rare Brooklyn Brewery casks

ChurchKey has been having a bunch of nice rare cask tappings. The had the head brewer of Brooklyn Brewery in for a beer dinner and he brought five rare Brooklyn casks down with him. I wasn't able to get tickets to the dinner but had to go sample one or two of those casks. Teri and I went after work. I spotted Garrett Oliver hanging with the beer manager Greg near the bar before they started their dinner. Once the dinner started Teri and I were able to get a seat at the end of the bar.

The first beer I tried was the Dark Matter. It was great. It is a strong brown ale aged in bourbon and whiskey barrels. You could really smell the liquor but it didn't have an overpowering taste. A great beer to sip in the evening.

Teri got the Sabroso Ale and it was also excellent. I was really loving that beer on cask. I could drink a lot of that. I ordered one after the Dark Matter. We had a sample of the Cookie Jar Porter but it wasn't anything either of us were in the mood for at the time. After a couple appetizers we took off to watch the Caps in round one of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Description of the five Brooklyn beers...

5 Ultra Rare Cask Ales From Brooklyn Brewery

Brooklyn Sabroso Ale: Garrett graciously casked this brew for our event and this is the first time it has made an appearance in the DC area (it is brewed primarily for Danny Meyer's NYC taco bar, El Verano). A refreshing Blonde Ale, with nice hoppy notes (as it is dry-hopped w/ Simcoe) and a touch of citrus (from the addition of orange peels).

Brooklyn Cookie Jar Porter: For those who you who have bemoaned the limited, one-off aspect of Brooklyn's Brewmaster's Reserve Series, here is a cask version of something we thought we wouldn't see anytime soon. Some call this an oatmeal cookie in a glass, and rightfully so. It is a rich Porter with a touch of roast, brewed with golden oats for a silky texture. Raisins, brown sugar, honey, vanilla-beans and a dash of spice all further the complexity of deliciousness!

Brooklyn Dark Matter: Not only is this the most recent Brewmaster's Reserve release, and one of the best yet, but it is unprecedented to see this on CASK!. This is a strong Brown Ale aged in both Bourbon and Rye Whiskey barrels then blended to taste. Sweet Bourbon notes mingle with spicy Rye, and all is balanced by the caramel richness of oak.

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale: A take on the classic IPAs of England, this brew is a golden hue from choice English malt, and has big hop aromas of lemongrass, pine and citrus. Robustly bitter, with a warming malt palate, and a clean hoppy finish.

Brooklyn Best Bitter: This is the cask version of Brooklyn's ever-popular Pennant Pale Ale. It is honey-colored, with a brisk, malty taste, and a nicely balanced hop character. Brewed from Scottish Maris Otter malt, this ale shows biscuity and toasted notes as well as a round smoothness.