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ABC Beer's Draft Selection Will Have You Growling In Delight
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 24, 2012
Modified Jun 29, 2012
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Gothamist
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Jun 24, 2012
Modified Jun 29, 2012
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If you're in need of spirituous, malty refreshment on-the-go in the East Village or Lower East Side, there are plenty of options. Whole Foods has a decent selection of cold stuff, and New Beer Distributors makes up for warm storage with sheer volume, but the recently opened ABC Beer strikes a nice balance between a specialty shop and a comfy tavern.
On a recent sweltering day, ABC was gloriously chilly (and appropriately dark—so dark our cellphone pictures look like memories after a growler). Two self-serve coolers greet you on the way in and the prices are pretty solid if you're craving something other than the bodega standby of a $2 Coors deuce (although there's nothing wrong with that). $2.09 for Lagunitas IPAs, $2.29 for Victory ales, $1.49 for Sessions lager.
If you want to stick around for a drink the back hall resembles a Medieval Times dining room if it was located in your fun uncle's basement, with a huge common table and plush leather chairs. There's also WiFi if you're one of those people. Or sidle up to the bar and nibble on a 3-piece cheese board ($12), pate plate ($10 for two types) a herbed ham and pecorino sandwich ($7) or just a fresh Sigmund's Salted Pretzel ($3).
ABC shines in their selection of twelve draft beers that you can take home in a half-gallon growler. There are standbys like Sierra Nevada ($12) and Brooklyn Pilsner ($12) but also gems like the sensationally crisp Lefthand Sawtooth ($15) or the knock-you-on-your-ass Maredsous Dubbel Brown ($25). Show off your Loisaida savvy by picking up some Bobwhite's fried chicken next door, and a growler to go: it makes a perfect rooftop picnic.
Keep an eye on their Twitter feed for info on what's currently on-tap, scheduled tastings and meet-the-brewer events.
Tagged
ABC Beer
beer
booze
east village
Loisaida
Lower East Side
original
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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