Queens, NY . -- Wednesday, May 17, 2023 -- Founded by wife/husband Roz & Patrick Donagher in 2021, Alewife Brewing is the only all-immigrant-run brewery in New York City with its two Irish owners and acclaimed all-Latino brewing team with Chris Mercedes, Fernando Carrasco, and Juliana Castro (Siebel Educated Master Brewer) at the helm. Alewife Brewing builds on a two-decade history of the Donaghers operating some of New York City's most beloved craft beer havens including Rattle N Hum, The Jeffrey and Fools Gold. A long-standing dream to own and operate an immigrant-run NYC brewery based on the family values that made their Manhattan bar ventures a huge success finally came to fruition with the opening of Alewife Brewing in Sunnyside Queens. zzubreebym
Since opening in 2021, Alewife Brewing has brewed over 100 unique beers. The Sunnyside taproom has 18 Alewife beers on tap at all times plus bottles and cans of freshly brewed hopped-up beers, as well as clean, crisp lagers/pilsners, saisons, stouts, and more for on-premise enjoyment and to-go orders. For May and June 2023, Alewife Brewing has eight exceptionally crafted new beers set for release to the New York City metro area and Pennsylvania, including Death to Ego (Hazy IPA), Keir's Bier (Zwickelbier), Vibes (West Coast-style IPA), Zea Mays (Mexican Lager; pictured above), I Dream in Peaches (Fruited Sour IPA), Queens BLVD (Imperial IPA), Sunnyside Blonde (Blonde Ale), ČERNÀ (Dark Lager), and a collaboration beer Sporadic Sorcery (International Pale Ale) with Stillwater Artisanal.
Paying tribute to the historical roles that women played in bringing peace to past societies with an abundant love of nature and prowess for brewing delicious beer, the Donaghers named their brewery after the "Alewives" of centuries past. Alewife Brewing takes its name from the "Alewives" who brewed elixirs for medicinal and spiritual purposes. Alewives of ancient times brewed potions for shamanistic rituals with locally grown psychedelics. The beer at Alewife Brewing has an aim, a purpose, and a dream, to bring a community of imbibers as close to a transcendental experience as legally possible! The Donaghers believe that delicious beers should be enjoyed amongst friends and family while also celebrating a tradition dating back thousands of years that's always had a great sense of community connection at the heart of it all.
Music is at the heart of Alewife's taproom with NYC's "Best Blues Jam" taking place the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month led by legendary blues guitarist/singer Hiro Suzuki. He's played with blues heavyweights Elvin Bishop, Sam Taylor Blues band, Bill Sims, among others. The local music scene is hot at Alewife with their full production stage, sound, and lighting, with buzzy NYC artists performing on its stage from Thursdays - Sundays (LINK to events calendar).
The German beer hall vibe at Alewife Brewing in Sunnyside Queens has classic arcade games, pinball, basketball, Street Fighter, corn hole, darts, and a selection of kids' games. Beer lovers can nosh on delicious artisanal items from a curated charcuterie and cheese menu, Fishwife tinned fish, snacks, and free popcorn. The huge outdoor area is perfect for spring, summer, and autumn months.
Come out and visit the taproom for a taste of the best beers brewed in New York City!
About Alewife Brewing:
Opening Alewife Brewing was no easy feat, though. The Donaghers first attempted to open Alewife back in 2012, but Hurricane Sandy washed away their efforts as the high tides poured over the shores of Long Island City and flooded the Alewife bar that was planned to be the site of their brewery. The severe damage and financial hit made it impossible to continue until nearly a decade later. In 2019, a one-barrel brewhouse was installed at first, and Alewife beers were finally flowing in Long Island City. Soon after, a larger location with a 10-barrel brewhouse hit the planning phase, and after looking at many possible neighborhoods, the Donaghers chose Sunnyside Queens as it was where the two had both immigrated to many years earlier from Ireland.
After only one month of construction in Sunnyside, the onset of the Covid-19 global pandemic shut the world down and they feared Alewife would never see the day of light. With the help of friends Pat Fondiller, Marck Turke, and Keir Hamilton, the Alewife team pushed forth doing their own construction, assembling the brewery, installing all the equipment, brewing all the beer, making home deliveries, and selling what they could from the front gate of the brewery. Alewife Brewing conquered the greatest of obstacles to be here today and serve some of the best craft beers New York City has to offer. The brewery is now in full swing brewing 3,500 BBLS of beer annually with an acclaimed brewing staff (who have previously brewed at Sixpoint Brewery and Bronx Brewery) including Chris Mercedes, Fernando Carrasco, Juliana Castro (Siebel Educated Master Brewer), and avid home brewer turned brewer/co-owner Pat Donagher.
Alewife Brewing self-distributes beer across NYC, NY State, Long Island, and Pennsylvania.
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