Grand Cru
A popular hybrid bar and retail shop in Rhinebeck that features beer — and plenty of it
Rod Johnson, along with his wife Alicia Lenhart, is the owner of Grand Cru, a popular hybrid bar and retail shop in Rhinebeck that features beer — and plenty of it — along with artisanal cheese, wines by the glass and tasty local snacks. The bar has six taps (Johnson plans to double that in the near future), and almost every day there are changes to at least one of the beers listed. We tried the Chimay Premiere ($11), a very fine — and very rare Stateside — Belgian red, and Victory Brewery’s Summer Love ($6), a light, refreshing blond beer. Friends took advantage of the recent Stone Brewing tap takeover, enjoying the wine-like notes of the Stone Cali-Belgique ($8) and the popular Stone Go-To IPA ($6.50). Don’t skip the cheese plate. There are typically five to choose from (one for $8, two for $12 or three for $16). We sampled the rich, complex Truffle Falls cow’s milk cheese, and the sheep’s milk El Trigal Mantangeo, an excellent, not overly sharp selection. We added charcuterie ($2/$4), so our plate also included macadamia nuts, almonds, dates and bread from Design’s Bakery in Kingston. Grand Cru also sells other tasty vittles, like Deising’s soft pretzels, venison from Highland Farm, snack jars from The Local and Spacey Tracy’s pickles. Grand Cru Beer & Cheese Market 6384 Mill St., Rhinebeck, NY (845) 876-6992 Monday: closed Tuesday & Wednesday: Noon—8:30 p.m. Thursday: Noon—9:30 p.m. Friday & Saturday: Noon—11 p.m. Sunday: Noon—7 p.m.
