Get Real NY has done it again!  This past Friday and Saturday, July 8th and July 9th, Get Real NY put together four sessions of their 1st Annual Belgian Beer & Food Festival featuring all the best Belgian beer and bites.

Just a few months ago, we had the pleasure of attending Get Real NY’s Craft Beer and Food Festival so I was extra stoked knowing what was in store. Taking place over the course of two glorious days of boozing and feasting at the Altman Building, Get Real NY brought us 100+ of the best Belgian brews and chews.

The Main Belgian Bar looked like a huge metallic cell confining the 100+ Belgian-inspired beers on tap from Belgian breweries, some of the nation’s best craft breweries and homebrewers, such as Cantillon, De Ranke, Hitachino, Rodenbach, Lagunitas, Cigar City, Allagash, just to name a few.  Before each session there was a special VIP hour, which is definitely the way to go to get the best pickings first.

The beer volunteers were on hand to give suggestions and provide some background on what you were tasting.  I am personally a huge fan of the Belgian whites since they are easy to drink, flavorful but light, and an especially perfect summer beer.  I was feeling adventurous and one of the Sours, which indeed tasted very sour like chugging beer-flavored vinegar.  Needless to say by the end of the night I stuck to what I knew I liked, but there were different styles of beers I’ve never even heard of: including Trappists, Dubbels, Tripels, Quads, Gueuze, Lambics and Flander.   Huh? A sign that I should hit one of their seminars.

Petite Abeille (“Little Bee”) was the lead sponsor and partner of the evening, setting up a station for beer drinkers to take a break and nosh on some pasta, meatballs and sausages.  They have four restaurants in Manhattan so you’re bound to be near one wherever you may crave some Belgian cuisine.  They showcased their signature beer, The Buzz, a dry spicy light ale brewed exclusively for the restaurant by Sixpoint Craft Ales.  The E. 20th Street flagship has the city’s largest offering of Belgian brews on tap – about 30, with nearly that many by the bottle – so be sure to stop by for some authentic Belgian brews.

Luke’s Lobster set up a station doling out their shrimp rolls, and nearby was Danny Macaroon.  People were lined up patiently waiting for the oyster station where there were two shucker working furiously with their knives.  The Naked Cowboy even made an appearance, presumably to help promote his Naked Cowboy Oysters!  Downstairs, the BXL Cafe, best known for their mussel specials had a table where they were happily serving up Delirium.

Artisanal cheese samples were given with a sprinkling of celery seasoning.  Moho Cocoa was giving out samples of their chocolate to try – their dark chocolate was amazing!  (However, I believe their chocolate with ginger is more of an acquired taste.)

Nearby, a Godiva rep was sorting through his chocolate in preparation for a seminar on Belgian chocolates and how to pair them with Belgian beers.  Other seminars included a crash-course in Belgian Beer 101, homebrewing, and an American vs. Belgian beer showdown.

There was a great live band that everyone enjoyed while you shopped around: get your Christmas gifts bought early with the booze-infused cigars and home brewing kits they had for sale.

See below for more photos and for the extensive beer list.  Can’t wait for the next batch of brews!

Yours,
Von