Hops & Cheese

The Cortland
27 W. Main St.
Bay Shore, NY 11706
(631) 206 – 2220
http://www.thecortland.com/

The Cortland hosts “Hops & Cheese” with West Sayville artisanal cheese shop American Cheese tonight, Thursday, 12/23 from 7:00PM – 9:00PM.

Four winter brews paired with four New York cheesers.

Southern Tier Brewing Company Krampus Imperial Helles Lager

From Southern Tier Brewing Company:

St. Nicholas, aka Santa Claus, is a magical figure, the bringer of gifts and an icon of holiday spirit. Forgotten by most is his evil side kick and enforcer of ‘the list’. European tradition says while St. Nick is busy delivering presents to good little boys and girls, Krampus hands out punishments to the bad. A fanged, goat-horned bully, the Christmas Devil uses sticks and chains to beat the naughty children. Dark malts and aromatic hops create the diabolical spirit of this brew. It is finished with lager yeast and aged cold for no less than 30 days. This Imperial Helles Lager will warm even the darkest hearts.

This season, replace the cookies with a bottle of Krampus. If he happens to pay a visit, toast to him with this devilish brew. Merry Kramp-mas to all, and to all a good pint!

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Nor’ Easter

From Captain Lawrence Brewing Company:

This is a truly unique brew, combining some unusual elements to create a powerful, yet flavorful brew. I brewed a similar beer to this one back in 1998, while I was home brewing out in California. Only this time around I decided to age it in bourbon barrels to add a new element to the already rich sensory profile. The combination of dark malt, elderberries and bourbon barrels makes for an interesting tasting experience. This is a sippin’ beer, so sit back by the fire and enjoy. 12% alcohol by volume.

Ithaca Beer Company Cold Front

From Ithaca Beer Company:

Cold Front is our Belgian-style Amber Ale brewed in autumn to keep us inspired as the days grow shorter and the nights colder. It’s brewed with European Malts and hops and fermented with a legendary Belgian “Farmhouse” yeast. Savor its deep russet color, rich flavor accented by slight herbal hoppiness, and definite spicy yeast character. Bundle up!

Great South Bay Brewery Sleigh Ryed

Compiled from our “Long Island Craft Winter” blog entry on 11/29 and a comprehensive Long Island winter seasonal guide I scratched up for North Fork Patch (last boldface paragraph) on 12/12:

Style: Red Rye Ale
Color: 26?
ABV: 6.50%
Bitterness: 40 IBU
Grains: Malted and Unmalted Rye
Hops: Chinook and Cascade
We Drink this with: Beer-Braised Venison with Cranberry Compote

The pilot batch for Sleigh Ryed debuted at last night’s Great South Bay dinner at The Lark Pub & Grub, which doubled as a birthday celebration for yours truly. We sampled the Sleigh prior to the dinner’s first course, and again during the third course, paired with a Smoked Salmon Cake and Fresh Cucumber-Dill Salad. I found the Sleigh Ryed exhibited a warm, Scotch-like feel that sat nicely under the juniper berries. Founder/Head Brewer Rick Sobotka explained to beer dinner attendees that the second batch of would include “double the juniper.”

Sleigh Ryed, Great South Bay Brewery’s winter Red Rye Ale, exhibits a smooth, warm, Scotch-like feel with malted rye and piney notes of juniper berries. Founder and head brewer Rick Sobotka believes Sleigh Ryed is best enjoyed while “strolling about on a snowy night or curling up next to an open fire.”

$20 at the door.

As always, “Like” The Cortland on Facebook and RSVP to events@nullthecortland.com.

niko krommydas

Niko Krommydas has written for Tasting Table, BeerAdvocate, Munchies, and First We Feast. He is editor of Craft Beer New York, an app for the iPhone, and a columnist for Yankee Brew News. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.