Wading Through The Haze

Hey you, yes, you who's staring at that never-ending beer menu. Sure, you could go with the hazy IPA, undoubtedly to inherit countless likes on Instagram and help you forget the shitty work week you've had for a measly 8 or 9 bucks a pint. Hell, if that's our goal, why not go with a BBA RIS? It's all the rage and only comes in 6 ounce pours. While those styles are seemingly finding their way into every one of the (now over 5,000 breweries) in the US, I'm finding that the more I see these pop up, the more I gravitate towards the classics. Don't get me wrong, I've waited (and will wait again, I'm sure) in lines all over NYC for Double IPA’s, but for now, give me a pilsner, a pale, or a balanced IPA.

Standing at the bar at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn, choosing my first beer is no easy task. But with the aforementioned beers being more commonplace, I go with the "Seeking Panacea," an IPL with Kaffir Lime and NZ hops. Oh, and it's a collaboration with the world famous Mikkeler, the Danish brewery with brewpubs all around the globe, brewing fearlessly whatever style they feel like and doing it well. Perfect first choice, considering it's a rare 60+ degree February day in NYC, and I have about 6 hours to kill. I immediately regret ordering the half pour of what looks to be 11 ounces, because this was the perfect choice and it’s leaving me wanting more. Enough unique flavor and zest to entice the pallet after a long work week, but still sessionable and crisp enough to ensure I'll still be feeling fine tomorrow. 

As I finish my last few sips, I again stare at the beer menu. Threes not only has a phenomenal draft list of their beers, their guest beers rival some of the best bars around. Industrial Arts is a tough one to pass up. The head brewer, Jeff “Chief” O’Neill was once at the helm at one of my local gateway breweries, Ithaca, and created Flower Power, which could still be my favorite go to IPA. Regardless, I'm at Threes, and my gut check decision is to stick with one of their beers. This time, we're getting a full pour, and it's no contest, I'm ordering Vliet. Vliet Is Threes perfect pilsner. At least for me, this resembles the amazing pilsners I drank in Prague back in the Fall. Pilsners, while people aren't lining up down city blocks for them, when made right, can be just what the doctor ordered. You might be able to step into any brewery around the corner nowadays with an IPA made from a new experimental hop or appearing to be hazy af because it's been brewed heavily with oats, but a pilsner like this is hard to find. As many people say, there’s nothing to hide behind with a pilsner. Their description on the tasting sheet is perfect: "Clean, Sweet Hay, Herbal Hops, Verdant," and who am I to disagree. Thank you, Threes, for making an excellent pils and IPL, and giving me a chance to get through tonight and help me kick off NYC Beer Week without a massive hangover.

Cheers,

Ryan