Herring Here!

They’re back! Dutch herring on the menu starting tonight. Two options: For the extreme herring eater we have traditional whole herring, served with chopped onions. We also have herring with “training wheels,” i.e. garnished with toast and creme freche. Enjoy!

Jimmy’s No. 43 Hosts 2012 Good Beer Seal Awards

Beer industry insiders gather for the announcement of the new Good Beer Seal bars. From L-R: Sam Barbieri, Mary Izett, B. R. Rolya,
and Mark Zappasodi. (Photo: Juren David)

This past Monday, Jimmy’s No. 43 hosted the 2012 Good Beer Seal Awards (of which we are happily a member). It was an incredible gathering of beer lovers from all five Boroughs (special kudos to Staten Island for finally joining the GBS fold with Adobe Blues – which brought their entire bar staff! way to support!! – and Killmeyer’s Old Bavaria Inn). Icons of the craft beer world were in the house, along with beer writers and homebrewers. Among them was Time Out New York’s Chris Schonberger, who had this to say about the Good Beer Seal Awards:

“These days, you can get a growler of great local beer at Duane Reade. That evolution is great, and it speaks to the growing demand for craft beer in the city. But it also means there’s a real need to keep raising the bar and to have an industry standard that sets the right tone. It’s not enough to have 20 taps if you’re not standing behind what you pour in a real way—this year, the writers’ committee was really looking for places that demonstrate individuality and passion, and that foster a sense of community through events that drive a dialogue about craft beer.

“The party at Jimmy’s was a perfect example of what the Good Beer Seal is about—a group of bar owners, brewers, enthusiasts and other beer-industry folks who seem to genuinely care about collective progress more than personal gain. It almost felt like an old-school town meeting, and it makes you remember that there was a time when taverns were community hubs where people got together to talk about real issues. I think a lot of the Good Beer Seal bars are cut from that cloth, which is something that shouldn’t be taken for granted in the current bar landscape of NYC. These spots not only set the standard for what good beer means today, but also foster the conversation about where it’s headed.

“A lot of media coverage is predicated on what’s new and trendy, so it’s important to have a balance like the Good Beer Seal movement that awards places for being consistent and demonstrating a sustainable approach to craft beer. To that point, there’s been discussion among the committee about editing in the future, so existing Good Beer Seal bars should be on notice—you can’t just rest on your laurels once you’re in!

“Looking at the cast of Good Beer Seal bars, it’s hard not to be convinced that NYC is making its mark as an elite beer town. The diversity and quality is really impressive.”

Thanks to Chris and all the attendees. And congratulations to the eight new members awarded the Good Beer Seal.

It’s Gonna Be Totally Ültimate

If you were one of the lucky few (only 25!) to score tickets to our last “Ultimate” Beer Night and Dinner for Nøgne Ø, then you know how amazing the meet-and-greet-and-drink-and-eat gatherings are. Now we’re working our way through the really interesting characters in the alphabet to bring you a German version!

The Ültimate Mahrs Bräu Beer Night and Dinner will offer (subject to availability) kegs and bottles from Bamberg Germany’s best and smallest brewery. For $45 (not including tax, tip or additional purchase, which you’ll be asked to pay at the end of the evening) you’ll get to eat a German beer dinner, drink Mahrs Bräu, and mingle with beer dignitaries from around the world! Tentative beer list/menu includes (subject to availability):

Kegs

  • Weisse – Classic Wheat
  • Der Weisse Bock
  • ETA Hoffman Dunkel – Dark Lager
  • Ungespundet – Unfiltered Lager
  • Unfiltered Pils  –  Gravity Pour Cask

Bottles

  • Es
  • Pils
  • Hell
  • Saphir Weisse
  • Leicht

Food

  • Wheat beer and cheddar soup
  • Slab bacon and kale salad
  • BBQ pork tacos
  • Braised spelt with shitake mushrooms
  • Assorted sausages
  • Roasted root vegetables
  • Strawberry apple crisp
  • Maple bread pudding

Owner Stephan Michel is scheduled to attend, and we expect other beer industry insiders. If you want to join us, get your tickets now, as attendance is strictly limited to the first 25 ticket holders! Get yours here.

Pretzels Are Back!

Back in the day (well, awhile ago anyhow) we had a favorite staple here at Jimmy’s No. 43: Greenmarket Pretzels! Thus, we’re thrilled that we will now be offering Martin’s Pretzels on our beer menu (available at the bar or table service). This traditional twist of taste is all Pennsylvania Dutch with a rich history dating back to the 17th Century. For 30 years, Martin’s has been bringing pretzels into the city greenmarkets, and we’re thrilled to have them on our menu. Hint: they go great with beer!