It’s a beautiful Friday evening, the weather is finally turning and it seems that Spring has sprung. I can think of no better way to spend this day but to taste all the new beers we’ve put on tap this week at the Downtown Leafe. Luckily I do not have to take this challenge alone. I have recruited one of my favorite regulars, William & Mary professor Chandos Brown, to join me in a miniature beer tasting. Here are our findings…
We have introduced some new beers to our already impressive line-up this week. From the New Holland Brewery out of Holland, Michigan, we’ve added two new brews. First is the Mad Hatter, an insanely dry-hopped India Pale Ale that is copper in color with a flowery aroma and a bold hop taste. Also from New Holland we’ve brought in Dragon’s Milk. Dragon’s Milk is a 17th century term used to describe the strong beer usually reserved for royalty. This strong ale was aged in oak for over 120 days. The aging process extracts flavors from the wood, which contribute to its complex character. Hints of bourbon flavor perfectly compliment its roasted malts to produce a beer fit for a King, or at least our Green Leafe customers.
It’s Friday at the Leafe and that means we have put a couple of new beers on tap. Today at the Downtown location we added 3 tasty brews to our draft line up. The first was a request from one of our favorite locals, Lance. Just for him we brought in Pilsner Urquell. This Bohemian Pilsner from Pilsen, Czech Republic is considered to be the “original” pilsner from which all others are judged upon. It has a sharp, distinct bitterness which overlaps with a carmalized sweetness.
Our second brew added today is the Brooklyn Pennant Ale. Pennant Ale is a traditional English-style Pale Ale. It has a terrific malty flavor with a slight bitterness. A definite session beer!
To round out this weeks addition to our draft line-up we added Starr Hill’s The Gift. A German-style Hellerbock with a few twists, this Charlottesville, Virginia brew is made with two-row and Munich malts and balanced with German noble hops.
If you find yourself out and about this weekend looking for something tasty to drink. Find your way to the Downtown Leafe to try one (or all 3) of these beers. Don’t forget about the other 31 beers we have on tap!!
Here at the Downtown Green Leafe we sashayed our way into the New Year in elegance and fashion deemed only appropriate at the Downtown Leafe! Spirits were high as well flowing while everyone got their groove on with Big Larry. It was great to see so many people participating in our Annual Lingerie party. There were some very sexy and revealing outfits for sure! We want to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and hope that this decade brings everyone much success and happiness!
Make sure you check out our facebook site to see pictures from our New Year’s Eve bash!!
Troegs Mad Elf has made an encore appearance at the Downtown Green Leafe! The Mad Elf has become a Green Leafe cult beer. This tasty brew is a combination of cherries, honey, and chocolate malts and delivers gentle fruits and subtle spices. Fermented and aged with a unique yeast, this ruby red beer has significant warming strength that underlies the character of this Ale. Warming strength is an understatement…this beer packs a whopping punch with an 11% ABV! While you’re out and about during these freezing cold days, stop by the Downtown Green Leafe for a pint of the Mad Elf and experience that warming sensation. 
It took us a little time to put together a menu for this years Christmas Beer Tasting, but I have to say, it was well worth the wait! We started the evening off with Blue Mountain Lights Out Holiday Ale paired with roasted chicken lollipops drizzled with a curried pomegranate molasses. The beer was a perfect way to start the evening. It has that Christmas/spicy/piney scent and taste that put everyone in the Christmas spirit. I think the soup was the grand prize winner of the night…Butternut squash and Granny Smith apple soup. Oh my God!! This was absolutely delicious! It was so good in fact that I had to ask the chef for the recipe to type and hand out to all the guests! I was pleasantly surprised to see how many people were willing to take a step out of their comfort zones and try the buffalo rib-eye for their main course. By the time everyone arrived at the dessert course, white chocolate raspberry cheesecake paired with Southern Tier’s Creme Brulee Stout, there were many grumblings about full stomachs, and confessions that they could not continue. But, one sniff of the Creme Brulee stout and the glasses were quickly drained into those full stomachs. Deliciously smooth, wonderfully scented. Yum!
I personally want to thank Adonis, AJ, Jaeton, & Annie for a fantastic job in the kitchen. Also thank you to my front of house staff that kept all the guests happy and jolly!!
Also, thank you to all those who attended, we hope to see you back for our Summer Beer Tasting!
For all of you who have been holding your breath waiting to see what we will be featuring at this year’s Christmas Beer Tasting, you can finally exhale! This year we will be serving something a little different…buffalo! The following is the entire menu including the beer pairings:
Appetizer:
Roasted Chicken Lollipops drizzled with a curried pomegranate molasses with a touch of roasted coffee and red bell pepper. Paired with Blue Mountain Light Out Holiday Ale
Soup:
Ginger Butternut Squash & Granny Smith Apple topped with crusted gingered pecans and chives. Paired with Anchor Christmas Ale
Salad:
Winter Salad - Mesclun greens, sweet toasted pine nuts, Chilean pears, crumbled saga bleu cheese, chili-dusted croutons. Served with a fresh Ruby Red grapefruit, honey, red shallots, and saffron vinaigrette. Paired with Avery Dugana
Entree:
Peppery Buffalo Filet Mignon served in a reduced red wine sauce, potaotes au gratin, and pan roasted asparagus.
OR
sub filet mignon for the Buffalo
Paired with Bells Expedition Stout
Dessert:
White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake, served with a vanilla custard sauce. Paired with Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout
Saturday, Decemeber 12th at 6:00. Call 757-220-3405 to make your reservations today
I just now realized that out of all the posts I have put up on this wonderful website, I’ve never written about what is by far the most important part of the Green Leafe. That “most important part” is, of course, BEER! We have a whole bunch of it, and now it’s time that we give it the attention that it deserves.
As many of you get ready to travel to see your family, or await the arrival of your family, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving!
For all of those lovely people that aren’t going to have the time or money to make the long voyage to see one’s family, I’ve got an idea for you…
We are one step closer to finalizing our Christmas Beer Tasting menu. I’ve had a tough time finding Christmas beers to feature this year due to the fact that many of our distributors just aren’t bringing any in. But, I’ve been diligent in my work and have put together a unique and delicious beer menu. What you can expect to see this year is Bell’s Expedition Stout, an Imperial Stout from Kalamazoo, Michigan with a whopping 10.5% ABV. Also featured will be Blue Mountain Lights Out Holiday Ale from Afton, VA; Avery DuganA, a first-time released brew that has been receiving rave reviews; Anchor Christmas Ale, their 35th year of this special release, and for dessert, Southern Tier Creme Brulee…YUM-O is all I have to say about this brew!!
This year’s event is scheduled for December 12th at 6:00pm. We’ve already begun taking reservations and seats are filling up quickly. If you are interested in attending, please call the Green Leafe at 757-220-3405 to make your reservation.
Keep checking back for what delicious foods we’ll be pairing with these brews!!
Wow,
I just moved into the area from Fort Lauderdale, and I'm thirsty and hungry just reading your menu. Sadly enough magic hat has been out of my life for three years because they do not distribute to FL. I'm looking forward to checking the New Town spot out when I'm settled into the area.
Cheers
