Funday: Do You Like Piña Coladas?
Let’s see. Today is January 20. What’s going on today? Well, tonight is the Nine Pin Cider 26er event. I’m totally stoked about that. But that’s a private thing for those of us crazy enough to have bought 26 different glasses of Nine Pin Cider over the past year. No joke, right now, my completed 26er card is my single most valuable possession.
For those who aren’t going to the cidery, MopCo has its Friday Night Fringe event out in Schenectady that’s open to anybody with $10 in their pocket in need of a laugh. The Ruck has an astounding Founders Brewing 29 Line Tap Takeover, which looks magnificent if you need to drink enough beer to kill you in a tidal wave of sheer pleasure. And at Shmaltz Brewing the tribe will be celebrating its 3rd Annual IPA Fest, which also looks fantastic if you are into all those hoppy hoppy beers. There’s also the new Friday night pop up that starts tonight at The Cheese Traveler, you know, if your pursuit of pure joy pushes you more in the direction of food than drink.
As far as I can tell, today is a great day. Oh yes it is. Plenty to do. Lots to drink. And laughs to be had. A great day indeed. What could possibly go wrong?
It seems like the perfect time to keep an eye on more great things coming down the road. You know, just in case you were looking for something to live for. I mean, it’s going to be hard to top the fun you’re going to have today. Right? So here’s a collection of news and announcements I’ve been sent in some form or another. And heck, I may include a thing or two just for shits and giggles.
THAT CHEESE TRAVELER THING I WAS JUST TELLING YOU ABOUT
Alpine Night’ Bringing Gourmet Swiss Tradition to Capital Region Nightlife
On Friday, January 20th, The Cheese Traveler will launch Alpine Night, a Friday night pop up event featuring items centered around raclette, a deliciously smooth and decadent melted alpine cheese. A wedge of raclette, whose namesake comes from the French verb racler, meaning to scrape, is melted under a heat lamp and scraped onto savory foods, such as mixed vegetables, meats, and other accompaniments. The Cheese Traveler brings this Swiss tradition to the Capital Region with a fun and flavorful twist featuring menu items like Swiss Nachos (melted raclette over pickle-brined potato chips, local ham, and cornichons) and a build-your-own raclette plate with charcuterie choices ranging from whey-fed Prosciutto di Parma and Pâté to Sopressata. A full selection of wines by the glass and craft beers will round out the night, making this a unique winter experience not to be missed.
DATE: Fridays starting January 20th through March (excluding First Fridays)
TIME: 5pm – 9pm
WHERE: The Cheese Traveler, 540 Delaware Ave. Albany, NY
The tradition of melting and serving raclette cheese began nearly a thousand years ago with cow herds in the Swiss Alps and has survived in modern times in the form of raclette parties that bring together friends and family on cold, winter nights. In food-rich cities such as New York and San Francisco, the raclette tradition has inspired restaurants solely dedicated to the dish. Food lovers have discovered it via Instagram, both liking and sharing videos of the molten cheese being scraped directly from the wheel onto their plates. “We’re essentially combining the best features of our popular summer cookouts with the unforgettable, heartwarming raclette experience and the cheese-centric traditions of the French and Swiss Alps,” said owner Eric Paul.
About The Cheese Traveler
Now in its fifth year, The Cheese Traveler is a European-style cheese and specialty grocery shop located in Albany. Featuring hand-selected cheeses and charcuterie from around the world, craft beer and cider, specialty ingredients, local meats, and gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, the shop has become a go-to for local chefs and foodies. The Cheese Traveler is an independently owned small business.
To learn more visit: thecheesetraveler.com, or call us at (518) 703-0092.
FROM THE OLD NEWS FILE…
Hamlet & Ghost cocktail bar to re-open Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 5 p.m.
Full bar and light food menu available while fire restoration continues
(January 10, 2017; Saratoga Springs, NY) – Saratoga Springs cocktail bar Hamlet & Ghost will re-open most of its 24 Caroline Street location on Thursday evening, January 12 at 5 p.m. The bar’s complete beverage and cocktail menu will be available, complemented by a limited food menu of cheese and cured meat. The bar’s kitchen area remains closed and under re-construction.
A Thanksgiving Day fire that started at the adjoining restaurant Mio Posto in downtown Saratoga Springs affected several buildings on Caroline and Putnam streets. The smoke and water damage at Hamlet & Ghost, located at the intersection of those two streets, has resulted in the bar being closed for repairs since the fire.
“After the December 12th demolition of 26 Caroline Street, which sustained substantial fire damage, we found some of the rafters in our kitchen and a wall needed to be re-built. That area is still under repair, so our usual kitchen is closed. In the meantime, chef Colin Murphy has created some delicious pairings of cheese and meat, drawing on traditional tavern fare, that customers will enjoy,” notes Hamlet & Ghost co-owner and lead bartender Brendan Dillon.
Located in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs, Hamlet & Ghost’s building was once a flour, feed and grain shop in the 1870s. The Thanksgiving fire was the second time in 2016 that the new bar had to close: a burst water pipe in a neighboring apartment last February closed the bar for a few weeks less than a month after it had opened.
Hamlet & Ghost does not yet have a projected date when its kitchen will re-open. Additional information is on http://www.hamletandghost.com and on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
AN EMAIL FROM TABLE 41 BREWING
So I was going to copy and paste the email the brewery sent earlier this week, but then I noticed that it had a legal statement at the bottom that said, “This e-mail, including any attachments is the property of Trinity Health and is intended for the sole use of the intended recipient(s). It may contain information that is privileged and confidential. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, or distribution is prohibited.”
I have no idea who Trinity Health is, or what they have to do with Table 41. But the email explicitly asked me to share this link: gofundme.com/table-41-brewing-company-taproom What’s interesting is that I’m told they aren’t asking for donations, only to pass the word around that they exist and make beer.
So as far as I can tell, my work here is done.
AN UPDATE FROM FIN – YOUR FISHMONGER
Your favorite fishmonger has a wine and beer license!
Now, when you come in for your oyster platter, tacos, fish and chips or smoky brown sugar salmon, you can have a little shprtiz to go with. Or, you can take it to go. Nice!
We’re simply waiting for the state to recognize that our business is not located at our home address (as it was when we started waaayy back when). Should be good to go this week. Are there beers and wines you’d like to see us offer?
THE CITY BEER HALL ANNOUNCES ITS NEXT WILD GAME NIGHT
We are very excited to announce the return of Wild Game Night! Join us [Monday, February 20 at 6pm] in welcoming two of New York State’s finest breweries, Finback and Rushing Duck, to an evening of food pairings, fantastic beers and craft comradery.
Chefs Dimitrios and Ian will be preparing a five course paired menu featuring off the beaten path proteins and culinary creations the likes of which you have never seen.
Stay tuned for the release of a full food and beer menu in the coming weeks.
Tickets are required for this event, are $70 including tax and gratuity and can be purchased at the City Beer Hall.
We look forward to celebrating this fantastic evening of food and beer with you. Cheers!
JOSH COLETTO IS COOKING A FANCY VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER
Ten Broeck Mansion is pleased to host our annual Valentine’s Dinner on Tuesday, February 14, at 6:00pm.
Dine in the elegant parlors of the 1798 Ten Broeck Mansion and enjoy a 6-course meal prepared by Chef Josh Coletto. Treat your partner to a unique and romantic experience unlike any other!
$150 per couple, $130 per couple for ACHA members. Prices are all inclusive (6-course meal, sparkling aperitif, two glasses of wine/beer, tax, and tip). Limited seating available and advanced reservations required. For menu options and to purchase your tickets today visit our website at http://www.tenbroeckmansion.org or call 518-436-9826.
See the full menu here.
SHMALTZ BREWING COMPANY REVEALS ITS BRAND NEW VARIETY PACK: HOP ORGY
Because 3-Ways are for Wine Drinkers.
Clifton Park, NY — Thursday, January 19, 2017 — We’re still not really sure how it all went down. Everything was kind of a blur. Someone called someone’s package out and demanded some immediate action. Tentative whispers and coy glances turned into giggles and playful suggestions. Suddenly, Shmaltz Brewing Company realized it was on — and everyone on staff jumped in to make it happen. The sweet rush of creation with a burst of hands crafting a symphony of elements. Shmaltz welcomes you to experience Hop Orgy, a fresh new variety 12-pack filled with Hop Manna® IPA, Hop Momma IPA®, Hop Mania Imperial IPA®, and the brand new Hop Orgy IPA®.
Delights for all the senses — enticing aromas, flavors to feed thirsty mouths, and lush images to tantalize the eyes. A tactile and imaginative feast! After the commotion was all over, there may have been some awkward flushed looks but never tears or accusations. Everyone played their role and everyone had a great time doing it. No regrets — just the mutual feeling of group satisfaction in achieving the pleasure of another scrumptious Shmaltz Brewing creation.
Joining the brewery’s beloved every day IPA and Gold medal winner at the World Beer Championships, Hop MANNA®, the Hop Orgy variety pack also includes the irresistible Gold medal winner (World Beer Championships) Hop Momma IPA®, the Silver medal winner (World Beer Championships) Hop Mania Imperial IPA®, and the namesake Hop Orgy IPA®. In stores nationwide starting on January 19, Hop Orgy is every hophead’s dream with its indisputable indulgence of hops.
Twelve beers — four distinct IPAs — no one gets left out. The Hop Orgy variety pack beers are:
Hop Orgy (6% ABV): A copper/gold light-bodied IPA, bursting with luscious, aromatic fruit notes of the tropics and citrus notes accented by pine and cedar characters.
Hop Manna® (65 IBUs, 6.8% ABV): Shmaltz’s flagship, World Beer Championship Gold Medal winning IPA. Dry-hopped with Centennial, Cascade and Citra for a fruity aroma with lively floral and citrus flavors. Shmaltz’s first-ever single IPA, Hop MANNA® offers session after session of hop nourishment from the Shmaltz Tribe to yours. Hop MANNA® is now available in new 4-packs, in addition to 22-ounce bottles, draft, and nestled inside the Hop Orgy variety pack.
Hop Momma® (5.8% ABV): A session-ish IPA brewed with peach, apricot and Habanero pepper. Fruity hops accentuate the added flavors, making this Momma fresh and juicy with a subtle pepper kick.
Hop Mania Imperial IPA® (7.8% ABV): An Imperial IPA that’s dry-hopped with more Centennial, Cascade and Citra hops. Adding manic amounts of hops and playing up the malts throughout the brewing process gives Hop Mania Imperial IPA® a complex character and heady aroma. While the 7.8% ABV gives this beer strength, the mouthfeel is deceptively smooth. Hopheads rejoice — Manna has gone Mania!
“We took the perfect IPA recipe for Hop Manna and really wanted to experiment with the same base hops and malts to create three beers with new characters and a way to reinvent the experience for IPA drinkers,” says Richie Saunders, Head Brewer at Shmaltz Brewing. “I love the versatility of the hops in Hop Manna. Adding Amarillo and Citra later in the boil really boosts the peach and apricot flavors for Hop Momma IPA. Increasing the Centennial in the dry-hop for Hop Mania makes that beer more of an old style IPA. It’s super bright and tasty.”
Hop Orgy variety pack rolls out this month to all 35 states within Shmaltz’s distribution network. To find a wholesaler near you, please visit http://shmaltzbrewing.com/distributors
About Shmaltz Brewing Company
Founder and owner Jeremy Cowan established Shmaltz Brewing in San Francisco in 1996. The first 100 cases of He’brew Beer® were hand-bottled and delivered throughout the Bay Area from the back of his Grandmother’s Volvo. Shmaltz Brewing now sells He’brew Beer across 35 states, through 40 wholesalers and in nearly 5,000 retailers.
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