BrewYork #4. Back Row (from l to r): Andy Zenyuch, John Kleinchester, Matt Steinberg, Greg Gallagher, Andrew Maiorana. Front Row: Lee Williams, David Flaherty, Paul Kavulak (Nebraska Brewing Co), Craig Sklar, Adam Sivits (on floor)

“Epic”: very imposing or impressive; surpassing the ordinary (especially in size or scale); “an epic voyage”; “of heroic proportions”

This past Friday night, we embarked on an epic voyage.  Like brave conquistadors in search of the riches of the world, our ragtag faction of BrewYorker’s (a group of NY-based homebrewers, probrewers, beer bloggers and all-around geeks of the grain) summoned the beer gods with a diverse offering of liquid bounty.

The fast-becoming-legendary monthly gathering is quite simple in design: each person brings two selections of rare or sought-after specialty beers.  Whether you traded them with beer geeks across the country, pulled them from the top shelf of the beer store or stole them from Uncle Jimmy’s Craft Beer Bunker (“don’t fuck with my brew stash for fear of dismemberment” it says on the door), it’s the time to dig deep.

The reward?  An educational, boozy journey through the darkest, most creative corners of the craft beer world.  It’s a beautifully diverse group of people knitted together with passion, and this month’s bottle list reflects it.

See below for the final list on our Friday night stage.  My personal favorites are in bold and with links to take you to websites for more info.

THE EPIC BREWYORK #5 BOTTLE LIST

1. Surly – Hell Keller Bier/Zwickel Bier
2. Half Acre/Three Floyds – Shewolf IPA
3. Odell – Mountain Standard Reserve ’09 Deep Mahogany Ale
4. Mikkeller – Funky Star Belgian Strong Pale Ale
5. Dogfish Head – My Antonia
6. Sierra Nevada – Fritz & Ken Stout
7. Sierra Nevada – Charlie, Fred & Ken Helles Bock
8. Sierra Nevada – Jack & Ken Barleywine
9. Cigar City – Jai Alai’ IPA
10. Russian River – Pliny The Elder Double IPA
11. Russian River – Damnation
12. Great Divide – Wild Raspberry Ale
13. Dark Horse – Smoked Stout
14. Capt. Lawrence – Smoke from the Oak (wine barrels)
15. New Belgium – Lips of Faith Le Fleur Misseur
16. Alesmith – Old Numbskull Barleywine
17. Great Divide – 16th Anniversary Oak Aged Double IPA
18. Mike/Simply Beer – Matrimoniale ESB Wedding Beer
19. Mike/Simply Beer – Double Matrimoniale
20. Mike/Simply Beer – Bourbon Barrel Aged Double Matrimoniale
21. Lost Abbey – Carnevale  Saison
22. Cigar City – 110K+OT
23. Cigar City – “Humidor Series” 110K+OT
24. Captain Lawrence – Cuvee de Castleton–Batch #3
25. Captain Lawrence – Cuvee de Castleton–Batch #4
26. Hoppin’ Frog – B.O.R.I.S The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout
27. Hoppin’ Frog – B.O.R.I.S The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout–Barrel Aged
28. Urthel – Hop-It Belgian IPA
29. Brooklyn – Blue Apron Ex-French Laundry Beer
30. Goose Island – Bourbon County Stout 2010
31. Panil – Barriquee 2007
32. Goose Island – Bourbon County Coffee Stout
33. Dogfish/Sierra – Life & Limb
34. Great Divide – 16th Anniversary Wood-Aged Double IPA
35. Dogfish Head – Sah’tea
36. Dogfish Head – Black & Blue
37. Stone – 14 Emperial IPA (14th Anniversary)
38. The Bruery – Oude Tart
39. Southern Tier – Cuvee Series Two
40. New Glarus – Wisconsin Belgian Red
41. Great Divide – Yeti
42. Long Trail – Brewmaster Series Coffee Stout
43. Ommegang – Ommegeddon
44. Captain Lawrence – Golden Delicious
45. Three Floyds – Dark Lord 2009

Kenny Sherr and Friends (photo by Katie DeGraff)

Tags: BrewYork, Brooklyn Brewery, Captain Lawrence, craft beer, Dogfish Head, Great Divide, Half Acre, Lost Abbey, NJ Beer Company, The Bruery, Three Floyds