Pub Crawl NYC visited the New Belgium Brewery and Odell Brewery in Fort Collins (a detailed take on each one forthcoming). We did not have enough time during our visit to see additional breweries, so we’ll have to return to Fort Collins to see the other dozen or so. But, we learned one interesting fact that sets some of these Fort Collins craft breweries apart from their East Coast brethren: The Fort Collins ones are open nearly everyday of the week and for at least eight hours each day. And, visitors can spend as much or as little time as they would like in the breweries’ tasting rooms. These breweries are almost like Napa/Sonoma wineries, in that regard. Most craft breweries on the East Coast are open to the public a day or two (usually only on weekends) and get the visitors in and out in a fairly quick fashion. Space is likely part of equation here. Most craft breweries on the East Coast don’t have much room for a large tasting room. Furthermore, to this Northeast native, life in Fort Collins is much more laid back compared to most East Coast and Northeast cities. What are your thoughts on this, why do you think Fort Collins’ breweries seem more welcoming and accommodating to their visitors?
Where to bar crawl in NYC this weekend?
Pub Crawl NYC is very excited. This will be the first weekend in four that we are back in town and able to bar hop around the five boroughs. We do not have a set itinerary as of yet, so we are open to suggestions. Where do you think we need to crawl this weekend? Please share your thoughts!
Back in NYC!
After spending nearly a week in Colorado, Pub Crawl NYC has returned home and is eager to get back to bar hopping around the five boroughs. While we are bar crawling around NYC over the next several days, we’ll also share a few highlights from our visit to Denver and Fort Collins. Please check back frequently for our take on the Denver and Fort Collins bar scene.
Pub Crawl NYC visits The Penrose on Manhattan's Upper East Side
After Pitch & Fork, we headed to The Penrose, located at 1590 Second Avenue (between 82nd and 83rd Streets). The Penrose is another gastropub, that is more bar than restaurant. The Penrose is owned by the same group as the downtown spot, The Wren. Spacious spot with two bar areas. About a dozen quality tap beers, The Penrose is on the cusp of being part of the Upper East Side craft-beer focused NYC bar crawl.
Pub Crawl NYC visits Pitch & Fork on Manhattan's Upper East Side
On a recent weekend evening, Pub Crawl NYC visited Pitch & Fork as well as The Penrose.
More restaurant than bar, Pitch & Fork is a gastropub, located at 1606 First Avenue (between 83rd and 84th Streets). Eight mostly-quality tap beers. Try the meat & cheese platter!
Check back later this week for our brief take on The Penrose!
A roadtrip upcoming for Pub Crawl NYC
We’ll be spending a few days in Denver and Fort Collins, CO. Can you recommend some must-see bars in those two cities, craft-beer focused or otherwise?
Pub Crawl NYC visits the Mayflower Brewery in Plymouth, MA
On a recent weekend trip to Cape Cod, Pub Crawl NYC decided it was worth a small detour north to Plymouth, MA and the Mayflower Brewery. Mayflower, which started in 2008, has four year-round offerings, along with one or two seasonals. The IPA is our favorite. Here are some pictures of our visit. Tasting hours and tours are available on Saturdays, 11am – 3pm. No reservation required.
Great time, friendly staff. The next time you find yourself in or near Plymouth, MA, the Mayflower brewery is worth a visit.
Pub Crawl NYC's review of Swine in Manhattan's West Village
From the people behind Bourgeois Pig and Spotted Pig comes Swine, a bi-level spot located at 531 Hudson Street (near Charles Street, in the old Ruby Fruit B&G location). Bar upstairs has some small tables to dine, while most of the dining takes place downstairs. Pub Crawl NYC visited on a recent Thursday night and our primary takeaway would be how ridiculously crowded (and loud) the place was. The wine and beer selection is solid and the food was pretty good, but this is not a place to come if you want to have a reasonable quiet drink or dinner. The place was so crowded that the party at the table next to us had one of their wine glasses knocked to the floor because one of the standing patrons was so close to their table, he accidentally knocked the wineglass over. As expected, due to the crowded space, the service was slow, even though the staff was friendly. Maybe a return trip is worthwhile when the place is not so busy, but with so many other bars to explore in the five boroughs, Pub Crawl NYC is unlikely to return to Swine.
No pub crawling in NYC this weekend
Pub Crawl NYC must leave town this weekend, so there won’t be any bar explorations around the five boroughs. It’s a short trip, so we’ll be back at it early next week. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.
Should children, properly supervised, be allowed into certain bars during daytime hours?
Greenwood Park, the new beergarden at the southern edge of Brooklyn’s Park Slope, has been the subject of a minor controversy around its policy of allowing children into the bar with their parents. A recent New York Times article details the issue. In short, some parents from the nabe like to bring their youngsters to the establishment, while other patrons don’t care for the children’s presence. This issue has happened before at other bars in the immediate area and in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn; Greenwood Park just being the latest such example.
On a recent Sunday afternoon visit, Pub Crawl NYC did not see a single child at the establishment. Perhaps this had to do with the weather, it was very hot and humid and probably not good for children being out in the sun for extended periods of time. We look forward to a return visit as Greenwood Park is a great spot and one of the few spacious outdoor drinking areas in Park Slope. But, if some patrons are particularly annoyed at the sight of children, they can go somewhere else. There are at least 60 other bars in Park Slope (and Pub Crawl NYC has visited almost all of them!).
Within reason, should children, properly supervised, be allowed into certain bars during daytime hours? Please share your thoughts with us.