Kelly Taylor Of KelSo Beer & The NYC Brewers Guild On Clinton Hill’s Blocktoberfest
Next Saturday, September 20, members of the NYC Brewers Guild will descend upon Waverly Avenue to present Blocktoberfest 2014. Ahead of the event, which will feature brews and representatives from multiple Clinton Hill and other NYC beer makers, music, and food (including Jimmy’s No. 43 BBQ) across a total 8,000 sq ft of beer garden space, we asked KelSo Beer co-founder and Guild President Kelly Taylor what kind of a hoppin’ good time neighbors can look forward to.
What breweries can folks expect to see at Blocktoberfest? Big names? Little guys with cult followings?
Most Guild breweries will be in attendance: Other Half, Sixpoint, KelSo, and Brooklyn Brewery, as well as Heartland, 508 GastroBrewery, Rockaway, Flagship and Finback.
[Editor’s note: the NYCBG site also specifies appearances from Transmitter Brewing, Bridge and Tunnel Brewery, Big Alice Brewing, and Grimm Artisanal Ales, plus craft beers available from Bronx Brewery, City Island Brewery,
andWhat established favorite and new, experimental beers can attendees look forward to?
I don’t have full list yet, but I’m understanding that KelSo will be bringing Jameson Whiskey Aged IPA, while Heartland will be debuting the Imperial Oktoberfest.
Why this location for the event?
It’s a cool space and right next door to KelSo and Heartland’s brewery in Clinton Hill, has indoor and outdoor space, and is easy to get to.
Do any of the NYCBG brewery staff live in the Fort Greene or Clinton Hill area? Where are your favorite places to eat, drink, and buy beer locally?
Many of the breweries have staff from the area (Prospect Heights, Fort Greene, Bed Stuy). Favorites are Emily, Habana Outpost, 67 Burger, and Bed Stuy Beer Works.
Overall, how has craft brewing grown in NYC in the past few years?
It’s been exploding. When we started the Guild in late 2011, we were scraping to get nine breweries together (KelSo, Heartland, Sixpoint, Brooklyn, Coney Island, Chelsea, Bronx, Birerria, Harlem). Now there are over double that, including many more in Queens and even Staten Island. And they all are busy. Been great.
Blocktoberfest will be held on Waverly Avenue between Atlantic Avenue and Fulton Street from 1:30-5:30pm on Saturday, September 20. Tickets are available here.