If you are in the Montclair NJ area, check out this beer dinner sponsored by Local Wine & Beer store, Amanti Vino. Amanti Vino has brought in importer Merchant du Vin, responsible for bring the United States such amazing beers as Orval and partnered up with one of the most amazing BBQ spots, Ruthie’s BBQ.

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If you are in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania area on Tuesday April 27th, you don’t want to miss this.  Scott Vaccaro, Owner of Captain Lawrence Brewery and I have selected 5 amazing Captain Lawrence beers which Chef Mike Carrino, Owner of Restaurant Passionné, and I have paired into a spectacular 5 course dinner. 

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After 2 months, we finally had our Beer Blogger Brewoff tasting.  It was amazing the quality and variety of beer made from such a simple 5.5% abv stout.  I applaud Aaron, Derek, Erik, Joseph and Nate for coming through with some very creative and tasty beers. With all our beers brewed, mailed, and ready to be consumed; six of us got together on a Skype conference and had a virtual tasting.  It was extremely cool to share these beers while we were spread all over the country, although it felt like we were all in the same room.

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We are excited to announce Cru Vs Brew – a Wine and Beer Competition Dinner featuring Garrett Oliver (Brooklyn Brewery’s Brewmaster), Fred Dexheimer (Master Sommelier) and Chef Ariane Duarte (CulinAriane and Top Chef).

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The thought had never crossed my mind, pairing beer with spirits.  I’ve had beer aged in all sorts of different types of oak barrels, whiskey, bourbon, scotch, port, and sherry.  Never did I think of having a glass of one with my beer, but that is exactly what Ray Deter, co-owner of d.b.a did.  We met up with Ray at the Williamsburg location to talk beer and sample some of these pairings.

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One of my beer highlights this year was tour of Brooklyn Brewery Garrett Oliver gave Simply Beer in early Dec. We met Garrett around 11 am on a cold New York morning in Williamsburg Brooklyn. After a quick warmup in the offices, he took us on a complete tour of the brewery that lasted over an hour and half. As we entered the main brewery the clanking of bottles echoed throughout the building as we watched 750ml bottles of Black Ops taking their trips trough the bottling line.

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