Being a New Yorker isn't about where you're from it's all about your attitude. Having an attitude isn't brashness, more a self-confidence of being comfortable with who you are and not letting anyone or anything undermine that.
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You can be many different things in life but you can only ever be 100% New Yorker.

So, yeah! As the picture shows, in my haste to taste I poured the beer before I took any pictures. Generally that's not a problem, well it with dark glass bottles. So I included a stock image, courtesy of the New Yorker Beer website to properly showcase the product. Think of it as a before and after shot!

​I cant find a lot about this Lager online, there doesn't appear to be a detailed backstory, invented or otherwise, as is the marketing norm nowadays. Nope, New Yorker Fine Lager Beer Is a Lager without a History, but is it Lager without a soul?. New Yorker Beer appears to be completely fresh in every sense

Pouring a pretty standard light straw Lager colour this Beer is at first, weak on the nose, its a lager, so don't expect the strong deep scents of other craft beers. I find all Lagers have that generic scent.. once you really stick your nose in and get a whiff there is a maltyness coming through.

While Lager certainly isn't my favorite kind of beer, this one is streets ahead of the mass produced fizzy water that the big producers throw out.. the kind of beers where the cardboard case has more flavour than what's in the bottle..

New Yorker Lager is a solid beer! It's refreshing with a palatable flavour and a full finish. An ice cold New Yorker Beer would be a welcome sight after a long day of Sightseeing in the Big Apple.. A great beer for a six pack and Frisbee in Central Park.

It would even go down well on our one day of Irish summer weather... though for that you will have to wait a year, as we had that weather in early April

Sometimes I think I am a little hard on Lager, yes of course I have a preference for more flavour some craft ales, but I need to remember that Lager was the starting pitcher for my Beer Journey. It may not have the sophistication of IPA or Amber Ale, but then it's not trying to be those brews! When served cold to a thirsty booze hound like me, then it's a good solid classic beer, well New Yorker is, I'm still not acccepting some of that other crap that people drink.

New Yorker Beer is served in 330ml bottles at a strength of 4.2%

​I received my bottle of New Yorker from the kind folks at Pierhead Drinks. No money was exchanged and no endorsement of this product was requested or implied.

Beer is far to serious a subject to be anything other than truthful - How is that for a legal jargon free disclaimer?

www.pierhead.uk.com

​www.Newyorker.beer

"During the Renaissance, Harlem was a catalyst for artistic freedom and one of the most popular cultural destinations on the planet"

​It was from this melting pot of culture that the Harlem Brewing Company was born! Having started by experimenting back in the early 90's with a simple home brewing kit, Celeste Beatty has long outgrown her small Harlem Apartment that witnessed her initial forays into craft beer.

​Celeste sought out some key people in the New York brewing industry and steadily honed her skills and learnt the craft. The year 2000 saw her initial offering, Sugar Hill Golden Ale released via Contract Brewing through a facility in Upstate New York, Renaissance Wit followed in 2014

Pouring a rich Amber which a weak sunlight shines through topped with a light off white foamy head! Ok, even I cant take myself seriously. I am going to start over, Wit does indeed pour a rich amber colour, the cumin and spices are clear on the nose and the beer is lightly carbonated. The added spices enhance the regular Wheat Beer taste which makes for a deep taste and a wonderful after finish and follow up.

​Taking a look at the bottle itself, it is clear Renaissance Wit is brewed in New York and imported. A lot of beers are brewed under license in the UK, which invariably affects the taste when you consider the difference in water and other ingredients. A downside of shipping a beer like this can be the effect on the taste. Renaissance Wit doesn't seemed to have suffered from its journey. Its a clean American, Belgian style Wheat Beer.

​Overall this is a Wheat Beer packed with flavour. Having never drank an American take on the Belgian classic, I have to admit I was impressed. Its obviously expertly brewed which produces a surprisingly decent craft beer
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Renaissance Wit from Harlem Brewing Company, recommended by the Brewer to pair with fish and cheese.

5.8% ABV in 355ml glass bottles

www.harlembrewing.com

**I got my bottle courtesy of the kind folks at Pierhead UK. I did not pay for this beer, however Beer is far to important to lie about.. So I stand by my review!

​www.pierhead.uk.com

Established in 1719, Belhaven is Scotland’s oldest working brewery. With abundant local barley, fine water from the brewery well , Belhaven was the perfect place for a brewery back then, and it still is today"

Just imagine the history and heritage a brewery approaching its 300 hundredth birthday would possess. Methods steeped in generations of brewing, a product so refined and perfected that it would be a matter of national pride to the intensely proud Scottish people. Well, Belhaven has just that, in its Stouts and Ales. What's surprising is the line of outside the box thinking craft beers the brewery also produces.

Take for example, TWISTED Grapefruit IPA. Grapefruits wouldnt exactly be native to Scotland and neither do they readily fit with the stuffy image that you assume the second oldest brewery in Scotland should have. But then, just look what happens when you assume.

I'm not a big fan of flavoured beer or cider for that matter, although I am softening to the latter. To be honest I mulled over this purchase for longer than I usually would when beer shopping. Somehow though it found its way into the trolley and was soon nestled into the Liquorjunky fridge. 

It pours a fairly rich golden colour almost like a light mahogany. This IPA has a very generous white head that covers the beer below. On the nose its, well it's like nothing I have ever smelt from a can of beer. Fruity, grapefruity, incredibly fragrant and sweet. I actually spent a good bit of time taking in the scent of the beer. Yeah sure it's a bit of a novelty and that's the whole twisted appeal, but it works well and I found that it ramped up the anticipation of the tasting itself 

I don't want to say it let itself down in its taste, as I have no other Grapefruit IPA to compare to, however it was a little false to drink. It was refreshing and the IPA base was strong however the grapefruit didn't work as well as the aroma lead me to believe. Ok perhaps false isn't entirely fair, it's a twisted infused fruity IPA after all. After finishing this off I concluded that it tastes exactly as its meant to and that wasn't half bad. It's sweet, very sweet and that's what would stop me drinking more than one. This is a fun brew for sure and one I would buy for the surprise of the initial smell in itself. 

I picked my my 330ml 3.5% ABV can up in Tesco

Want that lightbulb moment? Get refreshed with our clean, crisp Pilsner. steeped in spicy Czech hops. It's a fresh, dry lager with a citrus finish.

Edison Biritsh Pilsner brewed in Bath, the Town in England not the big tub you fill with water, is a beer from the Electric Bear Brewing Company. A company named in part after the original Bear Brewery which stood proud in the Town until being destroyed in a bombing raid during WWII.. The Electric in the name was added to represent the power supplying the brew house kettle.

With a line up consisting of some 20 different brews, each one as intriguing as the next, based on the artwork alone. Edison British Pilsner is the first beer I have tried from Electric Bear Brewing.

Pouring a clear pale this Pilsner has the thinnest of white heads. Mild carbonation with lemony and floral scent. It has a decent taste and crisp finish but overall is a standard Pilsner. Nothing more nothing less. It's another inoffensive and drinkable beer, not one I would order more than one bottle of.

Thankfully the Electric Bear Brewing family holds much more potential in its other offerings. Honesty is best, so I wouldn't recommend this Pilsner but with a caveat attached. There are much more flavoursome and satisfying beers on the market. This beer would be fine to drink if there is nothing better behind the bar, where that isn't the case, treat your taste buds and order something with a little more to give.

Edison British Pilsner,330ml bottle with an 4.8% ABV

More info can be found at www.electricbearbrewing.com

Dixie Lager is an American icon. Brewed all-naturally today as it was first brewed in 1907, Dixie Lager uses lightly roasted two-row barley malts and rice. The result is a crisp and flavorful beer with a mild Cascade hop finish. A century of New Orleans' brewing tradition lives today in every bottle and keg of Dixie Lager.

I may have missed the Boat on Mardi Gras, but I am taking a little trip to New Orleans none the less. I hear its a great town anytime of the Year, with amazing food, bars and Music. So with suitcase packed and $$$ in my pocket I am heading to the Deep South of the good old US of A

Unfortunately the production budget doesn't quite stretch all the way across the Pond, so a bottle or two of the local beer and a playlist of classic "Nor Lans" songs on repeat is as close as I can get, but a visit to this party Town is on my ever expanding Bucket List

The Dixie Brewing Company was founded in 1907 (Happy 110th Birthday) by Valentine Merz in New Orleans, it survived Prohibition and brewed on a sight in Mid New Orleans until 2005. After a battle with Bankruptcy in 1989, the brewery emerged 3 years later with a refreshed line of Beer and worked to get back to its previous status.

Hurricane Katrina hit the city in 2005 and badly damaged the Brewery. A lot of the equipment was taken during looting in the aftermath of the Disaster. Although the company pledged to rebuild the brewery and continue production in the city, this has yet to happen. At present this beer is contract brewed in a number of other locations and the Original Brewery has been abandoned.

​so History lesson over, it's time to drin! Dixie Beer pours weak lager yellow with a slight foamy head. It is pale on the nose with an aroma in line with many other American Lagers, non offensive but not rich in hops and flavour.Ice cold and crisp, it plays well on the palate and has a decent balance. This Beer is very light in comparison to other craft beers I have been trying. It is brewed in the style of many American Lagers and I found it a little weak when compared, possibly unfairly, to the Irish Craft Ales and IPA's. It is what you would expect from a 100 year old American Institution.

​A Lager that I cant help would be exceptional in the New Orleans sunshine, sipped slowly on Bourbon Street watching throngs of Bead Clad Ladies.

I picked up my stash of Dixie Beer in the Gap Wines Store in Carrickfergus.

​It comes in 330m bottles with a 4.5% ABV

​Dixie Beer is brewed in the UK through Pierhead Drinks

​www.Pierhead.uk.com

Blind Pig is a Premium Cider brand brought to the market by Heineken and produced in the UK by H.P Bulmer. It was released in May 2015 with a themed launch based around the old American Speakeasy's which operated across the Country during Prohibition.

​But as Prohibition is long gone and never actually affected us to begin with, its available to buy in 355ml bottles. Three flavours are currently available and I managed to grab a bottle of each at a local Tesco.

First up in this Spirit infused Cider range from Blind Pig. Whiskey, Honey and apple is a really smooth drink. The flavours mix well, almost to well as you begin to question why you have stuck to regular Apple Cider for so long. This is surely one for repeat drinking and with the combination of flavours I sometime forgot it was a Cider at all. None of the flavours beat out the other, yet I could really taste the Honey and the hint of Whiskey.

Next up is Bourbon and Blueberry. Ok, so I said none beat the other, but this was quite possibly my favourite of the three Piggies. The Blueberry, which is a flavour I do not normally like infuses with the Bourbon to produce a really refreshing and moreish drink. Fresh and just a little bit different this really is excellent stuff. Subtly done so that the tastes combine to work well together.

Just when you thought the flavour combinations had peaked, they piggies throw in Rum and Poached Pear. Rum infused Cider, that just sounds a little out there to me. I mean I love Rum and I am partial, very partial to Cider, but together and with Poached Pear... Well, sniff, sip, gulp... How the heck did they ever come up with this? It just works and quite well. Its my second favourite in what was almost a 3 way tie.

​How has such a quality Cider avoided my attention for almost two years!? Consumed Ice cold as always this is a brand that I hope expands its line.


I find it hard enough to keep up with the constant refresh in release of Craft Beers, but now Cider is getting in on the act and when it comes to Blind Pig, they are owning the Game.

​I picked up my selection at Tesco. They were, from memory, on a 3 for £6 promo which is excellent value for drink with an on sale RRP of almost £5. Keep your eyes peeled for Blind Pig.. It is worth splashing the cash for

​The range is available in 355ml bottles and has an ABV of 5.5%

​www.blindpigcider.co.uk

Strongbow Pear Cider was released in 2012 to take advantage of the upsurge not only in Hard Cider sales but the ever expanding flavoured variants market. It is produced by H.P Bulmer in England, who have been brewing the original Strongbow Cider since its initial release in 1962. Amazingly, if my facts are correct it is the Worlds Leading Cider Brand with a market share of 15%.

A staple brand of park benches everywhere, Strongbow is associated, by me anyway, with two distinct target audiences. Underage drinkers & those of us unfortunate enough to have succumbed to Alcohol addiction. Empty Strongbow bottles are a common site in parks and river paths up and down the United Kingdom, usually in the company of the somewhat cheaper White Lightening Cider.

As someone who didn't drink cider until my mid twenties, Strongbow wasn't part of my formative drinking years. In fact I would be pretty certain it has never passed my lips, until now. Having recently received a 4 pack as a gift I took the decision to take the plunge with as open a mind as I could get.

​I planned to work up a thirst before trying it, as I figured ice cold cider sampled with a thirst on would be more agreeable no matter the flavour or brand. So, last Sunday morning I set out on my Bicycle to get the blood pumping and get my body ready for the reward. That, i should point out is as method as it comes when we talk about sampling booze! So after an epic 45 minute session covering some 7 miles, there are a lot of hills near the LiquorJunky Bar, I free wheeled back to base, hopped off my ride and made towards the Bar. Admittedly I probably wasn't a pretty sight as I rubbed my tender ass all the while panting like a fat kid chasing a snickers bar. However, I had done what I set out to do and had a thirst like never before

​With a weak straw coloured pour, it gave off a rich Pear scent, albeit slightly chemical in its makeup. It settled down quickly in the glass and the first long sip was cool crisp & satisfying. Strongbow Pear has a reasonable aftertaste and finishes off better than I expected. This is certainly a cider that you could settle for on a summers day in a beer garden. Its clear I am not a fan of Strongbow, nor a fan of falavoured ciders on the whole. In saying that This Pear cider isn't going to offend. Its a reasonable place to start your Cider adventure, just make sure you move on quickly.

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Curiously Pear Cider doesn't appear on the Strongbow Website. Has it been discontinued already? While I wasn't as harsh on this as I imagined I would be. It should be noted that I was hot, tired and feeling like a busted Sofa.

​400ml Can serving, 4.8% ABV

Purchased in Home Bargains, Larne as a gift. Price unknown, but I would imagine it is cheap.

​www.Strongbow.com

​Please Drink Responsibly

"Simply a beautiful west coast IPA, light bodied and packed with fruity hops from America". - Henrietta The Hen, West Coast IPA is a new release from the self proclaimed eejits at Hillstown Brewery in Randalstown. A farming town nestled in the County of Antrim, Northern Ireland. Brewing Craft Beer since 2014, the Brewery was born out of the quintessentially Irish idea of getting Cows Drunk! Ok, there is a little bit more to it than that, but that's the jist. The full story is available on the Website.

I have never had much of a sweet tooth, so when I saw this on the shelves at Lusty's Centra in Larne yesterday, it didn't take me long to tie it into Easter and justify, to my self anyway, the purchase of this Easter Treat. Hen's lay eggs right?

​Henrietta the Hen clucks in at 4.7%. Its a punchy little IPA, with a great start, great middle and great finish. This West Coast IPA is a little bit of the USA straight out of Randalsburger and I enjoyed every drop. Its light with a fruity input. My only criticism would be of my self, as I should have bought more. If you can find some of the Hen, then don't pass it by. I have tried several of Hillstown Farm Brewery's Beer, but this is by far my favourite so far.

4.7 ABV Strength

​330ml Cans, although also available in 500ml Bottles

​2 for £5 promotion at the in store Off Sales at Lusty's Centra Larne. I have made mention of Lusty's Centra in Larne before. Their craft beer selection is the best I have seen outside of Belfast. I do fear, that the Lusty Family are going to be partially responsible for Bankrupting me someday! Screw it.

​I can live in my tent.

​Check out the rest of the range at www.Hillstownbrewery.com