There are currently four craft breweries (with more in planning) that make up the Long Island City beer trail, each with its own unique space, tasting room format and style focus. And they’re all located within a one and a half mile radius of each other (the trail is two miles long) making them accessible by bike, foot or taxi with countless places to stop in between.

As a transportation hub, getting to Long Island City from anywhere in the city is incredibly easy. There are several subway and bus lines serving the area with rides as a short as five to 15 minutes from Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan and Williamsburg in Brooklyn. The East River Ferry makes a stop at LIC Landing in Gantry Park and is the most scenic transit option. For the more adventurous, New York’s bike share system, Citi Bike, has several rental stations located throughout the neighborhood and there are several dedicated bike paths.

Transmitter Brewing Company | 53-02 11th Street

Founders Rob Kolb and Anthony Accardi first shared a beer in 2005 and realized they shared a “love of food and a passion for making it” themselves. They built a lasting friendship while experimenting with different recipes and eventually started brewing beer together. In 2014 they opened Transmitter Brewing Co. in a space located beneath the Pulaski Bridge which connects Long Island City to the neighborhood of Greenpoint in Brooklyn.

As food lovers, they focus on traditional and farmhouse ales that can stand on their own, but also pair well with a meal. According to Anthony, the process they use to create each beer is similar to cooking: “It’s about layering and balancing elements.” With over 20 isolated strains of Brettanomyces, Lactobacillus and Pediococcus, as well as a brewhouse library of traditional Belgian, French, English and American yeasts, they’re creating “yeast-driven beers with complimenting grains and hops” that are exciting and approachable.

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Their tasting room is small, but incredibly inviting. They offer complimentary sample pours of their most recent bottle releases, which are also available for sale. There are two picnic tables located off the side of the tasting room in the brewery’s cellar — prime seats for enjoying a bottle onsite. It’s also not uncommon to spot one of the owners at work in the cellar, which makes the experience even more enjoyable as you witness the beer-making process firsthand.

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Rockaway Brewing Company | 46-01 5th Street

Located less than a mile away from Transmitter Brewing is Rockaway Brewing Company. On the way there, stop by any number of restaurants, bars and shops along Vernon Boulevard, or take the slightly longer route along the waterfront for breathtaking views of Manhattan and the vintage Pepsi-Cola sign.

Founders Marcus Burnett and Ethan Long opened Rockaway Brewing Company in 2010 and have since watched the neighborhood build up around them. They had previously been homebrewing in the Far Rockaways, a beach town located in the southernmost corner of Queens, “mainly so [they’d] have something to sip on after a day of surfing.”

Fast forward six years and their tasting room is one of the busiest in New York City. The brewery focuses on more traditional, easy drinking styles and strives to create “a vibe, and beer, that welcome locals, beer novices and hard-core fans to feel at home with each other.”

Stop in for a pint of Rockaway ESB, the brewery’s flagship beer, or go for the tasting flight to sample them all. Whether you’re in the mood for a tried and true pale ale, a dry Irish stout (Black Gold, one of the best in the city), or a nitro cream ale, there’s something for everyone.

Big Alice Brewing Company | 8-08 43rd Road

A little further north is Big Alice Brewing Company, named after the nickname given to a massive electric power generator nearby (Big Allis).

Kyle Hurst and Scott Berger founded Big Alice Brewing Company, a nano brewery, in 2013 and focus on creating unique, small-batch, one-off beers which gives them “the flexibility to continually experiment with ingredients, styles and brewing techniques.” On any given day, the tap list may include a spicy beer, a potato beer, a honey beer, a sour ale, a farmhouse ale and maybe an IPA.

The tasting room is cozy but comfortable, with chairs upholstered in grain bags and seating near the brewhouse behind the front bar. They also offer generous helpings of complimentary trail mix, which is a welcome snack alongside their tasting flights.

(Walkable Guides for Beer Lovers: Asheville’s South Slope | The Denver Highlands)

LIC Beer Project | 39-28 23rd Street

Ending the Long Island City beer trail is LIC Beer Project, the newest addition to the local craft beer community. Founded in 2015 by Damon Oscarson, Gianni Cavicchi and Dan Acosta, the brewery primarily focuses on Belgian-style and wild ales, but has recently been releasing some of the city’s best hoppy beers.

Head Brewer Dan Acosta fell in love with good beer while backpacking through Belgium. He enrolled at the Siebel Institute and developed a deep fascination with yeast. His brews often highlight wild yeast strains and he’s no stranger to brewing with Brettanomyces. In fact, LIC Beer Project boasts New York City’s first coolship, a vessel used for open-fermentation to attract local wild yeast, and an extensive barrel-aging program is already underway. They also feature hop-forward ales in their new Street Art series which focuses on creating beers that enhance the characteristics of the hops. One of their newest releases is a pale ale brewed with buckwheat and oats that features Centennial, Simcoe and Amarillo hops.

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The space is defined by large ceilings and a bar made of white marble and wood. The walls are decorated with murals and stacks of beer filled barrels, while two sets of cornhole fill the space leading to the brewery. There’s also plenty of seating (and it’s possible to have pizza delivered) which makes it the perfect final stop along the Long Island City beer trail.

The post Walk This Way: A Beer Lover’s Walkable Guide to Long Island City, New York appeared first on CraftBeer.com.

Start by picking a theme such as an ugly sweater or holiday pajama party. Then raid the garage or the closest 99-cent store for decorations (the tackier, the better). And don’t forget about the playlist! Classic holiday songs interspersed with upbeat, familiar hits keep the cheer flowing.

As for menu planning, the key is to keep it simple and to choose recipes that can be prepared in advance. Any cooking required day-of should be brief and completed with a beer in hand. When serving up to eight or nine guests, the sweet spot is three dishes: one savory main course, one sweet bread or pastry dish and fresh fruit. And because it is, after all, a beer brunch, try recipes that incorporate beer such as maple porter-braised pork belly with sweet potato hash or cranberry quick bread with gose glaze (recipes below).

Serving 10 or more? “Make-your-own” bars encourage guest interaction and keep you out of the kitchen. Breakfast tacos are a crowd-pleaser and fillings can be prepared in advance, then warmed shortly before guests arrive. Or keep it low-key with an assortment of bagels, spreads and toppings such as flavored cream cheeses, smoked fish, fresh vegetable slices, cranberry sauce, nut butters and jams.

Then there’s the true show-stopper: the beer. And oh, does it pair well with brunch. Below is a list of my favorite beer styles for serving with brunch and dishes to pair them with.

Coffee-Infused Beers

Coffee is the quintessential breakfast beverage, so it only makes sense to include a coffee-infused beer with brunch. By association, they’ll pair well with any breakfast dish, but brown ales and porters, in particular, complement the roasted and mildly sweet flavors of breakfast sausage and sweet potato hash.

• Board Meeting | Port Brewing Co. | San Marcos, CA
• Coffee Bender | Surly Brewing Co. | Brooklyn Center, MN
• Coffee Porter | Real Ale Brewing Co. | Blanco, TX
• JavaHead Stout | Tröegs Brewing Co. | Hershey, PA

Milk and Oatmeal Stouts

Brewed with oats or lactose, these beers are full-bodied and slightly sweet with a smooth mouthfeel, which complements the sweetness of french toast or chocolate chip pancakes—no whipped cream required. These beers also counter heat while holding up against roasted flavors and, as a result, pair well with spicier dishes such as a hot sauce-spiked carne asada breakfast burrito.

• Convict Hill Stout | Independence Brewing Co. | Austin, TX
• Milk Stout | The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery | Farmville, NC
• Oatmeal Milk Stout | River Horse Brewing Co. | Ewing, NJ
• Stagecoach Stout | Figueroa Mountain Brewing Co. | Buellton, CA
• Special Double Cream Stout | Bell’s Brewery, Inc. | Galesburg, MI

Gose

This refreshing, mildly tart wheat beer is a standout at the brunch table. The addition of salt during brewing provides a slight minerality while coriander adds spicy undertones to a lemon-forward profile that finishes dry. It’ll cut through the richness of salmon and cream cheese, counter runny egg yolks, calm the acidity of grapefruit, and clean your palate after each bite.

• The Kimmie, The Yink & The Holy Gose | Anderson Valley Brewing Co. | Boonville, CA
• Golden Gate Gose | Almanac Beer Co. | San Francisco, CA
• Gose | Westbrook Brewing Co. | Mount Pleasant, SC

Holiday Beers

Holiday beers pair well with the season, as well as with brunch. Most are available in large-format bottles, which are great for sharing and sampling at your craft beer holiday brunch.

Fluxus 2015 | Allagash Brewing Co. | Portland, ME


According to the brewery, this year’s Fluxus is a Strong Golden Ale brewed with Pilsner malt and local maple syrup.  After fermentation with a Belgian-style yeast strain, it is dry hopped with two experimental hops, 06277 and 06297.  The beer exhibits aromas of strawberry, pineapple and lime. This beer would pair nicely with a fruity breakfast bread or scones.

Brown Shugga’ | Lagunitas Brewing Co. | Petaluma, CA

This beer is brewed with brown sugar, and it shows. Aromas of molasses and dark fruit esters give way to a strong caramel presence that’s balanced by a citrus- and pine-forward hop bitterness. It’s the perfect companion to eggs benedict. Roasted malts and residual sugars pair well with griddled canadian bacon and counter the acidity in hollandaise sauce. Meanwhile, the high alcohol content and hop bitterness cut through the rich sauce and running egg yolks.

Noel de Calabaza | Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales | Dexter, MI

While a Belgian Strong Dark Ale may sound intense for the brunch table, this one pairs quite nicely with dishes slathered in maple syrup. The aroma suggests dried prunes and berries with notes of cocoa and wood while the body is tart with flavors of raisins, figs, and oak that round out the beer nicely. The tart sourness calms the sweetness of sugars and syrups while the dried-fruit flavors and maltiness pair well with them. Serve with dishes such as baked french toast, panettone, fruitcake, or anything made with raisins, figs, and plums. Pour sparingly.

When stopping by your local bottle shop, pick up a couple of different beer styles for variety. Plan to serve around 32 ounces per person in eight-ounce pours, especially if stronger beers are being served. Invite your guests to bring their favorite breakfast beer to share, as well. Just don’t forget the coffee!

Maple Porter Braised Pork Belly with Sweet Potato & Brussel Sprout Hash

Pork Belly

• 2 pounds pork belly, skin removed
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 12 ounces Big Leaf Maple Porter
• 2 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• chicken stock
• 2 bay leaves

Directions

Preheat oven to 300ºF. Whisk together maple porter, maple syrup and vinegar.

Combine chili powder, ginger, coriander, salt and pepper in a small bowl. Rub the spice mixture on all sides of the pork belly. Place pork belly, fat side up, in a glass baking dish or dutch oven. Pour porter mixture over pork belly. Add enough stock to bring liquid half way up the side of the pork belly. Cover with a tight-fitting lid or aluminum foil. Braise in oven until very tender, but not falling apart, about three hours. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Once cooled, cover with plastic wrap or parchment paper. Place a smaller baking dish on top of the pork belly and weigh down by placing canned goods in the top dish. Chill overnight. Can be prepared up to three days in advance; remove weights after 12 hours and store refrigerated in an airtight container.

Sweet Potato and Brussels Sprout Hash

• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 medium onions, halved and thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1 large red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 2 pounds of sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 pound of Brussels sprouts
• 1 tsp fresh thyme, chopped
• 1/2 Tbsp smoked paprika or chipotle powder (optional)

Cut off the brown ends of the brussels sprouts and remove any yellow leaves; for larger brussels sprouts, halve or quarter to roughly the same size as the sweet potatoes.

Add two tablespoons butter to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions, garlic, bell pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Cook, occasionally stirring, until onion softens, about six minutes. Add brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, thyme, paprika or chipotle (if using), and season with an additional one teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; cover and cook, stirring two or three times, until potatoes are brown and almost fork-tender, about 10 minutes. Can be prepared one to two days in advance; store refrigerated in an airtight container.

Assembly

• 1 Tbsp butter
• 5 to 6 large eggs

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Remove pork belly from braising liquid and cut into 1-inch pieces. Butter a 9×5-inch glass baking dish. Add sweet potato mixture and top with pork belly pieces. Make six small wells and crack one egg into each. Season top of eggs with salt and pepper. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until eggs are set and dish is warmed through.

Cranberry Quick Bread with Orange Gose Glaze

Glaze

• 1 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 1 Tbsp orange juice
• 1 Tbsp gose or wheat beer
• 1 Tbsp orange zest

Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for loaf pan
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 stick cold butter, plus extra for loaf pan
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 cup buttermilk
• 1/4 cup gose or wheat beer
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 large egg
• 1 cup fresh cranberries, chopped
• 1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350ºF.Butter a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking soda and salt. Using a pastry cutter or your fingertips, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until mixture forms small crumbs; this can also be done by pulsing in a food processor.

In a small bowl, whisk together orange zest, buttermilk, beer, vanilla and egg until well combined. Stir into dry mixture until just combined, being careful not to overmix. Fold in cranberries and nuts.

Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 1 hour 15 minutes, turning once. Bread is ready when it turns golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Let cool for 20 minutes, then remove from pan. While bread cools, make the glaze by whisking together confectioners’ sugar, orange juice, beer and orange zest in a small bowl or measuring cup. Drizzle over the top of the cranberry bread. Glazed bread will keep in the refrigerator for up to three days.

The post Craft Beer-Inspired Holiday Brunch: Pairings, Tips and Recipes appeared first on CraftBeer.com.