Shmaltz Hop Manna
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor Selecting a beer called “Hop Manna” is about as close as I’ve come in years to celebrating Passover/Easter, but it had been too long since I’d had a Shmaltz Brewing Company (Saratoga Springs, NY, and...
A Trip to the West Side (of Keuka Lake)
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor Well, I’m once again the midst of my annual month-long break from alcohol –– but that doesn’t mean I can’t still enjoy a trip to Finger Lakes wine country. In need of a road trip...
Chick Beer: Surprisingly Delicious
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor I recently wrote about a lovable though rather dive-y tavern for a local newspaper, and a reader wrote in with a complaint about the establishment’s (in her opinion) less-than-friendly bathrooms. She pointed out that “for...
Saranac White IPA
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor You never know what’s going to shine in a blind tasting. That’s why it’s so important. Big-name beers from lauded breweries may actually be lackluster in a lineup, without the pomp and circumstance their fame...
At Gene McCarthy’s, a Local Irish Pub Gets a Beery Makeover
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor A very old Irish pub in a very old part of Buffalo is getting a fresh start and a bright future thanks to a group of local-obsessed craft beer freaks. Gene McCarthy’s, located in Buffalo’s...
The "Beers of the Year Finalists" That Didn’t Win… That We Loved
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor The best and worst aspect of our "Beers of the Year" program is the difficulty of choosing a favorite; while we agreed on Krysztoff, and Mark Tichenor has plenty more to tell you about that...
2011 Beer of the Year: Custom Brewcrafters Krysztoff Baltic Porter
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor On behalf of the New York Cork Report I’m proud to announce our 2011 Beer of the Year: Custom Brewcrafters Signature Series Krysztoff Baltic Porter. We’ll have more commentary on this amazing beer, and on...
Flying Bison Brewing Brindle Porter
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor A good porter feels like your favorite pair of jeans. It just fits — your tastes, the meal, the moment. I’m constantly in search of the perfect porter. It’s one of my favorite styles not...
Sixpoint Craft Ales Diesel
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor A good winter stout in a can. I dig it -- great packaging and I have to admit I like the visual and tactile experience of popping a can of stout. Diesel looks scrumptious in...
Niagara Gets a Little Hoppier
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor There are some exciting new vines in Niagara County –– well, make that bines. Rich and Bree Woodbridge, a charming and passionate young couple well-equipped for Niagara with a sense of adventure and a lot...
Southampton Publick House Double White
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor Long Island brewery Southampton Publick House has arrived in western New York and I can't think of a nicer way to ring in the holidays than with this consistently impressive brewery's lineup of interesting and...
Your Ultimate Guide to Pairing Beer and Cheese
By Julia Burke, Beer Editor and Aaron Estes, Cheese Editor Some say the best match for cheese is wine. We say those people are probably the ones who thought Buttercup should’ve stuck with Prince Humperdinck in The Princess Bride. Beer...
