Welcome to the Craft Beer Revolution - photo by Sarah Postma

New York City’s craft beer community was out in full force yesterday as Tampa Bay’s Cigar City Brewery took over a commanding 20+ lines at Rattle N Hum Bar. The young brewery unleashed just about all their known beers from standards such as Jai Alai IPA and Maduro Brown to rare offering from their Humidor and Wood Aged Series.

A table of the finest

From the Creamsicle IPA to the Bourbon Barrel Aged Hunahpu’s Imperial Stout, our crew made a valiant effort to try the entire list tap list and even went as far as to “borrow” sips from nearby patrons when available. My personal favorite by far from the evening was Brandy Barrel Winter Warmer, a variation of their Winter Warmer Old Ale aged in apple brandy barrels. The result was a warm and distinguished sipping beer with hints of oak and Calvados on top of a sweet toffee and chocolate malt back and a nice rye body. Combined with a dry finish, there was a level of complexity here found is some of the finest ales I have tried.

Joe Postma (@jpostma)

Also notable was the Humidor Series Maduro Oatmeal Brown which carried a heavy dose of ashy, cigar box notes from its cedar aging. These flavors notes married nicely with with the toasted chocolate body of Cigar City’s standard Maduro and provided a unique alternative to the abundance of oak aged beers available today. Other table favorites included their roasted, slightly bitter coffee brown, the Cubano Espresso Maduro. As well as the hopped up Flora IPA

Lee Williams (@hoptopia)

Overall, this was an incredibly impressive showing from a brewery that is yet to celebrate its one-year anniversary. It was also a testament to the range of flavors that the Cigar City brewmasters can accomplish by aging and modifying their four base recipies. Unfinished kegs should be on tap for the rest of the week and if you couldn’t make it out to the should-to-shoulder release event then I recommend you swing by soon and give them a try as these beers soon as they will not be returning to New York any time soon.

Brew List - Photo by Sarah Postma

For more great shots by Sarah, check out her website at www.sarahpostma.com

I spend a lot of time at Rattle n Hum (a lot of time). Often the home of my weekly @boozeytuesday outing, within a year they have quickly gained respect as one of the best craft beer bars in New York City and – yeah, I’ll say it – the best beer bar in midtown Manhattan. As the year wraps up, 2010 is looking like a big year for the crew over on 33rd Stree. Here’s an abridged update to their update. Look for lots of these events on our NYC beer events calendar soon and check their blog for more details:

R’N'H Beer Clubs
Simply drink through 40 different types of beer in a month to get into Rattle n Hum’s new Mug Club. You’ll get a mug with your name engraved on it, $1 off beers for the rest of the year, and access to special brews throughout the year. My mug club adventure is set to start January 5th. If anyone wants to get down with a group Mug Club adventure then let me know.

Beer Miles Program Update
New Beer Miles cards are in (hopefully including mine) and these work just like frequent flyers. Get 50 miles for each beer you drink and then redeem them for free stuff throughout the year. Sign up with a waitress or bartender and get something back for growing that winter beer belly.

New Food Menu
The mythical new food menu will be up in a week or two. Hopefully those battered shrimp will finally make an appearance I can finally get chili and cheese on my fries!

Upcoming Events
Here’s what’s happening over the next few months at Rattle N Hum

December 31st – New Years Eve bash
January 5th – Bluepoint Night
January 12th – Goose Island Night (meet Greg on the 13th)
January 19th – King Of Kings County (Brooklyn v Kelso v Sixpoint)
January 26th – Weyerbacher Night
February 2nd – Otter Creek & Wolavers Relaunch Party
February 9th – A very special Brewery arrives!!
February 16th – Start of Sour week!
February 23rd – Magic Hat Night
March 1st – Belgian Week Starts
March 9th – Erie Brewery Week
March 17th – St. Paddy’s Day!
March 23rd – Dick’s Brewery Week

MONDAY 12/14 – SWIFT’s 14th ANNIVERSARY PARTY

Why you should go
With 14 holiday beers on tap, this is a great chance to try out the perfect beverage for your winter feast.

What you should drink
Captain Lawrence Nor-Easter is on tap and this is a very limited release. Triple fermented in bourbon barrels with elderberrys, its a very complicated brew worth a try.

Also
Sierra/Dogfish Life and Limb, The Bruery Two Turtle Doves, and Mikkeller’s Santa’s Little Helper are all some of my favorites worth a try.

Where
Swift Hibernian Lounge, 34 East 4th St

TUESDAY 12/15 – EXTREME WINTER BEERS

Why you should go
If 14 winter brews was not enough then hit up Rattle n Hum for 40+ winter brews on tap.

What you should drink
Monk’s Blood. A suprisingly drinkable complex dark belgian ale from 21st Amendment. This one is occasionally around in can’s and is a great try on tap.

Also
Most of the Swifts list is there plus Rogue Santas Private Reserve, Southern Tier Old Man Winter, and – for variety – Allagash Grand Cru which is my belgian tripel of the minute.

Where
Rattle ‘N’ Hum 14 East 33rd St off Madison

ALSO TUESDAY  – FLYING DOG NIGHT AT PONY BAR

Why you should go
Maybe giant alcohol holday beers are not your bag? Then check out the Great American Beer Festival’s Mid-sized brewery of the yearh, Flying Dog, who will take over a dozen or so tap lines tonight.

What you should drink
Gonzo Imperial Porter is one of the best porters being made right now. A great example of a classic style that does not get enough love.

Also
Horn Dog just won Barley Wine of the year. Find out why as they tap an ‘07 vintage today. Also, the 20th Anniversary Raging Bitch Belgian IPA will be on tap which is an nice american belgian.

Where
Pony Bar 45th St & 10th Avenue

THURSDAY 12/17 – STONE-BREWDIG BASGAH TAPPING

Why you should go
This is one rare a$$ keg of a rare a$$ style. Bashah is a collab between Cali’s Stone Brewery and Scotland’s Brewdog. Both are known for pushing beer styles and they’ve come up with a Black, belgian, double IPA. Find out just what that means tonight which is probably the only time you will ever see this beer on tap again.

Where
Bar Great Harry Smith Street and Sackett

ALSO THURSDAY – WINTER BEER NIGHT

Why you should go
Barcade pops the cork on 20+ kegs of winter beers. Some nice rare treats to be had and all the tapper-playing you can handle

What you should drink
Nectar Black Xantus is a hefty imperial porter. Coffee-infused and bourbon-barrel-aged, this recipe took 4 years to perfect and tonight is a great chance to try it if you don’t want to break the bank and spend $22 at Bierkraft from the 22oz.

Also
First NYC tapping of Climax doppelbock, vintage tappings of Brooklyn Monster (2007) and Captain  Lawrence Nor’Easter (2008) and a strong belgian Lectio Du Chene from one of my favorite breweries of the year, Florida’s St. Somewhere

Where
Barcade Union St. and Powers St)