It’s Brooklyn’s largest lager event!
The annual New York City Beer Week, which officially kicks off on Saturday with the Opening Bash in Greenpoint, will have Brooklyn overflowing with craft beer events for the next 10 days. For those looking for something new, we have found four brand new breweries based in the borough that you should seek out this week.
Tale of Talea
The Opening Bash on Feb. 22 is Beer Week’s biggest event, featuring 40 breweries from New York City, and just as many from around the country. One local brewery you should hunt down is Talea Beer Company, which plans to open a taproom in Williamsburg in the next few months.
Talea, co-founded by Tara Hankinson and LeAnn Darland in 2018, focuses on fruit-forward, easy-drinking brews — and that approach seems to be working, because last week, the brewery won the Best Brews of New York competition with its Cherryberry Tart Deco beer, beating out 14 other breweries in the city.
Seek out Talea at the New York City Beer Week Opening Bash at the Brooklyn Expo Center (72 Noble St. at Franklin Street in Greenpoint, nycbrewed.com). Feb. 22 at 12:30 pm and 6:30 pm. $75 ($115 VIP).
Ward up!
The 18th Ward Brewing Company, which quietly opened its taproom in Williamsburg last fall, kicks things off early with an “18th Ward Mug Giveaway” on Feb. 21 at 5 pm. Until March 1 (the end of NYC Beer Week), you can go to the taproom and fill the 14-ounce stein with any 18th Ward brew for just $5.
The giveaway event is designed to get people in the door of the new beer spot, said its owner.
“We figured, we’re still a young brewery — what else can we do to get the word out?” said Jordan Beldner, who also owns the beer bars Northern Bell and Jimbo Slims.
The Williamsburg spot makes a wide variety of brews, including IPAs, lagers, and stouts, although its head brewer, Dailey Crafton, has a special love for saisons, said Beldner.
18th Ward will hand out mugs during the Opening Bash, and will host several bands during Beer Week, including New Orleans musician Eric Lindell on Fat Tuesday and the Homebrewsicians, featuring its head brewer, on Feb. 28.
Mug Giveaway at 18th Ward Brewing Company (300 Richardson St. at Debevoise Avenue in Williamsburg, www.18thwardbrewing.com). Feb. 21, 5 pm–midnight. Free.
Eric Lindell Solo Concert at 18th Ward Brewing. Feb. 25; 6–10 pm. Free.
Homebrewsicians at 18th Ward Brewing. Feb. 28; 7–11 pm. Free.
Non the wiser
Non Sequitur Beer Project brewed its first batch last October, and has made a splash with its colorful cans and offbeat brews. It does not have a physical location, instead pouring pints at temporary pop-up taprooms around Brooklyn. The travelling set-up allows each event to be something special, said its owner.
“By taking over these places where people aren’t consuming beer … we can have a new taproom every month,” said Gage Siegel. “We can change it as often as we want, to have a more compelling experience than just showing up and drinking beer.”
In addition to pouring at the Opening Bash, Non Sequitur will host an after-party across the street, featuring an “emo dance party” that goes late into the night, pouring the whimsically named brews I’ll Have the Uhh and It’s a Good Idea, along with some beers from Chicago brewery Hop Butcher.
You can also sample Non Sequitur’s brews the next afternoon, at beer bar Covenhoven in Crown Heights, and at Pete’s Candy Store in Williamsburg on Feb. 29.
So far, the traveling brewery has only made IPAs or double IPAs, but Siegel plans to expand its styles within the next two months.
Non Sequitur and Hop Butcher Opening Bash After Party (97 West St. between Greenpoint Avenue and Milton Street in Greenpoint, nycbrewed.com). Feb. 22; 9:30 pm–1 am. Free.
Brewer’s Brunch at Covenhoven Covenhoven [730 Classon Ave. between Prospect and Park places in Crown Heights, (917) 449–6783, www.covenhovennyc.com]. Feb. 23; noon–4 pm. Free.
Five Boroughs and Non Sequitur Tap Takeover at Pete’s Candy Store [709 Lorimer St. between Frost and Richardson streets in Williamsburg, (718) 302–3770, www.petescandystore.com]. Feb. 29; 7–11 pm. Free.
Go Wild!
Wild East Brewing, which specializes in farmhouse beers, is poised to open its taproom Gowanus in just a few weeks. But if you want an advance taste of its fresh and hazy brews, you can stop by the Opening Bash, or visit its tap takeovers at 61 Local on Feb. 20, or of the Double Windsor on Feb. 25.
Wild East and Banded Brewing Tap Takeover at 61 Local [61 Bergen St. between Smith and Court streets in Cobble Hill, (718) 875–1150, www.61local.com]. Feb. 20; 7–11 pm. Free.
Wild East Tap Takeover at the Double Windsor [210 Prospect Park West at 16th Street in Windsor Terrace, (347) 725-3479, www.doublewindsorbklyn.com]. Feb. 25 at 7 pm. Free.
