Joining
Rockaway Brewing and
SingleCut Beersmiths, this Long Island City nanobrewery bolsters the thriving
Queens beer scene. After winning
Heartland's 2011 home-brewing contest, amateurs Kyle Hurst, Robby Crafton and Scott Berger bought a 1,000-square-foot former Bible warehouse to turn their shared hobby into a career. Named after Big Allis—a gas-fueled
LIC supergenerator from the '60s—the small-batch operation makes six one-off beers every month. Some offerings draw on New York purveyors, such as a Belgian-American red ale fermented with organic Cinderella pumpkin, and a coffee-wheat stout infused with beans from Park Slope's Gorilla. Along with a CSA-style "
beer share"—allowing members to purchase a monthly batch of new suds—the brewery opens for retail every Friday night, with tours and tastings upon appointment.
8-08 43rd Rd at Vernon Blvd, Long Island City, Queens (347-688-2337)