The Ginger Man – LOST GEM 2021
For eighteen years, Ginger Man has been spreading beer cheer in midtown. Consistently heralded as one of the top ale-havens in the City, the bar sports over 70 draught beers and more than 120 different bottles of beer – every single one of which could be classified as a craft beer. We spoke with Kim, a manager, who exclaimed: “we just love beer!” A whiskey wall complements and adds to the heartiness of the operation, while a full bar means that the non-beer and bourbonites among us also have something to sip on. There are rooms in the back for private parties; up front, oriental rugs and armchairs give the impression that my grandfather could have been as comfortable sitting with a drink as my husband or son.
During the week, the crowd is professional, with lunchers and after-work drinkers a common sight. On the weekends, it is more of a party-crowd, although clearly one that cares about quality. When the Manhattan Sideways team came by late in the day on a Saturday, I was inspired to push us forward and find a comfy couch to sit for a while and soak up the atmosphere. One of the team ordered the Red Ale with Rye and called it “excellent.” Although packed, we got a sense that people were relaxed and engaged in real conversations. Then we realized that there was not one flat screen TV hanging from a wall. At this point, we were able to fully appreciate what David, one of the owners told us, “Our crowd is a bit more grown up. Yes, we do get some riff raff, but otherwise it is pretty mellow – people come here to share their ideals.”
Ginger Man is named for a book of the same title, by J.P. Donleavy, in which a redheaded American ex-pat finds himself in a series of debaucherous misadventures in Ireland. While that is not exactly what happens in this bar, the fun approach and laid back attitude are borne out. Kim, perhaps, summed it up best: “it’s a happy place.” Indeed.
