Harlem Brewing Company - Sugar Hill Golden Ale

This brew presents a rich golden amber color topped by a sizeable, fluffy, off-white head that retains very well and drops to a persistent collar. Unlike some golden ales, Sugar Hill offers up a readily discernable malt character on the nose, with a nice touch of caramel, some biscuits, and a wisp of toffee. Hops add an earthy, mildly floral note with a dab of citrus. On the palate, expect a substantial feel for a golden ale, with considerable smoothness. This is not one of the wimpy versions of the style that we often encounter. The malts provide notes of caramel and mild sweetness, while the hop contribution lends a bit of a lightly spicy and citric flavor and balancing acidity. A very drinkable, sessionable ale, Sugar Hill should pair well with an enormous variety of foods. We tried it with baked chicken with spicy rice, and it was great! Cheers!

Legend has it that during Prohibition a beer was brewed surreptitiously in Harlem, NY that became popular throughout Harlem and was the drink of choice for many of the musicians and artists of the Harlem Renaissance. Inspired by this story, Celeste Beatty began experimenting with homebrewing in her Harlem apartment in the mid '90s. After travelling extensively to study brewing, working in breweries both in New York as well as Europe, Beatty opened Harlem Brewing Company in 2000 and launched Sugar Hill Golden Ale, which can be found in restaurants throughout Harlem, including the iconic Sylvia's and famed chef Marcus Samuelsson's Red Rooster.

Sugar Hill Golden Ale is currently brewed in Saratoga Springs, but Beatty is working on plans to build a brewery in Harlem in the near future, while expanding the lineup to include several more styles. A portion of the brewery's profit is donated to the Jazz Foundation of America, which helps musicians with various expenses including instruments and housing. For more info, visit www.harlembrewingcompany.com.