Sure, the growth of the craft beer scene in NYC has been phenomenal in the six years that we’ve had the Good Beer Seal, but possibly nowhere is this growth more noticeable than in our “royal” counties of Kings and Queens. This week on Beer Sessions Radio™ on Heritage Radio Network, host Jimmy Carbone is welcoming some of the local beer people and press from Brooklyn and Queens to ask the question: Where is the beer scene cooler?
Alia Akkam of Edible Queens and Rachel Wharton of Edible Brooklyn face off in friendly fashion to talk about their respective boroughs. Alia talks about how craft beer is now making Queens a destination (beyond all the cool ethnic food options). Leading the way in Queens are Rockaway Brewing (help contribute to their crowdfunded canning line here), Singlecut Beersmiths, and Bridge & Tunnel (owner Rich Costanza is in the studio, pouring his Habanero IPA). Rich talks about being a Queens native brewing in his hometown.
On the other side of the island (and aisle), Sam Richardson and Matt Monahan from The Other Half are representing Brooklyn, pouring their Superfun! and Hop Showers. Rachel follows up on a previously aborted interview attempt. Sam talks about his transition from Oregon (where he got his degree in brewing science) to his new brewery opening in Brooklyn.
And Jon Lundbom of B. United returns to the studio to help Jimmy co-host. Later German brewer Matthias Richter also drops in to talk about their beers and brewing style.
Plus Jimmy announces that the suspense is over! As most Good Beer Seal fans know, for the past five Julys, the Mayor’s office proclaimed July Good Beer Month in NYC. With the new administration coming on, we weren’t sure when (or if) Mayor Bill de Blasio would applaud the craft beer scene in the same fashion as the Bloomberg administration. But this week, Jimmy received the Mayor’s letter, praising the growth of the beer scenes in the outer boroughs.
Something we’ve been helping promote for six years. So, raise your glass to July Good Beer Month with your favorite brew from (or at your favorite bar in) Queens and Brooklyn and listen to the full episode here.