Courtesy of the Civilization of Beer Facebook, Samuel Merrit

Well, anyway, we’ll recap. Civilization of Beer is an organization founded by friend of the blog, Samuel Merrit, one of 170 Certified Cicerones in the United States (it’s like a beer sommelier but more official). Sam is dedicated to promoting the appreciation and responsible consumption of high quality beer by educating through his many Civilization of Beer events. Those events include beer and food pairings, tastings, Cicerone test prep classes and even customized events for private or corporate organizations.

In fact, Mad Hops and I have attended a Cicerone test prep class led by Sam — in preparation for the Cicerone Certified Beer Server test — and we gained everything we need for the test. He’s thorough and helpful but he’s also a ton of fun. His classes are well worth their weight in beer — though I’m not really sure how you weigh a class or an event. But if it meant a lot of beer, we could all put our heads together and figure out how to do it.

Aside from the many beer events hosted by Sam’s organization, he’s also involved with various philanthropic efforts. With a mission to promote responsible and environmentally sustainable practices, Sam co-captains Brooklyn Brewery’s cycling team which takes part in the Global Impact Tour’s Braking the Cycle Aids Ride, which supports AIDS treatment at a local LGBT center. No joke — want proof? Watch the short film that was made about his avid biking habits here.

Civilization of Beer was founded in 2006. Sam will be celebrating five years this week (and a birthday apparently — I’m hoping he’s older than 21). So we’re happy to raise our glass and congratulate him. Congrats, Sam! Here’s to another five years and many more.

Clare Goggin

For me, there are only a select few spots I’d choose to spend this historic festival mostly because I don’t dress up in lederhosen, I like good beer and I’m cheap. Here’s where I’d wanna be during the two week celebration of Oktoberfest … Which actually takes place at the end of September but, in some cases, it’s in October:

Oktoberfest at Zum Schneider: I’ve attended the Oktoberfest at Zum Schneider a few times over the years, enjoyed several delicious German brews, devoured awesome pretzels and even sustained a couple injuries, actually. If you can get in the front door, this is one of the best spots to celebrate Oktoberfest in the city. But the line starts forming two to three hours before the doors open so be prepared to get there early. If not, you’ll likely be in line the entire day or get relegated to the bar. There’s also outdoor seating, which is a huge draw but that typically goes first and you’ll miss the live oompah band (Mosl Franzi and the Ja Ja Ja’s) playing inside.
No cover charge, September 24 – October 9, hours vary depending on the day; 107 Ave. C, East Village

Oktoberfest at Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden: Perhaps I’m a touch biased since the Astoria Beer Garden is only about ten blocks from my apartment so I don’t even have to use my MetroCard. But I’d certainly make the argument that this is a great place to dip into Oktoberfest even if you do have to take the N train out to Astoria Boulevard. The oldest authentic beer garden in New York City, this place offers good food, good beer (even a few local options) and a huge outdoor area where you can either sit in smoking or non-smoking if you’re so inclined. Over the years, there’s been some weird developments here (Saturday night poker games — what the heck is that about?) but the majority of the bridge and tunnel folk have been absorbed by Studio Square in Long Island City so this place has gotten a lot of its personality and integrity back and I like it. Full details are yet to come and there may be a small door charge but otherwise, beer and food will be affordable and this should be a good time.
Entrance fee: TBD, October 1 – 9, all day (check the official site for hours); 29-19 24th Ave., Astoria

Oktoberfest at Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn: While I typically don’t make it out to Staten Island for Oktoberfest (or anything for that matter), I like riding on boats and since the Staten Island Ferry is free, all the better. Of course, once I get there, I have to get on the Staten Island subway and then walk a whole bunch but maybe one of my Staten Island friends would be willing to give me a ride, yes? Either way, this party is worth the trip. The events begin Friday with a ceremonial tapping of the firkin and festivities will continue through September. This Sunday, there’s an Oktoberfest beer tasting as well — doesn’t appear to have an entrance fee but reservations are strongly recommended. There’s also an outdoor area here along with regular live music.
No cover (so far as I can tell), Starts Friday, September 16, hours vary; 4254 Arthur Kill Road, Staten Island

Feel free to tell me about any other good local events that I might have missed!

Clare Goggin

Over the past four years, New York’s Craft Beer Week has become a wonderful collection of events created by a beer-loving and friendly group of people. This year is no different.

The 2011 New York Craft Beer Week will feature several events and it’s always hard to plan each day. To give you a little hint, here’s a guide to the events that Mad Hops and I either will attend or that we really want to attend over the next few beer-filled days — along with a few back-ups if we can’t get into the party. Hope to see all of your beautiful faces this year over a pint of quality beer!

Side Note: I’m a little disappointed in how few events have been planned for anywhere other than Brooklyn or Manhattan. There are a few in Queens and maybe one in the Bronx but we really need to step it up here — am I right? This is New York City’s craft beer week — not Manhattan and Brooklyn Craft Beer Week.

Friday, September 16, 2011 – Day 1
Barrier Brewing Co. at Rattle ‘N’ Hum: Best to jump in feet first with craft beer week and a few pints of Barrier and maybe some of the darker Greenport Harbor ales are not a bad way to start. Also, you’ll make tons of knowledgeable friends at Rattle ‘N’ Hum who can point you in the right direction when you’re staring at that very long beer list on the wall.
Free Event, 4pm to midnight; 14 East 33rd Street, Midtown East

Freaktoberfest at Southpaw: Friday nights are good for a party and it sounds like Southpaw’s got quite a New York Craft Beer Week kick-off party planned. It’s unlikely that we’ll be trekking out to Brooklyn this Friday but for those of you (and I know there’s several of you) already in Brooklyn, Southpaw will be ripe with beer and entertainment — and by that, I mean burlesque dancers and live music. It will be the night before the official Oktoberfest begins after all so why not celebrate with Freaktoberfest?
Tickets: $50, 7pm – 1am; 125 Fifth Ave., Park Slope

Saturday, September 17, 2011 – Day 2
Pig Roast with Lagunitas Brewery at Farm on Adderly: Pig. Roast. That’s really all I need to say here but I’ll go on … Chef Tom Kearney is hosting this 14 hour pig roast and Lagunitas will be on hand to pour their brews as well. The roasting begins at midnight but you won’t get more than a peek at the pig unless you come a little later in the afternoon for a plate.
Plates: $25, 2pm – 8pm (food served at 4pm); 1108 Cortelyou Road, Flatbush

Thrillist Craft Beer Crawls, multiple locations: Always a great way to pass a Saturday, beer crawls are not only fun but they’re active — so you’re also walking off all those beer calories. This one involves several great craft beer locations and you can choose between a Brooklyn crawl or a Manhattan crawl — though Mad Hops and I are not really sure why there’s no Queens crawl!
Passes: $25-$34 (depending on how many bars you want to hit), noon – 4pm; multiple locations

Sunday, September 18, 2011 – Day 3
Special Brewed in Brooklyn Tours with Urban Oyster Tours: I admit it — I’m a geek for a good tour. Especially one with beer. If there are any other tour/beer geeks out there, then we should definitely look into this event. It follows the history of Brooklyn brewing from the Brooklyn Brewery to the Coney Island Brewing Company. You’ll get beer, brunch and transportation along the way. Plus there’s some walking involved so you’re once again walking off those beer calories — ain’t nuthin’ wrong with that!
Tickets:$79, Starts at noon; Brooklyn Brewery, 79 North 11th Street, Williamsburg

Ommegang Beer & Cheese pairing at Greene Grape Provisions: Cheese, please! Pairing artisanal American cheeses with Belgian-inspired American brews always sounds like a superb idea to me. In fact, there is a school of thought that beer is a better pairing for cheese than even wine. So why not experience that during New York Craft Beer Week with this event. Greene Grape knows what they’re doing when it comes to craft food so let them handle the cheese; Brewery Ommegang will be on hand to pour their brews.
Free Event, 3pm – 6pm; 753 Fulton Street, Fort Greene

Monday, September 19, 2011 – Day 4
Captain Lawrence Beer Pairing Dinner at Blue Smoke: Two things I love about this event: Captain Lawrence brews (they don’t specify which ones) and the promise of braised pork belly. Yum! The brewery’s own Scott Vaccaro will be on hand to host the event and personally pour you some delicious and refreshing beers. Go and enjoy and make sure you try the sweet potato fries.
By reservation only, Tickets: $75, 7pm – 10pm; 116 East 27th Street, Murray Hill

The Great Gnomegang Hunt at Pour George: Honestly, I don’t have a ton of information on this event; I just really loved the name. I haven’t even been to Pour George, which opened earlier this summer but they seem to have a decent (though conservative) tap list along with some good eats. Seems to be a great place to go for a taste of the Ommegang/Brasserie d’Achouffe collaboration beer on a Monday night.
Free Event, 6pm – 9pm; 35 West 8th Street, Greenwich Village

Tuesday, September 20, 2011 – Day 5
Not Too Drunk To Read at Pacific Standard: Literature is the central theme of this party at the Good Beer Seal-winning bar. Schmaltz Brewing’s own Jeremy Cowan wrote a book and he wants to read it to you while you drink one of six Schmaltz beers on tap. You really can’t beat that … well, unless this was an event in Queens — that would beat this. Anyhow, Schmaltz and Pacific Standard are hosting this party to celebrate the release of Jeremy’s book, Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah. So be nice and at least try to pay attention — maybe there’ll even be pictures in this book!
Free Event, 6pm – 9pm; 82 Fourth Ave., Park Slope

The Brewmasters’ Series, Victory Brewing Company at Colicchio & Sons: Our neighbors from Downingtown, Pa., will be joining the team at Colicchio in sons to pair their delicious brews with a menu created by Chef James Tracey and Pastry Chef Stephen Colluci. It’s always nice to spend time with neighbors — especially when they make beer like Victory. Masterbrewer Bill Covaleski will be bringing some of that beer with him so check it out if you can. The tickets are a bit expensive so be sure you haven’t maxed out your credit cards first.
By reservation only, Entrance Fee: $95, 6:30pm – 9pm; 85 Tenth Ave., Chelsea

Wednesday, September 21, 2011 – Day 6
Cigar City Brewery & Oyster Party at Jimmy’s #43: Mad Hops loves oysters; I love Cigar City. This might be the perfect combination. Some of Cigar City’s more limited beers will be on hand and, since I recently visited the brewery in Tampa, Fl., I can assure you, they’re gonna be good. I don’t really have much to say about the oysters — but they’re local (from Brooklyn) and they’ll be available all night. Jimmy’s a fantastic host so this one is a can’t-miss for me, at least.
Price: (Not really sure but it appears to be free admission), 6pm – 10pm; 43 East 7th Street, East Village

Midnight Meet the Brewer at Spring Lounge: This is another one that I don’t have a lot of info on but San Gennaro will be in full swing on the front doorstep of Spring Lounge. The meeting with Empire Brewing’s brewmaster — and the rest of the team, for that matter — doesn’t happen until midnight so the idea of enjoying San Gennaro then hanging out with a bunch of brewers definitely appeals to us.
Free Event, midnight – 4am; 48 Spring Street, Nolita

Thursday, September 22, 2011 – Day 7
Very Old Beer & Stinky Cheese at Ginger Man: As I’ve mentioned above, I like me some cheese ‘n’ beer. So the promise of both pretty much anywhere at any time is a top priority for me. This particular one is hosted by celeb brewer and Dogfish Head founder, Sam Calagione. Having met the guy a few times while writing a story about Birreria for Mutineer magazine, I can promise that he will be charming and funny and a great addition to any beer and cheese pairing. Oh — and free glassware. Done!
Free Event, 5pm – 8pm; 11 East 36th Street, Midtown East

Brewers’ Choice at City Winery: Having attended this in the past, I am excited about this year’s event. Your ticket gets you access to a large collection of brews sprinkled all around City Winery. In addition, each beer entry has a food pairing partner. My favorite last year was probably the sausage in a pretzel roll with sweet onion jelly paired with Ithaca White Gold. I can only assume that the same fantastic beers and foods will be there this year. Although, I also assume that Greg Hall (formerly of Goose Island) will likely not be the keynote speaker this year …
Tickets: $55 – $1,000 (for VIP groups), 6pm – 10pm; 155 Varick Street, Soho

Friday, September 23, 2011 – Day 8
Food and Beer Pairing with the Bronx Brewery at Cafe D’Alsace: One of the newest breweries in the area, Bronx Brewery has earned a lot of buzz. Cafe D’Alsace’s own sommelier and cicerone will be on hand to personally pair delicious eats with several brews that the brewery has to offer. Specific details are yet to come but I’m interested in seeing what may be the first beer week entry for this new brewery. (Though I could be wrong about that — am I wrong?)
Free Event, 7pm – 9pm; 1695 Second Ave., Yorkville

NYC vs. Boston Beer Night at The Stag’s Head: What a perfect night to pit NYC brews against their cohorts in Boston. Join in on this taste-off set against the Yankees vs. Red Sox game going on the same night. You might be surprised which city wins this beer-off — or maybe you won’t. Who are we to say, really?
Free Event, 6pm – 4am; 252 East 51st Street, Midtown East

Saturday, September 24, 2011 – Day 9
Williamsburg, Bushwick & Park Slope Homebrewers’ Tours: It doesn’t really get much more local than New York City homebrewers’ — especially since we’re typically working with very little space. Lead by beer journalist Joshua M. Bernstein, this tour will give you the opportunity to meet Chris O’Leary (Brew York, New York and friend of Beer Goggins), Jason Knight and Billingsgate Brewery which is making beers especially for the tour.
Tickets: $25, 2pm – 7pm; Location will be disclosed upon purchase of ticket

Home on the Grange Festival at Manchester Pub: The largest celebration of local and sustainable foods in New York City, this festival combines all-inclusive beverages, tasty snacks (hors d’oerves for the foodies) and awe-inspiring views from the rooftop of the Brooklyn Grange. You’ll leave full and happy after all is said and done.
Admission: $89, 2pm – 5pm or 6pm – 9pm; 37-18 Northern Boulevard, Long Island City

Sunday, September 25, 2011 – Day 10
Rare Ass Beer Brunch ‘N’ Bruzzer at Rattle ‘N’ Hum: On the last day of New York Craft Beer Week, brunch will be a key meal. Head over to Rattle ‘N’ Hum to get your fill and get your hands on some rare beers. Be warned, it’ll be crowded and the food won’t exactly be gourmet. But if you’re anything like Mad Hops and I, you may be digging for change in your pocket at this point so this will likely be an affordable but high-quality option. And you can Untappd all your rare beers as you eat.
Free Event, noon – 4pm; 14 East 33rd Street, Midtown East

Brewers’ Brunch at Hudson Terrace: I can’t tell a lie — I’m typically not a fan of Hudson Terrace (over-priced and a little douchey but a nice view). However, since this official beer week closing event will be hosted by the New York Craft Beer Week team and they use the term “Kegs & Eggs” in the description, I think this will be an exception to the rule. Not only does this involve food, it also features the Giants vs. Eagles game — so throw on the added appeal of Sunday football and you’ve got a pretty good event.
Tickets: $40, noon – 4:30pm; 621 West 46th Street, Hell’s Kitchen

The beer selection is displayed on chalkboards over the bar at d.b.a. Brooklyn.

We had what is probably the longest conversation I ever had with him — even after I’d guested on the show he co-hosted with Jimmy Carbone, Beer Sessions Radio, in February. We discussed beer, beer bars, the state of beer in the city and he congratulated me on my engagement. He also said that he hoped my fiance knew how lucky he was to have me.

I have not known Ray long nor do I know him very well. But the tragic news of his accident and the news today from his wife (on this, the first day of Good Beer Month) that he will not make it through the weekend is very saddening. The loss of Ray Deter is a blow to the beer community in two cities and nationwide. He will be missed by his family, his dear friends, loyal bar patrons and many, many others. We here at Beer Goggins feel the need to raise a glass and pay tribute to someone who has certainly left his mark on the world of beer.

On the most recent installment of Beer Sessions, Jimmy noted that Saison Dupont was one of Ray’s favorite beers. I visited d.b.a. in the East Village this week with a couple of friends. It was busy as usual — filled with a remarkably oblivious crowd. But there were a few somber folks quietly sitting at the bar. In Ray’s honor, I ordered a Saison Dupont and enjoyed it on the patio during what was a very beautiful afternoon.

Here’s to you Ray — I hope there’s a warm bar stool waiting for you at the big beer bar in the sky.

Today begins the first day of Good Beer Month in New York City — an event Ray also helped create. We recognize small, independent bars dedicated to serving good beer during July because of Ray and his co-creators. There’s no doubt that d.b.a. is one of those bars so be sure to stop by and pay your respects sometime soon.

Jimmy Carbone reveals the seven new Good Beer Seal Award winners.

As defined by GoodBeerSeal.com, those eligible to earn a Good Beer Seal are independently owned and operated New York City bars. They also need to be bars dedicated to the promotion and the proper service of craft beers, particularly local brews. With that in mind, the Good Beer Seal was awarded

The Good Beer Seal

to: Fourth Avenue Pub, Bierkraft, Brouwerij Lane, Double Windsor (a personal favorite), Misson Delores, Stag’s Head and Waterfront Ale House (located in both Brooklyn and Manhattan).

As part of the committee of beer lovers and enthusiasts chosen to decide on this year’s winner, I was happy with the results and I think we added some great locations to a list that already includes the likes of Jimmy’s #43, Against the Grain and Sunswick.

But you’ll notice that the vast majority of the new inductees, with the exception of Stag’s Head and one of the two Waterfront locations, are located in Brooklyn. This is certainly a sign that Brooklyn is head and shoulders above the other boroughs when it comes to serving good beer — and Manhattan’s really not that far behind.

So I issue this challenge to Queens, Staten Island and The Bronx: cultivate your beer scene and open some good beer bars. Sure, Queens has Sunswick and the Bronx has The Bronx Ale House — but Staten Island is without a Good Beer Seal representative and one bar each in the other two boroughs is just not enough. In fact, as a Queens resident, I will be doing all I can to get some new beer spots here in my borough!

If you happen to come across the red seal in your travels, be sure to stop in for a beer. It’ll definitely be worth it.

First course at Schneider Weisse dinner.

The first course was originally supposed to be bull testicle carpaccio in Aventinus vinaigrette on arrugula salad. But there seems to be some difficulty getting bull testicle in New York City so that ingredient was replaced with a veal brisket. The dish was paired with Schneider Weisse Original, an amber hefeweizen. While the pairing was pretty tasty (the banana and clove flavors complemented this light dish well) I did have to wonder what it would have been like with a little bull testicle.

Next, we were served a wheat beer soup with croutons paired with Georg Schneider’s Wiesen Edel-Weisse, a citrus-flavored wheat beer with a bit of spice. Susanna explained to us that this beer had been the brewery’s Oktoberfest submission when they were still located in Munich and able to participate in the fest. After World War II, when the Munich brewery was destroyed, operations were moved to Kelheim and the brewery was no longer able to be a part of the festival since Oktoberfest requires participating breweries be located within Munich. That being said, the well-hopped brew was certainly a worthy Oktoberfest submission. The soup was a creamy concoction with a vegetable stock base that paired well with the spiced hefeweizen.

The third course combined pork tenderloin medallions in garlic cream sauce with wheat beer spaetzle and Schneider’s Aventinus. Again, Susanna provided a little brewery history: Aventinus, a dopplebock, was first produced when Mathilde Schneider, Georg III’s wife, took over the brewery after her husband’s death. It was unusual for a woman to run a brewery in those days so she caused quite a stir. When she named Aventinus, she chose the name of the street where the bottling line was located. But others insisted that she must name a beer after a Saint. So Mathilde did some digging and found a saint named Aventinus and so she was able to keep the name. And this dopplebock hints of banana and raisins and goes pretty well with meat dishes. I found the pork a bit dry but otherwise tasty. The spaetzle was heavy but delicious.

Finally, we were treated to dessert: Eisbock parfait with carmalized apples and whipped cream paired with (what else?) Eisbock. The Schneider’s Eisbock is a concentration of Aventinus collected when the Aventinus is partially frozen. And, at 12% ABV, this sucker is really concentrated. It’s a beer to be sipped. The hints of banana and clove were much stronger in the parfait but paired well with the plum flavors of the beer. One note on the dessert, there was a touch of mint that didn’t really belong. It was a bit to intense for the dish but I was pretty happy otherwise.

A final taste was given to us after dessert: A distilled Aventinus. This was a bit to strong for me but an interesting aperitif if you’re into that stuff.

Schneider Weisse dinner series will continue for the rest of the week. Tonight, the hosts will bring their fine food and drink to Elsewhere in Midtown Manhatan then they go to Philadelphia, stopping at Brauhaus Schmitz on Thursday and Farmer’s Cabinet on Friday.

Great timing: Running from May 16 to May 22, America’s own craft beer week will be touching down just a little later this month. All fifty states will observe with their own specific events but beers will be had no matter where you find yourself that week.

And this year more than just your usual suspect tap rooms will be getting into the festivities. Several bars and restaurants are getting involved. So make sure you check with your fave local watering hole. They might have some big shindigs up their sleeves.

Mad Hops and I will definitely be checking out a few of the parties in our neck of the woods and reporting back. But please let us know what’s going on in your local area so we can share with everyone.

For more, check out CraftBeer’s American Craft Beer Week website and the Facebook page.

It can be a parent, or a sibling, or a significant other, but think about them. I bet you can picture their faces, their eyes. The little imperfections that make them “them.” You can probably hear that funny way they laugh, or their high-pitched sneeze. The way they only move their right hand when they tell stories. That college newspaper shirt they like to wear to bed.

Now, think of something you love. It could be a sport, or a hobby, or an activity, or a place. Tennis. Photography. Hiking. An art museum. When you think about this thing, what do you see? Personally, I love baseball. I can recall past games I’ve played in or watched, the smell of the peanuts and hot dogs at the park, the anticipation of a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. All of these things, and millions more, come easily and readily to mind.

I bring this up because the problem is this – I love beer, but I don’t really know beer.

Sure, I’m familiar with beer. I know the breweries and their geeky brews, and I know the various styles and why they’re that way. I’ve even begun homebrewing lately, which has helped me understand how beer is made and how that process imparts its own personality upon the beer.

But that’s still not enough.

I smoked off and on for the better part of twelve years, from when I was 18 to my 30th birthday. While I never smoked more than half a pack a day during that span, I feel that smoking negatively impacted my sense of smell and, subsequently, my palate.

I can make out the obvious things. I get big citrusy, flowery, or grassy hops in IPAs. I sniff out roasted notes in porters or stouts, or banana esters in hefeweizens. These are the big-picture ideas that jump from the glass to my nose to my brain to, possibly and rarely, my fingertips.

However, the devil is in the details, and it’s these details – the warts in the wort, you could say – where I am the most clueless.

I cannot fathom how to pick out malt profiles, or yeasty combinations. Subtle spices? Tough to pin down. While I usually just drink whatever is in the fridge with whatever I happened to make for dinner that night, the nuanced art of pairing beer – the most diverse, versatile beverage on the planet – with foods is something I’m more than eager to learn.

Which is why, this Monday and the next, I’ll be attending Sam Merritt’s Civilization of Beer Cicerone certification program. BeerGoggins and I were invited to join after appearing with Sam on Beer Sessions Radio a few weeks ago, and we couldn’t be more excited to learn lots of new and wonderful things.

Hello, beer. My name is Adam. Let’s get to know one another.

Heritage Radio Network/ Beer Sessions Radio

Tune in tomorrow evening to Beer Sessions to hear Mad Hops and I rap about beer. We’ll be chatting with Jimmy Carbone of Jimmy’s #43 and Ray Deter of d.b.a. and a few others.

We’re bringing all of our beer drinking and tasting capabilities and brushing up on our terminology so we don’t look like big fools on air.

We are so excited to join Jimmy and Ray and we look forward to heated (or just friendly) discussions about our favorite beers.

Hope you listen in as we drink beer and talk … about beer. I mean, what else is there to do tomorrow night?

Florida typically does not rank among the places most people think of when it comes to good craft beer. But over the past few years, that reputation has been shifting. Breweries such as St. Somewhere in Tarpon Springs, Bold City in Jacksonville and Cigar City in Tampa have proven that good beer can also be made in the Sunshine State.

There didn’t appear to be much of a tour available (although you could get the full gist of the place by peeking through the open garage area) but the gentleman behind the bar in the tasting room was welcoming and warm. And the clientele was even friendlier. One man at the bar applauded my Harpoon shirt and another gave us a few great recommendations for the two flights we ordered.

Our first flight featured their Oatmeal Raisin Cookie, a Christmas-themed mint brew, Batch 69 Cream Ale and the Jose Marti Porter (named for a Cuban icon who made quite an impression on Tampa as well).

Our second flight served up Maduro Brown, Bolita Double Brown, Jai-Alai IPA and, my personal favorite of the evening, Tocobaga “Red” Ale. Overall, the sweet selections — oatmeal raisin, mint, cream ale — were just too sweet, although the oatmeal raisin was nicely balanced — just not my cup of tea.

I’d had the Maduro and the Jai-Alai in the past and I’ve always considered them decent brews. The porter and the double brown were fantastic on tap. The porter was light with just enough malt. The double brown was more flavorful than its predecessor, the Maduro.

But the Tocobaga was, by far, the better brew. This copper-tinted ale features a strong malty but lightly sweet flavor that has undertones of both hops and smokiness. This was one of the two beers that I decided to take home with me in quart-sized growlers. I also took home two bottles with plans to smuggle them home in my suitcase — these bottles were the award-winning Humidor Series IPA and Improvisacion, a creative brew styled as an oatmeal rye India-style brown ale which was pretty delicious (on a side note, we weren’t as impressed with the IPA).

Overall, Cigar City is a great spot for craft beer in Tampa. For a New Yorker, it was incredibly affordable but it also offered a great, friendly atmosphere that was so much more than a brewery tasting room.