Getting sudsy at the New York City Craft Beer Festival (Spring 2018)

There are a handful of events that signal springtime in New York City, such as Astroland’s opening or the Tribeca Film Festival, but none are as wonderfully sudsy as the New York City Craft Beer Festival. The recent hops showcase didn’t feature my two favorite breweries, DuClaw and Southern Tier, but there were still plenty of delicious beers to partake on a sunny Saturday afternoon.

My favorite beer—I’ll reveal why I’ve framed it as such in a bit—was the Swiftwater Mango Jalapeño Sour. I’ll confess that it’s very much an acquired taste. To describe the ale in basic terms, Swiftwater Mango Jalapeño Sour tastes very much like a sweet cheese popper, if you can imagine such a flavor.

There’s a general funkiness about the drink, one that I didn’t truly appreciate until my third sample. Yes, three samples, straight from the on-site keg. In other words, I dug the Mango Jalapeño Sour a lot, despite my initial reservations. Swiftwater lists the drink at 5% ABV.

Mr. Black, a gentlemanly import from down under, was another standout drink. The cold brew coffee liqueur is all that I aspire to be in life: dark, rich, and incredibly smooth.

Lame jokes aside, Mr. Black somehow makes me love coffee, a drink that I’ve been attracted to due to its wondrous aromas, but could never truly get behind in terms of taste. Maybe it’s the ingredients and process; Mr. Black’s Brazilian, Ethiopian, and Papua New Guinean beans are roasted separately, and then blended to create a balanced taste.

Despite its sweetness, Mr. Black tastes like coffee through and through, which may tempt some to have a shot before the morning commute—something that I wholeheartedly approve. Still, it’s a liqueur, one listed as 25% ABV, so it makes an excellent after-dinner drink, either solo or as part of a well-crafted cocktail. And if you pour a smidge over some vanilla ice cream? Mmmph.

That was the Spring 2018 NYC Craft Beer Festival. Sure, there were dozens upon dozens of other vendors, but these were the two that stood out from the pack.  If you’re in the tri-state area and have a desire to spend the afternoon boozing with like-minded individuals, keep an eye on the NYC Craft Beer Festival homepage and await its next date.

Images courtesy of The Other View and Mr. Black.