Lunch at the Brooklyn Waterfront Alehouse
Greetings,
Today, as promised, you will leran of my adventures as I "lunch" at Peter's Waterfront Alehouse, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Lunch at the Brooklyn Waterfront Alehouse
11 May 2006 Thursday
By
Peter LaFrance
The Brooklyn Waterfront Alehouse has been dispensing beer and true beer-cuisine, for almost twenty years, tucked between Henry and Clinton Streets, on Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, USA.
Today it is on the "north" side of the Avenue, although true compass reading would have it on a slightly western side of the thoroughfare.
Still under a hood of scaffolding, it stares out in the daylight and smiles warmly in the evening hours. The cast iron façade sports a wide front window, hung with notices of events, bands and service awards and glowing neon beer company logos.
Entrance is through a wood framed glass door, festooned with decals from various credit-card companies and dining awards. Inside, to the immediate right are three tables in the window area. The bar that extends the length of the restaurant is to the right, under an illuminated New York City Skyline.
Today, Peter, the bartender, had selections of Nashville rockin' blues (1940-1970) on the music system and the last order of grilled shrimp waiting for me. It's a good thing I arrived when I did. If not, I am sure he would have had those last two orders of shrimp for himself.
As you can see from the picture below, I could not resist the aroma of spices that arose from the plate in front of me. Following the house procedure, as observed from Peter's attack on his shrimp, I used a knife and fork. Slipping the knife under the major shell case reveals the main portion of shrimp. A careful securing of the lose shell with a fork allowed me access to the singular morsel in the tail section. The texture was luscious, a slightly sweet, saline flavor with an almost lobster-tail texture, but rather lighter and more tender. Peter ate those shells and all.
Beverage was a pint of Rock Art Ridge Runner Ale. I failed to photograph. Perhaps because there were two of them and I forgot both times? Nevertheless, I present a photo of the beer list and rest assured you can take notes.
I can assure you it was an elixir of dark red copper topped with a one inch head of fine smooth light tan froth.
The resulting "lace" of bubbles left flattened and clinging to the sides of the pint, was prodigious, revealing a full malt content. A caramel aroma sweet flavor sensation slowly, so slowly yielded ground to a fresh green hop final kiss on the pallet.
Today I drank desert, a snifter of Gabriel & Andrieu Cognac. (Call for a "G&A"...) The aroma of fresh-cut wood aroma laced with a whiff of medicine cabinet (phenol) introduces a burst of warmth followed by an echo of cut wood finishing in traces of raisins.
And that was a light lunch...
Cheers!
Peter LaFrance
( peter.lafrance@beerbasics.com )
