>Paul Marko

Grimm Artisanal Ales is a Brooklyn-based “nomadic” brewery (i.e. gypsy brewery) founded in 2013 by Joe and Lauren Grimm. After a decade of home-based tinkering with fermentation, the couple decided to take their talents to the public. They literally develop their recipes in the kitchen of their NYC apartment and then travel to existing breweries to craft their beers. Sounds like the ultimate beer-geek brewing partnership, eh? That answer is undoubtedly yes! After sampling their new double IPA at Ommagang’s now infamous “Belgium Comes to Cooperstown” festival this past weekend, it was a pleasant surprise to see “Lambo Door” on tap at one of our well known B-Lo city watering holes on the very next work day. Do the doors of your IPA open the standard way, and not “up and out?” Well then, you don’t have Lambo Doors now do you? Not many of us are lucky enough. So be sure to seek this, dare I say soft and sexy, double IPA out before it’s too late. Grimm specializes in single-batch, limited-edition releases that may never come around again. This makes reviewing such beers difficult, since what’s the point if after reading the review, said beer is no longer available? Well, get used to it folks. This is the direction of craft beer. If you love real craft beer, limited quantities and releases are the new norm. Hopefully this softly balanced, XXIPA brewed with Citra, El Dorado, and Simcoe hops will be around to gently raise its doors for you to enter and take a ride.

>Chris Groves Certified Cicerone ®

Boy that was fun! Camping with a couple thousand people on the grounds of Brewery Ommegang for the “Belgium Comes to Cooperstown” beer festival has been the highlight of my summer events for several years. At no other beer fest would you expect to find a recreated entrance gate to the original Jurassic Park, a small Baywatch beach, inflatable water slides, giant Compact Disc chandeliers and people dressed as Beanie Babies. August 7th & 8th were two days of peace on earth. Inside all of the fun, there is actually serious business going on. The festival consistently showcases the best lineup of Belgian, Belgian-style and American Wild ales you’d ever see in New York in one place. The planning that goes into making the festival what it is, is astounding. Ommegang has always been on the forefront not only as a world class producer of Belgian-style ales but as a leader in beer festival production. They make you feel young[er] again, if not just for a weekend. Favorites didn’t just come from breweries, but cideries as well. Highlights included Ommegang’s Funky Saison, Perennial Artisan Ales’ Anniversaria, Awestruck Lavender Hops Cider, Awestruck Belgian Scrumpy Sour Cider, all the beer at our campsite and several more I can’t fit. The future of flavorful beer just came wrapped in a 1990’s theme. Ironic, plus we got to see the Meat Puppets.