes center stage with signature pairings and top-notch recipes. From rye with smoked salmon to bourbon with apple pie, experiment with diverse flavor profiles that pair with and improve the taste of these spirits. With hundreds of different expressions to choose from, a good bottle of whiskey is an ingenious way to bring your meals to the next level. Balance out delectable dishes or give them a perfect punch, ??and bring depth and complexity to each meal with this spirited collection. This is a new way to think, drink, and appreciate the world of whiskey. Raise your glass, it’s time to eat with The Whiskey Cookbook.

The Little Book of Aperitifs: 50 Classic Cocktails and Delightful Drinks by Kate Hawkings Quadrille Publishing (October 18, 2022) The Little Book of Aperitifs offers 50 recipes for everything from the perfect Gin and Tonic, classic Martini, effervescent Bellini, refreshing Spritz, to the beloved Negroni – all made with panache and minimal ingredients, and illustrated with gorgeous color photos. A well-made drink before dinner is the height of sophistication and the perfect way to start an evening with friends. Whether you’re a gin lover or a Campari queen, these little glassfuls of nectar will get your taste buds geared up for a night to remember. There’s also a chapter of non-alcoholic aperitifs to whet your whistle. With fascinating facts about your favorite tipples, as well as easy step-by-step instructions, it’s time to relax, get comfortable and enjoy The Little Book of Aperitifs.

Bar Menu: 100+ Drinking Food Recipes for Cocktail Hours at Home by André Darlington Running Press Adult (October 18, 2022) Bring the world’s best drinking food home and into your kitchen with this stylish recipe book featuring more than 100 drool-worthy, easy-to-prepare dishes. Award-winning food-and-drink writer André Darlington serves up creative bites and reimagined classics from around the globe—everything from quick nosh to wowing party-pleasers—to make Bar Menu the ultimate guide to boozy eating and entertaining at home. Whether you are a cocktailer looking for food pairings, or an armchair traveler eager to recreate iconic bar bites from the comfort of your own kitchen, this is your bible for hosting memorable cocktail hours. Companion drink ideas for every dish, 30+ cocktail recipes, quick history lessons, plus tricks and tips on everything from curating menus to batching drinks for a crowd of family and friends make this a cocktail hour cookbook unlike anything you’ve seen before.

Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ’Em from the Award-Winning Bar by Neal Bodenheimer (Author), Emily Timberlake (Author), Denny Culbert (Photographer) Harry N. Abrams (October 25, 2022) New Orleans is known for its spirit(s)-driven festivities. Neal Bodenheimer and coauthor Emily Timberlake tell the city’s story through 100 cocktails, each chosen to represent New Orleans’ past, present, and future. A love letter to New Orleans and the cast of characters that have had a hand in making the city so singular, Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em features interviews with local figures such as Ian Neville, musician and New Orleans funk royalty, plus a few tips on how to survive your first Mardi Gras. Along the way, the reader is taken on a journey that highlights the rich history and complexity of the city and the drinks it inspired, as well as the techniques and practices that Cure has perfected in their mission to build forward rather than just looking back. Of course, this includes the classics every self-respecting drinker should know, especially if you’re a New Orleanian: the Sazerac, Julep, Vieux Carré, Ramos Gin Fizz, Cocktail à la Louisiane, and French 75. Famous local chefs have contributed easy recipes for snacks with local flavor, perfect for pairing with these libations. Cure: New Orleans Drinks and How to Mix ‘Em​ is a beautiful keepsake for anyone who has fallen under New Orleans’s spell and a must-have souvenir for the millions of people who visit the city each year.

The Cocktail Edit: Everything You Need to Know About How to Make All the Drinks that Matter by Alice Lascelles Quadrille Publishing (October 25, 2022) Cocktails should be simple. Acclaimed drinks writer Alice Lascelles knows everything there is to know about making delicious drinks at home with minimal equipment and fuss. The Cocktail Edit is built around a ‘capsule collection’ of 12 classic cocktails – each of these is followed by six twists, plus tips and inspiration for creating many more. The book also offers essential advice on getting your home bar set up – and shows how easy it is to make amazing cocktails with just a few basic tools, ingredients and techniques. It’s a guide brimming with trade secrets on everything from choosing the best-value spirits to making cocktails for a party; written in a conversational style, and illustrated with beautiful photography, The Cocktail Edit is practical, opinionated and fun.

American Whiskey (Second Edition): Over 300 Whiskeys and 110 Distillers Tell the Story of the Nation’s Spirit by Richard Thomas (Author), Robin Robinson (Foreword) Cider Mill Press; 2nd edition (October 25, 2022) Internationally recognized whiskey expert Richard Thomas brings you this expanded and updated edition of American Whiskey. This book not only delivers a thorough history of this national spirit, but provides a snapshot of the industry today. With an emphasis on new expressions of whiskey and rising stars in the game, this expanded edition brings more exposure to the whiskey world than ever. Thomas highlights the major players and whiskey hubs across the U.S., from industry giants to smaller craft distilleries that bring quality to your glass. Chapters are dedicated by region, covering the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest, Southwest, and the West. With a special focus on the recent emergence of the third whiskey state, Texas, this is an opportunity to dive deeper into the industry today.

A Bartender’s Guide to the World: Cocktails and Stories from 75 Places by Lauren Mote & James O. Fraioli Appetite by Random House (October 25, 2022) For over 20 years, Lauren Mote has tended bars and traveled the world, often as one of the only women in a male-dominated industry. She’s developed cocktail recipes, sought out new ingredients, and gathered stories along the way. Now, in her first book, Lauren is inviting readers and home bartenders to pack their suitcases and come with her on an international cocktail adventure. Few bartenders can match Lauren’s encyclopedic knowledge of spirits, liqueurs, and tinctures, not to mention her originality for blending them into a perfectly-balanced drink. Once you’ve gotten a handle on the basics of bartending, and gathered your cocktail shaker along with a few other pieces of equipment, you’ll be raising your glass in no time. The recipes are organized by their star ingredients, such as agave, gin, whiskey, rum, vodka, and more. Every drink is given its own designation of standard, mid, low, or zero proof, and you’ll find a whole chapter on nonalcoholic cocktails, because Lauren feels strongly that all drinks should be prepared with care, whether they include alcohol or not. Once you’ve narrowed down the base that you’re in the mood for, let Lauren’s magnetic storytelling and gift of the gab continue to guide you. In each chapter, you’ll find a collection of Mise en Place Recipes to help you build up your bar’s basic ingredients and make Lauren’s techniques your own. With beautiful storytelling and photography, and cocktail recipes you won’t find elsewhere, A Bartender’s Guide to the World is as much a pleasure to read as it is to imbibe from.

Vogue Cocktails: Classic drinks from the golden age of cocktails by Henry McNulty (Author), Robin Muir (Foreword) Conran (October 25, 2022) A super-chic collection of 150 classic cocktail recipes created by one-time Vogue drinks expert and man about town, Henry McNulty. From the archives of British Vogue, the classic cocktail book, for a new generation of discerning drinkers. Vogue Cocktails is an exquisite collection of recipes compiled by former British Vogue drinks aficionado and man-about-town, Henry McNulty. Taking inspiration from the cocktail culture of the 1930s, Vogue Cocktails contains 150 delectable recipes organized by base spirit – Champagne, Gin, Vodka, Whisky, Rum and Brandies & Other Spirits – to ensure a drink for every palate. The book also contains essential information on stocking your bar and mixing drinks, with wonderful, jazz-age-inspired illustrations by Graham Palfrey-Rogers throughout.

John Wayne: The Official Cocktail Book by André Darlington Insight Editions (November 1, 2022) Based on the iconic and beloved actor John Wayne, this collection of satisfying drinks takes cocktail enthusiasts on a trip through some of John Wayne’s most memorable characters, films and extraordinary life. This unique book includes seventy recipes for delicious, handcrafted cocktails and a selection of tasteful bar bites to pair with the beverages. With drinks inspired by characters such as Rooster Cogburn, Big Jake McCandles, and Davy Crockett, John Wayne: The Official Cocktail Book includes step-by-step instructions, tips on how to craft the perfect cocktail, and beautiful full-color photography. This book is an essential addition to every fan’s bar cart or bookshelf.

Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch: The World’s Best-selling Book on Malt Whisky by Michael Jackson DK (November 1, 2022) Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch, the landmark best-selling malt whiskey companion by the late Michael Jackson, doyen of whiskey writers, has been comprehensively updated by a team of experts. Featuring over 500 new bottlings, reviewed and scored, plus hundreds of revised entries, Michael Jackson’s Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch includes background information on the distilleries, tasting notes on over 1,000 bottlings, and practical advice on buying malts and interpreting whiskey labels.

Midcentury Cocktails: History, Lore, and Recipes from America’s Atomic Age by Cecelia Tichi NYU Press (November 1, 2022) America at midcentury was a nation on the move, taking to wings and wheels along the new interstate highways and in passenger jets that soared to thirty thousand feet. Anxieties rippled, but this new Atomic Age promised cheap power and future wonders, while the hallmark of the era was the pleasure of an evening imbibing cocktails in mixed company, a middle-class idea of sophisticated leisure. This new age, stretching from the post–World War II baby boom years through the presidency of General Dwight Eisenhower into the increasingly volatile mid-1960s, promised affordable homes for those who had never dreamed of owning property and an array of gleaming appliances to fill them. For many, this was America at its best―innovation, style, and the freedom to enjoy oneself―and the spirit of this time is reflected in the whimsical cocktails that rose to prominence: tiki drinks, Moscow mules, Sea Breezes, Pina Coladas, Pink Squirrels, and Sloe Gin Fizzes. Of course, not everyone was invited to the party. Though the drinks were getting sweeter, the racial divide was getting more bitter―Black Americans in search of a drink, entertainment, or a hotel room had to depend on the Green Book for advice on places where they would be welcome and safe. And the Cold War and Space Race proceeded ominously throughout this period, as technological advances alternately thrilled and terrified. The third installment in Cecelia Tichi’s tour of the cocktails enjoyed in various historical eras, Midcentury Cocktails brings a time of limitless possibilities to life though the cocktails created, named, and consumed.

The New York Times Essential Book of Cocktails (Second Edition): Over 400 Classic Drink Recipes With Great Writing from The New York Times by Steve Reddicliffe (Author), Christopher Buckley (Foreword) Cider Mill Press; 2nd edition (November 8, 2022) This updated edition contains more than 400 classic and contemporary craft cocktail recipes, paired with exceptional writing and the authoritative voice of The New York Times. Cocktail hour is one of America’s most popular pastimes and a favorite way to entertain. What better place to find the secrets of craft cocktails than The New York Times? Steve Reddicliffe, the “Quiet Drink” columnist for The Times, brings his signature voice and expertise to this collection of delicious recipes from bartenders from around the world, with a special emphasis on New York City. Discover more than 400 recipes and the wit and wisdom of decades of this venerable paper’s best cocktail coverage. Reddicliffe has carefully curated this essential collection, with memorable writing from famed New York Times journalists like Craig Claiborne, Toby Cecchini, Eric Asimov, Rosie Schaap, Robert Simonson, Melissa Clark, William L. Hamilton, Jonathan Miles, Amanda Hesser, William Grimes, and many more.

Beer A Tasting Course: A Flavor-Focused Approach to the World of Beer by Mark Dredge DK (November 8, 2022) Beer is now brewed in a dizzying variety of styles, available to enjoy like never before. Let’s drink to this diversity with a new appreciation of just how complex and mind-expanding beer can be. Crack open this book and enjoy a series of guided tastings of more than 50 different beer styles—from smoked black lager to sour-fermented wild ales, triple green-hopped IPAs and cask-matured barley wines. With each tasting, you will learn to identify how aroma, taste, texture, and finish all combine to create the distinctive flavor profile of the particular beer style. You will discover which unique ingredients and aspects of the brewing process combine to produce each style, while quick reviews of the best examples from around the world will lead you to explore further. To help establish your beer palate, the course starts with a solid grounding in the range of flavors found in beer and the art of detecting them—opening your nose, mind, and throat to the complete sensory experience of flavor and pouring the perfect glass! Travel through time and across the globe to grasp the ongoing story of beer, its heritage, and its innovation. Also learn how to pair beer with food and to cook with beer. In the end, you always return to what really matters: that miraculous glass of cold, liquid joy.

Holy Waters: Searching for the sacred in a glass by Tom Morton Watkins Publishing (November 8, 2022) Tom Morton has travelled the world in search of the finest drams the planet has to offer. His journeys reveal the links between faith and alcohol, between spirits and the spiritual. From Christianity’s Holy Communion to the temple libations of Japan, through the rum concoctions of Haitian Voodoo to the monastic producers of every liquid from beer to “tonic” wine. And of course Tom’s beloved whisky, brewed in many corners of the world. Holy Waters is Tom’s journey to the spiritual heart of whisky, sake, rum, Champagne, beer, mead and a variety of wines. With great insight, humour and for the most part sobriety, he traces the links between brewing, winemaking, distilling and worship, from ancient pagan rites to the most modern Trappist technology. He revels in the lore and mysteries of craft production, the elemental, magical love stories, the passionate relationships between human and landscape, grain and pure water, grape and fire. And he does so on a motorcycle which, to his astonishment, runs very well on cask-strength Islay single malt. This book is a celebration of cultures and artisan craft, a book for food and drink, travel and history lovers.

The Curious Bartender: In Pursuit of Liquid Perfection: Recipes for the finest cocktails by Tristan Stephenson Ryland Peters & Small (November 8, 2022) Tristan Stephenson is back to shake up the cocktail world once more, perfecting classic cocktails and offering his signature reinventions using his world-renowned mixology skills. The Curious Bartender’s New Testament is the sixth book by bestselling author and legendary bartender Tristan Stephenson. You’ll find 64 of the finest cocktails: 32 perfected classics and 32 game-changing reinventions of classics. Tristan makes you discover tastebuds and talents you never knew you had. You will find recipes for everything from a White Russian or a Tom Collins to an Umami Bomb or a Giraffe. He’ll show you the tools of the trade, the techniques he swears by and how to experiment to create your own cocktail sensations at home. Tristan’s done all the hard work for you – all you have to do is leaf through the pages of his book.

All Belgian Whiskies by Patrick Ludwich & Karel Puype Stichting Kunstboak (November 11, 2022) Belgium has all the assets to become a true whisky country. The knowledge required to make whisky is readily available, thanks in part to our centuries-old culture of beer and jenever. A number of Belgian jenever distilleries and breweries have been experimenting with whisky for quite some time, but the concept of ‘Belgian whisky’ only really took off in the recent past. Every year new initiatives arise and time after time the announced releases are sold out in no time. Belgian whisky is appreciated, has become a sought-after collector’s item and regularly wins gold and silver at international competitions. For the first time, an overview of Belgian whiskies and whisky houses is published in book form. An indispensable reference work for collectors and whisky lovers alike. Text in English, Dutch and French.

Intoxication: An Ethnography of Effervescent Revelry by Sébastien Tutenges Rutgers University Press (November 11, 2022) For two decades, Sébastien Tutenges has conducted research in bars, nightclubs, festivals, drug dens, nightlife resorts, and underground dance parties in a quest to answer a fundamental question: Why do people across cultures gather regularly to intoxicate themselves? Vivid and at times deeply personal, this book offers new insights into a wide variety of intoxicating experiences, from the intimate feeling of connection among concertgoers to the adrenaline-fueled rush of a fight, to the thrill of jumping off a balcony into a swimming pool. Tutenges shows what it means and feels to move beyond the ordinary into altered states in which the transgressive, spectacular, and unexpected take place. He argues that the primary aim of group intoxication is the religious experience that Émile Durkheim calls collective effervescence, the essence of which is a sense of connecting with other people and being part of a larger whole. This experience is empowering and emboldening and may lead to crime and deviance, but it is at the same time vital to our humanity because it strengthens social bonds and solidarity.

LoveSexy Cocktail Guide by André Akinyele BookBaby (November 12, 2021) Shake Up Your Sexy with 138 alluring recipes and illustrations celebrating songs by Prince! “LoveSexy Cocktail Guide” is a curated collection of 138 Prince song inspired cocktail recipes and illustrations. This is a must-have book for fans of an incredible man who revolutionized the music industry. This one-of-a-kind book is an A-to-Z guide of Prince song inspired cocktail recipes for making classic, contemporary, and fun drinks to celebrate Prince. These pages contain classic cocktails inspired from the song catalog of Prince―an astonishing artist, entertainer, musician, and songwriter in pop culture. Make a cocktail playlist from the curated Prince songs included, and decode the mysteries behind each song alongside tasty, inspired recipes.

Seattle Cocktails: An Elegant Collection of Over 100 Recipes Inspired by the Emerald City by Neil Ratliff Cider Mill Press (November 15, 2022) Discover the unique Seattle vibe with delicious recipes from some of the city’s top mixologists and bartenders. Explore the best places to drink in the city with chapters divided by neighborhood and remake your favorite local beverages at home. Enjoy recipes from Emerald city bars that take full advantage of local flair and flavor, with stunning photographs that capture the heart of this colorful port city. Find tips and techniques of the trade in interviews with prominent bartenders. From dive bars to craft cocktail bars, Seattle has it all, and you can bring it home with you. Whether you save these recipes for a rainy day or enjoy them in the sunshine, these cocktails will make you feel like you’re at the top of the Space Needle.

Cocktail Time!: The Ultimate Guide to Grown-Up Fun by Paul Feig William Morrow Cookbooks (November 15, 2022) Famed TV and film writer, director, and producer Paul Feig is obsessed with cocktails and cocktail culture. It’s about having great conversations with friends. It’s about putting on your best clothes and throwing a smart gathering or heading to your favorite bar and having an interesting chat with the bartender. And it’s about staying home, mixing a drink and sipping it in a beautiful glass as you watch a great old movie by yourself. Cocktail Time! is a love letter to the aesthetics and culture around cocktails. It’s guaranteed to make you want to up your party-giving game—or at least your home bar situation. And it’s an immensely charming and readable window into one man’s friendly obsession.

Imbibing for Introverts: A Guide to Social Drinking for the Anti-Social by Jeff Cioletti (Author), Elena Makansi (Illustrator) Skyhorse (November 15, 2022) Long before the term “social distancing” entered the lexicon, introverts were thriving. But let’s clear one thing up right away: Being introverts doesn’t mean we’re all a bunch of hermits. Introverts like going out as much as the next person—as long as it’s a manageable, crowd-less situation with comfortable places to sit! The emptier the bar, the better. The less likely to be bothered by—GASP—other people, even more ideal. As a professional drinks writer and editor who travels solo a great deal for a living, the author has learned a thing or two about drinking alone. For instance, seclusion is key. Look for a bar that offers numerous opportunities to sequester yourself. Avoid the communal tables, sit as close to the end of the bar as possible (a corner two-top in a darkened room is best-case-scenario), and don’t skimp on the beverage: Order something with complexity that makes you quietly contemplate what’s in your glass, how it got there, and how your surroundings are accentuating the drinking experience. Tiki bars are among the most conducive to that vibe, as everything from the ingredients, to the décor, to the music is designed for just soaking it all in without distraction, but never discount the daytime dive bar either. Imbibing for Introverts combines the social survival tactics taught in guides like The Introvert’s Way with the appreciation for thoughtful drinking found in travelogues like Around the World in 80 Cocktails. From Frankie’s Tiki Room in Las Vegas, to New York’s Dead Rabbit cocktail bar, to San Francisco’s Chinatown dive bar Li Po, Imbibing for Introverts helps solo drinkers confidently pull up a seat at every genre and subgenre of drinking establishment. The book begins in readers’ most comfortable setting—their own homes—before taking them out on the town, to bars across the country and, finally, overseas. There are more than a dozen chapters divided by bar type, along with an introduction (“Introvert’s Manifesto”) and epilogue (“Quarantine Confessions”). Each chapter features drink recommendations and cocktail recipes that relate to the particular setting, so if desired, you could also partake without the annoyance and sometimes anxiety-ridden task of leaving the house.

The Anchor Brewing Story: America’s First Craft Brewery & San Francisco’s Original Anchor Steam Beer by David Burkhart (Author), Fritz Maytag (Foreword) Ten Speed Press (November 15, 2022) San Francisco’s Anchor Brewing Co. is one of America’s oldest breweries, with an extraordinary heritage rooted in the California Gold Rush. Undaunted and resilient, it has survived earthquakes, fires, insolvency, and Prohibition. In 1965, when mass-produced, mass-marketed beer completely dominated the American brewing landscape, Fritz Maytag rescued the nation’s smallest brewery and its unique Anchor Steam Beer from the brink of bankruptcy. Focusing on tradition, quality, and flavor, Maytag transformed Anchor Brewing, igniting a revolution that paved the way for today’s craft beer movement. Anchor brewery historian David Burkhart tells the story of America’s first craft brewery in this compellingly definitive insider’s guide. With three hundred images—most shown for the first time—and original homebrew recipes for four of Anchor’s iconic brews (Anchor Steam, Anchor California Lager, Anchor Porter, and Liberty Ale), The Anchor Brewing Story is a book for beer drinkers, homebrewers, pro brewers, entrepreneurs, San Francisco–philes, and anyone who loves a good comeback tale.

Colorado Cocktail Cookbook Vol 2 by Chad Chisholm Liferich Publishing (November 15, 2022) Who’s ready for a second round? Colorado Cocktail Cookbook Vol 2 packs a punch with 54 recipes from the state of Colorado. Mixing at home or enjoying at your favorite haunt, this book is a guide to creative cocktails throughout the state. Elevating the mixologist experience in the Mile High State, this is a perfect compendium to Volume 1!

Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails by Molly Kimball (Author), Melanie Warner Spencer (Author), & Ethan Skaggs Pelican Publishing (November 21, 2022) The clink of ice, the fragrance of fresh herbs, and the ritual of pouring artisanal spirits into a shaker or glass are all integral to the timeless experience of crafting a sophisticated cocktail. When we aren’t drinking, whatever the reason may be, we still want to enjoy elegant, thoughtful beverages. This philosophy is at the heart of Craft: The Eat Fit Guide to Zero Proof Cocktails. Inspired by the talented bar staff of dozens of Eat Fit restaurant partners, these zero proof recipes surpass sugary mocktails and basic soda spritzers, proving that it’s truly possible to create remarkable, elevated drinks that are alcohol free with little or no added sugars. Featuring more than 50 recipes, as well as guides to barware, bitters, glassware, and everything else you need to craft a fully sensorial cocktail, this book is an essential–and beautiful–resource for every home mixologist’s library.

Behind the Bar: Gin: 50 Gin Cocktails from Bars Around the World by Alia Akkam Hardie Grant (November 22, 2022) In Behind the Bar: Gin, Alia Akkam gives a guided tour around bars around the world and their gin cocktails. From the Enzoni Cobbler at the Gin Palace in Melbourne to a Southern riff on the Gin & Tonic at The Gin Joint in Charleston, there is a simple recipe for anyone wanting to whip up a cocktail at home in no time. Along with recipes, Behind the Bar: Gin explores stories surrounding the bars and their cocktails, as well as interesting gin-based nuggets of inspiration – from sloe gins, the Negroni Sbagliato, to guides on tonics and punches, there is a lot to discover! With its beautiful illustrations and accessible style of writing, this will appeal to the armchair traveler as much as the keen home bartender.

On Champagne: A tapestry of tales to celebrate the greatest sparkling wine of all by Susan Keevil (Editor), Tom Stevenson (Introduction) Academie Du Vin Library Ltd (November 23, 2022) Champagne is never a simple glass of fizz… As soon as the cork flies, the first sip reveals a wine of fascinating complexity. For even the most modest non-vintage cuvée, a bevy of blending decisions, multi layers of history and the incalculable climate of this northern corner of France all come into play. In On Champagne the thoughts, opinions and conclusions of the world’s finest champagne writers gather to reveal this wine’s action-packed trajectory from the myth of its accidental discovery – not in France, we find, but in the cider cellars of England – to the development of a high-tech champagne fit for space travel. It’s a journey that starts and ends with capturing that sparkle in a bottle and along the way beguiles us with the nuances of its chalky terrain, the determination of rebels from Ambonnay to Avize, and the mystery of a champagne cellar under the sea. We meet the pioneers who created the great champagnes of the past and the personalities who are ‘greening’ this landscape, nurturing it through climate change to shape the exquisite champagnes of the future.

Raising the Bar: A Bottle-by-Bottle Guide to Mixing Masterful Cocktails at Home by Brett Adams & Jacob Grier Chronicle Books (November 29, 2022) Instead of drawing on esoteric bottles of liquor, complicated syrups, and obscure sodas, this book takes readers through the home bar bottle by bottle, ensuring that every ingredient is versatile enough to be used to the last drop. Building on a very basic cocktail pantry, each chapter thoughtfully introduces a new bottle and explains how it opens new possibilities for cocktails. Each chapter builds on the one before, so readers never encounter recipes calling for unfamiliar spirits or ingredients. RAISING THE BAR allows readers to set their own pace and maximize the usefulness of the spirits they bring home. This book will be a go-to reference for the home bartender that is practical enough for the day-to-day and special enough for a party. With handsome graphics and a smart focus on what’s already in stock, it’s what home mixologists can turn to when they want creative and delightful drinks without a bar cart full of single-use bottles.

The Five-Bottle Bar: A Simple Guide to Stylish Cocktails by Jessica Schacht Touchwood Editions (November 29, 2022) From the co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Company, a collection of cocktail recipes that relies on just five bottles to build your bartending style with ease and confidence. Think of it as the capsule closet for cocktails. Five bottles around which your inner bartender can emerge with skill, savvy and a little flare for the dramatic when it’s called for. Playwright, columnist, and co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Company, Jessica Schacht knows we all contain multitudes and believes with a little curation and mastery of the basics, we can succeed at elevating the everyday and cultivating a good cocktail hour. The bottles: gin, whiskey, sweet and dry vermouth, and Campari (plus bonus recipes for bubbly). The setting: living room, backyard, window seat, and the wild beyond. The mixologist? Oh, that’s you. In this beautifully photographed collection, Jessica Schacht, co-founder of Ampersand Distilling Company, presents her take on classics (like the G & T, the Old Fashioned, the Martini, and the Negroni), collections (sours, punches, and such), and contemporaries (a few inventive new drinks to pique your creativity). There’s a chapter of zero-proofs in part inspired by the abundance of new alcohol-free spirits on the market now, and another dedicated to keeping your vacation drinks game classy, from the airplane to the B&B to the beach. In addition to the recipes The Five-Bottle Bar supplies a solid foundation in bartending basics (tools, techniques, thoughts on glassware and garnishes), the condensed history of spirits, and tips for setting up your minimalist bar cart.

Drink Like a Local London: A Field Guide to London’s Best Bars by Felipe Schrieberg Cider Mill Press (November 29, 2022) Explore the most popular hotspots, tube stops, and drinks that London has to offer. From classy rooftop bars to eccentric, hidden watering holes, take a tour through London’s diverse cocktail scene with this guide. Discover the unique character of each location and the signature recipes from these venues. You will feel like you’re really there long before you order your first drink. Inside you’ll find 50 bar profiles and bartender highlights, beautifully illustrated pages that showcase the heart of each location, and background on the bustling history of the London bar scene. Never be without a drink with recipes from timeless locations and profiles on some of the best bartenders you’ve never heard of. Bring London’s charm to your home bar anywhere in the world. You’ll find yourself right at home with Drink Like a Local London.

150 Bars You Need to Visit Before You Die by Jurgen Lijcops Lannoo Publishers (November 30, 2022) Since 150 Bars You Need to Visit Before You Die came out in 2018, more than 17,000 copies have been sold. Time for an updated version, with no less than 50 new bars. Discover which bars you must visit worldwide for their delicious cocktails, unique interiors or authentic atmosphere. Sommelier and spirits connoisseur Jurgen Lijcops once again takes you on a trip/bar crawl around the world and also gives you the best cocktail recipes en cours de route.

Decanter: The World’s Wine Legends: Over 100 of the World’s legendary bottles of wine by Stephen Brook Sona Books (December 1, 2022) For many years the world’s most successful wine magazine published on their last page a monthly Wine Legend. These were and, in some cases, still are the most sought after wines around the world from specific vineyards and vintages. Names that can bring a shiver to the back of a wine lover’s neck and be spoken about in hushed tones. Chateau Palmer ’61, Ridge, Monto Bello 1970, Biondi-Santi, Tenuto il Greppo 1975 to name but a few. This book brings these wines together for the first time, over 100 absolutely legendary wines. With an introduction by Stephen Brook who pulled together the information and the photographs, this is a beautiful gift for anyone who enjoys wine.

Cheers!: Cocktails & Toasts to Celebrate Every Day of the Year – A Cocktail Book by Philip Greene Union Square & Co. (December 6, 2022) Philip Greene, winner of the 13th Annual Spirited Award for Best New Book on Drinks Culture, History or Spirits, pairs each day of the year with a cocktail recipe that represents it, along with a toast in celebration! For every day of the year, Cheers! offers delicious cocktail recipes along with a backstory connecting the recipe to a particular day and a toast to raise in celebration. Greene draws on a range of interesting and (usually) fun events, some significant and some trivial, from the pages of history, literature, sports, entertainment, and more. Many of the toasts are classics culled from cocktail and bartending books dating to the nineteenth century, the works of Shakespeare, and other timeless sources. While the book undoubtedly acknowledges the usual noteworthy dates from around the world (New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo, etc.), it also features a new twist on standard observances, offering a fresh story, angle, and drink.

Twist: Your Guide to Creating Inspired Craft Cocktails by Jordan Hughes Page Street Publishing (December 13, 2022) Learn how to make a great, well-balanced and properly executed cocktail with this stunning resource and recipe book from award-winning spirits writer Jordan Hughes. In over 75 killer recipes, you’ll master classics like the Martini and Old Fashioned, discover what makes these builds so timeless and how to use their tried-and-true specs to create your own riffs, twists and deliciously modern craft cocktails. Shake up a perfect Margarita then experiment with the spicy carrot and mezcal Power-Up Technique. Read into the “bastardized” evolution of a classic Daiquiri, then go crazy with a Guava Daiquiri, served over crushed ice with a hint of absinthe. Enjoy the bubbly French 75 and new Pisco and passion fruit Peruvian 75, or the spirit-forward Manhattan and its unique spin the Nocturnal Burn, made with cacao tequila and chili liqueur. There’s something for every palate in these pages! And with tons of information on stocking your home bar, making your own syrups and practicing proper technique, you’ll unlock a whole new world of mixology and hone your bartending skills.

GSN Review: Shiner x Garrison Brothers Limited-edition 24 oz. Barrel-Aged Doppelbock

The independent, family-owned makers of iconic Shiner Bock announce a new 24 oz. Barrel-Aged Doppelbock made in collaboration with Garrison Brothers Distillery, a renowned Texas-based distillery known for Texas Straight Bourbon. The Barrel-Aged Doppelbock is the first of five in the Brewer’s Pride 2022 series, a line of exclusive brews crafted by Shiner Brewmasters to honor their most devoted fans.

Barrel-Aged Doppelbock is crafted with Two-Row Premium, Copper and Chocolate Malts, as well as Golding Hops, then aged in ex-Port casks that were used to create Garrison Brothers’ Guadalupe Bourbon. The combination of unique flavors and slow aging in the one-of-a-kind casks results in innovative flavors that will appeal to connoisseurs.

As the first release in the launch of the Brewers Pride line, the Barrel-Aged Doppelbock (12% ABV) is expected to sell out quickly. Available for purchase at major Shiner retailers in Texas including HEB, Kroger and Total Wine.

GSN’s Remarks: A strong, nearly imperial style beer with a lot of flavor and character. Doppelbocks happen to be one of my favorite styles, and this one does not disappoint. A rich, velvety and very tight carbonation diffuses the intense sweet and boozy lager. Loads of malt are offset by the intriguing blend of Port and Bourbon barrel aging, creating a lot of high notes that tease the palate with sharpness. A beautiful expression of the inherent skills of Shiner’s brewmasters. Grab a few bottles to cellar if you have the opportunity. GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Shiner & Garrison Bros

#Shiner #GarrisonBrothers