$10 Tuesday Tasting- East Coast IPAs

This week's $10 Tuesday Tasting featured a selection of six East Coast IPAs: Greenport Harbor Disorient IPA (NY, 6.2%), Sixpoint Bengali Tiger (Brooklyn, 6.8%), Heavy Seas Loose Cannon (MD, 7.25%), Smuttynose Big A IPA (NH, 9.2%), Stoudt's Double IPA (PA, 10.6%), and Southern Tier Oak-Aged Unearthy (NY, 11%). Crowd favorites included the Smuttynose Big A IPA and the Southern Tier. Be sure to check out next week's tasting to try some West Coast IPAs!

Meatopia A Huge Success!

Thanks so much to everyone who came to Meatopia on Governor's Island yesterday! We had a great time eating delicious food and drinking the absolutely fantastic Sixpoint Signal! We'll be serving the Signal on draft this Tuesday night, so be sure to stop by and sample our very special July Good Beer Month brew!

Check out some photos from our friends at Metromix below and by following this link.

Six-Point "Secret" Meatopia Beer

Yesterday, the owners of some of the Good Beer Seal bars stopped by Six Point to brew the very special smoked "Meatopia" beer. Ray from d.b.a., Patrick from Rattle'n'Hum, and Jimmy and Chris from Jimmy's No. 43 were there, joined by Rebecca from Working Class Foodies and Walker from Edible New York. They were lucky enough to see Cathy Erway working on her rooftop garden, and she prepared a delicious lunch for them after the brewing session. Check them out below stirring the mash!

Vegetarian Beer Dinner

Gerry Visco, of NY Press fame, came down to last week's Vegetarian Beer Dinner at Jimmy's No. 43 and was kind enough to write about it. She also took some pictures. Five vegetarian plates were accompanied by five Sixpoint beers. It just goes to show that eating well goes hand in hand with drinking well!

January 20 Vegetarian Beer Dinner with Sixpoint Craft Ales' Shane Welch

When Shane Welch of Sixpoint Craft Ales asked to host a beer dinner at Jimmy's No. 43, we weren't very surprised when he begged off the bacon and steered us to a vegetarian menu. The vegetarian dishes will be simple- 5 courses paired with 5 Sixpoint Beers (prix fixe $45.00/ per person). We are flexible about many things- including beer dinners- so an a la carte menu will be available as well, including several meat, sausage, and bacon dishes should you so desire. To whet your appetite take a look at what we have been working on for this event (Wednesday, January 20, 6:00- 10:00 PM):

Braised cabbage and carrots with local polenta;
Smoked herring on toast with onion/dill relish;
Winter squash gnocchi, sage, aged cows milk cheese;
Shushan snow sheep's milk camembert, baked apple;
Bread pudding w/ hazelnuts, six point otis reduction

Here is a brief interview with Shane:

What is it about beer (your beer in particular) that makes it so very food friendly?

The range of esters, varietals of hop strains, and depths of malts in craft beers create a vast and diverse spectrum of flavors to work with. Our beer, in particular, has a signature yeast profile that tends to be an all-purpose suitor for good food.

Do you have a secret or house style of yeasts or malt?

Yes, we use unorthodox and uncommon ingredients, which distinguishes our beer from most others. Just like most breads/beverages/food on the market, most beers use the same yeast strain and same basic ingredients, and that is why a lot of them taste the same. Craft beers, of course, are the exception.

If you weren't making beer in NYC, where would you make beer?

In Amsterdam. And in my basement or garage.

Recently, I tasted the Brownstone on Martha Stewart Radio / Whole Living. It stole the show! Enough said? We also tasted several Belgian Dubbels... at 10am!

Belgian Dubbels are best at 10am. And they go really well with bananas for some reason...

Honey Swap

October is the month for harvest, and honey is an important local product. That is why Jimmy's No. 43 is pairing up with one of our favorite organizations, Just Food, for a Honey Swap.

On Thursday, October 29 from 7:00 - 9:00 PM, guests will be treated to samples of different, local honeys. $8.00 to taste, plus enjoy a screening of The Hidden Hives Tour, a documentary about NYC's local bee hives. In addition, try some local meads and beers from Redstone Meadery and Sixpoint Craft Ales.

Came for Cassoulet, Stayed for Choucroute Garni

Our chef does make a classic cassoulet with flageolet beans and duck confit, but only from time to time. I would order the Choucroute Garni, that features two sausages, a slice of roast pork (all local, farm raised meat), with accoutrements. Then wash it down with a nice pint of Sixpoint Mason's Black Wheat

Love cassoulet? So does this fellow at The Kitchen Files.

Jimmy's No. 43 is American!

All this talk about Abe Lincoln and our new president makes me proud to say that Jimmy's No. 43 is American. The new chef is from Virginia and he has brought solid American food to the menu: pulled pork, with brussels sprouts and pecans; shrimp and grits, with hickory bacon, scallions; are 2 main dishes that are tasty and familiar. Even in the middle of winter, all of our meat and dairy is from small farms making our ingredients better than ever. And the beer? From Green Flash (San Diego) to Sixpoint (Brooklyn), I can proudly say that I like American beer, too!

We Know Beer

Recently, The New York Times published an article about Brooklyn breweries including one of our favorites- Sixpoint Craft Ales. The New York Times reports that, "Its (Sixpoint) beers are a staple at beer lovers’ haunts like Barcade in Williamsburg and Jimmy’s No. 43 in the East Village."

That is most certainly true. We are proud to pour Sixpoint, but what if you don't know which beer will suit your tasty entree? Where can you go to find beer pairings to delight your palate? A query was posted on Chowhound just the other day: "Is there a restaurant that offers beer pairings with the menu?" Luckily, Jimmy's No. 43 is a good spot for an informal pairing, just ask for Jimmy!

Jimmy's Brewhaha!

Tuesday, October 14th, Six Point Craft Ale's will be in the house at Jimmy's No. 43!

We will feature several of their limited beers on draft, offer an a la carte and appetizer menu of beer friendly dishes, and showcase all things local.

Tuesday, October 14th 6pm-11pm reservations accepted, walk-ins welcome, a la carte prices.

Bacon Tasting Reviews

I like to share a good thing, whether it be good food or a person who knows good food and can share that knowledge with others. That's what the tastings at Jimmy's No. 43 are all about. One of my favorite tastings is the Bacon and Beer Tasting guided by Josh Ozersky, aka "Mr. Cutlets". Who can resist the succulent flavors of smoky, crisp bacon? Few can deny the allure of a fine bacon paired with a good beer.

Case in point, Mary Izett wrote in great detail about last year's bacon tasting. Bust Magazine has a blog that featured the Bacon and Beer Tasting that took place just last week.

In addition to several beer selections from Sixpoint Craft Ales, last week's tasting featured bacons from Oscar Mayer (USA), Flying Pig Farm (NY state), Violet Hill Farm (NY state), Nodine's (Connecticut) and Benton's (Tennessee).

Enjoy the bacon tasting reviews then go to the greenmarket, talk to the farmers, buy bacon!

Bacon and Beer Tasting Tonight

The Strong Buzz recommends tonight's (September 8) Bacon and Beer Tasting at Jimmy's No. 43. Tonight's tasting features some of the finest bacons paired with select Sixpoint Craft Ales and will be hosted by Grub Street's Josh Ozersky, aka "Mr. Cutlets". Two seatings are available- 6:30 and 8:30. Event tickets and further information are available at www.jimmysno43.com.

Bacon and Beer Tasting

If you haven't been introduced to Brooklyn's Sixpoint Craft Ales, it is important to get down to the fundamentals. Recently I had an opportunity to talk with Sixpoint Craft Ales brewmaster Shane Welch in anticipation of the upcoming Bacon and Beer Tasting at Jimmy's No. 43:

What flavor profile is Sixpoint aiming for?

We aim to scratch that itch in the middle of your back that has been nagging you for years.

If I had never tried Sixpoint, which beer would you suggest I try?

If you prefer blondes, Sweet Action. If you like dark features, the Brownstone.

What limited Sixpoint beers will be available the beginning of September?

We have a Belgian Strong Ale coming out brand new release, hoppy, spicy, and brewed with fresh coriander. Also look for a couple other goodies currently in the works….

How do make the Gorilla Porter so flavorful??

Its a team effort. Youll have to consult our allies over at Gorilla Coffee.

Jimmy's No. 43 will be hosting a Bacon and Beer Tasting Monday September 8. Food writer and meat aficionado Josh Ozersky will talk about the bacons, and Sixpoint Craft Ales will be the featured beers. For more information visit Jimmysno43.com.

Bacon Trends

Recently, New York Post writer, Carla Spartos, wrote an article about 80's food trends that have made a comeback for the new millennium. At Jimmy's No. 43, bacon has a much deserved place of honor on the menu which did not go unnoticed by Ms Spartos who mentioned "The Slab" in her article.

The Slab is a generous portion of Benton's smoked bacon with ice wine vinegar.

On Monday September 8, Jimmy's No. 43 will be hosting a bacon tasting which will artisanal bacons with beers from Brooklyn's Sixpoint Craft Ales. For more information visit Jimmysno43.com.

Dark Beers for Summer?

Last month a few writers had asked me to list my favorite summer beers. Of course, I suggested wheat, pilsner, kolsch, blondes... there are so many great, refreshing lighter style beers that people identify with summer. I surprised myself, though. After a long night of cooking on the line, I often turned to dark beers over light. A few of my favorites: Sixpoint Gorilla Warfare Coffee Porter which is like a dry finish iced espresso, Wintercoat Cockney Stout- very dry, extracted and extremely limited. I also enjoy German schwartzbiers like Monschof or Kostritzer, the famed black pilsner.

Summer. Sixpoint. I've been a huge fan of Brooklyn's Sixpoint Craft Ales since they started brewing in 2005. Jimmy's No. 43 always has at least one Sixpoint on draft, often more. This week we feature three: Bengali Tiger -a 1900 style IPA, Emasculator Doppel Bock- Germanic, dry finish, caramel, Gorilla Warfare Porter- 1 shot of Gorrilla espresso per pint, and coming this weekend is the Hop Obama All American Pale Ale!! Let's see how it sells....