Tiger Turns 20

 Interview with Dave Brodrick and Catherine Kyle of Blind Tiger 

 Non-Flash version of the podcast

New York-born Dave Brodrick grew up in Fairfield County, CT and moved back to NYC over 20 years ago to make a go of working in journalism. He worked for a few different outlets, including Geraldo Rivera's "Now It Can Be Told", while bartending at Tribeca's Riverrun. But after finding journalism not entirely to his liking, and wanting to do more than just bartend, Dave decided to open his own joint somewhere in Manhattan -- a cosy neighborhood bar with good beer.

Bob, Dave, Catherine and B.R.

In 1994 there weren't many places focusing on good beer in NYC. Two years earlier Eddie Berestecki established Mug's in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, thought of by many as the first real "beer bar" in New York. Dave and his business partners were looking to open a beer bar in Manhattan. At the same time Ray Deiter and Dennis Zentek (both sadly lost to tragic circumstances in 2011 and 2014 respectively) were also looking to do the same thing and, in fact, both sets of partners bumped into each other at 41 1st Ave. while scouting locations. Ray and Dennis took that space and opened D.B.A., and Dave kept searching, finally settling on a West Village space at Hudson and W. 10th St. Thus was born The Blind Tiger. A few months later, The Gingerman would open, bringing the number of good beer bars in New York City in 1996 to four!

In 1996 New York, "good beer" meant imports like Guinness, Hoegaarden, Newcastle, Boddingtons, and Paulaner Hefeweizen, and domestics such as Brooklyn Lager, Sierra Nevada, Pete's Wicked Ale, and Wild Goose IPA. And those were some of the best sellers, Dave recalls, when he first opened. About 10 years later when the Tiger lost their lease (to a Starbucks!) in in Dec. 2005, they relocated a block east of 7th Ave, on Bleecker at Jones St., in March 2007. With the move, the bar left all the imported beer behind. The 28 regular draught lines are almost exclusively American craft. Though they do make an exception for the occasional treat from, say, Cantillon or Dieu du Ciel.

The Blind Tiger has been recognized not only as a pioneer for craft beer bars in New York, but appreciated by locals as just a damn good bar with damn good beer. It's a must-visit pub on any beer lover's trip to NYC. In addition to the exalted Tiger, Dave has opened up two beer-centric bistros in Vermont, Worthy Burger and Worthy Kitchen, and is behind Beanery Brewing, a beer company that focuses on making coffee beer, and will be brewing at a new contract brewery located just outside of Boston and run by former Smuttynose Head Brewer Dave Yarrington. Here's to another 20 years of the Tiger!

Worthy Burger

[link to podcast page]
WFMU's Beer Hear! with Bob W. and B.R. from 1/9/2013

Over 15 years ago Dave Brodrick founded one of New York's most beloved beer bars, The Blind Tiger. Beer-heads from the world over know that it's a mandatory stop on any visit to NYC. Now Dave has created a different kind of beer destination, this time in the New England picture-postcard hamlet of South Royalton, Vermont.

We saw 10+ accidents within 50 miles on rt. 89, even though traffic was going under 10mph!

The establishment, just over a year old, is called Worthy Burger and while all 14 beers on tap are of laudable distinction, it's the burgers that are the main focus of his new joint.

Driving into South Royalton in January... snow.

The concept is pretty simple. Serve the best quality burgers, fries and other bar food, with as many locally sourced ingredients -- from family farms -- as possible, who happen to be investors in the business, as well. They feature grass fed local beef, local produce, artisanal cheeses, homemade pickles and kimchi, and beer from small local breweries. Put that together in a rustic old railyard freight building in the middle of a Vermont town that looks too real to be real, add in a wood-fire grill, and there you go!

Mmmmmmm.....

14 awesome beers -- 5 of which from Hill Farmstead!

Worthy Burger has turned out to be a popular spot with the locals, who appreciate the unique flavor imparted by grilling food over an open wood fire. The students from the law school just on the other side of the town-green are steady regulars, and it's sure to become a destination for beer travelers, too, especially when the new brewery around back opens up. Patrick Dakin, formerly of the Norwich Inn Brewery, is opening up Freight House Brewing in the old railyard, next to Worthy Burger.

One Worthy surprise was oysters on the half shell. "Oysters in Vermont?!?" you say? Well, when one of your restaurant partners operates the best fish delivery business in the state, picking up freshly unloaded seafood at 3am in Boston Harbor three times a week -- YES! Hear all about it in this week's podcast!

Snow appetizers are on the house!

The porch room's heater.

Custom made wood-fire grill.

Imagining a Pullman Coach pulling up for refueling.

Salmon burger with pickled green beans.

Bob, B.R. and Dave.

Oyster po boy with pickled asparagus.

Pickle station -- help yourself!

Rustic, warm, inviting.

Homemade condiments.

Entrance to Worthy Burger.