At least the beer is good…

Before hitting the road on my way to Oregon I stopped by CitiField, the new home of my Mets, to personally sample the new beer selection. I’ve written earlier about the “Taste of the City” area behind center field—the Danny Meyer created food Mecca for baseball fans with a palate—and I decided to get out there and try the goods for myself.

Although this wasn’t my first trip to CitiField, it was the first time I got to the ballpark early enough to check out the new digs. After an initial tour, I made my way to center field for some specially made Brooklyn brews.


Beer #1: Blanche De Queens
Location: Box Frites


Created to complement a crispy pile of Belgian style frites, this witbier is great way to start a ballgame. There is nothing out of the ordinary about this wit—cloudy with your typical citrus, coriander and spice flavors are there—but everything comes together in a deliciously balanced, tart and refreshing brew.


Beer #2: Shackmeister Ale
Location: Shack Shake (both the CitiField and NYC locations)


This amber, American style pale confused me at first; I was expecting a huge flavor bomb to go with the famous burgers but was left baffled after a few sips. Once I took a bite of my Shack Shake burger, however, I understood completely: this beer is supposed to be second fiddle.

Shackmeister is a strong hoppy smelling brew, but has an almost thin mouth feel. The thinness doesn’t carry over to the flavor since this bubbly beverage is balanced and full bodied. The direct, subtle flavors perfectly cut through the rich, juicy meat and allow you to enjoy each burger as if you bit into it the first time. I especially loved the way the beer cleansed my palate after chomping on the crispy, burnt edges of my patty.

Beer #3: Sabroso Ale
Location: El Verano Taqueria


I’d tasted this brew at a previous game at CitiField and was blow away by how bold it was. The beer pours a dark golden-bronze with a fluffy white head that even the CitiField wind can’t blow away. Full of aromatic hops, the brew is sharp and has a pleasant, lingering bite.

I snacked on some elote corn (corn on the cob rubbed with a thick mayo, queso blanco and chile) and the Sabroso did a great job of keeping the heat at bay. This would be my go to beer at CitiField if it weren’t for the final beer I tried.

Beer #4: Blue Smoke Ale
Location: Blue Smoke (both Citifield and NYC location)


After researching a bit it seems that Blue Smoke Ale is a combination of two Brooklyn beers. Whatever it may be, the beer is the heaviest of the specialty brews available and sports a deep reddish-hued and stark white head. The brew is also has the biggest balls of the available Brooklyn beers which probably has to do with standing up to the spicy-tang of the Blue Smoke barbecue sauce.

The brew has a smooth, full body with a vibrant carbonation. I enjoyed it with an underwhelming pulled pork sandwich (I should have gotten the ribs) and can only imagine how good this beer is when paired with a heaping plate of bbq. This beer is by far my favorite offering at “Taste of the City”.