A New Homebrew Festival Grows in Brooklyn
Over the last four years of running my homebrew tours, I've watched Brooklyn's DIY beer scene boom. Where once aspring apartment brewers were forced to order grains and hops online or drive into Long Island, now there's a bounty of brew shops such as Bitters & Esters, Brooklyn Homebrew and Brooklyn Kitchen, all of which stocks ingredients and offer classes.
This has led to a swell of brewers in Brooklyn and across the city, with kegerators crammed into every nook and cranny. Now, the best thing about homebrewing is sharing it with your friends. But if you're brewing two or three times a month, that's a fair amount of five-gallon batches of beer taking up space in too-tiny apartments. And even if your friends are lushes, there's a limit to everyone's beer intake. The solution, then, is a homebrew festival.
The latest one to arrive is Pride of Brooklyn, which will debut this Saturday, April 27, at Gowanus' Littlefield. The festival will feature 25 New York–based homebrewers, as well as pro offerings from Lagunitas, SingleCut and the brand-new Yonkers Brewing Company.
The mastermind behind the homebrew madness is Casey Soloff, an advertising copywriter who has been brewing beer for about a year. "I know a lot of good people in the homebrewing community," says Soloff, a Brooklyn resident. "I put out a call a call for entries and people responded almost immediately."
The homebrewers will pour a variety of ales and lagers, including the likes of a pilsner, rye black IPA, spiced milk stout and cherrywood-smoked porter—in other words, you won't go home thirsty or bored. Additionally, there will be food for purchase from Fletcher's and Mexicue, and attendees get $2 off drafts at Mission Dolores until 8 p.m.
Come get a taste of the next generation of New York City brewers.
Pride of Brooklyn Homebrew Festival Saturday, April 27, 1 to 5 p.m. Littlefield (622 Degraw Street, Gowanus, 718-855-3388) Tickets: $25 (buy them here)
This post originally appeared on my app, Craft Beer New York.
