Thurdsday,
January 17, 2008

Heartland is always a reliable choice when you need a quality craft-brew; tonight was no exception. We called the meeting early because Kevin and Jim had to leave at 8:30 to pick up their gymnasts.

I drank at the front bar until the guys arrived. Unlike the Union Square location, which has a long bar and high ceilings, it's much more cramped here, but it has the cozy feel of a neighborhood pub. When Kevin showed up, we found a booth in the back room for some food. The weather was wet and raw, so it was pretty quiet back there. Jim soon arrived. Kev had his NYPD BSP detail stationed outside the pub. Eventually, "P" showed up and tried to catch up with the rest of us. The usual madness ensued. When Jim and Kev had to leave, we got on the horn to Pradeep who agreed to meet us...

My Six Pint Tally: Harvest Wheat Beer, Red Rooster Ale (2), a Barleywine, & Farmer John's Oatmeal Stout (2). The Harvest Wheat is really nice—crisp, not too fruity. The Red Rooster was rich and malty with caramel notes. I had forgotten how good it is. There was a seasonal Barleywine on tap that has a 10% gravity so it came in a ten-ounce snifter. (Kevin was sucking these down, so I had to try.) The piece-de-resistance is the Farmer John's. I was there in Denver (at the Great Amercian Beer Festival) when Farmer John took home the gold medal in the Oatmeal Stout category. I've been drinking it ever since.





Jim and Kevin

Steve and 'P', pre-beers

Jim, spiking his beer