… the mouse will play have to watch over the dogs.
It happens almost every time that my wife heads out of town for more than a couple of days.
Either, the building decides to shut off the hot water to my kitchen sink, giving me several hours of rusty water when it is finally allowed to flow again.
Or, and this happens way more frequently, we get a booking, or two, or three, to board and/or keep an eye on a neighbor’s dog, or sometimes a neighbor’s cat(s).
This past week, my missus has been down in Florida and Texas visiting family, and I have had the pleasure and responsibility of caring for two pups, not at the same time thankfully, but that had occurred before.
There was one time a couple of years ago when I was tasked with looking after four visiting pups, plus my own Pugsley.
Talk about going to the dogs!
It looked for a while that I would also have to sit another neighborhood puppy while his human was running a half-marathon, but this weekend’s nor-easter put an end to the run and the sitting opportunity.
The weather also killed off any thoughts that I may have had to take the hounds along to the pub or for a longer walk than just round the block.
My first visitor Romeo, an apricot maltipoo is a recent client, we have watched him several times now during working hours whenever his human has had to work at the office instead of home.
He is a real sweetheart, but we were originally told that he doesn’t like men, so when my wife is home and he is over for the day, he does tend to follow her around and keep a wary eye on both me and our cat, Mister Bagel.
This time, with my wife away, he just turned into an absolute snuggle bunny, spending much of the time slumped on my lap or my feet with Bagel as a constant companion, and occasional pillow.
He was a real joy to have around, and the apartment was much quieter once he went back home, but that did give me the chance to get out of the house for the afternoon and evening.
I leaped at that chance, and wandered down to Jones Wood for a few pints, my monthly bangers and mash (thanks Doc), an awesome crumble (thanks Jason), and to watch the Yankees uninspiring exit from the MLB playoffs for the year; it could have been worse, I could have been in a cold wet seat in the Bronx instead of a comfortable barstool.
Or I could have been an actual Yankees fan.
Let’s Go Mets!
Unusually, I stayed till the bitter end, closing down the pub instead of opening it as is my custom; did I mention that my wife was out of town?
I had a day’s break before my second four-footed customer was due to arrive for a three-day doggy sleepaway camp, so decided to take the ferry to Long Island City, with no plans on where to hike to.
So naturally, I started in Fifth Hammer.
And finished several hours later … in Fifth Hammer.
What can I tell you?
The cask was great, the folks were friendly, both staff and visitors, and visitors’ dogs too.
It was a good day for a short ferry ride as well; it was cool enough to finally wear my jacket for the first time in months, but too cool for a wussy like me to be sitting up top, so I didn’t.
It would have been a great day for some exploring, if I could have dragged my butt out of the brewery; they can’t all be half-marathons.
Reo is a parti yorkie, a particularly striking one with his grey-white coat with dark grey and sandy blotches, and his happy gentle but rumbunctious disposition.
He is a regular return visitor to Whispering Acres, so much so that he and Bagel have a playful friendly rivalry.
I would have loved to get him outside for some serious exercise, for both of us, but had to make do with watching him and Bagel chasing each other around the apartment for much of the long weekend.
Like Romeo before him, he also spent a lot of time on my lap or under my feet, but always with one leery eye on Mister Bagel, in case of a sneak attack.
They have both returned to their humans now.
The weather looks like it may clear up finally.
I can start looking forward to exploring my city again.
Bagel is content with some peace and quiet.
Scorecard w/e 10/14/25
In the past week the Cask Whisperer has enjoyed the following casks:
- Old Glenham Loom Cornish Ale @ Jones Wood Foundry
- Fifth Hammer Bartholemew Neverbart w/Galaxy @ Fifth Hammer Brewing
Upcoming Cask Events (Festivals and Otherwise)
- November 8th: Blue Point 21st Cask Fest at Blue Point Brewing, Patchogue NY (Tickets now available!)
- Save the dates! The 2026 edition of NERAX will be from March 25th to 28th next year.
Upcoming Random NYC Casks
- None that I am aware of.
NYC Cask Venues
Known Operational/Active Beer Engines
- Jones Wood Foundry (x2)
- Fifth Hammer
- Wild East
- The Shakespeare (x3)
- Drop-off Service
Occasional Pins (worth a follow on Instagram)
- Strong Rope
- KCBC
- Tørst
- Blind Tiger Ale House
- Threes Brewing
- Brouwerij Lane (First Friday Firkins)
- The Owl Farm
Cask Venues Reachable from NYC by MTA or NJ Transit Train in Under two Hours
Metro-North Hudson Line
- Draught Industries, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
- Coopers, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
- Happy Valley Arcade Bar, Beacon NY (one handpump, Old Glenham beer range).
Metro-North Harlem Line
- The Ambleside Pub, Mt. Kisco NY (four handpumps, Old Glenham beer range).
Metro-North New Haven Line
- Marlowe Artisanal Ales, Mamaroneck NY (one handpump, Marlowe beer range).
- Nod Hill Brewing, Ridgefield CT (two handpumps, Nod Hill beer range).
NJ Transit NJCL Line
- Triumph Restaurant and Brewery, Red Bank NJ (one handpump, Triumph beer range).
