The culmination of 13 weeks of effort involving a group of Long Island brewers has come to fruition.
The group’s collaborative beer, Surge Protector IPA, makes its debut today (Jan. 22). Proceeds from sales of the beer will go to help victims of Hurricane Sandy and Barrier Brewing Co., whose Oceanside, Long Island, brewery was decimated by the storm surge.
After six weeks of emails, meetings and brainstorming, the group on Dec. 4 produced a collaboration brew at Blue Point Brewing Co. in Patchogue. Each of the breweries — Barrier Brewing Co., Blind Bat Brewery, Blue Point Brewing Co., Great South Bay Brewery, Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., and Long Ireland Beer Company – donated an ingredient.
Surge Protector IPA initially will be released in six locations on Long Island and in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. They are:
- 61 Local, 61 Bergen St., Brooklyn
- Alewife NYC, 5-14 51st Ave., Long Island City,
- Black Sheep Ale House, 78 2nd St., Mineola
- Bronx Alehouse, 216 West 238th St., Bronx
- Pony Bar, 637 10th Ave. Manhattan
- Tap Room, 114 W. Main St., Patchogue
Beginning Jan. 23 the beer, bottled by Blue Point, will become available across the Long Island. Clare Rose is distributing the beer. The group also is selling commemorative T-shirts.
Sandy Relief Beer started as a video project by photographer Matt Furman and freelance journalist Niko Krommydas, but evolved into a collaborative relief effort involving the eight local breweries.
Long Island Cares, Inc. will receive one-half of all proceeds from Sandy Relief Beer.