The Cask and Rasher: For the Best Beers and Pub Food, Hit Up this Coxsackie Sports Bar
The Cask and Rasher in Coxsackie has the home-away-from-home quality of a solid neighborhood sports bar, plus a really impressive beer selection and an pub food menu that beats our all favorite Brooklyn brew pubs, hands down. On a recent visit, we walked in to find a gang of Jets fans in full game-day attire huddled at the bar, a crew of Bills fans facing another screen, a table of Pats fans sweating over a big pile of hot wings, and guy rolling solo in a Steelers jersey who kept an eye on another TV. Occasionally, somebody from one group of fans would call out to another group by name, comparing notes on the many games in progress. Meanwhile, for us out-of-towner beer nerds who were just rooting for a hard-to-find pint, catching Grimm on tap here was a big win.
I haven't tried the Cask and Rasher's signature dish, a full pound of bacon with chopped pickles and cheese sauce, sandwiched between grilled cheese on Texas toast, but if you've eaten The Rasher, I want to hear about it in the comments! All the portions are built for big appetites, from the juicy, 1/2-pound burgers on grilled pretzel rolls to the creamy, decadent, skillet-sized mac and cheese, which my kids love—along with the warm, chewy pretzel bread sticks and the top-of-the-line chicken tenders. Though the menu looks familiar, nothing tastes like the typical bar-and-grill freezer-to-fryer fare here.
Personally, I crave the crisply battered house-made fried mozzarella, served with a raspberry dipping sauce. And I love the warm roasted Brussels sprouts, which are sliced thin, drizzled with truffle oil, and meant to be piled onto crunchy buttered toast points, a DIY bruscetta that doesn't feel too fancy for a game-watch. Whether you're looking for an unpretentious spot to drink some high-brow beers, an easygoing restaurant with delicious food, or just a solid sports bar, the Cask and Rasher has you covered.
The Cask and Rasher is located at 245 Mansion St in Coxsackie, NY; (518) 731-7468. Check out their Facebook page for hours and more info.
>>> Want more tips on nearby beer spots? Read about Hop Barn Brewing in Greenville and Honey Hollow Brewing Co. in Earlton.
