Giving back never tasted so good.
Eight craft breweries on Long Island joined forces on a collaborative beer specially made for all the proceeds to help Superstorm Sandy survivors. Their limited-edition creation, a Sandy Relief Ale dubbed Surge Protector IPA, begins flowing this week with the proceeds split between the nonprofit Long Island Cares and Barrier Brewing Co. in Oceanside, which was destroyed by the storm.
“The brewers reached out to help us in our time of need,” said Craig Frymark, co-founder of Barrier Brewing, where brewing operations resumed 10 weeks after four feet of Sandy floodwaters wrecked their new digs. “We also kind of want to come together for the greater good of Long Island.”
A half dozen launch parties for the charity beer are being held Tuesday evening across New York City and LI, including The Black Sheep Ale House in Mineola and The Tap Room in Patchogue.
Beer, Here: Long Island’s Craft Beer Explosion
Collaborators who donated time and ingredients for the benevolent brew include Blind Bat Brewery, Great South Bay Brewery, Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., Long Island Beer Co., Port Jeff Brewing Co., Spider Bite Beer Co., Barrier Brewing and Blue Point Brewing Co.
Blue Point brewed and bottled the beer that will be distributed by Clare Rose Inc. to participating bars and restaurants across the Island and the city. Surge Protector will be available on tap and in 22-ounce bottles for a limited time only.
It’s not the only Sandy relief beer, either. Flying Fish Brewing Co. in New Jersey has brewed up 50 kegs of F.U. Sandy with 100 percent of proceeds—estimated at $50,000—going to charity as well. That is slated to hit bars in The Garden State and Philadelphia next month.
LI brewers reportedly made about 50 kegs and 2,000 bottles of Surge Protector. The bottles can be found at participating retailers starting Wednesday.
