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#MonthlyPearl: Folksbier Brewery

7/31/2017

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The Who:
Travis Kauffman is not new to the local beer scene. In fact he has been making beer under the Folksbier brand for almost three years. But it was only early this year that he actually opened a tasting room to the public. Travis and his staff make beer on a residential street in the community-oriented Carroll Gardens. We get a real sense of this foodie neighborhood on our Brownstone Brooklyn tour.

And Travis has been a big part of this communtiy for even longer than he's been making this beer. He was part of the opening team of two of the neighborhood's destination-worthy restaurants, Frankies 457 and Prime Meats. It was actually at the restaurants' storage space where he began homebrewing and started producing beers under the name Folksbier. It didn't get as much attention (or distribution) as some of the city's other breweries. It was one of the more difficult beers to find - with only a few accounts around Brooklyn and Manhattan.

But Travis was eventually able to take over the lease and has now turned that into a local brewery where neighbors come to hang out, taste great beer, and see the production. Soon, he's going to start canning and distributing the beer even further. 


The idea of making his own beer started at a very young age. Growing up on a farm in Michigan, Travis was used to doing everything from scratch. When he was old enough to drink, that ethic found its way into homemade beer. Even today, Travis uses hops grown on his parents' farm.

The What:
Folksbier stands out from the other breweries in Brooklyn because of their focus on classic German styles. Not all of their beers 
are German-influenced, but they often start from a traditional and approachable base and build up from there.

One of their signature and most popular beers is their unfiltered Helles Simple, which is a very crisp refreshing and balanced lager. It follows the German Purity Law and is a great starting point.  From there, they can get a little more experimental but never stray too far from tradition. Be sure to also try their tart sour Berliner weisse (Glow Up) and the French-influenced Selvina brewed with rosehips. 


The tasting room is a bit of an oasis for beer lovers, families, and curious locals hanging out together in a dim friendly atmosphere steps away from the actual brew house.

The Why:
Folksbier is a potential stop on our NYC Brewery Winery Distillery Tours. They are one in a very tight-knit community of over 30 breweries around New York City. It is an exciting and much-needed  addition to the neighborhood without all the frat parties and loud drunk crowds you might find at other beer bars.

If you want to visit Folksbier and other craft beverage producers in the city, we are running a promotion through Labor Day. When you book three tickets, you get the fourth free. Just put in SUMMER17 as a discount code and we'll be happy to introduce you to Travis and his perfectly balanced flavorful beers. 

The Where:
Folksbier Brewery
101 Luquer Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
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#MustDo in NY: July 31-August 8, 2017

7/29/2017

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A Day of Jewish Remembrance, All About Gin, Pizza with Baseball, + Lobster and Beer Party

​​​Click on the title for more info.
Lament at Green-Wood Cemetery: The Ninth of Av / Monday, July 31, 2017 from 7-9pm
The Ninth of Av (Tisha b'Av) is one of the saddest and most solemn days in the Hebrew calendar. It remembers the destruction of temples in Jerusalem and is often a day of fasting and mourning. Because Jewish teams up with the historic cemetery for an evening of prayer and rememnberance led by Rabbi Dan Ain and including live music, poetry readings, and a walk through some of the grounds.  
More Than Martinis: Gin and its Cocktails / Thursday, August 3, 2017 from 6:30-8:30pm
When people say gin tastes like Christmas trees, then they haven't experienced the wide range of flavor possibilities in the often misunderstood spirit. Join Astor Center for a cocktail class and an exploration of different gin styles, its history, and classic cocktails that go further than your usual martini.
Brooklyn Slices Night / Friday, August 4, 2017 at 6:40pm
For one night, the Brooklyn Cyclones embrace more of its hometown pride by renaming themselves the Brooklyn Slices. They'll compete against the Myrtle Deep Dishers for a special pizza-themed baseball game. Buy tickets with a code from Scott's Pizza Tours to get some branded gear and meet Scott's team at the game for all the info on pizza you could imagine.
Hester Street Fair's Lobster & Beer / Sunday, August 5, 2017 from 11am-6pm
Hester Street Fair sure knows how to throw a party. They're getting some of the city's best lobster purveyors and beer producers together to relish in the height of summer. Come check out local artisans and get your lobster/beer pairing on with beer specials, lobster tacos, lobster rolls, and more
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#CurrentObsessions: Mayahuel

7/24/2017

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The Who:
The name Mayahuel actually refers to a who - sort of. She is the goddess of the maguey plant, which is another name for agave, which is where the wonderful elixirs known as tequila and mezcal come from. And the bar that was opened by a number of actual human beings has been a temple to worship Mayahuel.

Those human beings include Phil Ward, who was at one time the beverage director at Death & Co. and Pegu Club. Phil fell in love with mezcal and tequila from his travels to Mexico and wanted to open up a cocktail bar dedicated to showcasing those spirits. His partners include Justin Shapiro, who ran the day to day operations and himself was bitten by the mezcal bug, and Ravi DeRossi, the restaurateur who owns a number of spirit-focused bars in the neighborhood (including nearby Cienfuegos).

On our Craft Cocktail tours, Justin often greets the group with stories about the bar, his passion for mezcal and its small batch producers, and inspires our attendees to both drink and consume responsibly. Everybody who has been on our tours agree that Mayahuel has been a highlight. 

The What:
This bar also won a very prestigious award at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans the year it opened. It was voted "Best New Cocktail Bar in the World." No small feat. That recognition has to do with the staff's passion and hospitality as much as it has to do with the incredible cocktails.

The cocktails are all balanced and potent - ranging from light fruit-forward drinks like La Vida Rosa (strabwerry infused tequila, rosé wine, and elderflower) to spicy complex tipples like Green Gloves (jalapeño-infused tequila, green chartreuse, celery, lime, and smoked salt) to strong bittersweet nitecaps like Phil's famous Oaxacan Old Fashioned (mezcal, reposado tequila, agave nectar, and angostura bitters).


The Why:
This is actually the third time we have written about Mayahuel in these blog pages. We usually don't repeat Current Obsessions like this, but Mayahuel is too special of a place. We even had our team holiday party there a few years ago. 

And sadly, these are the last few weeks you will be able to visit it. Due to difficulties in renewing the lease, Mayahuel is forced to close on August 8. This is a huge blow to the cocktail community and the vibrant East Village neighborhood.

We wish all the employees lots of luck and hope to cross paths with them all again soon. It has been a great run. All this being said, you have until August 8 to celebrate this wonderful bar, taste the amazing cocktails, and share in its love of agave spirits. 

The Where:
Mayahuel
304 East 6th Street
New York, NY 10003

(212) 253-5888
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#MustDo in NY: July 24-July 30, 2017

7/23/2017

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Local Food Stories, Exotic Fruit Tasting, Iced Coffee Tasting, + Rooftop Farm to Pizza

​​​Click on the title for more info.
1 Minute Meals: Stories of Food and Community in New York / Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 6:30-8pm
To welcome a new exhibit by food writer and documentarian James Boo on his 1 Minute Meal series highlighting the stories of NYC's diverse food community, Museum of Food and Drink hosts a screening and panel including Boo and many of his food artisan subjects like Helen You (Dumpling Galaxy) and Denisse Lynn Chavez (El Atoradero)
Znackers Exotic Fruit Tasting/ Friday, July 28, 2017 from 7pm-8pm
Have you ever seen those exotic looking fruits in Chinatown and wondered what they taste like? Here's you chance to do it with the professionals. Delivery service Znackers hosts six tastings of exotic fruits like Cherimoya, Mangosteen, and the inafmous stinky fruit Durian. 
Hester Street Fair's Iced Coffee Competition / Saturday, July 29, 2017 from 11am-6pm
Iced coffee is no longer just leftover drip coffee with ice cubes. Visit Hester Street Fair to sample the creative concoctions of local coffee creators. Everything from cold brew to nitro to a black matte latte with coconut ash. Get amped up and vote on the most impressive caffeine fix.
Roof to Plate Pizza with Eagle Rooftop Farms/ Sunday, July 30, 2017 from 4-6pm
Make your own pizza at Archestratus Books in Greenpoint. But this is not just any pizza making event. You get to use the fresh, hyperlocal ingredients from the nearby Eagle Rooftop Farms. Edible flower pizza, anyone? You can also take the local growing ethic home with you by picking up a copy of farmer Anne Novak's book The Rooftop Growing Guide.
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