Barrier Brewing Takes Over Brooklyn
If you’ve ever dreamed of turning your homebrewing hobby into a bonafide business, you’ll have the chance to talk to two brewers who did just that, two years ago. This Saturday night, Barrier Brewing of Oceanside, New York, will be taking over the taps at 61 Local Public House in Boerum Hill. Founded by two Brooklynites and Sixpoint Brewery expats Evan Klein and Craig Frymarck, the brewery has grown by leaps and bounds in its first two years, scooping up awards like the Best Brewery in New York at the TAP New York Craft Beer festival in 2011, and upgrading to a larger brewing facility this summer. But Evan and Craig still self-distribute their kegs throughout the city and nearby accounts in the region, and they manage the entire operation largely by themselves.
On Saturday, they’re taking a rare moment to step out of their brewing boots and enjoy the party with fans. Barrier will be pouring eight of their brews at the event, including a never-before-tapped Smoked Belgian Wheat Ale called Le Pete. For a brewery that only produced 500 barrels per year before its expansion (to a 1500-barrel system this summer), Barrier brews up a dizzying array of unique styles and hybrids, such as their Cairn Scotch Ale, Rembrandt Porter, MollyCoddle English Mild, and Greenroom Pale Ale. On Saturday, they’re pouring a full spectrum of rare brews including the Icculus Kolsch, Craven Belgian Red, Bittersweet Pale Ale, and the “Unimperial IPA.” Additionally, Barrier will be curating a selection of beers from local breweries from the region that they admire for the remaining six taps at the venue: Kelso, Greenport Harbor, Victory, Troegs, Southern Tier, and Carton Brewing.
Craft beer geeks should be making a bee(r)line to this rare tasting spectacle, so arrive early as the party is open to the public, or stick around late into the night in the spacious indoor beer garden at 61 Local. Afterward, the venue (a longtime supporter of the brewery) will be serving up whatever kegs aren’t spent for the rest of the week, and generally pour at least a couple of Barrier beers on any given night.
“61 Local embodies what beer is all about. It’s about coming together, connecting with your community, getting to know the people you live with, sharing stories, exchanging ideas, finding inspiration, and having a good time,” said Craig Frymarck on the venue.
We pestered Craig for a few more questions on what to expect at the event, as well as from the brewery over the next few years.
