Destinations: Spuyten Duyvil - Mikkeller Draft Bear

WILLIAMSBURG, New York. Some people, like dude with the amazing Beer Stocked Refrigerator (click on the link to be impressed by a fridge!), are better prepared than One Woman. Around 6:00 pm, One Woman still didn't know what the beer of the evening was going to be. So she called up This One Guy to meet at the mighty Spuyten Duyvil (another reason to heart New York City). And after all, with One Woman's week in nyc approaching the later half, a trip without a visit to SD would just be wrong. Late afternoon / early evening is my favorite time to go to SD, before it gets too crowded. Last night was the perfect evening to sit outside in their recently expanded backyard. With its gravely ground, wispy green life, mismatched patio furniture, and J/M/Z subway signs lying around, and flanked by the sides and backs of neighboring apartment buildings, it's a cute backyard. In a Williamsburgy way.

In any case, SD is probably the most serious beer venue New York City has that's open to the public. Since opening in 2003, they pride themselves on a selective stock of the "rare and obscure" "antiques and curios" from all over the place, including, but not limited to the US. Their emphasis is on European (continental and UK) beers, which sets them apart from the recent domestic-focused craft beer phenomenon, but without limiting themselves to one region. They usually have about 6 beers on tap and 1cask beer going, and these rotate quickly. Using Riedel stemware (fancy!!) for some of their pours, the place commands respect. Some of this seriousness, One Woman has yet to fully appreciate, being the young beer exploratrice she is. But what makes this place truly amazing is their beers, and if you're looking for adventure, depth, philosophy, a good time, or education, go here. One Woman can't help but love it.

The Beer (or "bear") of the evening was the Mikkeller Draft Bear. Mikkeller is a Danish Brewery that's a beer lover's dream of passion-turned career, and of cross-cultural collaboration. It's a young, Old World brewery, started by two home brewers, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and Kristian Klarup Keller, inspired by New World experimentalism. They challenge you to go on a "taste adventure" with them. Sign me up!

One Woman was unable to find any clues about why the Mikkeller Draft Bear is a "bear" (is it related to the mythical Boontville creature from Anderson Valley, the Beer?). But, the Draft Bear is sort of grizzly bear-colored. Named a righteous, Imperial Pilsner (!!), the Bear has slightly translucent reddish, copper color, that shines in the twilight sky. It has the pilsner smell (the fresh, yeasty whiff of pils malts), but nothing of your Danish grandpa's pilsner in color or flavor. At 8% ABV, it's a slow sipping beer that's warmly hopped and tastes like light brown sugar or that cotton candy flavor, but without being too sweet. All this is lovingly well-balanced to make a sexy, modern beer.

Musical Pairing: Thelonius Monk with John Coltrane, "Ruby, My Dear" (click on the link to listen). I love Monk and this is probably my favorite Monk tune, but I can't decide who I love more on this track. Is it Coltrane who can magically become transformed by Monk's style and still remain unmistakeably the Trane? Or Monk, 9 years Coltrane's senior, who has the ability to irresistibly draw in Trane who, left to his own devices, plays soaring long melodies that are gorgeous, but almost diametrically opposed to Monk's angular style that bursts with small explosions everywhere? Hearing these two very, very different players come together and blend so smoothly is nothing short of a miracle!