Brooklyn’s burgeoning beer scene is buzzing faster than we can get a buzz on an empty stomach. Keep up with the borough’s beer-centric happenings with this monthly installment of Brooklyn beer news, including can releases, beer festivals, brewery nights and other beer celebrations around the borough.
1. Bed-Stuy beer haven the Wilky will be hosting a Cigar City Brewery Night on Wednesday where they’ll be tapping Jai Alai, Florida’s OG juicy IPA (and one of Wilky partner Brian Fisher’s first beer loves, he tells us), along with White Oak Jai Alai (a white oak-aged version that adds smooth vanilla notes) and 110K+OT Batch #9 – Imperial Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Brown Ale, a ridiculously named beer that may be ridiculously tasty. Cigar City’s Apple Pie Cider will also be on tap, and rare bottles may be making appearances, too but you didn’t hear that from us. (Psst, if you sign up for the Wilky’s email newsletter, you’ll also get your first beer for free, but you didn’t hear that from us, either.) RSVP and get more details on Facebook. (The Wilky, Bed-Stuy, Wednesday, March 15, 6-11pm)
2. Can champions get ready: Greenpoint Beer & Ale has two cans fresh off the canning line releasing this Wednesday. This time, Greenpoint is bringing back the locally adored Instant Credibility, a sippy cup-worthy double IPA brewed with Mosaic, Simcoe and Galaxy hops (then dry hopped with Mosaic and Galaxy, *sensual shudder*), along with the debut of its brand new Denali IPA, brewed with pilsner malt, wheat and oats and hopped with the new Denali hop varietal. Greenpoint Beer & Ale will also be celebrating their third anniversary with a party on Sunday, March 19. (Greenpoint Beer & Ale, Greenpoint, Wednesday, March 15 & Sunday, March 19)
3. F*ck being lonely and cold and attend this total sausage fest—that is, a beer and sausage fest—at the third annual Winter’s Grind at Arrogant Swine, an awesomely indulgent event hosted by Arrogant Swine owner and whole-hog supporter, Tyson Ho, beer writer Josh Bernstein and craft beer advocate, podcast host and soon-to-be brewery proprietor, Chris Cuzme. All-you-can-eat sausages such as chicken satay, veal sausage with Pakistani fire seasoning and Sicilian lamb stigghiola will be aplenty (vegetarian options will also be available), as will all-you-can-drink brews from 10 of the city’s best homebrewers like Mary Izett and Bitter & Esters, plus around 25 beers from 15 of New York’s best breweries including Brooklyn’s own Kings County Brewers Collective (KCBC), Strong Rope Brewery, Keg & Lantern Brewing and Other Half Brewing. A limited amount of $35 tickets are available with the code SWINE, otherwise tickets are $40. (Arrogant Swine, East Williamsburg, Saturday, March 18, 1-4pm)
4. Do St. Patrick’s Day the better way by attending Coney Island’s Shamrock Shindig, a party proudly not serving green beer. What will be on tap: some of the brewery’s latest creative concoctions, like the Double Oak Bourbon Barrel Aged Apple Wheat brewed with green apples sourced right here in New York State. The beer has been aging in a bourbon barrel for the past six months, and it wants to be in your mouth. This shindig is FREE! Wear green and get $1 off every pint. (Coney Island Brewery, Coney Island, Saturday, March 18, 12-8pm)
5. Luke’s Lobster reopens its seasonal shack in Brooklyn Bridge Park with an expanded seating area this year, and best of all, with new beer and wine options. According to DNAinfo, the regular menu of seafood rolls, clam chowder and lobster tails will be complemented by beer options including Shipyard’s Lobsterman’s Choice Ale on tap (a beer made specially for the Luke’s Lobster’s location in Tenant’s Harbor, Maine) and canned beers including Shipyard Island Time IPA and Peak Organic IPA. (Luke’s Lobster, 11 Water St., reopening Wednesday, March 15)
6. Happy third birthday to Covenhoven, beloved Beer Book partner and Prospect Heights beer shop and bar that turns three this month. The cozy craft beer gathering spot will celebrate the big 0-3 with “a night of local craft beer, food, dinosaurs and space” hosted by the Beerded Ladies. Plus, pouring from the taps will be specially brewed collaborations from Strong Rope Brewery, Keg & Lantern Brewing, Greenpoint Beer & Ale Co. and Transmitter Brewing, to help fuel your hidden affinity for games, prizes and treats. Bring your Beer Book! (Covenhoven, Friday, March 24, 7pm)
7. One of Brooklyn’s first beer bars, Spuyten Duyvil is hosting Orval Day 2017, an ode to the favored Trappist ale adored by brewers and beer enthusiasts the world over. The all-day celebration will include pours of Orval—the “brett” beer that was cool before brettanomyces was cool—along with other iconic Belgian ales and vintages. The event is free and pours are pay as you go, with a portion of proceeds going to MAP International, a global health organization that provides medicines to poverty-stricken people around the world. (Spuyten Duyvil, Saturday, March 25, 12pm)
8. Wartega beers are here! The brand new, already beloved-by-Brokelyn beer and coffee makers are having their grand opening party, bringing herb-, spice- and fruit-forward bold beers to Brooklyn’s Industry City, sharing a tasting room with Industry City Distillery. “We’ll be serving something hoppy, something light, something dark, and something special,” said Merlin Ward, co-founder and brewer of Wartega. The event will feature bold beers, foods that include Wartega brews, and cocktails. Tasting room hours are Friday and Saturday, 4pm-10pm (Wartega Brewery, Friday, March 31, 6pm)
9. Threes Brewing will be celebrating Saison Day on April 8 with Allagash Brewing Co. The annual bash will include a range of guest breweries on tap, including: Oxbow, Suarez Family Brewery, Transmitter, LIC Beer Project and Hill Farmstead, along with the beer nerd revered Saison Day homebrew competition, where eight local homebrewers will compete for a prize. May the best Brooklynified Belgian-style beer win! (Threes Brewing, Sunday, April 8, 12-6:30pm)
10. Early bird tickets are on sale for the Brooklyn Brewery MASH Beer Mansion Party, a multi-faceted beer festival featuring brews, food and local bands at the Monto and the Well. In the Beer Mansion’s five themed tasting rooms, partygoers can explore and enjoy unlimited beer samples from Brooklyn Brewery and five other local craft breweries, as well as try a new Brooklyn Brewery brew: Kiwi’s Playhouse, a sour ale oak-aged on fresh kiwis, which debut in a “deconstructed tasting” at the Beer Mansion.Beer celebs Garrett Oliver, Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster and Andrew Gerson, Brooklyn Brewery chef will be on site, as will food from Roberta’s, Frankel’s and Bunker, available for purchase courtesy of Eater. (The Well, East Williamsburg, April 21, 6pm)
Stay in-the-know about Brokelyn-approved beer bars and breweries by visiting our 2017 Brooklyn Bar Guide.