All posts by John Fortunato

NORTHERN BARRELL

BEER PUB,

Northern Barrell - Home

VOORHEESVILLE, NEW YORK

In the small suburban village of Voorheesville just outside of Albany, NORTHERN BARRELL was established in 2021.  A family-owned, family-friendly restaurant specializing in craft beer and cider, the amiable yellow vinyl-sided warehouse pub is situated right inside a residential neighborhood.

Northern Barrell’s bulbed front deck features rocking chairs plus general seating and its white overhead doors lead to the high ceiling interior where the right side concrete-topped 10-stool bar with plank wood siding offers twelve draughts and a rear stone hearth provides warmth. Several wood tables fill the left side and a small mezzanine sported an olden bicycle, milk jugs and antique chair. There are four TV’s above the bar for sports fans. A casual-to-upscale food menu betters most brewpub fare.

My wife and I spent an hour at Northern Barrell in January ’23 to consume three previously untried brews including Torch & Crown Tenant Pilsner, Modist Forbidden Canyons Imperial IPA and Prairie Seasick Crocoldile Sour (reviewed in Beer Index).

FOUNDERS CBS IMPERIAL STOUT (2019)

Beers A-Z,

On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, lusciously rich Canadian breakfast stout (2019 version) aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels for three years reaches steadfastly rich mocha resonance. Maple syruping drapes dark chocolate, caramel latte, cappuccino and milk-sugared coffee pleasantries as subtle bourbon vanilla sweetness erupts. Velvety ‘imperialized Breakfast Stout’ perfect for luscious nightcap.

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2019) - Founders Brewing Co. - Untappd

FIRESTONE WALKER XXVI ANNIVERSARY ALE

Beers A-Z,

On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, sumptuous 26th anniversary strong ale combines fudgy milk chocolatey caramel molasses saucing with plentiful vanilla creaming and silken bourbon-cognac sedation. Milk-sugared coffee tones enrich the backload alongside toasted coconut, black cherry, blackberry, dried fig and currant illusions. Leathery oaken tannins provide mild dryness against resonating caramelized chocolate sweetness. Recommended for fireplace nightcap.

Firestone 26 (XXVI) Anniversary Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Company - Untappd

NEPENTHE SPONTANEOUS DEVIATIONS #3 MILK STOUT

Beers A-Z,

Awesomely rich mocha dessert treat! Bittersweet black chocolate syrup drapes maple brown sugaring for viscous mahogany-browned full body. Milk chocolate continuance gains fudged dark toffee, molasses-sapped coffee, cappuccino, caramel macchiato and cafe latte illusions contrasted by less profound wood-burnt hop char above honeyed Graham Cracker base. Way below surface, mild anise, prune, raisin and hazelnut illusions flutter.

Spontaneous Deviations #3 - Maple Brown Sugar Milk Stout - Nepenthe Brewing Co. - Untappd