Last night was Brooklyn Brewery’s Invitational Release Party for their two newest offerings: Sorachi Ace in 750ml corked bottles (formerly a Brewmaster Reserve Beer) and Buzz Bomb Ale, the newest in the line of draught-only “Brewmaster Reserves”. In addition to the beers themselves, we were also treated to delectable cheeses from Bedford Cheese Shop along with delicious chorizo and barbacoa from The Meat Hook. But onto the reason we were there, the beers!

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I love beer, but some of you may not know I also really love wine.  I write and talk a lot about beer, but I’m also a huge fan of wine, scotch, whiskey, bourbon and tequila.  So let me share with you a photo essay of this epic Beer versus Wine dinner, sponsored by Amanti Vino, which featured Master Sommelier, Fred Dexheimer squaring off against Brewmaster Garrett Oliver.  These two men are very charismatic and appeared to have lots of fun taking little shots and jabs at each other throughout the night.  In my humble opinion and I’m sure that of Garrett Oliver, Beer triumphed once again versus Wine.  Although, I will concede the wine did win at least one of the cheeses.  The best part of it, the wines were just as spectacular as the beer.  If I had the money, I would buy all the wines featured in the dinner, But the breadth of flavors in the beer made Fred’s challenge a difficult one.

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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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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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Last week I had the opportunity to interview Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery.  For those of you who don’t know or haven’t had the pleasure to hear him talk, he is very charismatic with a wealth of beer and culinary knowledge.   In this interview we discuss collaborations, future plans, and sample three beers, bottle re-femented Brooklyner Weisse, Wild 1, and Black Ops.

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