Bronx Ale House

I happened to be in New York City's northern-most borough the other day and decided to stop into the Bronx  Ale House for lunch. The "Rogue" neon sign seemed to just draw me to the place.  This small bar is located on 238th Street about 2 blocks from Manhattan College and Van Cortlandt Park.  I had heard that they have a solid selection of craft beers on tap and I was not misled. 

The dart boards and fireplace give this bar a homey feel.  I could envision patrons coming in out of the cold in December and warmimg up with a pint next to the fire.  Steve, the bartender, told me that they are starting to build clientele in the neighborhood, but people will get off the nearby subway stop from all parts of the city for their beer.

Steve has a solid knowledge of craft beers and this AP English teacher eloquently described the characteristics of each beer I sampled. I told him that currently I’m drinking a lot of dark ales so he started me with a sample of Ommegang Abbey Ale.  This Belgian style ale had a delightful spicy aftertaste, but at 9% ABV, I thought it might be a little strong for midday.  Next, I tried Founders Porter which had a smooth, woody taste and a 6% ABV.  Finally, I enjoyed the malty sweetness of a 21st Amendment Back in Black Ale (6.8%%).  I settled on the porter with lunch but filled a growler of 21st Amendment to take home. 

There is something about the taste of dark malty ale that really appeals to me. These beers seem to have more depth to them.  Sometimes they fill me up like I just had a good meal. I know that many people like to save these darker, "heavier" beers for the cold weather, but I find  they are great any time of year. 

My lunch consisted of burger sliders (they also serve chicken sliders) and fries.  The Bronx Ale house even makes their own ketchup that had a tangy BBQ sauce flavor to it. The whole thing, growler included (I brought my own), cost me less than $25.  Where else can you get that much satisfaction in NYC for $25?  Don’t say it!

So if you are in “Da Bronx” any time soon, check them out and take a growler to go.  If you're a fan of The Bronx Ale House, leave a comment here about what you like most about BAH.

Beer Chili

Irene passed through and dropped about 10 inches of rain in this part of New York.  The sun came out around noon but the winds were still gusting up to 50 MPH.

With trees down and the roads flooded in areas, it’s a good day to stay inside and cook a good meal.  It’s not getting cool yet, but it feels like a chili day. 

This chili recipe calls for . . .  you guessed it: beer.  But remember folks, your chili is only as good as your ingredients.  Why put in top grade chopped meat, fresh peppers and a mediocre beer. So for this batch I chose an Ellie’s  Brown Ale by Avery Brewing Co.  This is a malty beer with just a hint of spice.  A perfect complement to tangy jalopenos and garlic.

Ingredients:

2 lbs chopped meat

3 cans black beans

3 cans white beans

2 16 oz cans crushed tomatoes

2 8 oz. cans tomato sauce

1 6 oz. can tomato paste

2 Tbs Chili powder

1Tbs Cumin

1 Tsp Cinnamon

2 cloves of garlic pressed

1 onion chopped fine

1 yellow pepper

1 jalapeno pepper

1 Tbs Honey

6 oz.  craft beer

1.         Dice onion and peppers. Press garlic and let sit for 10 minutes.   After garlic is crushed it produces cancer fighting chemicals.  Letting it sit before cooking allows more of the anti-carcinogens to be released.

2.         Sautee onions, peppers and garlic in olive oil until translucent.

3.         Brown chopped meat in large skillet and drain

4.         Add meat, beans, peppers, garlic and spices to large pot and bring to a boil.    Let simmer for 1-2 hours stirring regularly.

5.         Pour half a craft beer into the pot and the other half into a chilled glass. 

6.         Add honey to cut the acidity of the tomato sauce

7.         Serve with corn bread and sour cream

8.         Open another Ellie's.  Half a beer is never enough to go with chili.

Hurricane? Irene

“What smells down there?” My wife calls down to our 2 boys who are holed up in the basement. There is still nothing more than light rain, though the satellite images show one of Irene’s arms spinning right over us. Earlier, she took the boys to the laundry mat to wash some of the blankets and comforters that the kids use when they are hanging out or sleeping down there.  The comforters came back smelling clean but the basement still reeks.  She goes down to check, comes up and says, “The dog pooped down there and they are just lying there watching TV”.  You can't make this stuff up.

I’m trying to stay focused on the book I’m reading while enjoying a Red Seal Ale.  It’s a red ale from Northern California that has a nice bitter bite to it. As I poured it in the kitchen, the bottle made a scratching sound across the table.  My son had picked up a sour candy making set and had spilt sugar all over the place.  The kit didn’t keep him occupied for too long, but I’ll take the mess over the X-Box any day. . .

Brutal Forecast

Yesterday and today I spent twenty-seven hours with my wife and 3 kids, in a car, on a route home from Disney World (more on that trip in another post or two) with the intention of avoiding and ultimately beating to New York the angry storm we all now know as Irene. I was thirsty. What could I chose from my quickly dwindling selection from my recent trip to Half-Time?
A brutal storm like this deserved no less than Rogue Brutal IPA. The beer pours a deep orange with a decent, white, long-lasting head. I’m struck by the beautiful, citrusy aroma and a taste that screams oranges with a touch of caramel. Ironically, I think this is a touch less BRUTAL than Arrogant Bastard Ale but no less deserving of praise. Enjoy, you deserve some Brutal treatment, except from this storm. Be safe my beer drinking friends.

Hurricane Irene

It’s eerily quite.  The calm before the storm.  I’m looking out the window watching the sky darken.  Suddenly a Snap!  I open my second beer of the night.  This time it is a Dogfish Head Punkin Ale.  The crème de la crème of pumpkin ales. 

I have been watching the news all day long hearing about what a huge storm this is going to be.  New York City’s subway system is closed in fear of the tunnels filling up with water from the ocean’s surge. There are mandatory evacuations from the beaches in the metro area. 

I step out on my porch to flip the steaks I have put on for dinner. Sirloin – nice.  There is a light rain falling now.

I walk inside to check on the potatoes in the oven.  Crash!                 My wife throws the empty bottle into the recycle bin.  We are all walking on egg shells, literally, from the hard boiled eggs my son made earlier in the day.  It’s amazing how quickly teenagers can turn a clean house into a garbage dump. 

I don’t know what is scarier, a category 2 hurricane bearing down on New York or three teenagers stuck inside for a day.  God help us if the power goes out and there’s no internet service . . . .