Catbird Neighborhood Favs: Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Brewery's Insulated Dark Lager - Photo: Samantha Niedospial 

I've walked past Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg a handful of times but it never occurred to me to go in. Thanks to a visiting friend I went on a recent Saturday afternoon and appreciated the brewery's existence in my neighborhood.

During my visit I met Hayes Peebles, a tour guide. I interviewed him after attending his free weekend tour where his buoyant humor plays a role in telling the brewery's story. Peebles explained that with every guide you gain a different experience of the brewery's history and brew process, but also a better understanding of the personalities involved—that of a comedian, beer expert, and brewer.

The Tasting room - Photo: Samantha Niedospial

The brewery began when founder Steve Hindy received a home brewing kit. I asked Peebles about his experience home brewing; the process for ales are easier to create at home than lagers. The yeast in lagers need to be set at colder temperatures for about 4-5 weeks. I contemplated giving it a go, sacrificing my refrigerator space and rent money on equipment. At this moment I've decided to leave it to the experts.

Brooklyn Brewery is a historical part of Williamsburg, having been here for over 25 years. It brought breweries back to a neighborhood where they used to thrive. It's become a staple that both visitors and locals can enjoy in learning about beer. 

Want to feel like a tourist for the day? Then take the free tour on the weekends or for those feeling more ambitious, take the extended version on the weekdays, which includes four beer tastings and the tour for $15. If you are looking for a spot to soak in natural light within an industrial setting, I'd recommend the tasting room.

Good to know: During the summer months they sell their Summer Ale in tallboy cans.

Lunch Lady: GOING PLACES!

My trip to Tulum, Mexico with a couple of very good friends. Here's what had happened and here's what I ate.

Welcome to AeroMexico! Our flight left at 7am so they gave us breakfast. Here you see a tiny omelet, some bread that no one ate,  5 tater tots, some tomato juice (that was later paired with vodka because it was free and I am not a very good flier) and the world's hottest coffee ever. The coffee was actually very good but we hit turbulence and then it was just a plane full of people desperately trying to lap up their scalding hot beverages before they got a chance to spill all over the place. My friend Brittany was wearing white jeans and I was very nervous for her.

We stayed in a bungalow on the beach and ate this ^ every morning at the hotel's restaurant. And it was FREE. I forget what name they gave it but it was Huevos Rancheros with scrambled eggs instead of fried. It also came with guacamole, black beans, tomato, cucumber, orange juice, coffee, one million corn tortillas, and (of course) some delicious tropical fruit that I am unfortunately allergic to :'(

While we were there I took every opportunity to beef up my spanish. I was pretty relentless and eventually even the waitress made fun of me saying that breakfast time had become a spanish class because of all my questions about the menu. It was hands down the best food I've ever had. 

Coming back home to make my own breakfast sucked. It really really sucked. Hard boiled eggs and Melba Toast? I nearly cried.

p.s. Mantequilla is butter. Who knew.

The place where we stayed was within walking distance to the Mayan Ruins. Now, when I say "within walking distance" I mean it was crazy crazy hot, everyone's directions were "walk down the beach and then make a left and then you can get there" and we wished we had bikes. But as luck should have it we were in Mexico so any kind of complaining was just ridiculous and strongly frowned upon. 

 It was so incredibly beautiful. I snuck into a tour group for a couple of minutes to learn some stuff about sacrificing people or whatever but it was soooo busy! We even made sure to go right when it opened but it was still overrun. Either way it was very interesting and I would like to go again with a personal guide.

I imagine it to be something very special without all that clutter <3

Here is Coqui Coqui! It's a perfumery in Tulum that is also a Hotel and an amazing amazing restaurant. Photographed here is the burger I had and part of my thumb. I got a burger because whatever, I don't know. It was probably a bad idea anyway because no one knew what "rare" meant and the only word I could think of to describe what I wanted in spanish was "sangre" and that is just a creepy thing to run around saying to people when you're talking about dinner. 

For example:

Me- "can I have it rare?"

Waiter- "I don't know what is rare"

Me- "bloody"

Waiter- "I'm sorry"

Me- "Sangre" *Blood

Turns out I can make people uncomfortable all over the world.

I also drank Tequila and lime. It was fantastic and I had a ton of it.

Anyway, my friends got amazing salads with fresh seafood and the most ripe avocados the earth has ever seen. Scott also got a carafe of Sangria that was full of fresh fruit and could've lasted a fortnight for someone who wasn't on vacation. 

On my last day I got on a plane and ate this. A "turkey" and cheese sandwich with some kind of  coffee flavored flan-ish dessert, another makeshift bloody mary, and a pretty decent tiny salad. We watched Jack Reacher which was almost as bad as Gigli and then they turned off the movie like 30 minutes before it ended! So now I have to see it all over again to figure out how Tom Cruise gets the girl back from the fingerless Siberian psycho.

That was my trip.

I hope you enjoyed it

<3 Ash

Lunch Lady: Alright Already!

I am so over this. 

I don't want snow or hats or coats or boots or cold kitchen floors anymore. I want sun and good music and good friends and fun and long long days on rooftops with ice cold beer.

I also want good food! The kind of food that reminds you that right now someone somewhere is getting tan on a beach with the bluest water you've ever seen. And maybe in a week or two it could be your turn... Don't forget to send me a postcard!

But yes back to the food. Delicious food. Here's where Cafe Mogador comes in- They have THE most amazing Mediterranean food I've ever had in Williamsburg. It's so incredibly perfect. And their backyard is amazing! 

I snagged this picture my friend Linda took so you can see what I'm talking about. I wish my living room looked like this but every time I try to keep a plant the poor thing bites the dust in a week or two. C'est la vie. 

I went one unseasonably sunny afternoon and had the Hummus Platter and Vegetarian Cous Cous. I might get it again for lunch today because I'm reminding myself how insanely delicious it was. They put raisins on top of my food. Raisins. And it was amazing. 

Also the coffee is good and it's just a nice beautiful place to sit and relax and chat with a friend. Or maybe a date. Or brunch! I went for brunch once and it was nice even though I was really in no shape to enjoy anything. Yeah, I want to go back there. Happy Spring, everyone!

<3 Ash

p.s. Here's this amazing song that reminds me of warmer weather ;-)

You're welcome.