Interesting Beer: Sour Porter and Rye Session Ale

I had a good run of beer in NYC's East Village over the weekend. While there was no shortage of tasty ales, here are a couple of the more memorable ones I recommend looking out for.

Dark Humor
Ithaca Beer Company
American Porter | 7.00% ABV

A- / 4.05
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

Had a 10 oz. pour at Good Beer in the East Village. I like the balanced Brett character. I wouldn't have guessed the strength, but maybe the wild yeast has helped dry this one out a bit, the mild tang certainly seems to lift the body. Otherwise there's a wonderful, clear chocolate roast with a little bit of candy sweetness. The Brett pops in for a sharp, slightly acidic citrus note, but not much else. Heck of a beer.

Ryely Summer Rye Ale
Davidson Brothers Restaurant & Brewery

B / 3.58
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Had an imperial pint at Drop Off Service in the East Village. It was billed as a summer rye ale, and I believe it. This is just a nice, satisfying session beer in the same vein as an American wheat ale in that it's simple and clean, showing off a non-barley specialty malt. Instead of the sweet, bready wheat taste, this has the spicier rye character. Very drinkable and though it wasn't the most complex rye beer I've had by a long shot, I'd happily have a couple more pints.

NYC Beer Hunting

It wasn't really a safari or anything, but I had an eye out for new and rare beers. I hit gold at the Blind Tiger in West Village. I had previously tried maybe six out of their 30 tap offerings. For reference, this is a nice change form when I'd go to Kelly Cole's in Syracuse and have trouble finding something new (and good) on their 70 taps.

I had the Captain Lawrence Liquid Gold, and damn, the name didn't lie. It was a near perfect American adaptation (more hops) of a Belgian pale ale. Yummy. Other noteable beer of late were '06 vintages of the 18% abv World Wide Stout and 11% Immort Ale from Dogfish Head. The WWS was just big and boozy for the most part, but the Immort Ale, a barleywine, knocked my socks of with it's big oak, vanilla, and licorice flavors than blended over the sweet caramel malts.