The Penn Station emergency track repairs that caused the Long Island Rail Road’s “Summer of Hell” has spawned carpools, ferries and other commuter alternatives—and now it’s also inspired a new beer.
Blue Point Brewing Co. unveiled Tuesday its new LIRR-themed beer, a Pilsner the brewers have dubbed Delayed and hope will ease riders’ stress of waiting for late trains. It will be exclusively available in Penn Station, the Patchogue-based company said.
“Myself, our brewers and our employees have spent a lot of time ‘delayed’ in Penn Station waiting for the train back to Long Island, albeit with a beer happily in hand,” Blue Point President Todd Ahsmann said. “Since the delays are expected to increase during construction, we figured we would brew a beer perfect for that extended wait… This beer should hold you over while you wait for the train but provide just enough bite to keep you critical of current state of transit.”
It’s not the first time Long Island’s largest craft brewery—which was bought in 2014 by AB InBEv, the world’s largest brewery—has churned out beers timed with events in the news. At last year’s presidential debate at Hofstra University, they unveiled a remake of Colonial Ale based on a recipe originally concocted in 1757 by George Washington before he became America’s first president. LI’s dozens of other craft brewers have done the same, sometimes in collaboration, as they did when they created a Sandy Relief Ale in ’13.
As for Blue Point’s mass-transit themed beer, the company said it’s brewed with a blend of floral, spicy hops for subtle apple and lemon-lime aroma, balanced by slight honey notes from a creamy malt body.
The release party for Blue Point Brewing Co.’s Delayed Pilsner will be held at Shake Shack in Penn Station 4-8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 14. For more information, visit bluepointbrewing.com
