The homebrew craze hit New York years ago, but it wasn’t until recently that some of the more ambitious pioneers started opening their own breweries. Case in point SingleCut Beer in Astoria, Queens, the first brewery in the borough since the ’50s. Rich Buceta is the genius behind this bold venture and his fingerprints are everywhere, from the design of the logo on the taps down to the very last drop of beer that you will try. And trust me, you will try many pints when you visit the incredible tap room that’s open Thursdays to Sundays. They even have live bands on many nights.
Where to start with my favorite pours? Oh boy, that’s like picking your favorite child, but I will say that I always ask the resident beer experts what’s new on tap. If the friendly server behind the bar tells you they just tapped a new brew, get a taste as quick as you can.
When it’s time go home, I never leave without a growler of the Dark Lyric Lagrrr or the Mahogany Ale that reminds me of my days (and very long nights) in Portland during the 1990s. If you can’t make the trek out to Queens, SingleCut is available on tap at bars around the five boroughs. Lucky for NYC beer lovers, it’s now easy to find almost everywhere you look.