(Press Release)

NEW YORK—The New York City Brewers Guild (NYCBG), Get Real Presents, and Taste NY announce today the 46 New York State breweries participating in the Opening Bash 2015 for the “7th Annual New York City Beer Week“, which takes place in the heart of Chelsea at The Altman Building on Sat, Feb. 21, 2015 ($75/VIP: includes special VIP session from 12 pm – 1 pm, $65/GA: 1 pm – 5 pm). The Opening Bash 2015 features the debut collaboration between the NYCBG and the New York State Brewers Association, bringing together the finest New York State breweries for an unprecedented afternoon session. Come spend the afternoon tasting and talking beer with the brewers behind one of the most progressive beer scenes in the country, and then head out to Celebrate An Entire City of Craft Beer! Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite, and please see the list of confirmed New York City and New York State breweries:

New York City:
Big Alice Brewing, Bridge and Tunnel Brewing, Bronx Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, Dyckman Beer Company, Eataly Birreria, Finback Brewery, Flagship Brewing, Greenpoint Beer & Ale, Grimm Artisanal Ales, Gun Hill Brewing Co., Harlem Brewing Co., Heartland Brewing Co., KelSo Beer Company, Keg & Lantern Brewery, Queens Brewery, Rockaway Brewing Company, Sixpoint Brewery, Threes Brewing Company, and Transmitter Brewing.

New York State:
Alphabet City Brewing Company (New York, NY), Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY), Broken Bow Brewery (Tuckahoe, NY), Captain Lawrence Brewing Company (Elmsford, NY), C.H. Evans Brewing Company (Albany, NY), Chatham Brewing (Chatham, NY), Crossroads Brewing (Athens, NY),Empire Brewing Company (Syracuse, NY), Great Adirondack Brewing Company (Lake Placid, NY), Great South Bay Brewery (Bay Shore, NY),Greenport Harbor (Greenport, Long Island), Ithaca Beer Company (Ithaca, NY), Keegan Ales (Kingston, NY), KUKA – Andean Brewing Company(Blauvelt, NY), Newburgh Brewing Company (Newburgh, NY), Olde Saratoga Brewing Company (Saratoga Springs, NY), Peekskill Brewery (Peekskill, NY), Port Jeff Brewing Company (Port Jefferson, NY), Radiant Pig Craft Beers (New York, NY), Rare Form Brewing Company (Troy, NY), The Roscoe NY Beer Company (Roscoe, NY), Rushing Duck Brewing Company (Chester, NY), Saint James Brewery (Long Island, NY), Saranac Brewery(Utica, NY), Shmaltz Brewing Company (Clifton Park, NY), and Upstate Brewing Company (Elmira, NY).

New York City Beer Week 2015New York City Beer Week 2015 brings together 22 of NYC’s premier Guild craft breweries, standout nationally and internationally renowned breweries, over 400 events at 200 different NYC beer destinations, celebrity chefs, and acclaimed restaurants for 10 days of craft beer madness. NYC Beer Week 2015 runs from Fri, Feb. 20Sun, March 1, 2015, and events will take place within all five boroughs. For up-to-date information, please visit: nycbeerweek.com.

Several new attractions for NYC Beer Week 2015 include the kick-off Opening First Tap (Fri, Feb. 20, 2015), which features 100 rare beers scattered among 100 NYC beer destinations. The singular collection includes craft beers you can only get in NYC that evening. Breweries from around the world are encouraged to participate, and all beers will be tapped together at 7 pm Friday night. The 100 craft beers and locations will be announced the week leading up to NYC Beer Week.

Beer Sessions Radio(TM), the Good Beer Seal, Taste NY and the NYC Brewers Guild are excited to present the 5th Annual NYC Brewers Choice(TM) at Sanders Studios on Tues, Feb. 24, 2015 (525 Waverly, Clinton Hill, 6 pm – 10 pm, $65). 5th Annual NYC Brewers Choice(TM) celebrates the exceptional workers within the craft beer industry, offering the opportunity for beer enthusiasts to mingle with the brewers themselves at an upscale beer and artisan food event. Upwards of 30 brewers pour their favorite beers, including special “2015 SMASH” beers using 100% New York State hops and malts. This year’s host committee includes: Kelly Taylor (President of NYC Brewers Guild, Brewmaster of KelSo Beer Co. and Heartland Brewery), Dave Brodrick (Blind Tiger, Worthy Burger, VT), and Jimmy Carbone (Host, Beer Sessions Radio(TM)). The annual “Local Beer Hero Awards” will take place at the event, in addition to keynote speeches and “NY State of Beer” updates. Included in the $65 ticket will be access to chefs’ tables and an array of cuisine including a raw bar, and Dave Brodrick will curate a special Vermont table with artisanal products from the Green Mountain State. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

NYC Beer Week 2015’s signature finale is the Closing Beer & Brass Brunch taking place at Brooklyn Bowl on Sun, March 1, 2015 (12 pm – 4 pm, $40). Come close out Beer Week with a singular selection of NYC Guild breweries (Brooklyn Brewery, KelSo, Sixpoint, Transmitter, Finback, Gun Hill, Bronx, Big Alice, and more), a delicious brunch menu from Blue Ribbon, and a killer brass band. Tickets can be purchased via Eventbrite.

For the first time during Beer Week, NYCBG hosts the nationwide competition, “Ruppert’s Cup”, which is open to all craft breweries. The “People’s Choice” voting competition for the “Best Brewery @ NYC Beer Week” commences at the start of Beer Week, and the winner will be announced at the Closing Beer & Brass Brunch. In honor of Jacob Ruppert, Jr., the Brewers Guild resuscitates the Ruppert’s Cup that circulated around to different NYC breweries in the 1990’s vying for “Brewery of the Year”. A celebrated American brewer, US Congressman, and owner of the New York Yankees (1915 – 1939), Ruppert’s name will appear front-and-center on the newly designed trophy destined for one standout brewery. Participants are required to host a valued-added Beer Week event highlighting an extremely rare beer release or a Meet-the-Brewer event. Craft beer fans can cast as many votes as they like to get their favorite brewery to be a front-runner (votes are $5 a piece) on nycbeerweek.com; all proceeds will be donated to NYC’s City Harvest.

“If they want to win the Ruppert’s Cup, breweries from around the country need to bring their A game,” says Kelly Taylor (President of the New York City Brewers Guild, Co-Founder/Brewer at KelSo Beer Company, Brewmaster at Heartland Brewery). “I know for sure the 20 Guild brewers will be hard at work representing NYC. It’s a very ‘New York’ kind of competition, to bring back this prized trophy and have a good ol’ fashion throw down to see who’s the best brewery at NYC Beer Week. I’ve done a lot of charity projects with City Harvest, most recently the Edible Ale event where we raised $10,000 by selling 10,000 hot dogs. February is a cold month, and a lot of people are in need of a hot meal. I’m sure every year moving forward we’ll have a different state take home the trophy. It’ll be a blast to see who wins it first!”

The NYC Brewers Guild also introduces the 2015 SMASH Beer (SMASH = State Malts and State Hops), with each Guild brewery’s variation being available at different venues throughout the boroughs. The NYCBG has selected NYS Pale, Vienna, and Amber Rye malts, as well as Chinook, Willamette, and Cascade hops, to use in the 2015 SMASH Beer. Every Guild brewery will use all three malts and all three hops in any combination they like, and with any yeast they like, for a distinct brew only available during NYC Beer Week.

For details on tons of additional Beer Week events, please visit: nycbeerweek.com.

About the NYCBG:
The mission of the New York City Brewers Guild is to advocate for and promote awareness of its local brewing members; to increase the visibility of local beers through innovative events, programming, and consumer education; and to foster a healthy, ethical, and growth-focused craft beer industry throughout the city. The New York City Brewers Guild is a 501[c]6 non-profit founded to advance New York City’s brewing industry — and thereby lessen human misery. The 7th Annual New York City Beer Week continues a beloved citywide celebration of the breadth of exceptional craft beers from around the region and around the world!

Guild breweries include Big Alice Brewing, Bridge and Tunnel Brewing, Bronx Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, City Island Brewery, Dyckman Beer Company, Eataly Birreria, Finback Brewery, Flagship Brewing, Greenpoint Beer & Ale, Grimm Artisanal Ales, Gun Hill Brewing Co., Harlem Brewing Co., Heartland Brewing Co., Keg & Lantern Brewery, KelSo Beer Company, Other Half Brewing, Queens Brewery, Rockaway Brewing Company, Sixpoint Brewery, Threes Brewing Company, and Transmitter Brewing.

For more information, please visit: nycbeerweek.com