Get Real, y'all!

Howdy! Artsy guy here, reporting from the Get Real NY Belgian Fest. Wow! Those Belgians make some great beer! And there's food and live tunes. Keep your eyes peeled for some video coverage shortly.

In the meantime, here are a couple photos. There's Communicator Guy out front... and horning in on a shot of Stat Guy and Happy Hour Gal. Artsy Guy on the Hipstamatics.

And that's whats HOPpenin', y'all!

OMG: IPAs in DC...

See what I did there?  Just trying to be clever (JTTBC).  I recently found myself in our nation's capital to catch a performance of Follies at the Kennedy Center.  (See it if you can... fantastic!)  And of course I decided to take advantage of my days in town to hit up a couplethree fine establishments that feature the craft beer.

Pizza Paradiso at Dupont Circle.Pizzeria Paradiso is a small family friendly chain with three DC area locations: Georgetown, Dupont Circle (above), and Old Town Alexandria, VA (below).  The dining is super fine.  Woodfired pizzas, fresh salads, grilled paninis.  Everything I tasted was incredible.  And in the craft beer department, each location features their own extensive tap and bottle list (and cask engine).  The rotating tap selection is heavy on great American stuff (Dogfish Head, Founders, Rogue, and many new and up-and-coming breweries) peppered with some fab international stuff.  (The Brewdog Paradox Smokehead on cask at the time was powerful and incredibly scotchy.  Scotchy scotchy scotch.)  They attempt to be consistent with the bottle list, but a small chalkboard lists the "off-menu" bottles on hand.  The Paradiso folks are doin' it up right.  Get thee hither.  Anon.

Pizza Paradiso in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.At the end of last year, DC lost a 50 year veteran in the beer bar pantheon and craft bar pioneer... The Brickskeller.  The neighborhood dive featured a crazy rotating tap list and a bottle list of 1500 (WHAT??).  Some will say that the service and experience had been going downhill for a while, and while the bottle list was astonishingly extensive, roughly only half of the bottles listed were typically in stock.  The long-time owners sold the place.  The end?  Nope.  I'm happy to say the place is back in business as The Bier Baron.  Other than a welcome bathroom renovation, a menu change, and a much more manageable (but still impressive) bottle list (500ish), it's pretty much the same.  Of course, some of the change seems to be too much for some of the old timers.  But others are welcoming the breath of fresh air blowing through the musty place.  Whatever side you lean towards, give 'em a shot.  They have an amazing selection of craft and international beers (tempered with a bunch of those macrobrew things).  The food heavily favors a pub grub bent.  I had the Baron Burger which was adorned with bacon, salami, sharp cheese, and an entire produce section on the side.  Tasty!  So, DC folks and those passing through... get thee to Bier Baron and give it a shot.  There's a lotta crafty history in those walls.

Bier Baron near Dupont Circle.And that's what's HOPpenin'.  Cheers, all!

(30th) Avenue (Mexi)Q

Hey folks! Artsy guy here reporting from a mere eight blocks from home... MexiQ on 30th Ave. in Astoria, Queens. This place has a sort of Tex-Mex fusion-ish vibe happenin' with the menu, and the results are mighty tasty.

But this craft beer fan rejoices most over some of the kegs they're getting. This trip found me with a coveted glass of Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout. Also on the menu: Southern Tier Unearthly IPA, Dogfish Head 90 Minute, and much more. Their happy hour features their Mexican beers (Dos Equis and Modelo) if that's your bag.

This is a fantastic local hang. I do wish they updated their beer menu more often. (After three visits in the last month, I've observed that the number of depleted beers still on their menu is much higher than other bars with the same type of rotating selection... and better systems.) Still, it's a great destination for those with a hankerin' for tasty craft brews. And that's what's HOPpenin'!! Cheers, y'all!

Why oh why oh Weyerbacher?!

Howdy folks! Artsy Guy here, feeling accomplished after a full day at the desk. Reward? Sampling the Weyerbacher tap takeover at Rattle & Hum here in the shadow of the Empire State Building (or the location of said shadow if it were actually sunny in NYC, which it's NOT).

I'm such a fan of these events that happen periodically at Rattle & Hum, Pony Bar, Blind Tiger, etc. It's a great opportunity to taste a few brews from one brewer side by side. Favorites sampled on this day were the Double Simcoe IPA, Insanity (barley wine), Heresy and Tiny (both imperial stouts). Just look at all those "W" tap handles!

So... get thee down to Rattle & Hum toot sweet to experience a brewery that doesn't raise a tap handle often in the Big Apple! That's what's HOPpenin'! (Still not sold on the catchphrase, but - heck - it's almost Easter and it's bunny-related.)

Blind Tiger. Brunch. Brand new Guy.

Artsy Guy here. I'm new. Jimmy and Mark tossed me on board at the Pony All American party last week, and if that isn't a way to join the party I don't know what is. Howdy!

What better way is there to spend a beautiful (if breezy) Sunday afternoon than brunch? Brunch with beer you say? I'll agree with you. Thanks for the segue!

I'm occupying a sidewalk-view stool at Blind Tiger Ale House in NYC's West Village. They've got a killer breakfast sandwich (and more on their improved menu), and those who know me will attest to the fact that I'm a happy camper with a pint of West Coast IPA from Green Flash in lovely Vista, CA.

Great place, this Blind Tiger! And the people watching is lively too. And that's what's HOPpenin'. (Man, did I just attempt a catch phrase?) Cheers, y'all!

(Photo note: Not all pints come with minivans.)