Shmaltz Brewing Company

by Kimberly Hickok

Shmaltz Brewing Company is practically in my backyard. I’ve been hearing wonderful things about this craft brew and FINALLY headed over to the Shmaltz tasting room a few Sundays ago to check them out. Located in Clifton Park, NY (five minutes from my house!) Shmaltz Brewing Company is home of He’brew The Chosen Beer. NOTE: After this post was published, Shmaltz moved to Troy, NY. The photos in this post were all taken in the tasting room that was located in Clifton Park, NY.

Shmaltz Beer Sampling Menu

$10 gets you five samples and a nifty Shmaltz glass.

We started off with the Winter Lager. Brewed with fennel, coriander, orange peel and ginger it had mild, spicy notes. This might be completely unorthodox to say (pun intended) but I couldn’t help but think that this beer would pair very nicely with a pulled pork sandwich.

Shmaltz Winter Lager

Shmaltz Winter Lager and He’Brew R.I.P.A. on Rye.

I’m not a big fan of IPAs. They’re usually way too hoppy for my taste so I wasn’t sure I would like the next sample – Bittersweet Lenny’s R.I.P.A. Rye Double IPA. Aged in rye whiskey barrels it had a sweetness to it and wasn’t overly hoppy. Containing only water, malt, hops and yeast the sweetness is a result of the brewing process.

By the way “Lenny” is Lenny Bruce a comedian known for paving the way for many of today’s edgiest comics. Perhaps that’s why this beer is described as “brewed with an OBSCENE amount of malt and hops.” Get it? Obscene?

Shmaltz - Hebrew

He’Brew The Chosen Beer, perfect for bar mitzvahs, weddings AND circumcisions.

Next up, St. Lenny’s a Belgian style rye double IPA. This brew is a result of “The Immaculate Collaboration” between Shmaltz Brewing and Cathedral Square Brewery. By now, you’ve got to be getting a pretty good idea of the sense of humor these folks have. I enjoyed this beer. A lot.

shmaltz - saint lenny's

Our beer guide, Scooter, holding a bottle of St. Lenny’s a Belgian style rye double IPA.

The brewery which began operating in Clifton Park last summer is the first time since He’brew started brewing without using a contract brewer. The custom built brew house uses state of the art systems to monitor each batch.

Shmaltz Brewery

There’s some serious beer brewing in this brew house. That is a lot of beer.

The fourth beer in our flight was the Reunion 13. Let me remind you that this is a tasting room. They don’t serve food so be sure to go when you’ve had something to eat. If you show up on a Thursday or Friday night, though, there’s a pretty good likelihood that a food truck will be parked outside the door.

Reunion Ale 13 was my favorite because I love dark beers. This beer which is a  collaboration with Terrapin Beer Co. is brewed with cinnamon, chile pepper, vanilla, cocoa nibs and coffee. Delicious!

shmaltz reunion ale 13

Reunion Ale 13 – if you like Guinness, you’ll love this.

The last beer, Jewbelation Reborn is He’brew’s birthday beer. To celebrate 17 years of He’brew craft beer goodness, this beer is brewed with 17 malts, 17 hops and is 17% alcohol. Suffice it to say that we only got half a sample of this very tasty, but potent, brew.

Shmaltz Tasting Room

Shmaltz Tasting Room

If you’re a craft beer lover, you will enjoy all that Shmaltz Brewing has to offer. If you can stop in and taste what they have to offer I would recommend you do. If you can’t, click this link to find out where to buy Shmaltz Brewing beer in your area. CLICK HERE!

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For more information about Shmaltz Brewing company visit their website – http://www.shmaltzbrewing.com/

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1 comment

Steve March 6, 2014 - 9:04 pm

I have to get there too!

Reply

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