Brewers from 19 of Long Island’s craft breweries joined forces Tuesday at Fire Island Beer Co. in Bay Shore to brew a special beer for charity.
The collaboration beer, Craft Cares, was brewed for the “Can for a Can” food drive held during the annual Long Island Craft Beer Week, running this year from May 11 to 20. Beer lovers will be able to exchange a can of food for a can of Craft Cares at breweries and select beer bars to benefit Long Island Cares/The Harry Chapin Food Bank, which serves the hungry and those with food insecurity on Long Island.
“Craft Cares is a great way for Long Island’s craft brewers to give back to the community while celebrating the camaraderie of local brewers from Nassau and Suffolk and strengthening the partnership between the breweries and the establishments that sell Long Island craft beer,” said Dave Schultzer of Bellport Cold Beer and Soda and one of the organizers of Long Island Craft Beer Week.
Last year’s “Can for a Can” food raised more than 3,400 pounds of food.
The recipe for this year’s collaboration beer was called an ‘Intercoastal IPA’ by Paul Komsic, head brewer at BrickHouse Brewery in Patchogue.
“We wanted to bring together influences from all across the U.S. and in Europe, so the recipe includes yeasts from both California and England,” said Dan Moss, head brewer at Fire Island Beer Co. “The malt was donated by Country Malt Group and includes a percentage of malts from New York State to meet the New York farm brewery standards
“All of the hops were donated by Long Island hop farms, including Condzella Farms in Wading River, Route 27 Hop Yard in Moriches and L.I. Hops in Riverhead,” he added.
In addition, the canning of the beer will be donated by The Malt Man mobile canning services and labels by DWS Printing in Deer Park.
More info on Long Island Craft Beer Week will soon be available at www.licbw.us.
The participating Long Island breweries involved in brewing 2018 Craft Cares are:
1940’s Brewing Co., Holbrook
Barnshed Brewing, Hicksville
Barrage Brewing, Farmingdale
Brewers Collective, Bay Shore
BrickHouse Brewery, Patchogue
Destination Unknown Brewing Co., Bay Shore
Fire Island Beer Co., Bay Shore
Great South Bay Brewery, Bay Shore
Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., Greenport
Lithology Brewing, Farmingdale
Long Ireland Beer Co., Riverhead
Port Jeff Brewing Co., Port Jefferson
Montauk Brewing Co., Montauk
Moustache Brewing Co., Riverhead
North Fork Brewing, Riverhead
Oyster Bay Brewing, Oyster Bay
Saint James Brewery, Holbrook
Sand City Brewing Co., Northport
Spider Bite Brewing Co., Holbrook
Bernie Kilkelly is the editor and publisher of LIBeerGuide.com
