More Beer In Battery Park

For the last few years we've looked forward to the opening of the Victory Beer Garden in Battery Park as a sure sign of the approach of warm weather. I was happy to find it open already on a warm Friday afternoon (May 10, 2013), and serving up Victory's German Helles, Headwater Pale Ale, Hop Devil, and Summer Love.

Victory malty Helles.

This year I had to enjoy the first visit to the beer garden solo, as B.R. was busy giving an address to the 11th annual Canadian Brewing Awards in Victoria, B.C.

After some relaxing book reading with my Helles, I decided to stroll through the park a bit and enjoy the perfect spring weather. To my great surprise, I stumbled upon Table Green in the middle of Battery Park -- another open air beer garden!

It's reported that the company, which also operates in the Chelsea Market, opened next to Castle Clinton in July of 2012, but we totally missed it. They have three local beers on draught -- currently it's Captain Lawrence Kölsch, Empire I.P.A., and Coney Island Mermaid Pilsner. They also have local wine on tap, and offer a menu of light food.

Wine taps left, beer taps right.

While the Victory beer garden is tucked away in a nook by the Staten Island Ferry station, almost out of sight, nestled by tall thick green hedges, the Table Green garden is wide open and offers a view of N.Y. Harbor, with the Statue of Liberty visible in the distance. Though Tavern Green might be catering more to tourists waiting for their boat to Ellis Island or the statue, with beers priced at $3 more than at Victory's spot, it's definitely a sign of progress to have more places in the park to relax with a brew on a beautiful warm spring evening!

Table Green.

Statue of Liberty to the right, gargantuan cruise ship to the left.