2nd Annual Spring Craft
Beer Festival The 2nd Annual Spring Craft Beer Festival was held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, March 29, 2008. This festival is a beer enthusiast’s dream with tastings from some of the best breweries in the country. A percentage of the proceeds from the event are distributed to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (below), The New York State Brewers’ Association, in addition to a food drive for Long Island Cares. Lining the walls of the exhibition hall of the Coliseum are exhibitors and brewers prepared to teach guests about their popular or special brews. Each attendee participating was presented a souvenir cup to use for the tastings as they entered the event. As we made our way to each of the tables we took notice that not only were local breweries invited, but also, some of the bigger named companies known by many were in attendance.
Among the better-known brewers was the Boston Beer Company (below left) serving its famous Samuel Adams in eight varieties. Ranging from two traditional brews, the Boston Lager and Ale, to the well-known seasonal Summer Ale. We asked for something special since these familiar flavors are often seen everywhere. The energetic young lady serving that evening excitedly told us about a blend of two brews, Cream Stout and Cherry Wheat, which they have dubbed the "Cherry Bomb." This dark fusion has a distinct cherry scent similar to a cherry cola. It is a little heavy to the taste, with strong flavors of cherry and a finish of chocolate. Another popular name in beer is the Magic Hat Brewing
Company (below right). This Vermont brewery is known for its leading seller, Number 9, “not quite pale ale." I was able to sample the brand new IPA, Lucky Kat that will eventually be replacing Fat Angel. The ale has a few aromas - peppery, fruity, and a bit of citrus could be detected. The taste has a good balance of malt to hops and has a hint of citrus with a strong hop finish. It reminds me of a mixture of their Number 9 and hIPA.
The Blue Point Brewery located in Patchogue, Long Island, also attended the event. They brought a keg truck with protruding taps on the exterior. The well-known Blueberry Ale is a thin bodied, fruity beer with a light taste and is a perfect pick for those not terribly fond of the bitter taste of hops. It has a strong blueberry scent and taste throughout the entire glass and is pleasantly easy to drink. If you happen to be a fan of “hoppy,” the Hoptical Illusion would better suit you. The intensity of this complex beer makes it an overall interesting choice that will no doubt awaken your taste buds. It starts off fruity yet has a generally hoppy composition. As a special treat I was able to taste No Apologies, a double IPA that is no longer brewed. There is a blast of flavor in the first taste including intense hops, a little pine and strong citrus with an aroma equally as complex. A recent newcomer to the brew scene is Crop Circle (below left) serving their Extraterrestri-Ale. The ale is made from a rich complex barley harvested exclusively from England’s most enchanted crop circle fields. The medium bodied ale has a slightly red pour. The aroma is light and nutty with a tingling, spicy, taste and a subtle malt finish. This close encounter of the beer kind was definitely “out of this world!”
Although most of the exhibiting vendors were beer related, one company had a special treat for those guests who were not only fond of brews but also looking for something more. The Long Island Meadery (above right) brought a few flavors to please the palette of those curious to try something different. If you are a fan of sweet I would suggest the Pear Cyser. The crisp flavor would be wonderful on a summer day while relaxing by the pool, or even paired with a spicy dish. If you are not too fond of sweet beverages, I would suggest the Black Raspberry, which is slightly dry with a rich flavor. The stand out happened to be the buttery Vanilla mead. It had an incredible fragrance and an equally delicious taste that would pair perfectly with any dessert. Overall, the event was enjoyable and informative for beer enthusiasts interested in learning about new and interesting brews, as well as, revisiting some of their favorites. If you missed this unique beer lovers’ event, be certain to mark your calendars for August 9, 2008, for the North Fork Craft Beer Festival, and this time there will also be wine and BBQ! For
more info about the North Fork Craft Beer Festival Please Visit |
