Craft beer for connoisseurs

Lovers of craft beer can now look forward to Brooklyn Lager and Brooklyn East IPA brewed by New York City’s award-winning craft beer brewhouse, Brooklyn Brewery.

Carlsberg Malaysia has partnered with Brooklyn Brewery to bring in their signature brews to Malaysian beer connoisseurs.

This joint-venture in Malaysia marks the sixth strategic partnership of the two breweries globally in Sweden, Norway, London, Hong Kong and Lithuania.

Brooklyn Lager (right) and Brooklyn East IPA (left).

Brooklyn Lager, in 5.2% alcohol by volume (ABV), is amber-gold in colour and displays a firm malt centre supported by a refreshing bitterness and floral hop aroma.

The aromatic qualities of the beer are enhanced by “dry-hopping”, the centuries-old practice of steeping beer with fresh hops as it undergoes a long, cold maturation.

Its flavourful liquid is accentuated when paired with mini beef pepperoni bruschetta, oven roast leg of lamb with mini yogurt and fried “wu xiang” (Chinese five spice powder) chicken.

Brooklyn East IPA, in 6.9% ABV. is a clean drinkable pale ale that offers a bold balance with a bright piney aroma and the taste of stone fruits yet a firm bitterness from IPA’s ancestral British home.

It is best paired with spicy food when guests had it with spicy grilled tiger prawn, Vietnamese-style assam laksa and extra spicy, breaded, deep fried, stuffed, cheesy jalapeno poppers.

“Our collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery, ranked No. 11 among the US award-winning craft breweries, reinforces Carlsberg Malaysia’s commitment to expand our portfolio and explore the craft frontiers and, most importantly, satiate the needs of discerning craft beer lovers.

“Consumer habits are changing and the beer-drinking culture demands more diverse flavours.

“Carlsberg Malaysia, which places great emphasis on quality and innovation, is confident with the renowned New York brewmaster Garrett Oliver, the architect behind Brooklyn Brewery’s finest craft beers, on our team, we can offer more flavourful beers that are original, unpretentious and downright fun,” says Charles Wong, marketing director of Carlsberg Malaysia.

Food and beer pairing at MEJA Kitchen and Bar @ TREC KL.

For a start, Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager and Brooklyn East IPA are available in 355ml bottles at several watering holes.

They are The Brew House @ SS2, MEJA @ TREC, MEJA @ Sunway Velocity, Tavern 13 @ Seksyen 13, PJ, Chequers @ Solaris Mont Kiara, The Merchant @ Hotel Armada, Suzie Wong @ Wisma Lim Foo Yong, and Nicsmann 1940s By Lewré @ The Starling Mall.