From Minne-Apple to the Big Apple, Brewer in the City

Erin and I don't take a lot of days off from work, but typically when we do it's for a large trip. This year's trip was named "East Coast Invasion, Round 2". Last year we came out east for my buddy Bobby and Heathers wedding, then toured all around. This year we went Mid-Atlantic. NYC, Delaware, and finishing up in DC.

Washington Square Park, NYC

This is my first time to NYC and I didn't really know what to expect. Here's what I was told: 1. It's dirty. 2. It's expensive. 3. Watch yourself at all times 4. People are rude. I'd say everything outside of point 2 was wrong, in my point of view at least. The city was a lot cleaner for an island that is home to 2.6 million people, or so. I'd say it was cleaner then Minneapolis most of the time. The smells do get a bit "fresh" at times. Think of not-so-fresh seafood and warm temperatures, mixed with last nights garbage.

Heart of Chinatown, Freedom Tower being built in the background.

While it is expensive, there are ways to do NYC on a budget. I have to give Erin all the credit here. We rented an apartment in the Lower east side to get a real feel of what living in NYC is like. We also had a roommate, Mike, who helped manage the property along with other properties they own. Our cost: $105/night. This is very very cheap. We also only rode the subway. Public transportation is the shit out east. I love it. For $30/each we got a 7 day unlimited rides metro pass. The subway station was 1 block from our place. Everywhere else we walked. Needless to say while I'd consider myself in ok shape, my feet on the other hand are not used to putting on those kind of miles. I got a blister the 3 day we were there. I don't know the NYC women wear 3"+ inch shoes. F that. I'll take my DC skate shoes.

Our room. It's "snug" in size

8.5oz of Diet Coke. Cost: $2.50. The price we pay to use the bathroom.

Safety isn't an NYC thing, it's a (fill in any major city) thing. Crazy enough, I felt more safe in NYC then I do in parts of Minneapolis. I think maybe it's the fact that there is always people around, be it 2pm or 3am. Be smart and you're fine.


This leads me to my final point, the citizens of NYC are awesome. Their style of no-bullshit, get out of my way I have somewhere to go works perfect with me. I felt myself becoming an New Yorker when I started to get "Rage Walk" as our friend Kelly called it. Basically thing of rage driving, but walking. If you're going to walk slow then move the F to the right and walk single file. New Yorkers also have no issues at all telling you where anything is. They might not tell you the local watering holes, but they'll tell you how to get different places. They really are great people. I also love the mix of people there. It's so different from Minneapolis. There's everyone under the sun and tons of different languages being spoken all the time. It's what I think America is, but in a really small area. A mixing bowl of culture and believes all wrapped into one.

The worst type of people to get stuck behind... The Asian Tourist. Even my Asian friends know what I'm talking about.

 Ryan, what about the beer? This is a beer blog damnit. Yeah, one minute.

There, that will tie you over until I start talking about beer.

The food in NYC is amazing. There are SOOO many options and different styles that you can't go wrong. I had two food requirements: A good hotdog and good "foldable" aka thin crust pizza. I had both. For the hotdog we hit up Gray's Papaya. Great dog at a killer price. For pizza we hit up the famous Joe's Pizza. Anywhere that Kevin Bacon AND Ben Affleck have ate can't be wrong. Well, maybe it can, but this place is solid. Many thanks to Kelly, Berto, Meara, Nghi, and Bao for showing us some killer food spots.

Tasty Wiener! YAY!

Dim Sum with Berto, Kelly, and Erin. Probably the worst picture ever.

Foldable Pizza with Bao. Crazy Delicious.

Ahhh Cute. Meara and Erin.

Nghi and Erin

 I did require seeing some tourist stuff. Saw times square and promptly left. Yup. It's times square. It's like a non-gambling version of vegas. Saw Central park. Meh. Check out the High Line. Way cooler. Little Italy kinda sucks. People there were pretentious and fake. It's also full of tourists. Go to Boston, much better. Ok, enough with the negative. Here's some sweet places: Dumbo, chinatown, the village, union square (awesome for seeing the crazies), Brooklyn, tons of places. It's great. If you go, hit up the tourist stuff quick and fast, then jump on the subway and go explore. Every stop is an adventure and has tons of cool stuff to see and do.

Dumbo

Above is a video of a crazy dude in a bra rapping with a guy in a banana suit. I couldn't stop laughing.

Ok, let's talk beer.

First day we got in there Berto and Kelly told us to meet them at McSorley's. It's the oldest ale house in NYC and didn't allow women until they were forced to in 1970. They told us that it get's really packed in there, but at 2pm on a Friday we should be ok. They only offer two beers: Dark and Light. It's a beer that's brewed up state just for the bar. They also didn't ask me on a size, which was 2 smaller glasses. They also don't give a shit about the amount of head on the beer, so by the time you get the two beers it's about the amount of 1 pint glass. At $5 for 2 beers, I wasn't going to bitch. What we found out later from a local is that they are known for kicking people out who don't continue to drink or people who only ask for 1 beer when they're busy. They also gave a out-of-town couple some really nasty looks when they walked in and asked what beers they had. So, I did your homework for you. If you go there, Pick a color, order in rounds of 2, don't stop until you're ready to leave.

Might look like a lot of beer, but if Erin can lift 4 of them full you know they're small.

Many people are starting to know Brooklyn Brewery. We didn't really plan in advance to go there and figured we could just jump on a tour. Now they require you order tickets in advance. Needless to say we didn't go there, but I'm really not to bothered by that. I'm not a big fan of their beers. I haven't had one yet that I say "Damn, that's good." They are ok, but nothing great. Doesn't mean that I wouldn't go to their brewery, it just means I'm not gonna cry about it like a sally. Maybe next time.

Chelsea Brewing Company

We did hit up Chelsea Brewing Company. Not bad brews (better then Brooklyn Brewing, IMO) shitty overpriced food. Go there and get the sampler, but save your money for a street vender for food.

Legends Football Factory, Main Level

Legends Football Factory is an awesome place to watch Football (soccer, not american) and get a pint. Really fun atmosphere and a wonderful place to watch some of the Euro Cup.

Sampler Tray at Heartland Brewing

Before we left we hit up Heartland Brewing company. There are a few locations of this and they all brew in house, much like Granite City in Minneapolis. As some of you know, I really do not like Granite City. I think their beer is Ok at best and their food is overpriced slightly higher quality Applebees. Needless to say I went into this place thinking it was going to be just like that. I could not be more wrong. Place had great beers and good food. Pricing was on par for NYC. I'd highly recommend getting there sampler. Also go to the location off Union Square. Should be a little more chill/NYC/less tourists. They had a Czech Pilsner there that made me proud.

Hey Pal, Your Ferrari has some garbage stuck to it.

Ok, This is a lot of reading for you guys, and a lot of typing for me. Our next stop is Rehoboth Beach, DE. That's the home to this little brewery that makes "Off-centered Ale for Off-Centered People". Check in later for that entry as I'm typing out the current entry from there. Ok, I'm off to the brewhouse. (Side note, wrote this post in Delaware, didn't actually post it until we were in DC.)

Don't mess with fire station cat.

Prost!

Ryan