A Tale of Three Breweries

A Tale of Three Breweries by Daniel Sennet

With every new café, restaurant, bar or in this case, brewery that opens up, Long Island City grows its stature. I recently completed the trifecta of micro, nay, nano-breweries in Long Island City after having sampled the Octoberweizen at Big Alice Brewing. This brewery, on 43rd and Vernon, was the northern most of the three; with Rockaway Brewing Co on 46th and Vernon and Transmitter Brewing on 11th St and Borden. Each is unique in its approach to brewing, but common in their passion for beer.  Relative to the larger Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg or Heartland in Manhattan, you can walk in to any one of these, speak with the owner, who is often the Master Brewer and really get a sense for the love and respect these owners possess for their craft and for their products.  Even if you don’t like beer, which is unfathomable, the tour of the three is really a tour of the city; a tour of everything that’s right about living in a time when and place where you can quit your day job to open up a brewery. 

I digress. Octoberweizen. This somewhat untraditional seasonal beer clocks in just north of 7% ABV with a very mellow Octoberfest taste that dances a romantic tango with a more traditional Hefeweizen. The result is a lasting bold taste that is dangerously delicious. I remarked somewhat outloud that I would definitely drink this again, and a gentleman standing around remarked, “no – you won’t!” Somewhat taken aback, the (unknown to me at the time) Co-Founder Scott Berger told us that every batch is different and every time you come back, there will be a new keg pouring samples. In all likelihood, they’ll never brew this batch again. I was saddened by the loss, ecstatic with original find, and hopeful for the future. Their story is listed on their website, but to sum up the experience, “We won't have the same beer produced over and over but instead will provide an ever evolving line of unique and interesting one-off beers. We can do things the big boys can't.” And I agree with them: “That’s the really cool part.”

The Big Alice tasting room had at least ten taps, but only one pouring. With a recently acquired license to dispense farm distilleries’ liquor and other New York State beers, Big Alice will soon open its doors on Thursdays and Saturdays to hold tastings, bigger samplings and other great events to really take advantage of the crowd that is thirsty for this nano-brewery’s beers.  For now, the very recently renovated warehouse space welcomes patrons (and their dogs!) from 5 – 8pm on Friday nights to sample their current brew and buy bottles of any of their recent batches. With John Brown’s Smokehouse so close-by, it’s the perfect way to kick-off the weekend.

On the south side of the beaten path is Transmitter Brewing. A similarly small operation with big aspirations. The focus here is on Farmhouse ales, that is, “yeast-driven beers with complimenting grains and hops.” You can read more about their unique contribution to the craft beer scene on their website. After crossing over the old LIRR tracks on 11th St, you find the warehouse waiting for you with open arms. The front reception, no more than 75 square feet, is where the loveliest of Beer Advocates pores samples from three open bottles. Each had a strong inclination towards the fruity, but depending on the level of hops added in and at what time during the production process, you could find yourself with an IPA styled Belgium beer. I got the impression that this was a take-out only. Sample the beers, choose one that you like and grab a few bottles. There was only one bench to sit at at the front end of the warehouse, and it was taken by thirsty revelers. Similarly priced as Big Alice, $17 is a significant investment for a 750ml bottle, but when it’s delicious, high-quality beer, you can justify supporting your local brewer!

Lying smack-dab in the middle between the two is Rockaway Brewing Company, the oldest of the three having opened way back in 2012! With a more traditional tasting room boasting 8 open taps, Rockaway invites you to come in, stay a while and enjoy the art of brewing. What the tap room lacks in décor it makes up for with Hendrix on the speakers, free chips to nosh on and of course, a constantly changing selection of solid beers. According to their website, “Our brewing process is very simple, there are no tricks or gimmicks we make it the old fashioned way, with a passion for fresh beer and a lot of elbow grease.” I went with a few friends and ordered two flights in order to sample all the beers. My favorites were the Black Gold Stout Nitro and the Old School IPA. On the latter, they used west coast hops which produced a drier and more piney tasting beer, the opposite of the IPAs produced by east coasters like Dogfish Head. On the former, we tried both the original and the Nitro to see the difference. The original was meant to be enjoyed later with a steak and the nitro immediately with your friends on a cooler day.  Go in; they will definitely explain the difference better than me. A 32oz growler costs $10, including the growler but only $7.50 to fill up again later. 

The Long Island City nano-brewery tour is one meant to be enjoyed with friends and fellow beer enthusiasts. Each indulges people like me who have become beer snobs, or rather, have become particular about the beers they enjoy. With three very high quality breweries so close to home, there is never a reason to settle for a Stella or a Bud. Spend a little bit more and try something that is unique, both to the world of craft brewing and to Long Island City. You won’t regret it.