Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/838473
But in the last six years, a new generation of makers have resurrected the South Bronx's beer- and spirits-producing past, specifically in the Port Morris section. These days, Port Morris' turn-of-the-century brick factory buildings are buzzing with energy, so much so that the area has been dubbed the "Distillery District." Other startup businesses and arts organizations have moved in as well, and new residential buildings are also in the works—making this an exciting time for Port Morris and the newcomers revitalizing the area. Here are three local makers worth checking out. BRONX BREWERY Since bringing brewing back to the Bronx after a 50-year absence, this brewery is doubling down on its home market. tour "There's an industrial feel here with a lot of creative energy. It's where things are being made, and we wanted to be part of that culture." drinkers from all over the city on weekends. On the menu are at least a dozen brews on tap and in cans. Prices start at $5 for the "Slow Your Roll" IPA draft; growlers of Say Hey Saison or Uptown Coffee Milk Stout run $25. Bar snacks like pretzels and cheese are available, or customers bring their own food or order from nearby restaurants. "We started by brewing pale ales, which is Damian's favorite style, creating the right balance of hops and malts," Mezansky says. "From there we expanded into seasonal pale ales and IPAs. In the spring, we have a seasonal ale with black tea, and in the summer a lemon zest variety." Bronx Brewery products can be found in bars and retail outlets in the city and upstate, including Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Fairway. It even sells its brew at the concession stands at Madison Square Garden and Yankee Stadium, among other major arenas. Mezansky says the company is starting to market beer abroad in London and Sweden. But Bronx Brewery's focus remains in Port Morris. In the spring the brewery opens its spacious backyard, complete with picnic tables and umbrellas, and events ranging from trivia nights to live music to food-truck extravaganzas pack in large crowds. For the future, the owners hope to keep attracting bar goers and craft beer fans to their home base three stops over the Harlem River from Manhattan. We've been focusing on doubling down on our home market because it's so competitive," Mezansky says. "We want to be the best in New York." thebronxbrewery.com The Distillery District all started with this eponymous brew com- pany, the first beer maker to set up shop in the South Bronx since the 1960s. Co-founders Chris Gallant and Damian Brown first worked out of a small office in 2011. Unable to afford a production facility of their own, they contracted space from a brewery upstate and then trucked the finished kegs themselves to bars and retail outlets all over the metropolitan area. Finally, in 2014, Bronx Brewery took over a 10,000-square- foot former lace factory a few blocks from the East River. "There's an industrial feel here with a lot of creative energy," says Nick Mezansky, marketing coordinator. "It's where things are being made, and we wanted to be part of that culture." About 20 employees handle the work of beer brewing, selling, and distributing, and free tours run three times a day on Saturdays and Sundays. The tasting room at the front end of the factory attracts anywhere from 100 or so locals on weeknights to hundreds of beer 120 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE specialtyfood.com