My grindcore band Hiroshima Vacation had been slated for a show in Syracuse, NY this past Saturday, but the event was cancelled two days prior (to no fault of anyone directly tied to the show). No to be deterred, we packed ourselves up anyways and met up with our pals in Blood Money, stopped in at Sound Garden for a handful of LPs, and off to Empire Brewing for wonderful beer and delicious food - the aptly named Spicy Pig Burger was especially tasty.
Skinny Atlas: Kolsch | 4.8% ABV
Named after Skaneateles Lake where Empire draws their water for brewing. A decent Kolsh. Light and bitter up front with a mild, dry finish. Very crisp. Interesting hints and nods to a Hefeweizen towards the end.
Amber Ale: Amber Ale | 5.5% ABV
Beautiful, hoppy amber. Piney and earthy with a great golden color. A great beer for when you just want to drink beer.
Deep Purple: Wheat Beer made w/ NYS Concord Grapes | 6.5% ABV
Fruity and juicy and goes down easy. Great reddish-gold color. Wonderful beer for warm weather, when you don't want a summer ale.
Golden Dragon: Belgian Style Golden Ale w/ fresh Thai Basil | 7.7%
Amazing. Best beer of the bunch hands down. Very smooth. Almost as complex as a winter warmer. Herbal, malty, and the Thai basil is crucial, turning what would still have been a solid Belgian-style into a silky, delicious concoction. Well-balanced, precision beer making right here.
Local Grind: Scotch Ale w/ Coffee Beans | 7.2%
Runner up for best in the flight. Brewed with a custom blend of Guatemalan beans from their neighbor's neighbor's Cafe Kubal, this coffee fueled Scotch Ale is a unique one.
The words dry, malty, dark, and drinkable all come to mind. Great roasted coffee notes throughout which never overpower the quality scotch ale. Very creative and well executed. Pretty sure everyone drinking at the table picked up this and Golden Dragon.
By the time I got to their Pale Ale, we were knee deep in conversation and elbow deep in amazing food. I recall a wonderful, bitter & hoppy beer, but that is all to report unfortunately. Better stop by yourself to make your own ending for this one!
Overall another solid experience at Empire Brewing. Great food, service, and beer. Also worth noting that their flight is 6 six ounce beers for just $10... which is unbeatable.
No comments:
Post a Comment