This content was originally published by The Hop Review, a digital magazine that joined the Hop Culture family in March 2020.
This piece was written by Jack Muldowney.
NEW YORK, NY
“DETOURS” is a new travel series by The Hop Review. Being a weary traveler almost always calls for a reward in the form of a pint at the end of the day. Here, we will document those beer breaks–as we travel the U.S. and beyond–with quips, photographs and Q&As. Cheers, to the adventurous beer trekker.
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No. 008
THE BRONX BREWERY
856 E. 136th St., Bronx, NEW YORK CITY, NY 10454
Directly north of Queens, across the East River, and a stone’s throw from LaGuardia Airport, sits The Bronx Brewery, in the borough of its namesake. After a nearly hour trek on the 6 Train from lower Manhattan, north to the lower Bronx, we hopped off the Subway to make the couple block walk to the brewery’s industrial home. The first thing you will notice on your approach to the brewery is the almost eerie quiet of the neighborhood, accompanied only by the hums of nearby industry. Upon approach, the building clearly marks its presence, under a foreboding train bridge, as a large warehouse with a beckoning taproom entrance.
There’s a certain sense of grit and ‘get your hands dirty’ approach to the brewery and its work ethic. You get the sense that the place is a well respected entity in the community. This is further confirmed by their company’s ethos of–not just making great beer, but–giving back (for example, 5% of proceeds from their recent Bronx Banner Ale release help fund NYRP’s Haven Project–an urban greening and sustainability effort in the neighborhood). During our visit, it seemed that a broad slice of the city were patrons of the taproom: nearby factory workers, office dwellers, neighborhood regulars, borough travelers… And it’s clear why they come. Other than the friendly space, staff, and impressive beer garden, the beer is spot on. Satisfying their IPA-first approach, the menu is filled with juicy pale ales, but also experimental ryes, fruit beers, and even a coffee kölsch.
What We Drank
No Resolutions IPA: Our first beer in the tasting room wasn’t a taste’s-worth at all, but instead a full can of this juicy IPA. No Resolutions satiated our post-trek appetite for a bold, cloudy, citrusy pale ale. And at 7.6%, it’ll warm ya up quickly. This beer is surprisingly layered for an IPA, showcasing pine, muskiness, tropical fruits and even spicy lemon grass. All of that in one 12 oz. can of awesomeness. From there, we suggest drinking your way around the menu, possibly as you wait for your nearby flight at LaGuardia. We did.
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“We started The Bronx Brewery with two ideas: doing one thing and doing it right, and finding a way to use our brewery to give back to the people who make amazing stuff happen in our borough. This has led us to focus on brewing and enjoying Pale Ales and supporting local community-building initiatives, including New York Restoration Project’s Haven Project–an urban greening and sustainability effort here in Port Morris and Mott Haven.”
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Photography by Jack Muldowney.
