From: rpaolino@polisci.pol.umn.edu (Robert Paolino)
Newsgroups: alt.beer
Subject: Re: Beer in the Cap. District (NY)
Date: 15 Apr 92 10:02:54 GMT
Article-I.D.: polisci.rpaolino.254
Organization: Department of Political Science, University of Minnesota

In article <1992Apr13.021229.2890@acsu.buffalo.edu> apyted@ubvmsb.cc.buffalo.edu (T. Steegman) writes:


>       If you ever find yourself stuck in the Albany area, there is a
>wonderful pub nearby. It is in Troy, about 8 miles from downtown Albany, and 
>it is called Holmes and Watson. It is located on B'way next to the post
>office.  They have something like 50 exotic beers on tap and a couple
>hundred others in bottles.  I recently enjoyed my first Pete's Wicked Ale, 
>which they have on tap at a reasonable price, there. Good food and ambiance
>too.
>Tom Steegmann
>"There are no bad beers, some beers are better than others."
>-German proverb


Now I have never been to Buffalo, other than to sit in the airport once 
waiting for a connection on US Scare (Yes, you can connect on Agony Airlines 
in airports other than Pittsburgh or Philadelphia), so I won't be so crass 
as to trash Buffalo.  But STUCK in Albany???  Albany is a wonderful place.  
Big enough to have things to do.  Small enough not to be plagued by big-city 
ills and congestion.  Close enough to BIG cities (Boston and Montreal would 
be my choices) that you can get to them easily when you want a big city.
Besides, we have better hockey in the Capital District than they do in 
Buffalo.  Sure, they have the NHL, but I'd rather watch RPI, the Islanders, 
and the Red Wings (the last two in the AHL) than the Sabres any day--Even 
if Buffalo does have RPI alum Darren Puppa.

If you want to talk about being STUCK somewhere, Troy would be the 
place to trash.  Actually, Troy has some rather interesting architecture.  
Unfortunately, I understand some other wonderful old buildings were 
demolished in the late 60s/early 70s to create that big hole in the ground 
that became the now-deserted Uncle Sam Mall.  So even for an armpit, Troy 
has some character.  I hope my having tempered my comments about Troy 
will cause the RPI readers to keep the flames to a minimum :-).

Anyway, as I have noted in previous posts, Holmes and Watson is indeed a 
good place to go.  Perhaps a little too sedate for some tastes, but a rather 
good beer menu.  (I don't know about 50 on tap though...)  My only 
criticisms would be that 1) you have to choose from the "Light" and "
Premium" categories to complete the tour (UGH!) and 2) I'd like to see 
more domestic microbrews on the menu.  I mentioned that once and was told 
that they were limited by what their distributors could get locally.  Fair 
enough, but there are beers I've seen in Albany stores that weren't on the
H&W menu.  They might not be perfect, but still a good place to go.

The last time I was there, they had a very-reasonably priced and quite good 
beer called Prior Double Dark on tap.  The place of origin shown on the menu 
was NYS.  Has anyone heard of it and/or know where exactly it's brewed (and 
if it's available in bottles)?

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RPAOLINO@polisci.pol.umn.edu                             Bob Paolino
 "Help! I've fallen and I                    University of Minnesota
   can't reach my beer!"             Department of Political Science
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Volleyball referees: We whistle while we work....      [;-)]
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