The Problem With "Steal the Glass" Promotions

A popular event at many pubs is the deceptively named "Steal the Glass" night. There's usually a few beers offered from a featured brewery, and the patron gets to "steal" a special glass, featuring the brewery's logo. Often that glass is a simple shaker pint, other times the glass can be unique or interesting in some way. 

The fallacy of the promotion is that with few exceptions, the drinker isn’t "stealing" anything, they are actually paying extra for the beer, in order to keep the "free" glass. I have dozens of glasses I’ve acquired at Steal the Glass events, but often times I simply don’t want the glass, and I certainly don’t want to pay extra for a glass I don’t need. And therein lies the rub.

We went out for dinner at a local pub the other night. I had seen a post on Facebook that the restaurant was "featuring" SweetWater Brewery, and pouring their 420 Pale Ale and SweetWater's 20th Anniversary Imperial Hash IPA. However, when we arrived we learned the beers were part of a "Steal the Glass" promotion. In addition, there were actually no SweetWater Brewery specific glasses being offered. Instead we would pick from leftover glasses from previous events — it was a "garage sale."

Wanting to try the Imperial Hash IPA, but not wanting to buy a random piece of glassware not even related to the featured brewery, I inquired if I could get the beer at the regular price and not pay the premium to "steal the glass." As I knew it would be, the answer was in the negative. I knew that because I had asked in the past, with the same answer. I didn't need or want the glass, so I ordered a different beer enjoy. Fortunately, I did have a very tasty Heavy Seas Loose Cannon IPA served from a cask.

We end up at this establishment on Wednesdays often, so we happen to hit their "Steal the Glass" nights with some regularity. And indeed, there are often interesting beers being offered. On occasion I even opt to pay to "steal," and take home an interesting glass. However, on more than one occasion we have been refused the featured beer for not wanting to pay extra for a glass. A pub should have glasses in which to serve beer without requiring the patron to buy one.

I wonder, could I bring back some purchased glasses and get refills at a discount?

Too much 'extra' glassware already

Emptied Those Heavy Seas Kegs For You

On Friday evening we headed over to Park Lane Tavern to enjoy some Fish 'n Chips for dinner. Park Lane does a pretty decent version of the classic platter, and there's good beer. I had missed the Heavy Seas Brewing "Steal the Glass Night" earlier in the week, but was pleased to see the brewery's tap handles still up. There were three beers from the Baltimore brewery available; Siren Noire Imperial Chocolate Stout, Double Cannon Imperial IPA, and Winter Storm "Category 5" Ale, which was served on cask. Decisions, decisions. The bartender offered us sample of all three, which we didn't turn down.

The Winter Storm Ale is one of my favorite beers from the brewery. The cask serving was hitting a very nice temperature and carbonation level, so that was my decision. As I watched the server pull the handle to pump the beer, he remarked that the cask was getting empty and this was to be the last serving he'd be able to pour. Whew, just in time. 

The large snifter got me through dinner with ease. I typically pick up a case of this beer when it comes out each winter but didn't get to that this year. I was glad to have gotten this pint to enjoy.

For her selection, Colleen had the Siren Noire. Once again, as the beer was being poured, the keg started running dry. I think the bartender was a bit flustered, but it had been a few days since the STG event, so it was not unexpected. I actually didn't think they'd still have the beers available at all.

This is a new Heavy Seas beer that we'd not had yet. The aroma and flavor was ripe with dark fruit, bitter chocolate, vanilla and oaky bourbon. At 9.5% ABV it's a rich, enjoyable sipper.

We had an pleasant dinner with a couple of excellent beers. I even snagged a Heavy Seas 20th Anniversary coaster for my collection. We opted to not try for emptying the Double Cannon keg! 

I Needed That

It was one of those weeks. Late nights at work. Early mornings at work. Little time for anything else, except sleep. By Thursday evening I was running on fumes, but I managed to meet Colleen and our friend Checkered Flag for dinner at Park Lane Tavern. My energy level peaked a bit when I saw the top listing on the pub's rotating draft menu — Heavy Seas Winter Storm. One of my old long-time favorites!

It's been a while since I've enjoyed this excellent Extra Special Bitter-inspired beer. And it was on draft even! I used to pick up a case each winter when it came out but haven't for a couple years. I sipped my pint slowly, savoring the roasted and caramel malt flavors, and the citrus hops at the finish. Park Lane has added a few new menu items recently, and I opted for the new jalapeño burger topped with sriracha sauce and pepper cheese. The Winter Storm was a perfect foil to the flavorful and very spicy sandwich.  

I've often said that a pint of ale is a great pick-me-up after a tiring day. This evening was no exception, and soon I was feeling revived. Unfortunately the invigorating effect is not cumulative, so I enjoyed just one pint of this old favorite before heading home for a brief rest to prep for another day.

A "Soulful" Evening of Beer

I went out for a quick dinner last night, heading over to Park Lane Tavern. When I arrived I learned they were having a "Steal the Glass" night featuring Green Flash Soul Style IPA. The glass with the premium price point was a simple logo shaker pint, so I wasn't really interested in the glass, but opted to try the beer nonetheless.

Green Flash Soul Style pours a clear and bright copper color with a thin, short-lived head. The aroma is sweet fruit and somewhat resinous. The initial flavor is bitter citrus and pine, with a touch of sweetness showing up as well. The finish is slightly bitter with some lingering resin coating in the mouth. Green Flash beers are typically bold and brusk on the palate. Soul Style while tasty, might be a let down for Green Flash fans used to beers like Road Warrior and Green Bullet.

My glass emptied, but still some food on my plate, I recalled the tasty Starr Hill Soul Shine I enjoyed recently at Park Lane. I opted to continue the evening's "soul" theme with a glass of that cask conditioned beer. At first the flavor seemed somewhat muted, after the more intense Soul Style. Of course, my tastebuds soon adapted and I enjoyed the smooth cask beer while finishing my meal.

Starr Hill Soul Shine

We headed out Thanksgiving Eve for a quick meal at Park Lane Tavern. The beer menu at Park Lane is fairly static, but it's the rotating tap list that typically gets my interest. This evening the cask selection was Starr Hill Soul Shine, a Belgian-Style Pale Ale. I find that with this style, it's hit or miss if the beer tends towards "Belgian" or "Pale Ale." Though either end of that spectrum is fine with me.

The beer was served in 20 ounce snifters, and sported a thick creamy head. Copious bubbles were still rising to the top as the glasses were set before us, and we thought at first it was a nitro pour. Reaching for the glass I could tell that it was coming out at a good temperature as well.

The aroma was that of citrus, with some earthy Belgian yeast. There was also a hint of peppery spice. The flavor brought forth more of the Belgian yeast spiciness, but the citrus notes certainly came forward as well. A bit of sweet biscuity malt rounded out the flavor profile. The finish was clean with very little aftertaste.

A prominent feature of the beer was the creamy mouthfeel. Despite this being a Summer seasonal from Starr Hill, it was my first time drinking the beer. I don't know how much of the creaminess was from the cask serving or if the beer has a naturally smooth mouthfeel. It certainly merits further research. In any event, we enjoyed Soul Shine quite a bit, and the cask serving seemed especially well-done. I expect it'll show up again, as Starr Hill beers seem to make the rotating cask list frequently at Park Lane.

Guest Wi-Fi: Not So Much

I was enjoying dinner and beer at a local pub recently and attempted to use their Wi-Fi, something I had done in the past at this same location.

Locked Wi-Fi access sort of defeats the whole "guest" thing, don't you think?

Social Media Pub Fail

I admit it, I'm somewhat of an internet-nerd. I use social media and my cell phone to find out about events and keep up with the news. Each afternoon, I check the Facebook pages of my favorite local pubs to see if there's anything I shouldn't miss. I dutifully checked Wednesday afternoon, found nothing of interest, so I went shooting. Imagine my disappointment when I checked the Park Lane Tavern page on Thursday and saw this:

A quick calculation of "20 hours ago" put that post right about 5:00PM on Wednesday. That's the time the STG events typically start, and about one hour after I last checked the page. I'm really not interested in another Blue & Gray glass, but Blue & Gray Baron von Steuben Oktoberfest is one of my favorites from the brewery. Given that the Blue & Gray brewpub is no longer open to the general public, I would have definitely gone by Park Lane for a pint.

Well, at least I found time to hit the range, and I hopefully the beer will be available for a few more days, but wouldn't some advance notice make good marketing sense?

More Starr Hill Glasses

We headed over to Park Lane Tavern earlier this week for an unplanned, on a whim, dinner out. When we arrived, I saw a sign that they were sponsoring a Steal the Glass night. We quickly learned that the featured brewery was Starr Hill from Crozet, Virginian. Well, this was a nice surprise.

It turned out they had not one, but two, Starr Hill beers available; Double Platinum IPA and The Love Hefeweizen. As an added bonus, the IPA was the rotating cask selection. Our server quoted us the price of the beer, both with and without the glass to "steal," and we opted to pay the extra to get the promotional glassware. In what should be no surprise, I opted for the cask IPA. Colleen and Checkered Flag selected the Hefeweizen.

The Double Platinum IPA came out at just the right temperature and sporting a creamy, full head. The aroma is pine and floral hops. A herbal and pine hop profile combined with a sweet, caramel malt base make this an easy-drinking IPA. There's a pleasing "sharpness" to the taste, but it does not overwhelm. The Love is a light-bodied Hefeweizen. I didn't drink any this round, but have reviewed it previously.

More logo glassware is not something we really need more of in the house, but it's fun to have around. I claimed a Starr Hill monic pint glass at Park Lane last year and I use that frequently. I'm enough of a beer-nerd that I often try to use a matching brewery glass, if I have one. There are even a few "free" glasses I've picked up that have become favorites. Now we just need a little more cabinet space.

Storms and an IPA

We went over to Park Lane Tavern for a mid-week dinner last evening. There were severe storms in the area but we avoided any issues during our travels. We did see a bit of excitement as a fire alarm had been sounding outside of the shops prior to our arrival, but had ceased by the time the fire department arrived. Apparently there is no central control as the fire fighters were walking from shop to shop looking around, as well driving their trucks around the area, trying to find the source. A group of them came into Park Lane to look around and we joked that the fireman with the pike pole looked like he really wanted to tear out a ceiling somewhere. Fortunately, no fires were found.

Park Lane was having a "Steal the Glass" night featuring Widmer Brothers Upheaval IPA, so I opted to pay the glass premium and try out a new-to-me beer. Widmer Brothers is known for their ubiquitous Hefeweizen, but I don't recall trying anything else from them. But of course, an IPA always intrigues.

Upheaval IPA pours a cloudy caramel orange color with a decent white head. Grapefruit citrus and pine aromas are moderately strong. The beer itself is rich with bitter grapefruit citrus. It's a pithy and resinous combination. A slightly sweet malt base peaks through, but the bitter citrus notes linger in the finish. I was surprised at just how strong the flavor profile was in this beer. I've generally written off Widmer as just another "grocery store" beer. Honestly, I didn't even think about them beyond their flagship Hefeweizen. I know now, they have a pretty decent IPA too.

Park Lane keeps a rotating cask beer on their menu, though the wait staff should really stop introducing it as "warm and less carbonated." This evening's selection was RJ Rockers Son of a Peach, a wheat beer made with peaches, which Colleen selected. I had a small sip, and stated, "Wow, fuzzy peaches." I expected syrupy sweet, but I tasted peaches. It's not my choice in beer, but still interesting, and Colleen enjoyed it. The other beer in the picture one of Checkered Flag's favorites, and a staple at Park Lane, Belhaven Scottish Ale. And that's our son's glass of water too.

It was an enjoyable evening watching the storms pass through, while partaking in some good food and beer with family and friend. That's always a nice way to celebrate getting halfway through the work week. It's all downhill to the weekend from here!

And Finally, Beer

It's been a week since I bemoaned the recent "all work and no play" trend, but we finally got in a visit to one of our local pubs to enjoy some good beer and food. As our friend Checkered Flag recently lamented, "We need to get back into our fun routine." To that end, Wednesday evening we headed over to Park Lane Tavern for their Breckenridge Vanilla Porter, on nitro, Steal the Glass event.

It's been a while since we visited Park Lane, and I was pleased to see they've expanded their "rotating taps" list, now with 5 beers, plus a cask selection. As much as I was looking forward to the nitro Porter, I was tempted by some of the other selections. Well, maybe I'll have a second beer...

The Breckinridge Vanilla Porter poured a deep chocolate color with a think mocha head, with the attractive nitro carbonation slowing rising to the top. This was a very handsome looking beer. I could hardly restrain myself while Colleen grabbed a photo. The aroma is very faint, with vanilla and milk chocolate notes. The flavor is mainly sweet milk-rich coffee and vanilla. The mouthfeel was extremely smooth and creamy. The beer goes down easily and quickly. At just 4.7% ABV that's not a problem though. 

I've had this popular beer before, both from a bottle and a standard tap. I've found it a touch too sweet for my tastes typically. It's not a beer I could drink more than one of in a sitting. It seemed to me however the flavor this time was less cloying that I recall. Perhaps that's the effect of the nitro, but in any case it was quite tasty and indeed. If there weren't other beers to try, I would have had another!

In the food area, I had my mind set on Fish & Chips for dinner, planning to combine it with the nitro-poured Porter for hint of Ireland. (I've sworn off Guinness in the U.S. after enjoying it in Ireleand.) However, Park Lane was featuring a Wild Game Bangers and Mash entrée that was especially tempting. The bangers were made with elk and venison. So I switched food plans and went that dish. I'm glad I did. The meat was very tasty, as was the accompanying "mash" and other vegetables. 

To go along the Bangers & Mash I ordered a pint of Anderson Valley Winter Solstice Seasonal Ale. This reddish-copper colored ale had a rich caramel malt flavor enhanced with subtle spices. The spiced ale was a very nice compliment to the herbs and spices in the sausage. Colleen and Checkered Flag both ordered glasses of the cask selection, New Holland The Poet. Poured into a large snifter, the from-the-cask serving came out at just the right temperature. (Sadly, I've accepted the fact that most beers served in America are set out too cold and require patience before enjoying.) I stole a couple few many sips from Colleen's glass. This Oatmeal Stout was rich in roasted coffee and copious oatmeal, along with a hint of citrus hops in the background. I may have to order this one for myself next time.

We had a very enjoyable evening at Park Lane. We're frequent, but not regular visitors to the pub, but it seemed to me they've stepped up their beer game a notch, and my entrée was one of the better meals I've enjoyed there. Oh yea, those infamous "kilts"? They seem to be gone. I realize the "mini" kilts on the girls were a gimmick, but neither those nor the usually-too-long kilts on the guys were very authentic. The black pants on most of the employees we saw this week gave a much more professional look. I can't say I will miss the "kilts." I do realize from reading the comments on the Facebook that I'm probably in the minority with that opinion. I look forward to visiting again and seeing what happens next.

The Elusive Blue Mountain Oktoberfest

A few weeks ago when we visited Blue Mountain Brewery, I was disappointed they were out of their Oktoberfest beer. Then, last week, Park Lane Tavern was advertising a Steal the Glass event featuring the beer, so I planned to try again for a taste. Shortly before that event was to start, they replaced the featured Blue Mountain beer with Sam Adams Oktoberfest -- I suspect a scheduling or supply issue. (Fortunately I saw that announcement before I left the house.) The STG event was rescheduled to this week. Colleen and I took advantage of that on Wednesday and finally got our pints of Blue Mountain Oktoberfest, and a couple of really nice Blue Mountain Barrel House snifters too.

Blue Mountain Oktoberfest pours a brilliant amber-orange color with a persistent head. The aroma is malty with toasted grain. The flavor presents a big, rich toasted malt base with toffee and some nuttiness thrown in. That malty base is balanced with a very pleasing earthy, hop bitterness. The bitter hops linger a bit in a clean finish. Our overall impression of this beer was succinctly summed up by Colleen after her first sip, "This is good."

After I finished my snifter full, we still had some time to linger so I ordered a standard pint of the Oktoberfest. The long hunt for this elusive beer was well worth the effort. I wonder if I'll get a crack at another pint this season...

Starr Hill Grateful Pale Ale

I've been looking forward to trying out this new summer seasonal from Starr Hill. Since Park Lane Tavern was featuring the beer in their "Steal the Glass" promotion this week, I decided that would be the perfect place to try the beer, and I'd pick up a new Starr Hill glass on top on it.

Grateful Pale Ale pours a clear pale golden color with a thin head. The aroma is full of citrus and grassy hops with a hint of an earthy background. The flavor is also a mix of tangy citrus and piney hops. There's a mild caramel malt base, with a bit of a toasted aspect providing a mild, bitter finish. The overall flavor is fresh and clean. The beer checks in at just 4.7% ABV, adding to the ease of enjoyment.

This new beer from Starr Hill was introduced as part of the brewery's summer variety pack, which also includes Northern Lights India Pale Ale, Starr Pils Lager and The Love. According to the Starr Hill web site, Grateful Pale Ale will also be available in six-packs starting in May. This is a seasonal offering which will be available only through July.

I don't bother writing about a beer unless I enjoy it, but Starr Hill Grateful Pale Ale goes beyond that qualification. I really like this beer! It's got plenty of hop goodness, but is not overwhelming. The beer is light bodied, low in ABV, and quite refreshing. It's got all the makings of a great summer refresher. I suspect this will be a "go to" beer this summer.

Starr Hill Cryptical on Cask

Friday evening we headed out for dinner at Park Lane Tavern. I had decided on a malty Scotch Ale when our server let us know the evening's cask selection was Starr Hill Cryptical. I initially could not remember what style that represented, nor could the server. However, by the time she returned with a sample, I had looked it up (yea, smart phones) and had made my decision. Imperial Stout. Served on cask. Yea, that's just the ticket to go with our Fish & Chip entrées.

We were taken by surprise when the beers arrived. They was served in larger than expected, two-hands needed, snifters. The Cryptical Imperial Stout is pure black with a moderate beige head. As the glass is emptied, a very sticky lacing is left behind. The aroma is faint, mostly roasted malt and mild coffee, with some floral hop notes. Dark roasted malt, bitter chocolate and earthy hops make up the taste profile. A hint of citrus comes through in the finish, but the roasted, bitter malts linger as the mainstay in the dry finish

Served from cask, the beer was low in carbonation and served at just the right temperature. There was no need to wait for the beer to warm to release the rich flavors. We enjoyed sipping on our beers during dinner, and while lingering long after we had finished eating.

Finally, More Insanity

After a false start last week, Park Lane Tavern put on the rescheduled Steal the Glass* night earlier this week, featuring Blue & Gray Temporary Insanity Stout. Despite having had dinner out three of the previous four nights, we couldn't resist taking part. (Hey, Lent starts in less than two weeks; I'll make up for it!) It's also fun way to support our local brewery.

The beer was served in tall 20 ounce pilsner-style glasses with the Blue & Gray logo. I was expecting the usual shaker pints, of which I have many from the brewery. The nicer glass was a pleasant surprise. The intense roasted, espresso flavor of the stout is enjoyable and hides the 13% ABV well. I enjoyed a small bit about Temporary Insanity at the brewpub recently, and there's not much more to add to the review. It tasted great as usual. This time I was happy to have the time to sit for a full glass of the beer, instead of the quick half pint of the previous serving. I have a couple of bottles in the beer fridge as well, so when I next enjoy Temporary Insanity, I might even pour more than one glass!

It was a good looking beer.

*Steal the Glass is a bit of a misnomer. I'm pretty sure we paid for those glasses.

Thanks to Colleen for getting a picture in the low light.

Disappointing Menu Change

I was perusing Facebook earlier today and I saw that Park Lane Tavern has listed an exciting "Steel the Glass" selection for this evening. Blue & Gray Temporary Insanity Stout was to be the featured beer. As soon as I saw their announcement I began making plans to get over there after work.

Fortunately I checked back later and saw that they had deleted that post and announced a different selection for the evening; Heiniken & Newcastle. Well, that's disappointing. Neither of those will tempt me to visit. I think I'll visit my refrigerator instead.

What also caught my eye in the Park Lane Facebook post was the photo they had found to use in their original promotion. Look familiar?

Seriously, I am glad they found the picture and am happy they wanted to use it. (Though attribution is considered polite.) My dismay is that they cancelled a tempting craft beer selection, for something this is, well, less than tempting.

Chips? Or Not?

During a recent visit to Park Lane Tavern, my astute son made an observation on the pub's menu. "They're not very consistent," he noted.

He noted that the "Fish & Chips," served with what we call "fries" in the U.S.

He then pointed out the "Tavern Chips."

He's an unabashed potato fan so it's no surprise that he was studying these menu items. Of course, he also remembers his potatoes from our Ireland trip. His suggestion was that if they're listing "Fish & Chips," then the second menu item should actually be "Tavern Crisps."

Devils Backbone Kilt Flasher

Photo by Colleen

A few weeks ago we were dining at Park Lane Tavern and saw a sign for an upcoming "Steal the Glass" night featuring Kilt Flasher Scottish Ale from Devils Backbone Brewing. I marked the date on my calendar, and Wednesday returned for an evening of good beer and food. I was soon joined by wife and son, and also Checkered Flag who drove down from Northern Virginia to join our little party.

The Kilt Flasher was served in a Devils Backbone logo glass. I've got one other of these glasses from another event and it's a nice glass, easy to hold and good looking too. The souvenir glass was an added bonus to the good beer. Kilt Flasher is a dark reddish-brown in color with a sturdy beige head. The aroma is sweet malt caramel with some earthy undertones. The slightly sweet taste has some nuttiness and a hint of bitter hops. A sweet malt flavor remains in the finish. The 8% ABV makes this one a sipper, though the alcohol is well-masked. A long, relaxed meal gave me time to enjoy a couple pints of this seasonal release.

We started our meal with the pub's Tavern Chips. The crispy house-made potato chips are topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, scallions and BBQ sauce. The bacon and sweet BBQ sauce went quite well with the malty beer. And then in a fine example of the diversity of beer and food pairing, we proved to ourselves that the beer goes just as well with spicy Tavern Wings.

The good beer and food provided a fun, and tasty, mid-week diversion.

Homecoming Date Night

It's the night of the Homecoming Dance at the boy's high school, and I have a date! No, not for the dance, but with my lovely wife. Colleen and I took advantage of our son's night out to have a date of our own.

Park Lane has a decent, though not overly exciting, beer menu, so I usually look for the rotating taps or cask offerings. One of the rotating beers this evening was Starr Hill All Access Saison, which Colleen selected. Darker in color than expected,  with a bigger malt profile than some Saisons we've enjoyed, she found it pleasant. For my selection I opted for the seasonal Sam Adams Oktoberfest. The sweet and slightly toasted malt base with a just hint of bitterness makes for an enjoyable libation. I look forward this offering from the Boston Beer Company each year, and had not yet enjoyed it on draft this season. Served in a 20 oz version of the classic Sam Adams glass, it looked as good as it tasted.

Having nowhere to go until the dance ended, we ended up lingering over our dinner and beers, sitting and talking for a long time. It's a rare evening when we are able to just sit and enjoy each other's company. Certainly far, far more exciting any Homecoming date I had as a teenager!

Date Night

Colleen and I treated ourselves to a "date night" Friday evening. It being a Friday in Lent, our choices were limited to non-meat dishes. That meant we pretty quickly decided on the Fish & Chips at Park Lane Tavern. The lightly battered white fish filets are quite tasty and one of our favorite menu items there. Of course, we needed some good beers to go along with the food. I prefer a smooth, maltier beer to go with the light flavor of the fish, rather than a strong, bitter hoppy beer. Park Lane's menu offers several apropos selections.

Colleen opted for Fuller's Extra Special Bitters. This English Ale is a dark reddish-brown in color with a mildly bitter, nutty flavor. For my selection, I opted for a Belhaven Scottish Ale. This beer is a available in several ABV ranges, Park Lane serves the 3.9% ABV "session beer." The beer comes to the table looking like a light-colored milkshake, with a cascade of nitrogen induced carbonation. The flavor is mild toffee and caramel, with just a hint of bitterness. As expected, the mouthfeel is creamy and smooth, leaving behind a faint sweetness. It was quite enjoyable, even for this fan of big and bold ales.

We finished our meal with a shared dessert of Irish Whiskey Bread Pudding. The Park Lane version of this classic is served with ice cream. It's tasty, but the whiskey part was not quite noticeable. I prefer the version we serve around here. However, we still enjoyed it very much it while we sipped a couple of mugs of coffee and relished a fun evening out.

Forget the Glass Night

Wednesday is the Steal the Glass night at Park Lane Pub. This week we stopped in for dinner with family and a friend. I was pretty excited when I saw the picture of a nice looking nonic pint the restaurant had posted to their Facebook page to promote the featured brewery, Brooklyn Brewery. Alas, upon our arrival I found out that the glass was actually a standard shaker pint.  Oh well, we were there for the food and beer anyway. (Park Lane later removed the post and replaced it with a photo of the actual glass they were using.)

Three Brooklyn beers were offered; Local 1, Lager, and East India Pale Ale. Our server informed us that the Local 1 came with two glasses, "like sharing a bottle of wine" he said. While I do enjoy Local 1, our plans called for attending a lecture after dinner, so I opted for a "smaller" beer, the East India Pale Ale.

The server brought my drink, I realized I had made an assumption I should not have. She had in her hands my Brooklyn glass, and a bottle of the beer. When describing the beers offered, the server had mentioned the large bottles of Local 1, but didn't mention the other beers were in bottles. Being in a pub, it didn't even cross my mind. "Oh, it's in a bottle." I remarked. "Of course, that's how we can offer so many," was the reply. Okay, whatever, it's a good beer. I poured my beer, which didn't fill the glass, of course.

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale pours a clear amber color with a thin head. There's not much of an aroma, mostly some mild earthy and fruit notes. The flavor was much stronger than indicated by the smell. The beer has a nice caramel sweetness, followed by a fairly intense citrus rind bitterness. That bitter hop flavor lingers for a long time.

Despite a couple of initial disappointments, I enjoyed my dinner. The beer was good, the Pub Club sandwich satisfying, and of course the enjoyable company. We had a great time talking and laughing, including some joking about the glass mixup and the bottled beer surprise. Afterwards we enjoyed the lecture, followed by a stop for ice cream at Carl's. On the way home, it hit me. "Where's my glass?" Sitting on the table back at the restaurant, that's where. Oh well. At least it wasn't the nonic pint glass!