Spitzer's Corner on the LES

Though the first gastropub in the US only opened in 2004 (The Spotted Pig), they have been quickly growing in popularity. One of our favourite's is Spitzer's Corner in the Lower East Side.

The pub's named after Spitzer's Dress Shop (not Eliot!) which used to occupy this space for over 50 years. It now features about 40 craft beers on tap and more in bottle along with good food and atmosphere.

Guss' Famous Pickles ($4)

Duck Confit Salad ($11): slow cooked duck leg on a bed of baby spinach, frisee arugula, and pine nuts. It was dressed with a passion-fruit seeds vinaigrette. We loved that the bread was spread with foie gras butter.

Houblon Chouffe ($8, 9% ABV): golden tripel style beer with god yeastiness and spice, clove, banana. We really like this beer and other Chouffe brews from Brasserie d'Achouffe, they have become personal favourites. We buy the bottles to have at home.

Allagash Curieux ($8, 11%): An oak bourbon barrel-aged tripel from Allagash in Maine with an alcoholic punch, vanilla from the barrel aging and coconut and banana flavours. The beer was also a little sweet similar to most beers aged in bourbon barrels. This is a sipping beer like the 3 Philosophers below, we would only drink one glass.

Brewery Ommegang 3 Philosophers ($8, 9.8% ABV): This Belgian-style quad is big with rich, dried fruit and cherry, and a big finish for a big beer! You could easily pair this with a big meal. We've had this in bottle before, so it was good to try it on tap. The beer is great either way if you like the rich quads.

Coney Island Sword Swallower ($6, 6.8% ABV): From Shmaltz Brewing, this hoppy and citrusy beer goes down easily.

The bottom of our taste of the Goose Island Bourbon County Stout (13% ABV): definitely not a warm weather beer, it's thick like molasses. It sure smells and tastes good, we'd enjoy this more in February on a cold day.

Stoudt's Smooth Hoperator ($6, 7% ABV): Sweet, dark fruity malts with carbonation, this doppelbock-style beer had a balance of hops and sweet malt.

We tried a few other beers including the Southern Tier Unearthly IPA (double IPA) and the Ephemere from Unibroue (fruit beer). At Spitzer's, it's easy to mix it up between styles. The staff was very helpful in letting us sample different beers.

Spitzer's Corner is located at 101 Rivington (at Ludlow)