Grief. It’s been five months since my last Top 100 pub; how have you coped ?
One last American memory from a year ago today.
New York is gigantic, isn’t it ?
It takes an artist to pick out the detail at ground level.
Dylan may not have explicitly written about the Blind Tiger in Greenwich Village, but I reckon 6 pints of Newburgh Plan B Boss Farmhouse IPA is the only explanation for the weirdness behind his latest album.
If I can write something as weird as Key West (Philosopher Pirate) when I’m 78 I’ll be happy.
I made two trips here on Duncan’s recommendation (not really, it’s in the Good Beer Guide foreign section).
Grief, it’s cluttered.
Two trips, both outside peak hours, both packed with Greenwich drinkers, and the odd tourist overdoing the free cheese and crackers. You could have been in Leek.
I sat at the bar (boo !!) and had the lone cask beer. Newburgh Plan B Boss Farmhouse IPA. You try saying that after four pints of Duclaw Haze of Passion, seemingly the Blind Tiger’s equivalent of Citra Green Devil.
It was just stunningly pubby, and I stayed far too long. Twice. And I’m no crafty, as you know by now.
The cask was too warm. But the Duclaw was very good. And the local hipster on my right had something dark and treacly. I asked him what it was.
“Firestone Walker Imperial Stout” he replied, in such perfect English that he could only have been a Norwegian IT consultant on an assignment in New York. And he was.
“Firestone Walker ? I thought they were Big Beer” I said, feigning beer intelligence.
“They are, but even big breweries can sometimes make great beer“. Oh.
And so they can. It was magic. So good I couldn’t even force down a Bass in the Slaughtered Lamb.
Goodness knows how they do Social Distancing there, so lets hope the takeout trade keeps them afloat. I want that third trip.
retiredmartin 
Nice twist. The immensity of New York really has to be experienced to believe it. It is busy, brash and beautiful. Loved this write up. Should be required reading for NY tourists.
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Have you been there ? I was thinking about the Tiger and pubs reopening today and saw their Faacebook posts https://www.facebook.com/Blind-Tiger-Ale-House-63337460560/ . Outdoor table service, but inside service a long way off.
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Twice. And need to go back to see the outer areas. You did that well.
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Not a bad place New York, but let’s face it, it’s no Preston, is it?
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What is ?
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Clearly I should have asked your advice about NYC pubs prior to my trips to NYC. I ended up going to two: The Cock & Bull on 45th (on 2 separate occasions), and The Churchill Tavern on 28th. Both of them nice enough, but I expect The Blind Tiger is considerably more memorable than either of those. Alas I have a long history of being in NYC and failing to go to the right places. 😉
Greatly enjoyed my visit to the Fraunces Tavern, though I don’t think it can be called a pub. Loads of history, going all the way back to the days of George Washington himself.
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Those first two you went to look fine for “English pubs” Mark ! I really felt I was in New York in the Tiger, whatever that means ;-0
The Fraunces looks amazing; it serves the same Irish beers as the Porterhouse in London’s Covent Garden.
Hope those pubs can re-open again soon. What’s the situation in Michigan ?
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In Michigan the bars and restaurants have reopened, but with a series of rules that have to be followed regarding social distancing, etc. I have not yet taken the plunge, but some of these places have outdoor seating, and I’m thinking of giving that a try at some point.
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Is there anyone like Simon who visits pubs in Michigan to observe odd characteristics and write a BRAPA style blog ? I’d like to read some blogs about US pubgoing.
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Isn’t an American BRAPA going to come from somewhere like West Virginia and be married to his sister/auntie?
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His sister is also his auntie?
Wow.
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You’ve never had a Good Ole Suvvern Boy introduce you to his Bruncle?
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Having grown up in the “sticks” of NY state, there’s NY City, and New York. A train trip up the Hudson River into the Hudson Valley is well worth taking, if only for the views. And a stop at the Newburgh Brewery isn’t bad either.
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Yes, “New York” in its various guises takes it bit of getting used to, Dan ! I sort of knew Manhattan was different to Brooklyn to Queens but the differences in Brooklyn were quite something. As Mark C said before, you need aa number of trips to get to the heart of a place.
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