BREWERY TOUR SUMMER '24
Once we wrapped up at Other Half Brewing, we geared up for the one mile walk to our final location, or so we thought! Upon our walk-through of Brooklyn, a bar caught our eye, and sparked a memory for Andy - he had been there before! Jackbar, located on the outskirts of South Williamsburg, has the best of both worlds with the vibe and prices of an affordable dive bar featuring modern-day pinball machines in every space available. Although we didn’t take the time to play on a pinball machine, just sitting at the bar, taking in its character and clientele, I can tell why it was packed at capacity in the middle of the afternoon. After our pitstop at Jackbar, we continued to our final stop of the day, which has been brewing beer in Brooklyn for forty years. Beer produced by the Brooklyn Brewery have more of a nationwide notoriety and historical background than most other breweries. Yet when you set foot into the industrial-style establishment, the mood and character of Brooklyn Brewery felt very homegrown and comfortable. As you enter this 80,000-square-foot location, you are met by four massive brewing tanks with a small gift shop to the left of you. Beyond the gift shop is where the magic seemingly takes place! Sounds of old-school hip hop fill the atmosphere and can drown out your thoughts if you let it. The main area for consumers to sit and enjoy their beer can initially seem intimidating with at least four dozen tables filled with beer lovers who are all taking in this historical company's cool ambiance.
As you make your way toward the bar, your attention is drawn to walls filled with New York City-inspired graffiti artwork. Brooklyn Brewery does a great job of capturing the essence of New York City from the early 90s to the present day. The crowd at Brooklyn Brewery wasn’t as different as I assumed it would be. We even encountered some familiar faces at the Brooklyn Brewery who recognized us from Other Half Brewing! Good beer and spirited surroundings can indeed bring people together! We didn’t venture too far off the beaten path when it came to trying their beer selection. With over 40 selections brewed at their historical location, we went with their flagship beer, the Brooklyn Lager. The beer that started it all for them was sleek and stunning in visuals as the dark brown lager filled their signature bottle sporting their logo that is recognizable far and wide. Due to my past pairing experiences of a Brooklyn Lager and a cigar, I can vouch that a medium to full-bodied cigar sprinkled with Nicaraguan tobacco either in the wrapper, binder, or filler is ideal. Two cigars I currently can’t get enough of are the Trinidad Espiritu Series 3 and the Crowned Heads Le Patissier. The blends on those two cigar lines pair perfectly with this delicious amber lager. •
Chris Orangeo
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CIGAR MAGAZINE BY JR CIGAR-SUMMER-2024
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