Athena Pappas

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  • Category: Beer Book

    • Beer Book: Black Rabbit

      Posted at 2:42 pm by athenapappas, on February 28, 2013

      Black Rabbit

      Black Rabbit Coaster

      The Black Rabbit is one of my all-time favorite bars in Greenpoint (actually maybe even in Brooklyn, which basically means favorite in New York City). Its decor draws very much on the ambiance of an old Irish pub without being kitschy or feeling out of place in the neighborhood. One of my favorite things about it are the booths that line one wall. Each has swinging doors that you can shut, and when you need service, you ring the bell to signal a waiter. Although we still have yet to venture from the North Brooklyn area (and I have only been to one new bar), the beer book is proving to be quite fun. In our defense, the Saturday we went to Black Rabbit was miserably rainy and cold, not very good adventuring weather.

      But, perfect weather for a fireplace and cozy pub. Towards their big backyard are tables good for groups clustered near a small fireplace. If you are looking for a bar in Brooklyn with both a fireplace and hot toddies, this is your place. Unfortunately, the heat of the fireplace was cancelled out by the window next to our table labeled “do not close.” The dark wooden benches, while not the most comfortable, added to the pub-vibe.

      Branching out from my usual (slightly lazy) choice of a Brooklyn Lager, I chose to use my beer coupon on the Allagash White. That is a Belgian beer brewed in Maine. I enjoyed the light, crisp flavor. Black Rabbit also serves food (including a cheese plate), but I have yet to actually try it.

      Another thing I love about Black Rabbit are the little details. They have Trivial Pursuit cards on the bar and host strange events like Speed Dating to the Smiths. It is impressive that a bar can swing from very low-key to Friday-night-crowded without losing its charm and personality. If you are in the Greenpoint area, I highly recommend a stop at Black Rabbit for a pint and old-world charm.

      Posted in Adventures, Beer Book, Free Stuff, New York, Review | 0 Comments | Tagged Adventure, beer, Brooklyn, greenpoint, New York, Review
    • Beer Book: The Bedford

      Posted at 1:50 pm by athenapappas, on February 25, 2013

      Image

      Our next stop on the great Brooklyn Beer Book tour was The Bedford, a lovely bar on, of course, Bedford Ave. near the Williamsburg/Greenpoint border. There are two different bars and seating areas, but we chose to sit up front at the bar as it was still high brunch-time (brunch is a very serious endeavor here, table space cannot be wasted).  I always enjoy going to the Bedford, the front room is sunny and spacious, but even if it gets a bit loud never feels to crowded.  I did not try one of the hamburgers, but they look excellent.  Their prices are on par with other bars/restaurants in the area. They are by no means a cheap dive, but are quite reasonably priced for the location.

      Fun fact, The Bedford actually was once the location of Sound Fix, an indie record store (now located a few blocks away).  Musicians would often stop in and even play sets for people. Joe actually saw John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats play a set.  If you find yourself wandering down Bedford Ave. in search of a snack, brunch, or even just a drink, I highly recommend popping into The Bedford. Then wander deeper into Williamsburg to check out Sound Fix and other great indie stores.

      Posted in Adventures, Beer Book, New York, Review | 0 Comments | Tagged Adventure, beer, Brooklyn, restaurant, The Mountain Goats
    • Beer Book: Mugs Ale House

      Posted at 12:15 pm by athenapappas, on February 21, 2013

      Mugs

      The second stop on the great beer book tour: Mugs Ale House. Chosen because of its proximity to my apartment (despite how sunny it looks the day was actually freezing). To be honest, Mugs is not one of my favorite establishments along Bedford (the Hipster main drag of Williamsburg). It is just your standard pub with the game blasting and your standard pub food. Good in a pinch, but nothing spectacular. I will say that it is a bit better for a larger group of people as many of the bars nearby tend to be pretty small with limited seating.

      I was thoroughly unadventurous in choosing a Brooklyn Brewery Lager (located within about three blocks of Mugs). It has become my go-to much as Yuengling was the standard in Pittsburgh. I love it, but I for future beer book adventuring, I am going to try to branch out. I would like to stick to Brooklyn or at least pretty local beers, but we shall see what happens. Mugs is a safe bet if you are in the area and looking for a place to duck in to watch a game.

      Posted in Adventures, Beer Book, New York, Review | 0 Comments | Tagged Adventure, beer, Brooklyn
    • The Beer Book: Counting Room (Williamsburg)

      Posted at 10:00 am by athenapappas, on February 20, 2013

      Counting Room

      Our first stop on the great Beer Book adventure was Counting Room, a lovely bar on the northern end of Williamsburg.  Grabbing the two corner seats of the bar, we ordered our first free beers, the Southern Tier Eurotrash Pilz. I had never been to Counting Room before, and it was a lovely experience. The bar is located near Brooklyn Bowl and the Brooklyn Brewery, but it couldn’t be more different. The ambiance is very intimate, the dark bar lit with candles. The bar itself was spacious enough to feel as if we had our own table, and the crowd felt relaxed and sophisticated.

      The only problem we encountered was that the bar owner had not yet told his employees about the promotion! Luckily, he accepted our coupons without hesitation. I would absolutely return to Counting Room, especially to try one of their cheese plates or baked cheeses!

      Posted in Adventures, Beer Book, New York | 0 Comments | Tagged beer, Brooklyn
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