Röggenbier

When I first started making the röggenbier I was convinced it would just be a winter seasonal. Well, it turned out so delicious, and fit my personal mold of brewing beers purely because I couldn’t find a decent version in New York, that it has become one of my signature styles. The picture reflects my original intention with it, a high end après-ski beer where the one imbibing would be transported to a calm afternoon at the base of a snowy Alp. I took this photo in Aspen from a chairlift that came out remarkably well despite using a pretty shoddy point-and-shoot. I’ve never skied in the Alps. First world problems of the highest distinction.

The röggenbier has quickly become the most popular style of Blennny’s. It tastes a bit like pumpernickel and for those looking for a taste it’ll be tapped at Bar Oliver a few more times this summer.

Mild

I kinda wish we went with a different picture in retrospect for the mild – something preferably from England – but I should stress these were all my choices. The picture shows a smoking man standing on the steps where there once stood four competing Indian restaurants on First Avenue. The window decor remains but only one kitchen continues functioning on a nightly basis. If one was really searching for meaning one might say the establishments and their slow dilapidation are a perfect stand-in for the British empire, and trust me I know I’m reaching. Unrelatedly, they just closed my least favorite Dunkin in the neighborhood which stood across the street.

The mild is by far my favorite of the Blennny’s offerings and frankly my favorite style in general. I started making beer to make exclusively British ales and while I have moved away from that narrow remit, I still heavily believe those brews originating centuries ago from the Isle to be the very best. Perhaps that has something to do with my infatuation with casks, a far superior way to store beer, in my opinion than kegs, or that I just love British culture (wake up, work, complain, drink, repeat – perfect).

Lager

I’m going to apologize for this one even before I begin the description because I’m almost positive I should not be taking photos of people in random churches. But alas I did because the man really moved me. Snapped in Paris I couldn’t tell if the man was sleeping or praying, I didn’t want to enter his realm and awaken him from either one. Behind him a man frozen in marble clutches a baby. I really enjoyed the dichotomy between real and idealized. We used this for the lager, not sure why except I liked the picture.

Brown

The first beer I ever made. Intended to be an exact replica of one of my favorites of all time – Newcastle Brown Ale – affectionately referred to as “dog” over in England due to an old expression by the original drinkers looking for an excuse to go to their local [pub]. They would say “I’m taking the dog for a walk,” then go get a brown ale. The man in the photograph is in Barcelona, but a nice homage I think nonetheless. Some fans of Blennny’s believe this to be the best I’ve ever made (beginner’s luck?), and for those supporters I have only good news to bring as the style will be returning very soon.

Dry Irish Stout

A heron I took so many photos of last time I was in London that my friends openly wondered why I liked it so much. It just feels remarkably regal to me. Wise. We used the sedate bird for the Dry Irish Stout, which was meant to be an exact replica of Guinness except a tiny bit sweeter. Ironic I know as this was taken within just steps of Parliament. Sorry.

Italian Pilsner

I have genuinely no idea why I chose this picture for my take on the Italian Pilsner. Eagle-eyed architecture fans can probably pinpoint that it’s taken outside La Segrada Familia in Barcelona. You might say, “well that’s not Italy,” and you’d be correct! In fact I’d been to Italy when we bottled this for the first time – Twice! And taken all sorts of pictures I’m proud of and happy with! So I’m not entirely sure in retrospect why we went with this, but I will say Gaudi and his machinations across the Catalan capital moved me to tears repeatedly. I have never seen such genius, somehow imprinted on every facade he touched, in my entire life. I do feel like the photo at some level matches the vibe of the beer, which was meant to be a Peroni crossed-bred with a Sierra Nevada; Barcelona is kind of a hoppier Milan. The brew proved to be probably my most popular initial offering, so much so I decided to make it for my birthday brew. I doubt I’ll make it again, a savvy consumer can find Italian pilsners just as good, and I think I have moved on to making better beers.

Session IPA

I’m pretty infatuated with almost every aspect of youth sports. I don’t think I’m alone. They’re mythologized on the silver screen, and just about every other one, year round. I wrote a bit about it on the blog portion of this website but it’s a world I no longer have a corporeal connection to regardless of how badly I’d like to play a part in its world. I do coach high school frisbee and there’s definitely some interrelation there but it is really for the kids. I’m there for them not me. I made this session ale as a copy of one of my favorite beers in the world – Heady Topper from the Alchemist in Stowe, Vermont – just with half the alcohol. The picture is from a baseball tournament my cousin played in last summer and I think the beer served its purpose in trying to rekindle those halcyon memories of youth. I probably won’t make another IPA again, although I was thrilled with how this turned out.