Coney Island Brewing Company

Chanukah vs. Christmas Poster

2011-12-06T18:53:00.001-06:00

CHANUKAH vs. CHRISTMAS: THE BATTLE ROYALE OF BEER + BURLESQUE

2011-12-05T21:15:00.002-06:00

Friday, 12/23

SHMALTZ BREWING, SOUTHPAW AND SMUTTYNOSE BREWING present the 4th Annual

CHANUKAH vs. CHRISTMAS: THE BATTLE ROYALE OF BEER + BURLESQUE

Also celebrating the 46th birthday of Mr. Patrick "Dirty Santa" Fondiller!

Hosted by Miss Astrid

Performances by Lil' Miss Lixx, Grandma Fun and Gal Friday

with DJ Mikey Palms on the dreidels

and Domzo on the bar with the Latkes

Prizes, Delicious Beer, Drink Specials, More Delicious Beer… and pictures with Dirty Santa!

Help Shmaltz Brewing and He'brew Beer celebrate their 15th Anniversary of Award-Winning Beer and Delicious Shtick as they take on Smuttynose in the Annual Battle Royale of Holiday Beers where everyone wins!

Admission $8 Advance / $10 Door

door time: 8 pm

Winter!

2011-12-01T18:22:00.000-06:00

Hey Freaks and Beer Geeks!

While our regular hours are no longer, we will still be participating in special events alongside Coney Island USA next door (who have ample bottles of Coney Island Craft Lagers to get you through the winter)...

Lots of fun events planned for them throughout the winter and spring so stay tuned and we will update them as we see them..

This Friday night they are doing: SLIDESHOW AT THE SIDESHOW...a rock n roll double feature!

Festivities include:
Tribute to the late Ken Russell with a Screening of his ground breaking film Tommy - 70's cult classic, rock opera from The Who, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon Laser Light & Multimedia Experience
Rock N Roll Disco Party in the Freak Bar with DJ Soulflower

Stay tuned for fun stuff all winter long from those folks~!

Best Out-of-Town Visitors of the Year Goes To....

2011-10-24T20:37:00.001-05:00

Jos, Carmen, "The Jewish Cowboy", Carol, Danny, Ray from Los Angeles!

These guys rule so hard. They came in Sunday afternoon around 2 and hung out all day with me! Loved them some Coney Island beers.

NOTE: The Jewish Cowboy is from Coney Island so he doesn't win the "Out-of-Town" award but he does win "Dirtiest Mouth in Coney Island"

Only Two More Weekends in the Season at Coney!

2011-10-17T14:29:00.000-05:00

It's that devastatingly sad time of year that our beloved Coney Island shuts its doors for the impending winter. But this year, many places are closing for... more than just the winter. If you've spent the summer drinking one to many Coney Island Lager you may be unaware that some of Coney Island's most historic and iconic bars and restaurants will be gone after this season. Educate yourself here.

BUT sad news aside October is possibly one of the best times to be at Coney so Come On Down and Step Right Up folks because this weekend and next are the last two we've got til next summer.

Lots of rad Halloween-related events happening - namely "Creepshow At The Freakshow - The Ride Inspector's Nightmare" at Coney Island USA and "Nights of Horror" at Luna Park.

Not to mention the weather has been delightful the past couple of weekends.

We at Coney Island Brewing Company will be brewing up some scares (albeit tasty ones) as well!

Awesome How-To-Brew Video from Brooklyn Brew Shop!

2011-10-14T12:37:00.000-05:00

How to Brew Beer from Brooklyn Brew Shop on Vimeo.

for those of you novices a little afraid to take the first step - look how easy it is to homebrew! woot!

Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah

2011-10-09T14:08:00.000-05:00

We are very excited to announce to official national release of Jeremy Cowan's (Shmaltz owner/founder/proprietor/overall beer badass) book, Craft Beer Bar Mitzvah.

For all things book, please visit our new website.... craftbeerbarmitzvah.com and get your read on!!!!

L'Chaim!

Seth Guthartz (GUEST BREWER): The Not-So-Garden-Variety Saison

2011-10-02T15:23:00.001-05:00

Seth was supposed to come out to CIBC during the weekend that Hurricane Irene came to town. Since he saves people's lives for a living (and the entire city was in ultra-panic freak-out mode), Seth had to reschedule. And we're glad he did. His Rosemary Basil Saison (all picked from his herb garden by the way) is going to be just about as deliciously refreshing and herbal as you can get.

Name: Seth Guthartz

Age: 34

Where you live: Washington Heights, Manhattan

Job: Emergency Manager for the City of New York

Three Favorite Beers: Ommegang Three Philosphers, Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA, Smuttynose Brown Dog Ale

Favorite Watering Holes: Bronx Ale House, Locksmith Wine and Burger Bar, Doc Holiday's

What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Play Guitar, chase toddlers, cook

Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): I like Saisons for their rustic appeal and qualities. Very rooted in place and time, often times with an unexpected elegance. Rosemary will hopefully meld with hops to impart some more piney resin flavors. The basil should lend a harvest-reminiscent herbal flavor. Both the rosemary and basil are homegrown in our NYC garden. The beer should likely be good with some soft cheeses and hearty soups. Great for a brisk cool autumn day.

Closed Today 9/25

2011-09-25T14:35:00.000-05:00

Due to a long exhausting awesome NY Craft Beer week we will be closed Sunday 9/25.

Fall hours through Halloween are Saturday and Sunday 12-6.

CIBC GUEST BREWERS @ FREAKTOBERFEST!!

2011-09-24T14:27:00.001-05:00

We were so psyched that three of our most favorite guest brewers of the summer could make it out to Freaktoberfest to pour their delicious brews.

Andrew Said Thomas - "Zomerfest" (A dutch Gin and Tonic beer with citrusy Sorachi Ace hops)
Fritz Fernow - "The Horny RYE-nocerous" (Double Rye Pale ale)
Ryan Ritter - "S'WHEAT!" (Wheat with Kaffir Lime leaves and honey!)

Thanks guys - wouldn't have been nearly as awesome without you there! Woot!!

Andrew Said Thomas, Fritz Fernow and Ryan Ritter

Mark Mundorf (GUEST BREWER): Cowboy Coffee

2011-09-24T14:25:00.001-05:00

How much do we love Mark Mundorf? A whole-heck-of-a-lot. He is the best Shmaltz Intern a beer company could ever ask for. So glad he finally got his butt out to Coney to brew with us. Woot!

Name: Mark Gallatin Mundorf
Age: 23

Where you live: Crown Heights, Brooklyn

Job: Barista and Shmaltz Intern
Three Favorite Beers: Jolly Pumpkin Oro de Calabaza, Bell's Winter White, Bell's Hopslam
Favorite Watering Holes: Spuyten Duyvil, Ali's 280 Cafe in Bushwick, Alligator Lounge (For free pizza)
What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Drink/make coffee, Tennis, Hockey, Cook, NPR, I think animals are pretty cool too.
Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): Cowboy Coffee! I work at a coffee shop and Eby suggested a coffee porter and that sounded delicious. And it will be. Dig?

FREAKTOBERFEST PHOTOS & THANKS

2011-09-20T14:43:00.001-05:00

What a hugely awesome freaky success Freaktoberfest IV was this past Friday! Thank you big time to everyone who came out and enjoyed delicious craft beer, great music and awe-inspiring performances.

Thanks to our friends Sarah and Giancarlo over at BeerUnion.net for photographing the event!! (All photos by Beer Union!)

All Photos By Beer Union!

Beer Debut

2011-09-16T16:10:00.000-05:00

If you can't tell we are super psyched for tonight - FREAKTOBERFEST @ South Paw (7pm-1am, all you can drink delicious craft brews, music, burlesque, side shows performers, etc etc etc - gonna be off the chain!!!) - but tonight also marks the national debut of Coney Island Geektoberfest and Hebrew Jewbelation 15:15.

In addition to that we will be pouring sold-out R.I.P.A. On Rye and our Reunion '11 collaboration beer (with Terrapin).

For those of you making it out, we can't wait to see you tonight!!!

UPDATED FREAKTOBERFEST BREWERY LIST~!!!!

2011-09-15T17:30:00.000-05:00

We can't tell you how pumped we are that so many awesome breweries will be bringing it to our festival Friday night. We've got an updated brewery list right here and I can tell you right now, this night won't be beat beer-wise. See bottom for the specialty Coney Island Brewing Company beers that are as rare as can be - about 12 bottles of each so make sure you get there early to try them!!!

Bring your funky beer selves to South Paw on Friday and you will be guaranteed a delicious, freaky, awesome time.

Buy your tickets here!!

FEATURED BREWERIES

Shmaltz Brewing Company - Freaktoberfest, Geektoberfest (w/ Capt. Lawrence and Ithaca), Genesis 15:15, Reunion '11, Mermaid Pilsner, Genesis Ale, Messiah Bold, Origin, Coney Island Lager, Albino Python, Sword Swallower, Barrel-Aged Human Blockhead, Vertical Jewbelation

Goose Island - Matilda, Sofie

Stone - Ruination, 15th Anniversary

Founders - Old Curmudgeon

Cigar City - Humidor IPA

Bear Republic - Hop Rod Rye

Speakeasy - Butchertown Black

Kuhnhenn - Extraneous

Harpoon - Imperial Rye, Imperial IPA

Pretty Things - Baby Tree, American Darling

Redstone Meadery - Nectar of the Hops

Hoppin' Frog - Frog's Hollow Imperial Pumpkin

Mad River - Serious Black Madness

Smuttynose
Captain Lawrence
Ithaca
Ommegang
Lagunitas
Victory
The Bruery
Allagash
Greenport Harbor
Oskar Blues
Left Hand
Ballast Point
Two Brothers
Sixpoint
Cape Ann
Sierra Nevada
Sly Fox
Southampton
Kelso
Empire
Brooklyn Brewery
Dogfish Head
Avery
Wandering Star
Barrier

CONEY ISLAND BREWING COMPANY GUEST BREWERS

The Horny RYEnocerous - Dry-Hopped Rye IPA, 6.5% (Brewer: Fritz Fernow)

Zoltar the Magnificent - Cardamom Porter, 4.6% (Brewer: Eby Harvey)

Zomerbier - German Export Ale with Rose Hips and Juniper Berries (Brewer: Andrew Said Thomas)

S'Wheat - Wheat ale w/ Honey Kaffir Lime Leaves (Brewer: Ryan Ritter)

Marty Markowitz's The Big Cheese(cake) Ale - Cream Ale (Brewer: Phip Shelton)

WORKOUT @ Freaktoberfest

2011-09-14T14:17:00.000-05:00

We are pumped to have super awesome New York band Workout performing at Freaktoberfest on Friday, September 16!!

And not only do these guys rock it out on stage at night...but they are beer geeks by day. Can't wait for this crazy dance party!!

Freaktoberfest UPDATE!

2011-09-12T18:10:00.002-05:00

For those of you New York beer nerds living under a rock the past few weeks, get excited because this Friday marks the beginning of NY Craft Beer Week!!!

Shmaltz Brewing Company looks forward to hosting the official meet and greet opening day rager to kick off Craft Beer Week! We will have 2 floors of music, burlesque, freaks, oddities and human curiosities... and of course, BEER! Admission is $50 which includes a tasting glass and unlimited tastings for the duration of the festival. All ticket holders this year will have access to all that FREAKTOBERFEST has to offer in both the main floor and VIP.

Here is the list of attending breweries:

Shmaltz Brewing Company, Smuttynose, Captain Lawrence, Ithaca, Ommegang, Lagunitas, Victory, The Bruery, Allagash, Greenport Harbor, Oskar Blues, Left Hand, Ballast Point, Two Brothers, Pretty Things, Sixpoint, Cape Anne, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, Stone, Founders, Cigar City, Bear Republic, Speakeasy, Harpoon, Sly Fox, Southampton, Kelso, Empire, Brooklyn Brewery, Dogfish Head, Avery, Wandering Star, Barrier.

In addition to all these fabulous craft beer companies we will have presentations from three of our guest brewers we had down at the World's Smallest Brewery this summer:

-Fritz Fernow and his "Horny RYE-nocerous"

-Andrew Said Thomas and "Zomerfest"

-Ryan Ritter and "S'WHEAT!"

We are so pumped to have these three guys out. They are great friends of the CIBC family and we can't wait to share their delicious brews with you.

Shmaltz Brewing & Terrapin Beer Present Reunion Ale '11: A Beer For Hope

2011-09-06T14:23:00.019-05:00

Article found on Craftbeer.com

New York, NY—Teaming up as a brewing partner with Terrapin Beer Company and Alan Shapiro of SBS Imports, Shmaltz Brewing is proud to participate for the first time in creating Reunion Ale '11: A Beer for Hope®. Now in its fifth year of production, Reunion® is brewed annually in memory of Virginia MacLean, a dear friend of Alan Shapiro (founder of SBS Imports) and Pete Slosberg's (creator of Pete's Wicked Ale) and a dedicated cancer research supporter who lost her own battle with Multiple Myeloma in 2007. It was her wish to raise funds and awareness on behalf of the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research, and a portion of the proceeds from Reunion Ale '11® is donated directly to the IMBCR. Reunion Ale '11® is now available in 22 oz bottles and a limited amount of draft in the nearly 40 U.S. states that receive distribution from Terrapin and Shmaltz, and in Western Canada through Shmaltz's distribution network. National fundraising events will occur throughout the fall and winter. Please see the line-up of upcoming events listed below.

Inspired by a delicious dessert at MacLean's favorite restaurant, Reunion Ale '11® is a dark, Imperial Brown Ale brewed with vanilla, chili peppers, and cocoa nibs from Nashville, Tennessee's Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company. Brewmasters Spike Buckowski (Terrapin Beer Co.), Pete Slosberg, Paul McErlean (Shmaltz Brewing Co.), and Shmaltz Brewing proprietor Jeremy Cowan designed this year's recipe to combine sweet and spicy aromas with complex malt flavors and decadent vanilla and chocolate overtones. After the initial blissful sips, the chilies build a subtle and satisfying heat in the finish.

Reunion was conceived initially by Shapiro, MacLean and Slosberg - who all met during the early days of Pete's Brewing Company - as a way to increase awareness of myeloma and bone cancer and raise donations for the IMBCR. Although MacLean passed away just four months after the release of Reunion® 2007, the Reunion project has carried on the vision of these three friends, raising more than $130,000 for the IMBCR through bottle and draft sales of Reunion®, retailer fundraising events, and private donations. "Virginia emphasized the importance of continuing our support of IMBCR," Shapiro explains. "She believed wholeheartedly in the work of the Institute and understood the value of bringing hope to others." "Every dollar we raise goes directly to IMBCR to fund research," adds co-founder Pete Slosberg. Beer lovers can also donate money through the Reunion website, the Reunion Facebook page, or the IMBCR website.

Although Reunion Ale '11® is Shmaltz Brewing's first collaboration with Shapiro and Slosberg, Jeremy Cowan's relationship with the two dates back to the San Francisco craft beer scene in the 1990s. "Shmaltz is extremely pleased to join the Reunion family for 2011," says Cowan. "Tzedakah (charity) is one of the core values of Shmaltz Brewing. To be able to work with longtime industry friends on this project makes it even more special for our entire company."

Reunion Ale '11® is one of several exceptional collaboration projects in which Shmaltz will participate in 2011. The next release will be the second edition of Geektoberfest®, a collaborative blend of six barrel-aged beers from New York brewers Shmaltz Brewing, Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, and Ithaca Beer Company. Geektoberfest® is the official beer of NY Craft Beer Week (Sept. 16 - 25, 2011), and will be available on draft at select Beer Week events and participating beer bars in New York City.

National fundraising and featured beer events will commence throughout the fall and winter to raise funds and awareness for the Institute for Myeloma & Bone Cancer Research. Below is a list of Shmaltz's forthcoming events, and additional events will be added to the online calendar at ShmaltzBrewing.com.

The Institute for Myeloma and Bone Cancer Research is dedicated to independent research on developing effective therapies that improve the quality of life and longevity of patients with myeloma and bone cancer. Myeloma and bone cancer are two of the fastest growing diseases in the world, afflicting more than one million people in the U.S. alone.

For more info: www.reunionbeer.com

Hey look - we're famous! In SWEDEN!

2011-08-22T13:34:00.005-05:00

At the very beginning of the summer we had a reporter and a photographer from the "Swedish New York Times" come out to do a story about us. This was back in May folks and it was still kinda chilly out and we had no idea what the future of the summer was to hold. It's been a pretty dang successful one if we do say so ourselves and here is a little time machine back to May.

Somehow they managed to make it look cold and eerie...kinda like Coney Island in the off-season.

And for those of you who can read Swedish the article is here. :)

FREAKTOBERFEST!

2011-08-18T16:46:00.002-05:00

Step Right Up and join us at the official kick-off party for New York Craft Beer Week at FREAKTOBERFEST September 16, 2011!! Come and drink some of the finest American craft beers in the country with representatives from over 20 different breweries. 2 floors of music, New York's finest burlesque, freaks, oddities and human curiosities! Admission is $50 which includes a tasting glass and unlimited tastings for the duration of the festival. Tickets on sale now through Ticketweb. Limited capacity of 400, so get your tickets well in advance and don't miss out!

Ryan Ritter (Guest Brewer): S'Wheat!

2011-08-13T14:33:00.006-05:00

Big thanks to Ryan who drove up all the way from Philadelphia just to brew with us today! He brought up samples of this same exact beer he has perfected (we opted for Citra hops version over the one with Sorachi Ace) and it's AWESOME. Can't wait to see this one through. OG: 1.060

Philly Beer Week holding the "Hammer of Glory"

Name: Ryan Ritter
Age: 41 (going on 15)
Where do you live?: Suburban Philly
Job: Web Programming Manager for a market research company
Three Favorite Beers: Aventinus, Ommegang Three Philosophers, Allagash Tripel
Favorite Watering Holes: Capone's is a local legend in these parts (just a few minutes away for me!), and I never pass up a chance to hang at Victory's brew pub...otherwise I try not to play favorites as long as there's a great draft list and brews I've never tried before.
What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: my daughters are 5 and 8 years old. I am lucky I can find the time to brew!

Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): This is without a doubt a unique brew. I remember paging through Papazian's Complete Joy of Homebrewing and reading the descriptions of other possible additives. I was intrigued by the idea of what kaffir lime leaves could bring to a batch of beer, and thought they would go well with honey as part of a crisp summer brew. I took an American Wheat as the base, added a ton of honey (well, three pounds for a 5-gallon batch), went overboard with the lime leaves that first time (a pungent few really does go a long way!) and have been tweaking it ever since. After first trying Argentine Cascade hops, then Sorchi Ace, I found that Citra brings out the best in the lime leaves, and balances the honey best of all. "Honey-Lime Wheat" is too bulky, so I shortened "Summer Wheat" to just "S'Wheat" and that seems to fit best.

Thank You!

2011-08-13T11:59:00.001-05:00

We are so super pumped about how fantastically our Grand Opening went on Tuesday - Marty Markowitz officially recognized us with an awesome proclamation from the Borough of Brooklyn.

Here is a video link from New York One!

And an awesome photo slideshow from our friends over at Metromix.

Big thanks to all of you who came out/who have supported us this and last summer, etc etc. It was an awesome day and we look forward to many more this summer!!

YOU'RE INVITED!!!!

2011-08-04T09:45:00.002-05:00

RSVP here

Hey look - we're famous!

2011-08-04T09:42:00.001-05:00

Big thanks to beer bloggers Giancarlo Annese and Sarah Tobol, of Beer Union for coming out last weekend to hang out and see what we're all about! We can't think of anything cooler than writing about beer.

Here is their awesome article about us :)

MERMAID PARADE (The Video)

2011-08-01T19:05:00.005-05:00

A killer video of us in all our glorified awesomeness at this year's Mermaid Parade.

Mermaid Parade, June 18, 2011. Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY. Coney Island Brewing Company (owned by Shmaltz Brewing Company) and friends march down Surf Avenue alongside fellow mermaids and mermen. Featuring appearances from Shmaltz owner Jeremy Cowan, brewer Phip Shelton, Donny Vomit, Heather Holliday, and the Neptunes.

Video by Tristan Cook (www.tristan-cook.com) and Zac Nicholson (www.zacnicholson.com).

Aidan Collins and Adam Jernejec (Guest Brewers): Korndog Kolsch

2011-08-01T18:31:00.005-05:00

Aidan and Adam came out Saturday to make what is sure to be the "funnest" (yes, I realize that's not a word) of the summer: the (now infamous) Korndog Kolsch. These guys were up to the challenge of trying out a "hotdog-inspired" beer (think baked hotdogs, cornmeal and mustard seeds) and a lot of fun to hang out with. They definitely made the most of their time down at the World's Smallest Brewery - taking in some beach time, Nathan's and the Freak Bar next door. Can't wait to see how this one turns out...stay tuned should be ready some time in late August - O.G. 1.049.

Name: Aidan Collins
Age: 31
Where do you live?: Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Job: E-learning, streaming media
Three Favorite Beers: Coney Island Sword Swallower, Abita Restoration, Cooper's Sparkling
Favorite Watering Holes: Franklin Park, Pacific Standard

What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: I play guitar and bass in bands, and I'm into music programming and building musical things out of microchips and what not.

Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): You guys told us no one had been brave enough to try a hot dog flavored beer and we wanted to step up to the challenge. (Nobody calls me chicken.) We figured a nice light beer like a Kolsch would leave room for other flavors like a corn dog. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it tastes!

Aidan and Adam!

Name:AdamJernejec
Age: 26
Where do you live?: Greenpoint, Brooklyn
Job: Media Marketing

Three Favorite Beers: Red Seal Ale, Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Left Hand Milk Stout
Favorite Watering Holes: Pony Bar, Barcade, Pacific Standard
What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Biking the city, traveling to new places, going to concerts, playing soccer and relaxing at the park or beach
Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): The Korndog Kölsch is an experimental flavor which infuses a Coney Island staple with a classic German style beer. We chose this recipe because our summertime trips to Coney always mean eating way too many Nathan's corndogs and drinking a lot of beer, so we figured "Why not try to capture this by infusing the flavor of a corndog into a light and refreshing beer"? Oh yah…and as Aidan mentioned, we never turn down a challenge.

Bob Olson and Andrew Maiorana (Guest Brewers): MexiKolsch

2011-08-01T17:59:00.002-05:00

Big thanks to Bob and Andrew who came out last Friday to brew their "Mexi-Kolsch." Inspired by a lager they've made recently, the boys tried something a little different using a Kolsch (ale) yeast. The "Mexi" part of the title comes from the lime zest and mint leaves that will be added pre-bottling. Delicious summer brews. Yes!

When life hands you limes - make beer with it!

Best of luck to Bob, who hopes to open his own brewery (Bolero Snort) in New Jersey sometime next year.

Bob and Andrew

Name: Bob Olson
Age: 28
Where do you live?: Ridgefield Park, NJ
Job: Construction Consultant
Favorite Beers: Cigar City Maduro Brown, Ithaca Flower Power,
Favorite Watering Holes: Copper Mine Pub, JC Barcade
What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Travel, attempt to play golf, watch Clemson football, work on getting my own brewery (Bolero Snort) up and running.
Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): This is based off a Mexican lager I brewed for the 4th of July this year that was a huge hit. Since we didn’t have the ability to get the right strain of yeast we tweaked it to be a Kolsch. The lime in the boil gives it some great aroma and the touch of mint right before bottling helps makes for a really light and refreshing beer.

Name: Andrew Maiorana

Age: 25

Where do you live?: Staten Island, New York

Job: Auditor

Three Favorite Beers: The Drewery – Mild (Homebrew), Three Floyds – Robert The Bruce, Brooklyn Brewery – Pennant Ale `55

Favorite Watering Holes: Adobe Blues (Staten Island), Heartland Brewery

What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Roadtripping, Fishing, Hiking, Cycling, Snowboarding

Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): We wanted to do something that would be interesting yet drinkable for the Coney Island crowd. Bob and myself choose to brew our take on a Mexican Lager with the additions of mint and lime zest. We named the beer Mexi-Kolsch because of the yeast we chose. Cheers!

Andrew Said Thomas (Guest Brewer): Zomerfest

2011-07-26T13:31:00.000-05:00

Super pumped for Andrew's Zomerfest...ready around late August. This one was inspired by a Gin and Tonic he had in an airport in the Netherlands: think Juniper berries, rose hips and zesty lemon hops. Andrew is BIG into brewing, having made over 35 original recipes in the past year and a half - he brews a LOT. Big thanks to Andrew coming out on one of the hottest days of the zomer!

Name: Andrew Said Thomas
Age: 29
Where do you live?: Brooklyn (Crown Heights)
Job: Associate Producer - TV
Three Favorite Beers: Cantillon Gueuze, Allagash Curieux, Surly Coffee Bender
Favorite Watering Holes: Moonshine, 4th Ave Pub, Washington Commons
What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Origami, Board Games, World Travel
Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): Zomerfest is based on a German Export Ale recipe but includes lemony Sorachi Ace hops, juniper berries and rose hips to make it reminiscent of dutch genever. It's the gin-and-tonic of bier!

SHMALTZ BIKE JERSEYS!

2011-07-25T13:36:00.000-05:00

Head on over to the Shmaltz Shop for some of our kick-@$$ new bike jersey styles and all your other Freak Gear needs!

Fritz Fernow (Guest Brewer): The Horny RYEnocerous

2011-07-16T18:15:00.001-05:00

Fritz is somewhat of a homebrewing legend in Brooklyn. What a guy. Came out and taught us so much and now we only want to know more. Fritz' "The Horny RYEnocerous" is a BIG beer. Five specialty malts and five extremely rare hops. Simply put: it's going to be out of this world. Stay tuned it should be ready around mid-August. OG: 1.058

Name: Fritz Fernow

Age: 51

Where do you live?: Cobble Hill Brooklyn

Job: Digital Print Sales

Three Favorite Beers: Ithaca Flower Power, Sixpoint Righteous Rye, and when it’s hot, Hoegarden.

Favorite Watering Holes: Bar Great Harry, Spuyten Duyvil, Jimmy’s no 4.

What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: I dabble a little in cooking, love to host parties, photography, bike, blogging about brewing.

Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): I chose The Horny RYEnocerous because it is one beer that really comes out well for me batch after batch. The rye not only adds a nice flavor to the beer, but also gives it a nice mouth feel and also blends well with the hops. There are many commercial versions out there that are great and I love, but I get to tweak this one to my personal tastes.

GROWLERS!! and Movies on the Beach!

2011-07-14T14:44:00.010-05:00

Exceptional news folks! The Coney Island Brewing Company is now selling GROWLERS TO-GO!!

In addition to our full line up of delicious He'Brew Beers and Coney Island Craft Lagers (not to mention the tasty delights we've been whipping up down here) we will now be selling 64oz growlers starting tomorrow (Friday July 15!!).

On tap this week: Mermaid Pilsner and Albino Python.

This is the perfect way to grab a half-gallon jug full of our delicious beer and take it with you to share with friends! Or how about on the beach with a movie?! Starting this week, every Monday night is movie night down on the beach! We will be having awesome promo specials on growlers for those of you checking in with FourSquare accounts.

Some great flicks lined up for the next few weeks...they start at 8pm but get here early to take advantage of some great beer deals starting at 5pm!

* July 18 - Rango
* July 25 - Top Gun
* Aug. 1 - Iron Man 2
* Aug. 8 - Annie Hall

* Aug. 15 - Moonstruck
* Aug. 29 - How She Move

Stay tuned for our super sweet custom growlers we will have in a few weeks and rotating beer selections!

Woohoo!

Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest!!!

2011-06-28T10:39:00.009-05:00

This Monday is the World Famous Hot Dog eating contest!!!

Come on down to the World's Smallest Brewery (Coney Island Brewing Company...that's US) and taste some of our delicious brews before watching one of the world's most extreme professional eating contests. We will be doing tastings throughout the weekend and selling out sweet Coney Island Craft Lager and HE'BREW schwag. Don't forget the fireworks!!

From the Huffington Post last week :

Overindulgence is as American as gorging on apple pie, so it makes sense that every year, on our nation's birthday, competitive eaters chow down at Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest.

This year, contestants from across the country will try to unseat reigning champion Joey "Jaws" Chestnut who ate 54 hot dogs in ten minutes in 2010.

Chestnut's performance was overshadowed by the arrest of competitive eating phenom Takeru Kobayashi who did not compete in last year's event, but ran onto the stage after the crowd chanted "Let him eat! Let him eat!" The AP reported that Kobayashi did not join the contest because he refused to sign a contract with Major League Eating – the fast food equivalent of the NFL. He wanted to be free to compete in contests sanctioned by other groups.

Chestnut recently claimed his body was built to eat 68 hot dogs. His training regiment for the Nathan's contest includes fasting, running, consuming protein supplements and drinking gallons of water.

In an email to the Huffington Post, sports publicist Jimmy Shapiro reports that the chances of Chestnut again being victorious are 1 in 4. The odds of another competitor taking Chestnut's crown are 5 to 2.

The over-under on how many hot dog's Chestnut will eat is 60.5.
Major League Eating announced last month that, for the first time, women and men competitive eaters would be separated.

Brian Farrelly (Guest Brewer): Pumpernickel Bagel Porter

2011-06-27T14:57:00.000-05:00

Big thanks to our first guest brewer of the summer Brian Farrelly!! Brian came in yesterday to make a very cool brew...a Pumpernickel Bagel Porter.

He added the bagel in with the all-grain Porter mash. We think it's going to turn out delicious. OG: 1.048. His brew should be ready on July 14.

Name: Brian Farrelly

Age: 39

Where do you live?: Downtown Brooklyn

Job: IT Worker

Three Favorite Beers: Brooklyn Pennant Ale, SixPoint Sweet Action, Coney Island Lager

Favorite Watering Holes: Revival and Pony Bar.

What do you like to do besides make/drink beer (ie: other hobbies)?: Writing/watching comedy and supporting animal causes.

Notes on the beer you made for us at Coney Island (why you chose it, what makes it interesting, recipe, etc): Always wanted to try doing an all-grain recipe and the bagel addition to the recipe seemed like a good taste idea.

Note: Brian is a vegetarian and would never ever eat a cat.

WE'RE OFFICIAL!

2011-06-24T13:12:00.002-05:00

After several months of headaches and heartache...we are finally a FULLY LICENSED BREWERY! So STEP RIGHT UP! folks and come on down and try, taste, sample and buy our delicious beers from the World's Smallest Brewery!

Starting today (Friday June 25, 2011) we will be selling our delicious HE'BREW Beers and Coney Island Craft Lagers to go. Mix-and-match your own six-pack from all the awesome beers we make at Shmaltz Brewing Company.

We will also have samples of some of the whacky, crazy fun stuff we've been whipping up down here. Some things in the works are a Cinnamon Oatmeal Stout, Phip's Phreaky Pale Ale, Cherokee Brown Ale, Jalapeno Hefeweizen, and more!

Stay tuned for fun events throughout the summer with Donny Vomit, The Human Blockhead, and the release of Barrel-Aged Human Blockhead later in the summer.

If you haven't been down to Coney Island in a while...now's the time. Summer is starting, the air is warm and the beer is cold.

We are located at 3008 W. 12th St, Brooklyn NY 11224.

L'Chaim!

The Mermaid Parade (AFTERMATH)

2011-06-21T11:50:00.000-05:00

It was a successful day out at Coney Island for the 18th Annual Mermaid Parade! All of us at Shmaltz had a blast and are so happy for all of our friends, families and fans who came out for the epic event!!!

Our awesome float!

The One and Only, Donny Vomit - our very own Human Blockhead!

Mermaids on horseback

Zak and Melissa rockin out during the parade!

THE MERMAID PARADE

2011-06-16T11:25:00.002-05:00

Hey Shmaltz/HE'BREW/Coney Island Craft Lager Fans!

This Saturday marks the day we have been looking forward to for a whole year...it's the most exciting, fun, bizarre and hilarious events of the Coney Island season...THE MERMAID PARADE!!! Part costume party, part art car parade - the Mermaid Parade is an event for all ages.

This aquatic-themed parade/party starts around 1 and goes all afternoon. Each year there is a "king" and "queen" of the Mermaid Parade. This year the king is Brooklyn-native Adam Richman (of Man vs. Food) and the queen is Cat Greenleaf (of Talk Stoop with Cat Greenleaf). The king and queen help judge the incredible costume contest. People seriously bring it with the costumes...

We (Shmaltz Brewing Co.) have an incredible float/flatbed on which Donny Vomit, the Human Blockhead, will be riding and performing. He is the inspiration for our super delicious 10% ABV malt-bomb, aptly named "Human Blockhead." Our "Mermaid Pilsner" was created specifically for the Mermaid Parade! Not to mention our other side-show personality-inspired brews - The Sword Swallower, The Albino Python and Coney Island Lager. In addition to our incredible lagers (proceeds of which go back into Coney Island USA, the non-profit keeping Coney Island and the Mermaid Parade alive)...we've got a great brass band, marchers, beads, temporary tattoos etc.

Before, during and after the parade, our brew guru, Phip, will be making an amber ale with coconut and vanilla, aptly named "The Little Mermaid."

Needless to say, this day is going to be awesome.

If you have never been to the Mermaid Parade (or if you have been every year for the past twenty) and are in the NYC metropolitan area and have nothing to do this Saturday afternoon, come on down to the Coney Island boardwalk, don your craziest oceanic themed apparel and come join us for day of revelry!!!

Sweet Tat, Bro!

2011-05-27T14:57:00.001-05:00

We are always thrilled when people come to tell us how much they love our beer and Matt and Dave's incredible artwork! We are especially thrilled when people (like Luke, here) love our Coney Island Craft Lager logo so much they want to tattoo it on their bodies!! Thanks for stopping by Luke!

Awesome "Freak" face detail.

Our First Brew of the Summer!

2011-05-22T12:10:00.000-05:00

Jen's Hazelnut Brown Ale.

Inspired by those all-to-frequent Dunkin Donuts coffee runs for rough mornings down at the pier, Jen decided to try a Hazelnut Brown Ale. As the World's Smallest Brewery is only at 2 gallon capacity we had to scale down the recipe a bit. We used Nugget and Warrior hops, standard 2-Row Malt and just a dash of Hazelnut extract.

Here's (^^^) Jen a brewin'.

The brew 5 days into fermentation (don't worry...it's supposed to look like that!)

First Customers of the Season!!

2011-05-16T11:20:00.001-05:00

These lovely ladies came in last week as we were still scrubbing, cleaning and getting the shop ready for summer. We sent them home with some rad tank tops and other Coney Island Brewery ish. Cheers!

Setting Up Shop

2011-05-13T16:11:00.003-05:00

Hey beer freaks and geeks!

Coney Island Brewery is back in action for the 2011 season! The past few days we've been cleaning and scrubbing and getting the World's Smallest Brewery ready for the summer. The first big weekend out at Coney will be Memorial Day weekend (May 27-30) so come on out and prepare yourself for freaks, fun and beer.

This summer we are hoping to have guest brewers every weekend so if you or anyone you know is into (and good at) homebrewing, come on out! We've got all the equipment and will provide the ingredients you need to make whatever you do best. If you are interested email Eby or reply to this post providing a few dates you'd be available (Saturdays and Sundays are best) throughout the summer and what type of beer you'd be interested in making.

New Equipment

2010-08-06T16:38:00.000-05:00

Hi everybody. We have been cranking out brews every weekend down under the Wonder Wheel. We have officially made the highest alcohol beer at Coney Island Brewing Co. We brewed up an Imperial Russian Stout with an original gravity of 1.082. The final gravity came to 1.018 giving the beer and ABV of 8.8%. We are very excited to give this beer a try.

As far as brewery updates go we are in the process of adding a new piece of equipment. We will be adding a grist case to our brewery. This will allow us to mash in more effectively and efficiently. Lots of pictures to come.

All Ladies Brew Day

2010-07-22T09:34:00.001-05:00

This past Sunday the Coney Island Brewing Co. was fortunate to have an all female brew crew. Danielle from Brooklyn Homebrew as well as Daphne Scholz and Valerie from Bierkraft came down to Coney and brewed up a Belgian Blueberry Blonde Ale. The ladies ended up with a 1.055 original gravity. They added blueberries during the last few minutes of the boil and plan to add more blueberries during the secondary fermentation. We will keep you updated on how this beer progresses.

Sugar or No Sugar with your beer?

2010-07-22T09:22:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday we brewed up another Coney Island inspired beer. We went for a Funnel Cake Ale. This beer was brewed with Maris Otter 2 Row, Biscuit Malt and Honey Malt. We used East Kent Golding Hops for bitterness and Perle for aroma. We hope to have a bready and lightly bitter beer. The final gravity came to 1.057. The beer should be finished with fermentation by this upcoming weekend. We will bottle condition this ale. You may be asking "sugar or no sugar?". The idea is that we will coat the rim of a glass with powdered sugar when drinking this beer. And there you have it, Funnel Cake Ale.

THE LITTLE BREWERY THAT COULD!!!

2010-07-06T12:27:00.000-05:00

The World's Smallest Brewery is working beautifully. We are currently brewing 2 to 3 times a week. The little system has produced an American Brown Ale, Coffee Stout, Golden Mango Ale, Ginger Saison, Candy Apple Ale and most recently a Belgian Cotton Candy Wit Ale. Most of these beers are in bottles and will be carbonated and ready in a few days. The Candy Apple Ale is sitting in secondary on 3.5 pounds of Fuji apples. It will go into bottles on Friday July 9th. The Belgian Cotton Candy Wit Ale was brewed on July 4th weekend. After primary fermentation is complete the beer will be aged on beets for a week and then bottled using Coney Island Cotton Candy as the priming sugar. If this beer perks your ears up, then post a comment and let us know what kind of beers you think can be brewed that are Coney Island inspired.

IT'S HERE... IT'S REAL... IT MAKES BEER!

2010-06-03T12:42:00.000-05:00

The opening weekend is in the books, and the World's Smallest Brewery is cranking it out one gallon at a time! With the help of some great local homebrewers, and resident midget brewer Nic Sin, we have three different beers fermenting at the shop.

On Saturday (May 29th) we had Josh Knowlton from Bierkraft come through with Pete Taylor and John Livingston. They made an American style IPA. The original gravity was 1.060 with and expected alcohol content of 6+%. They used Warrior hops at 60min and 30min during the boil, Centennial at 15min and 5min, and Cascade at 10 min and 0 min. The grains were Rahr 2 Row, Maris Otter 2 Row and Caramel/Crystal 40L.

On Sunday (May 30th) we had Shane Henderson from Whole Foods Chelsea on hand, and Monday found Shmaltz's own Sean Lynch wearing the jumpsuit and brewing boots.

All the beers are in fermentation and should be ready to taste by the Mermaid Parade on June 19th!

ONE GALLON AT A TIME®

2010-05-29T21:45:00.001-05:00

It's official: The World's Smallest Brewery is NOW OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Here are some photos of the finished space (although we'll be continually adding and tweaking as we go). Come on down... and Step Right Up!!!

THE BREWERY IS ON THE WAY

2010-05-18T11:13:00.000-05:00

Our Southeast Manager Darren picked up the brewery (literally - by himself!) on Friday and is shipping it to Brooklyn this week! It measures 4 feet by 2 feet, and we'll be brewing the inaugural batch Memorial Day Weekend down in Coney Island. We're so excited to get it up and running, so come on down and see it in action!

COMING ALONG...

2010-05-11T11:05:00.000-05:00

It took some work, but the walls are prepped and ready for paint (look at all those patches!). Next is electrical, new ceiling, glass front and installing the brewery. We're still shooting for the end of May, and looking forward to brewing the first batch!

THE SPACE

2010-04-05T09:02:00.000-05:00

Here are some "before" shots of the space. Sean, Melissa and I will be transforming this into the new Coney Island Brewing Company during April and the beginning of May, and we should be ready to open by Memorial Day Weekend.

INTRODUCING THE WORLD'S SMALLEST NON-COMMERCIAL, NON-PRODUCTION BREWERY!

2010-04-04T14:00:00.000-05:00

Shmaltz Brewing Company will open the Coney Island Brewing Company in May (Memorial Day Weekend, if all goes according to plan) next door to the Freak Show on 12th Street on Coney Island.

"This will be the world's smallest non-production brewery," Cowan said, "with a brewhouse perhaps able to brew one-tenth of a barrel of beer at a time."

True to the Coney Island spirit, a midget brewer might be hired to run the brewery. There will also be a tasting bar and a small store selling Coney Island Brewing merchandise in the 175-square-foot space.

Coney Island had its heyday decades ago and fell on hard times in recent years. The area is now seeing a resurgence of development, which includes a revamping of the famous amusement park. Recently, the City of New York rezoned and bought a portion of the old Coney Island amusement area and a new operator will be re-opening it as Luna Park at Coney Island. To celebrate this, Shmaltz Brewing will release Luna Lager, a summer attraction that will be "a half-lager/half-ale hybrid wheat beer brewed with a healthy dose of hops and likely multiple yeast strains."