Founded in Harlem in 2014 by founder and CEO Julian Riley Jr., Harlem Blue is a family-owned beer company that makes city craft beer inspired by the neighborhood’s history, diversity and everyday energy. Its beers include 1658 Ale, named for the year associated with the founding of the Village of Haarlem, and Hectic IPA, a nod to Harlem writer Roi Ottley. The company contracts with local brewing facilities while retaining control of its recipes and quality, and donates 2% of every product purchase to restoring local parks and public spaces.
Gun Hill Brewing CompanyFounded by Bronx natives Kieran Farrell and Dave Lopez, Gun Hill Brewing Company makes fresh, unfiltered craft beer and helped bring production brewing back to the borough for the first time since the 1960s. The brewery began in 2014 after the longtime baseball teammates teamed up with an award-winning brewmaster, and it now operates from Brooklyn while keeping its Bronx roots and New York identity. Its beers include the award-winning Void of Light stout and the Hamilton-inspired Rise Up Rye.BRONX, NY
Horseheads BrewingFamily-owned Horseheads Brewing makes handcrafted beer in Horseheads, New York, where the Lilly family reopened the local brewery with a focus on quality ingredients and affordable pours. Founded in 2006 and opened in 2007, the brewery earned the TAP NY Best Craft Brewery in New York State award in 2010 and 2015. Head brewer Justin Stanton, who first joined the brewery in 2014, returned in 2019 to bring its award-winning beer back to the community while exploring new releases.HORSEHEADS, NY
Flagship Brewing CoIn Staten Island’s Tompkinsville neighborhood, Flagship Brewing Co. makes handcrafted beer in a 3,000-square-foot brewery and taproom, ranging from traditional ales and lagers to experimental and nitro brews. Its beers carry a strong New York City identity, with ingredients sourced from New York State producers and collaborations such as the Tunnel to Towers Bravest series supporting the nation’s heroes. The dog- and family-friendly taproom pairs 12 beers on tap with outdoor seating, live music, and waterfront views.NEW YORK, NY
Union Craft BrewingFounded in 2011, Union Craft Brewing makes beer in Baltimore’s Medfield neighborhood, where its brewing operations began with the 2012 release of Duckpin Pale Ale. Now housed in a former Sears warehouse within the Union Collective hub for small local manufacturers, the employee-owned brewery balances brewing tradition with new ideas and operates a taproom and beer garden built around its belief that beer unites people. Its Zadie’s Lager also carries a family story, honoring co-founder Henry “Zadie” Benesch, who worked at the brewery until age 101.BALTIMORE, MD