Alphabet City Brewing Company - Sugar Plum Fairy

This limited-release beer from Alphabet City is inspired by Belgian dark ales, which are often brewed with Belgian candi sugar, not to sweeten the beer, but to raise the alcohol content as it's consumed and transformed by the yeast. Additionally, the brewers have incorporated real plum puree in order to complement the darker fruit esters associated with these dark Belgian ales. On the pour, this brew presents a brown hue with distinct reddish flashes, capped by a head of tan foam that drops to a persistent collar. On the nose, look for a prominent impression of dark malts, delivering plenty of caramelization, mild toastiness, hints of plum, and hints of yeasty phenols. Flavorwise, we picked up plenty of dark fruits, from the obvious plum to additional fig or raisin-like impressions, along with touches of spicy yeast, deep-down caramels, hints of molasses and brown sugar, and a dash of cacao. Hop bitterness comes through as moderate, with a bit of spice and a hint of citric acidity. For pairing options, we'd steer towards barbecued meats, especially when accompanied by a fruit-infused sauce, as well as crème brûlée with poached plums. Cheers!

Alphabet City Brewing Company is the brainchild of co-founders Jason Yarusi and Jeffrey Simón. Both men moved to New York in 2001 and met while working as bartenders at The Frying Pan, a former floating lighthouse which now serves as a floating bar at Manhattan’s Hudson River Park, where they worked for almost a decade. During this time, the duo became roommates, sharing an apartment on East 7th Street in the Alphabet City neighborhood of the East Village. While considering going into business together, perhaps by starting up their own bar, they began homebrewing in their kitchen after receiving a kit as a gift. What a fateful move that turned out to be. With a mutual love for beer and brewing, it was a natural step for them to launch a new NYC-based brewing company.

Jason and Jeffrey focused their attention on creating and perfecting a recipe for kölsch, a German style of blonde ale. Their goal was to craft a food-friendly beer which people would love to drink with a meal or on its own – and in large amounts. In 2012 the pair, and their beer, was ready; they launched Alphabet City Brewing Company with their blonde ale as their flagship, cornerstone product. Leveraging their extensive experience in NYC’s hospitality industry, they were able to build and grow personal relationships with local bars and restaurants. Now, in addition to their year-round 7th Street Blonde Ale, Alphabet City offers the year-round Village IPA as well as seasonal, limited-release, and draft-only brews. For more info, visit their website at acbcnyc.com.