Sunday, August 21, 2011

Brooklyn Brewery and Peter Luger's

On Saturday, 08/20/11, Suzy-QCB and I ventured into Brooklyn for a tour of the Brooklyn Brewery.  The tour itself was about 15-20 minutes long, shorter than most we have been on, and since they are in the middle of a major expansion, the tour was limited to the main section of the brewery.  Regardless, the tour guide was great, and his presentation of the history of brewery, complete with all the trials and tribulation was quite entertaining.  I won't spoil it, so you'll have to go there yourself.

The tour did not include free samples, however, for only $20, you could buy 6 tokens, or you could purchase single tokens for $4.  Each token allowed you to enjoy a 12 oz beer on tap, with "Blast", a 9%ABV Double IPA being the only exception (2 tokens).

Together we sampled 4 beers: EIPA, Brown, Blast, and Radius.  All of the beers were great, but our favorite was "Radius", a Belgian-style session beer.

Before moving on to our dinner and a brief food pairing review, here are some pics from inside of the brewery:







We then moved on to the world-famous Peter Luger's Steak House, voted Best Steak House in NYC 26 years in a row, and regarded as many as the finest Steak House in the world! 

I am not a food critic, nor am I a culinary expert, but Garrett Oliver, the head brewer for Brooklyn Brewery IS.  Here are excerpts from his book, "The Brewmaster's Table" that actually served as the catalyst for this entire trip. 

"Peter Luger's Steakhouse, founded in 1887, is one of the oldest restaurants in NYC, and home to the best steak in the United States. I can hear the protests already, the accusations of chauvinism - but these will be coming only from people who haven't eaten at Peter Luger's.  I was once skeptical myself, I am now a convert....

...Brooklyn Lager is on draft, and our amber lager is the perfect accompaniment to the steak.  Peter Luger's broiler operates at 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, so hot that the surface of the meat caramelizes instantly, leaving the center juicy and red. When the snappy hops cut through the butter (the steak is swimming in it), and the caramel malts meet the steak, you will forget that wine even exists."

After experiencing this first hand, I concur on all counts.  It was easily the best steak I' have ever tasted, and the Brooklyn Lager was absolutely perfect with it!  Absolutely AMAZING!

The Bacon was also very impressive! 









All told, my trip to Brooklyn cost nearly $250, but it was worth every penny, as it was an unforgettable experience!

Brooklyn Lager Review

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