Today’s Thursday Tap™ is weather appropriate. Because nothing says, “Where the heck is spring?” like a Yeti! All the way from Denver and just to chase the winter blues away, we have Great Divide Brewing Company’s amazing Espresso Oak Aged Imperial Stout. Infused with Pablo’s espresso, this 9.5% ABV beer is complex with a vanilla oak character, intense roasty maltiness, and a bold hop profile. The brewer likes to say, “You can now have Yeti with breakfast,” but we’ll be tapping this highly rated (95-100) beer at 5 p.m.
As always, while supplies last and regular bar/restaurant/oyster service is available.
Next Monday (April 8th at 7 p.m.) will be the first of three new Prix Fixe Beer Dinners this month when Stillwater Artisanal Ale’s Brian Strumke joins Jimmy’s No. 43 for a curated “Magic Potions and Gourmet Larder” prix fixe dinner. The “gypsy” brewer—who recently relocated to Brooklyn—will pair his beers with Hudson Valley Duck Farm menu options. The Magic Potions Dinner will feature the following pairings (subject to change):
Cellar Door (6.6% Saison brewed with White Sage) paired with House-Cured Duck Breast on Toast
Existent (7.5% Black Saison) served with Beer Cheddar Duck Prosciutto Soup
Sensory Series v. 1 – Lower Dens (6% Saison brewed with Hibiscus) paired with Duck Confit and Farro Risotto
Of Love & Regret (7% Saison brewed with Heather, Chamomile, Lavender, & Dandelion) paired with Crispy Duck Skin and Wild Dandelion Salad
Saison Darkly (8% Dark Saison) paired with Duck-Fat Crust Apple Tart
Plus an additional collaboration pour: Stillwater/Thiriez – French Connection Blonde (7% Blonde Ale with French Hops and Violets)
We caught up with Brian at last week’s CBC, and the self-proclaimed “cult leader” at Stillwater Artisanal answered some of our “burning questions” in anticipation of next week’s dinner.
what is your current position and company you work for? cult leader at Stillwater Artisanal
How many years have you attended the CBC, and what are the highlights thus far for CBC13?
This is my third year. I think what I’ve noted most this year is that craft beer now seems to the hip thing these days. The expo floor was great this year.
DC is quickly becoming a craft beer destination. What are your favorite breweries in the greater DC area?
We’re continuing our cask series with a yummy English Strong Ale from J.W. Lees. And with the full moon on the rise, we’ve got just the perfect beer: Moonraker, a 6.5% ABV stalwart, which JW Lees has been brewing for over 50 years. Its name comes from farm workers who once tried to rake the moon’s reflection from a Middleton stream. This deliciously rich, dark ale has been lovingly brewed to the original recipe. A favorite of beer connoisseurs the world over, the brewer suggests pairing with strong flavors.
Or drink it on its own! As always, we’ll be tapping at 5 p.m. and while supplies last. And regular restaurant/bar/oyster service is available.
As this is the traditional Holy Week for many, Jimmy’s No. 43 is happy to be celebrating the end of Lent with several interesting and unusual seasonal beers. Today is also National Paella Day, so we are featuring several Spanish beers to coincide with the celebration of Semana Santa (Spanish holy week).
Palm Sunday traditionally marks the onset of a week of great celebration and feasting that coincided with the feasts of Passover, pagan celebrations of Spring, Christian Easter, and the anticipation of the new season of growth and abundance.
Jimmy’s No. 43 has several rare and fine beers on tap that are perfectly suited to the original spirit of festivity and celebration of Holy Week. Among them are four great beers on tap from Spain (that very Catholic, yet very festive country) from Iberian Beer United:
Sagra (how appropriate, translates to Sacred),
Gisberga Trigo (farmhouse wheat ale),
Gisberga Porter,
And the beer that has inspired Jimmy to song: Lanjub 1907 Iberian Pale Ale.
Also being tapped today is The Bruery’s Saison de Lente, a 6.5% ABV Farmhouse Ale, a limited seasonal keg.
It was another amazing food day at Jimmy’s No. 43 as a half-dozen chefs braved narrow doors (yes, a one-meter diameter paella plate will fit through our entryway) and electric burners to bring rabbit, snails and amazing shrimp tails to our first ever Paella Cookoff in celebration of National Paella Day.
The squid-ink infused paella prepared by Louise Leonard and Iberian United’s Jessica Garcia-Agulló was a glory to behold, with lots of interesting entries from professional chefs that paired nicely with the Spanish beers on tap: L’Anjub 1907, Sagra Pils, and Gisberga Trigo.
In the end, there was a rare double winner (of both the judges – Anthony Sasso of Casa Mono, Sarah Jay of PaellaPans.com, and Tara DeGeorges of Spanish Suitcase – and people’s choice awards): Nick Suarez of Backyard Cooking Company in DUMBO, whose traditional paella consisted of Chicken, Chorizo, Snails and Piquillo Peppers over Bomba rice from Spain.
Proceeds benefited the NYC Coalition Against Hunger (paella is a traditional peasant dish, although you wouldn’t know that from yesterday’s entries!).
Beers from the Paella Cookoff will continue to be on the menu throughout the week, for those who’d like to come in for a taste of Spain.
Today’s Thursday Tap™ is weather appropriate. Because nothing says, “Where the heck is spring?” like a Yeti! All the way from Denver and just to chase the winter blues away, we have Great Divide Brewing Company’s amazing Espresso Oak Aged Imperial Stout. Infused with Pablo’s espresso, this 9.5% ABV beer is complex with a vanilla oak character, intense roasty maltiness, and a bold hop profile. The brewer likes to say, “You can now have Yeti with breakfast,” but we’ll be tapping this highly rated (95-100) beer at 5 p.m.
