On this episode, Tap That visits Chelsea Brewing Company, Manhattan’s only brewery and producer of some of the city’s best and most popular beer. We’ll talk to some of Chelsea’s staff and a few satisfied customers about what makes their brewpub such a great place to enjoy fantastic beer.

Chelsea Brewing Company is Manhattan’s only brewer, and they’ve been producing great beer since 1995. Today, Chelsea’s beer can be found throughout the region, but we find that the best way to enjoy their beer is by visiting the brewpub. The pub’s riverside location provides amazing views, regardless of the weather. Chelsea is constantly putting out new beer and swapping out seasonal offerings, so you’ll be sure to find something different among the old favorites.

For over 9 years, Zum Schneider has offered an authentic German beer drinking experience in the middle of the city. With large communal tables and a killer beer selection, this bar is unlike anything in Manhattan – hell, there’s an indoor beer garden!

If you are looking for post-work drinks, or simply to waste away a Saturday afternoon, Zum Schneider’s staff is going make sure it’s done with ease. The dedicated staff (some have been there since day one), make you feel like you’ve been there a hundred times before, even if it’s your first time. Needless to say, the atmosphere, the people, and of course the beer, made Zum Schneider a favorite with the Tap That Crew.

On this episode, Tap That heads to Brooklyn to check out the Gutter, offering the timeless pairing of beer and bowling.

Kevin chats with Paul, the Gutter’s owner to find out why he brought bowling back to Williamsburg and how he selects some of the great beers the bar has to offer. He’ll also fill us in on how he achieved the Gutter’s unique, old-timey feel and how his bar has managed to become a neighborhood favorite less than three short years. Next, Kevin tries his hand at both drinking beer and bowling. We’ll let you guess which one he doesn’t fail at.

In this episode, Tap That visits Spuyten Duyvil – the legendary Williamsburg beer bar. We speak to Joe, the owner, to find what’s made his bar the place to go to for some of the best craft beer the world of beer has to offer. After talking a little about what makes his bar among the best in New York, Joe picks out four beautiful beers for us to sample and explains why he chose to include them on Spuyten Duyvil’s diverse menu.

Producer’s Note: Kevin drank a little too much last week, so we gave him the week off, but he’ll be back shortly

Although laziness and outstanding bench warrants usually keep Tap That well within New York’s city limits, there are occasions when travel is a necessity. The annual TAP New York Craft Beer Festival at Hunter Mountain is one such occasion. We wouldn’t be able to look ourselves in the mirror if we turned down the opportunity to sample over 100 beers from NY’s finest brewers, and trust us, they made the trip worth the effort.

In this episode, Kevin chats with three brewers about their breweries, the festival, and, of course, their beers. Along the way, we encounter some great people and delicious beer.

The 2010 festival is being held on April 24-25 at Hunter Mountain in NY. We certainly encourage you to attend – you’ll meet some of the brewers we’ve featured on the show and discover a ton of great beer from all over the state.

On this episode on Tap That, we visit the Blue Point Brewing Company in Patchogue, New York. Founded by two long-time friends and dedicated beer junkies, Blue Point has been producing innovative and delicious beers since 1998.  Their beers can be found in bars and stores throughout the East Coast, but to taste some of their rarer creations along with some of their classics, it’s best to go straight to the source.  Tap That talks with Blue Point’s founders about the history of the brewery and then raids the tasting room to discover why locals love what Blue Point has to offer.

On this episode of Tap That we visit The Diamond in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. This bright and cheery neighborhood bar offers a carefully-selected variety of great beer. We meet with Dave, the Diamond’s owner, who lets us in on the inspiration behind the bar (hint, Dave’s in a Van Halen tribute band), and guides us through some of the unique beer his bar offers. Along the way, we learn about Session Beers, why good Kölsch always comes in 11s, and the finer points of fitting vintage ski gondolas into small spaces.