Dark and Delicious

Brewer-Brooklyn Brewery

Beer- Brooklyn Local #2

Style- Belgian Strong Dark Ale

ABV- 9.00%

Description- Brooklyn’s Local #2 pours a deep brown with slight ruby/mahogany highlight and a rocky tan head that leaves behind a thin lacing as it disperses.   The aroma is complex and extremely enjoyable with notes of dark fruits, caramel, toffee, honey, Belgian yeast, and subtle hints of sweet oranges.  The taste backs up the nose with caramel and dark fruits up front followed by subtle spicing and sweet citrus followed by hints of chocolate before a quick dry finish takes over.  The body is locked into the medium-full range with low carbonation creating a very smooth beer with the 9% ABV nonexistent in the taste.  This is on par with some of the best Belgian strong dark ales available on the market today.

Food Pairing – Local #2 is a fantastic beer to pair with a wide variety of meats, try pairing with the richer varieties such as: pork, ham, duck, or goose.  For an exquisite treat, try pairing Local #2 with a venison steak topped with a tart cherry sauce, the sauce will highlight the dark fruit flavors within the beer and the venison will meld into the rich malt bill.  Local #2 is also a fantastic beer to have on the table for pairing with desserts, especially those of the chocolate variety.  Try pairing this beer with rich dark chocolate, preferably bars that are at minimum 70% cacao and higher.  The chocolate will bring the chocolate malt bill to the forefront while also highlighting the rich dark fruit flavor.

The Final Word – Brooklyn’s Local #2 is one of the most enjoyable beers that I have ever had and has so much depth within that it is a beer that can be enjoyable for a very long time.  The big bottle offerings from Brooklyn are all exceptional in their own right and Local #2 certainly stands on its own and has won a vast array of medals, including 2 gold medals at the World Beer Championships.  Brooklyn has yet again proven that while Belgian brewers have been brewing this beer for far longer, American brewers can create a beer that is every bit as complex and enjoyable as those master craftsman.  Local #2 is yet another absolute must try for craft beer fans.

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Where can I get it? -  Brooklyn Local #2 is available year-round in 750mL cork- caged bottles.  Currently available at: Wegman’s- Dickson City, PA & Wilkes Barre, PA; Krugel’s Georgetown Deli- Wilkes Barre, PA; call around for this one, if it is not currently in stock it is fairly easy for anyone to order for the store.