Who knew Waverly Ave between Fulton and Atlantic was such a hotbed of intrigue! The filming of TV shows (Hammered for HGTV, Cover Shot for TLC), the Preemie Martini, etc. My latest discovery: A BREWERY!
Reader houseowax tipped me off to this place, and after a whole lot of Googling, I made contact with the brewers. A few Fridays ago during the ice storm, houseowax and I set off for a tour (and tasting). Their building on Waverly used to be a dairy:
The brewery is called Greenpoint Beer Works, as Kelly Taylor (who built the facility and manages operations) makes Greenpoint his home. Inside, GPW brews all of Heartland Brewery’s beers (where Taylor got his start) as well as their own new brand, Kelso of Brooklyn.
Right now, they’re only set up to brew kegs, but Kelly tells me bottling for Kelso is in the works. It’s the next step in the business plan.
Used barley is occasionally used for bread by the employees or given to local community gardens for compost, but most often is given to farmers to use as pig slop.
We tried the Barlywine (10% alcohol = fast buzz!) and Scotch Ale- a smooth ale with very little hops and a nice roasted barley flavor. Both were delicious!
They also make natural sodas:
Taylor does offer special tours here and there, but the brewery is not yet equipped for regular visitors. He mentioned potentially looking into opening some sort of summer beer garden situation, but was unsure if people would come. Houseowax and I were thrilled with the idea, so if you think you’d patronize, give a shout-out here so we can tell him how awesome business would be. I also mentioned having a CHB 1-year Anniversary party there, to which he seemed receptive (July-ish. Be There).
For now, you can enjoy Kelso’s brews on tap at 67 Burger in Ft. Greene and Soda in Prospect Hts, and at other semi-nearby bars and restaurants. For more info, check out their site.
(I am tagging this under “nightlife,” in the hopes that there will be a beer garden.)
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60 Comments
Beer garden. Yes please.
i suspect the neighborhood could sustain a beer garden. do they still produce small amounts of Rheingold? that was the company’s angle a couple years ago, they were coming ‘back’ to brooklyn by having GBW brew a tiny batch (the bulk of it is brewed upstate or something). that way they could claim brooklyn residency without renting new brewery space, etc. pretty sneaky if you ask me!
i’m in for beer garden.
beer garden – here – here
oh hells yes. bring the beer garden!
A beer garden would be fantastic. If Habana Outpost can work, then so can a beer garden.
Put the beer garden on the roof and install some skylights to view the sweet brewing action. I’d go there every day…maybe even sleep up there.
A beer garden would be incredible – would LOVE to see this happen.
A beer garden is a great idea– I often find myself wishing for a nice place to sit outside and enjoy a summertime drink in the neighborhood. I love the rooftop beer garden concept.
A beer garden would be a no-brainer.
Finally somebody is thinking towards the wright direction, I’ll be there and bring everyone that I know along with me , YES!!!
Yes! Bring a beer garden to Clinton Hill!
Holy crap, a beer garden in the neighborhood. I never have to leave the hood on the weekends again. This is a BRILLIANT idea.
BEERFEST in Clinton Hill!!!
Am I the only dork on CHB who doesn’t drink beer? Great find, though. This could be a cool place if they ever open it up to the public..
Well, I know I’LL be there – glad to hear so many other people are behind the idea, too. Hope Kelly will go for it! And if there’s Scotch Ale to be had I’ll be there every day.
If Astoria can do it, so can Clinton Hill! No doubt a beer garden would be a tremendous success.
Hoooooray for the Beer Garden ! Three cheers ! Can we have our own Steins and drink a yard of ale?
I would love a beer garden! I agree that it would be very successful.
Oh my god I would LOOOOVE a beer garden. There is nothing better than drinking good beer outdoors with friends in the summertime.
Nothing I tell you!
Are you kidding? YES! A million times yes.
life’s a beer garden, dig it
yes! i’m in for the beer garden
hells yes to the beer garden. brooklyn brewery does it right, and they’re indoors! so yes yes yes for the beer garden.
Beer – Good
Drinking – Good
Garden – Good
Brooklyn – Good
i would totally support a beer garden there.
Please open up a CH beer garden. Outdoor drinking in a great ‘hood will create tremedous buzz!
Here’s one more vote for a CH beergarden. How is it that we’ve survived this long without one in this area?
Bring back the beer garden in New York!!! Hopefully their beer garden plan is about Clinton Hill, I’d hate to see this put into action in another neighborhood now that I’ve been teased. The Czech beer garden happens to be one of the best summer spots in NYC and there will possibly be a Brooklyn Brewery beer garden someday soon on the east river but this would be a wonderful and exciting thing to happen to the neighborhood. And … we’re going to need lots of ice cold beer to weather through the global warming we’re soon to experience.
beer garden 2 blocks away?
1) we would probably absolutely live there.
2) we would love the neighborhood waaay more
A brewery with a beer garden? What the hell took you so long? Introduce people to your brewery, pimp your beer, make $$, great success!
Here’s one more emphatic vote for a beer garden. I can’t think of anything I want more. Bookstore shmuckstore.
just brilliant.
I’d also love a beer garden . . . just be sure you don’t end up with a noise problem.
How can it even be in question that a beer garden would be successful? Not to mention we really need a good bar down in this area. I live a block away from this place and I’m sick of walking so far to get my booze. So open it…and soon!
YES YES YES! With oompah music! A but like Bohemian Hall!
I would drink beers in a garden!
all of you so crazy!
here, here, for the beer beer….
BEER GARDEN=BEST IDEA EVER!
BEER GARDEN YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
I will create a rut in the sidewalk between our apartment and the brewery with my feet. I will become a familiar sight to all of the residents on the strip of Waverly between Lafayette and Atlantic. I will never leave Kings County again. After careful consideration, I have decided that I am in favor of the proposed beer garden.
beer garden? absolutely, 110% in favor.
yes to beer yes to garden
Yes, I know at least the 8 people that live in my building would be there!!
Yes, yes, yes! I would love one.
hey is that beer garden open yet?
I live in Park Slope, and would come up to Fort Greene to hang out in a beer garden eight times out of nine.
Please! A beer garden would be fantastic… a terrific, welcoming neighborhood spot.
[...] Last week, Clinton Hill Blog founder Robin Lester posted her findings of a trip taken to the Greenpoint Beer Works, a large brick industrial tucked away on Brooklyn’s Waverly Avenue between Fulton and Atlantic. She and another blog reader met up with operations director and brewer Kelly Taylor, who revealed that in addition to filling Greenpoint’s regular daily work order for Heartland Brewery, he has also been developing his own small batch beer, Kelso of Brooklyn. Currently, Kelso is only available by the keg, in three lager varieties: Nut Brown, Chocolate, and Kelso Hop. Taylor’s web site features a list of local restaurants and pubs that serve Kelso; his ale was also served at last week’s unveiling of the world’s eighth wonder, the new Whole Foods on the Bowery. [...]
I’m game. The bohemian Beer garden in Queens is well far and very crowded. Gowanus Yacht Club in C. Gardens also does good business, though the sausages probably help. Bring it home!
If you build it, WE will come
Beer garden in Clinton Hil – yes, yes, yes!
Say whaa…!?! A beer garden in Clinton Hill, and someone’s not sure anyone would come?!
If this happens, I’m freaking movin’ in, and so will about 10 of my local friends.
A beer garden would be SO great. I’m thinking of moving into the neighborhood and am happy to discover so many cool things going on.
Beer beer. I mean, hear hear.
the prospect of walking less than 2 blocks to consume local beer is something just short of euphroic. open yesterday, already!
Is that Paul F formerly of Boulder?
Yeah. I will live there if this opens.
A beer garden? In this neighborhood? What a risky business plan!
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