Senator Chuck Schumer has taken many a courageous stand against issues like arsenic in apple juice and OnStar snooping, but his defense of the microbreweries in the face of a recent elimination of a tax exemption in New York ranks among his most noble. “It would be a great thing for our state to have this industry grow, but this court decision could clobber them,” Schumer said at an appearance at the East Village Tavern. Too bad he didn't extend that Super Bowl bet to making Robert Kraft pick up the new taxes. more ›

Wheat beer drinkers rejoice! In a big departure from its usually hops-heavy line-up, Sixpoint Brewery in Redhook has just introduced Apollo, a wheat ale, to its seasonal rotation. more ›

To call the United States Postal Service cash-strapped is something of an understatement. But as the government agency slouches towards obsolescence, an interesting new money source has bubbled to the surface: booze. And it makes sense. Because who wouldn't like their mailman to bring them a box of wine with their bills? more ›

The threat of hydraulic fracking in New York has struck fear in the hearts of local foodies, with groups like Chefs for the Marcellus aiming to protect local farms, food and water supplies from future drilling with anti-fracking benefit events like tomorrow's Pesto Competition. But fresh fruits and veggies aren't the only things New Yorkers might lose if Governor Cuomo lifts the current moratorium on fracking: your favorite microbrew might become a thing of the past, too. more ›

For 12 years now, small breweries in New York State enjoyed a crucial tax break that allowed them to excise taxes on the first 200,000 barrels of beer brewed by in-state brewers. This tax incentive enabled fledgling start-ups to get off the ground, and coincidentally or not, New York has some of the best microbrews in all the land. But that could be in jeopardy now that the SLA has issued new rules cancelling the tax exemption. It could potentially cost small brewers millions. more ›

Last night Community Boards 2 and 6 in Brooklyn held a joint meeting to discuss the liquor license for the Barclays Center over the Atlantic Yards. And, as with everything regarding the future home of the Nets, it was a long slog. The meeting took two-and-a-half hours and ended with little resolution—despite the fact that nobody seriously thinks the State Liquor Authority is going to reject the application. more ›

Apparently chugging beer during the Apollo Medley portion of his concert is Bruce Springsteen's new thing—The Boss was spotted doing it in Philadelphia last month, and again during his Madison Square Garden shows last week and last night. And he's been drinking beers right out of his loyal fans' hands... that's about a $10 loss at MSG! more ›

It's an undisputed fact that the Port Authority Bus Terminal is the saddest place in Manhattan. It's a bonafide money pit and a Superfund for Souls, but a new bar and restaurant will hopefully allow you to forget the fact that you're about to get bedbugs on your bus ride to aunt Millie's. Beer Authority is promising 80 beers on tap and 100 bottles, as well as cask ales and growlers. And with a logo like that, we'd let it press its sudsy, hoppy boot down our throats any time. more ›

There are so, so many reasons why Bruce BROOOOOCE Springsteen is the best: he anonymously busks, he's not ashamed to make jazzercise dance tapes, he crashes people's engagement photos, he's written 10 or 12 of the greatest rock 'n' roll songs of all time, he has a sense of humor about himself, and he still puts on the best live shows period. Now, you can add chugging a fan's beer in the middle of a song to that list: more ›

We've all mixed a little lemonade into our beers before (what, you never had a shandy?), but what about iced tea mixed with beer? It's happening. The frankenbeer was created by the people of Coors Brewing, and it's coming to your local bodega sometime in April of this year. more ›

When we hear the word "resin" the first thing that comes to our mind isn't beer, it's the sticky stuff that constantly clogs up our "friend's" marijuana paraphernalia. But perhaps that is about to change? And if it is, local brewery SixPoint's latest year-round brew, Resin, should help. more ›

A number of Congressional leaders are blasting Urban Outfitters for selling St. Patrick's Day merchandise that mocks people of Irish descent for acting like obnoxious, binge-drinking idiots every March 17th. It's unclear where Urban Outfitters got this notion, or why they think it's funny, but the company is in hot water with New York Democratic Rep. Joseph Crowley, who says, "By selling and promoting these items, Urban Outfitters is only fueling stereotypes that many Irish Americans, as well as the people of Ireland, work so hard to dispel." Got it, people? These are stereotypes. That Urban Outfitters beer jug labeled “Leprechaun Piss" is not literally for leprechaun piss. more ›

The Brooklyn Brewery just introduced a new beer to its ever-changing array of offerings: Mary's Maple Porter, a tasty and potent (7.5% alcohol by volume) dark ale made with real maple syrup from upstate New York. The beer is named for the brewery's "quality control" supervisor Mary Wiles, who owns 500 acres of maple trees on property in Onondaga. 50 gallons of her Cedarvale Maple Syrup go into each batch, and while the beer doesn't taste sweet, you can definitely taste maple, as well as caramel, chocolate, and coffee flavors from the brewery's blend of roasted malts. Here's a video starring Brooklyn Brewery's brewmaster Garrett Oliver, who has some background for the beer nerds: more ›

Senator Charles Schumer, everyone's favorite press conference convener and rainmaker, really loves NY State's beers, starting an "I Love NY Brew" campaign. So it makes sense that his Super Bowl bet with New England Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) involved six NY craft beers. Now that the Giants have proven victorious, Shaheen will be buying NY beer for the whole Senate! more ›

Regular beer pairs just fine with pizza, but if you really want to step up your gluttony game, you're going to want to invest in some Pizza Beer, which is something that exists and people pay for. Yes, it tastes like pizza. more ›

Damn you Starbucks! Just as the coffee giant is off raising prices, it goes and starts making plans to sell a lot more booze. But not in the Northeast. Yet. more ›

Gothamist does not condone shoplifting, but we can't help but be impressed by this video, in which a tiny woman uses the mystical power of a long skirt to hide a 24-pack of Guinness. What's truly magnificent is the way she continues to move fluidly, seemingly unencumbered by the huge, hops-filled weights (Pat Kiernan estimates the beer weighs at least 20 pounds). Little is known about the beer-lifter—did she get busted (presumably, no)? Is she the inspiration behind Black Magic Woman? We don't know, but from now on, she's making every beer run at the party. more ›