Four strangers, that came together to open the Bronx’s first brewery in over 50 years, officially released their own brew. last week
Around the time the Yankees won the 2009 World Series, Riverdale resident Steve O’Sullivan had a bold idea: build a brewery in the Bronx and manufacture an eponymously-labeled beer.
After connecting with fellow beer enthusiasts Chris Gallant, Damian Brown and Kirk Voltz, the young men put their minds together and opened the Bronx Brewery headquarters under the Third Avenue Bridge this past May.
After months of mixing just the right ingredients and making sure the Bronx Pale Ale was perfect for taste buds, the suds were finally released on Thursday, September 8 with a welcoming celebration at the Bronx Ale House on 216 W. 238th Street.
Dozens of people gathered and everybody had a freshly-poured glass of Bronx Pale Ale in their hand. Gallant and Brown could not help but keep smiles on their faces the entire night.
“It’s been a fun ride and it’s great to be where we are right now,” Gallant said. “We knew we had something special but we were never satisfied. We came up with better ingredients for a perfect ale, and Damian really brewed one heck of a beer. Everybody seems to love it and we couldn’t be happier.”
The team completed an on-site cold room at their headquarters on 7 Bruckner Boulevard where they will store the kegs of beer while it continues to be brewed at the Cottrell Brewery in Pawcatuck, Connecticut.
The brewmeisters deliver their prized suds to the dozen locations that are currently pouring the beer. Gallant says that every location they have visited has agreed to carry the tasty brew.
Bronx Ale House owner James Langstine said it felt like just yesterday the four men came to his establishment to talk about their brewery idea. That was almost two years ago, and Langstine could not have pictured a better way to celebrate the newest beer addition to his bar.
“We try to have as many New York-based beers as possible served here, but to have great tasting stuff like this with your borough’s name on it is as good as it gets,” Langstine said. “We had first met during the earliest stages of their brewery and now it’s finally arrived. It was only fitting after we established a relationship that we have the party here, and I think they will go a long way.”
Brown, a master brewer, spent the whole month of August putting the final touches on the ale at the Connecticut brewery. Once it was ready, him and Gallant brought it home to the Bronx, and are now prepared to put it in as many establishments as they can throughout the city.
“It’s a lot of hard work to brew a beer that you feel is the best,” Brown said. “We’re excited about our product and we’re ready to share it with everyone.”
