Brooklyn Local 1

Available: NY, NJ, CT, PA, RI, DC, MD, DE, SC, GA, AL, IN, ME, NH, VT, FL, IL

Stunning package, designed by icon Milton Glaser. Makes the beer delicious before you even open it. Surprisingly pale turbid straw color is capped with a long lasting bright white head that lingers. When it does dissipate, a lovely lace remains on the glass. Nose of honey and spice is plenty nice. So is the taste, fresh and delicious. Fuller than the light color indicates, the flavor is of complex luscious fruit that coats the palate. Excellent with a selection of raw milk cheeses, date-nut bread or even vanilla gelato.
- Charles Finkel

Zesty yellow color. Soft, delicate, talc-like perfume. Sweet lemons? As the beer warms in the glass, its complexity becomes engrossing. Even a single characteristic, such as a hint of clove, has its own roundness of aroma and flavor, in this case melding with lemon marmalade and a hint of ginger. When these characteristics are overlaid on the toasty middle, an engrossing, refreshing beer becomes satisfying, too. The finish? I didn’t want it to end. I poured another glass, played a few tracks of Johnny Hodges, and never realized that this masterpiece of cool had a 9.0 ABV rhythm section.
- Michael Jackson

It takes a bold beer to represent the spectacular package — a substantial bottle, cork and wire closure, stunning label — but Local 1 manages to. Effervescent from the pour to the finish, a fluffy white head throwing off aromas of citrus and orchard fruits mingled with hints of spice, even pepper. Complex and textured on the palate, more fruit (pineapple? pear skins?) and spices, with a dry/chalky finish. This beer reaches for F sharp and it’s perfectly in tune.
- Stan Hieronymus

Charles Finkel
Founder of Merchant du Vin and the Pike Brewing Co., Charles Finkel is a pioneer in the marketing of craft beers in America.

Michael Jackson
Author of Ultimate Beer, the Simon & Schuster Guide to Beer and numerous other works on drinks, Jackson has created legions of converts to fine beer.

Stan Hieronymus
Editor at Realbeer.com, a professional journalist for 40 years and amateur brewer for 15, Hieronymus is the author of four beer books, including Brew Like a Monk.

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