Alphabet City Brewing Company - Village IPA

Pouring a copper-amber hue and capped with a robust head of off-white foam, Village IPA is attractive in the glass, and that attraction is amplified by the aromas that burst forth as soon as we started our pour. Look for a multifaceted hop profile offering plenty of citrus impressions along with notes of tropical fruits, melon, some herbal and piney tones, and maybe even a hint of berry. On the palate, the malt profile forms a solid and flavorful backbone with moderate caramel and toast impressions. The hoppy aroma notes come forth in the flavor too, while hop bitterness remains moderate, allowing the malts and hops to form a more balanced synergy than we see in many modern takes on IPA. For some of us, it was a bit of old school meets new school, as the satisfying malt core meets that very modern hop profile. For pairing options, we're thinking roasted chicken with mango chutney, or a similar dish that plays off the caramelization and fruity aspects of the beer. 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.