Author Archives: Fathima M.

Coney Island Brewery

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I visited Coney Island Brewery located at 1904 Surf Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11224 on Friday, May 4th. They are closed on Monday – Wednesday but are open are open Thursday – Sunday (12 p.m. – 10 p.m.). It was a beautiful day to be around Coney Island as there are so many things for one to do there, from enjoying a walk at the beach to riding on thriller rollercoasters to the endless amount of food courts, its the perfect place. First and foremost, I am so glad to be stepping out of my comfort zone throughout this entire course that has allowed me to visit places I never imagined I would. Who would have thought that I would be learning so much about wine someday? Not me! Aside from that note, I chose to visit Coney Island Brewery mainly because I live nearby but once I did a little research before visiting, I saw how amazingly funky and retro the the place is. I wanted to visit a place with a story and Coney Island Brewery provides exactly that. They offer free tours as well (everyday – 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.), in case anyone is interested in visiting the place around the summer. Though the place is very small / intimate, that doesn’t stop customers waiting in line to have a fresh taste of the beer they produce. The staffs are very friendly and helps you feel comfortable, especially if you’re a first time “curious” customer, like me. Once you enter, you see that there’s so much going on at every turn you take. From the earthy decor to the stainless steel tanks, your eyes are in for a treat. I learned that they have 8 house-brewed beers on tap which rotates regularly in which depending on the season, they make limited release, specialty styles of beer. What really caught my eye was their humor and how they named each beer in a crazy unique way (ex: Mermaid Pilsner, Fangtooth, SuperFreak and much more). But thats not all, even the way they brand their bottles is very unusual than how regular breweries would do, which sets them apart. I love that their not trying to fit in with their competition but rather trying to be their own competition and rise at each given opportunity. Fun fact: They are the official partner of the Mermaid Parade that takes place annually at the Coney Island Boardwalk. They also host many events at the brewery which is great for business as they are able to attract more customers. Its great that they are active on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat etc., in which they are able to network amongst millions of people worldwide. The brewery has private package deals such as a VIP Tour & Tasting / Beer Garden Table Rental / Brewery Buyout and the Beer Dinner Experience for those interested in hosting a party. Overall, I had a wonderful / fun experience visiting the Coney Island Brewery. I am so glad to have a platform such as this to share my journey with you all and as Mrs. Goodlad once said,”keep reaching out of your comfort zone.”

Coney Island Brewery’s Logo

Coney Island Brewery (Outside View)

Different flavored “taps”

Bottle branding

Bottle branding

Chamber Street Wines

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Chamber Street Wines seen from outside

I visited Chamber Street Wines located at 148 Chambers Street, New York, NY 10007 between Broadway & Greenwich St
TriBeCa. Though I don’t drink wine, this is the first time I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and actually visited a wine shop and I must say, it was quite an experience. Through the given list of choices of wine shops located across the five boroughs of New York, I chose this particular shop to visit because it had a warm ambience to it. The employees were very friendly and knowledgeble and it helped a lot especially because I was a tad bit nervous and they made me feel welcome. The price range is pretty reasonable and the employees provide customers with recommendations to fit well within their budget. The shop is known heavily for its selection of vintages, and also, has a great variety of wines that range from Piedmont reds to dry whites.

Before visiting, I took it upon myself to research the shop to know a few basic information. I researched about the founder and co-founder of Chamber Streets Wines whom are David Lillie and Jamie Wolf and what motivated them to open such an establishment. Once I arrived, I mentioned I was a student studying wine and would like to be assisted throughout my visit. First and foremost, once you enter the shop you can’t help but notice that the shop is very well organized and clean. A few of the questions I asked were, “How do you maintain inventory with such great selection of wines?”, “Can you direct me towards the wines you currently have on stock from France and inform me about each label associated with the bottle?”, “Do you have any Sparkling Wines on stock such as Moscato d’Asti?”, and “I have studied about wines throughout France, Germany, and Italy, can you mention another region popular for winemaking?” I felt very comfortable asking such questions because well, “I study wine.”

Overall, I was surprised with the outcome of my experience. I had a wonderful time and it was a great opportunity for me to visit a retail beverage shop because now I have a better outlook on how I will be perceiving wine from now on hereafter.

Variety of wines displayed for customers to view.

Wine from France (The Dupasquier vineyards located near Rhône Valley)

 

 

 

 

Sparkling Wine (Champagne)

 

Wine from Spain (Sade Rubor 2014)