NEW YORK CITY BOROUGH PRESIDENTS ANNOUNCE FRIENDLY WAGER OVER BEST BREWS OF NYC CHALLENGE AT BROOKFIELD PLACE
Top Breweries from All Five Boroughs in Competition in the Brookfield Place “Winter Biergarten” on March 15
NEW YORK, March 14, 2018 — Brookfield Properties and the five New York City Borough Presidents announced a friendly wager today on the outcome of The 5 Borough Challenge: Best Brews of NYC event taking place at Brookfield Place in Lower Manhattan. Since February 22, 14 of New York City’s top breweries have competed at a beer festival in the Brookfield Place “Winter Biergarten,” culminating in a finale event to take place on March 15. Each week, the “Winter Biergarten” has showcased craft offerings from breweries in all five boroughs paired with food, live music, and classic bar games, all to benefit Brookfield Place’s charitable partner, New Yorkers for Parks.
During the first three weeks of the festival, visitors cast their vote for their favorite brew, with the most popular selection from each borough returning on March 15th for the finale. On that night, a People’s Choice winner will be decided by the event’s attendees, and a Juror’s Choice winner will be determined by a panel comprised of notable New York City beer connoisseurs. In addition to being crowned “Best Brew,” the winning People’s Choice brewery will also receive 1,000 daffodil bulbs planted in their borough through New Yorker’s for Parks’ Daffodil Project.
“In the first three weeks of the Best Brews of NYC event in the Brookfield Place ‘Winter Biergarten,’ we have welcomed more than 3,300 visitors and raised more than $46,000 for New Yorkers for Parks,” said Ric Clark, Senior Managing Partner and Chairman, Brookfield Property Group and Brookfield Property Partners. “We are grateful to the Borough Presidents serving as their borough’s team captains and look forward to a fun night to see which beer the public voters and our panel of judges picks as New York City’s top brew.”
To increase the stakes, each Borough President has agreed to wager an iconic food or beverage from his/her borough, that will be delivered to the People’s Choice winning Borough President’s office following the grand finale.
The Stakes:
• Bronx: Cannoli from Gino’s Pastry Shop
• Brooklyn: Pickles from Brooklyn Brine
• Manhattan: Chocolate from Harlem Chocolate Factory
• Queens: Pastries from Leo’s Latticini Mama’s
• Staten Island: Pizza from Lee’s Tavern
The five Borough President’s offered the following commentary on the competition:
“The Bronx is home to some of the best breweries in the city, if not the nation, and I am excited to wager two dozen cannoli from Arthur Avenue’s world-famous Gino’s Pastry Shop to prove just that. I look forward to the Bronx Brewery’s success, and I congratulate Brookfield on this wonderful event that highlights the great offerings my borough and our city have to offer,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“Brooklyn’s breweries are the envy of the world — and we intend to keep it that way. The burgeoning industry is a growing cultural and economic powerhouse of Brooklyn. I applaud Brookfield and all the partners participating in this year’s Best Brews of NYC, particularly some of our borough’s finest breweries including Sixpoint Brewery, Brooklyn Brewery, and none other than Kings County Brewers Collective in the grand finale,” said Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams. “So, in keeping with my healthy living campaigns, I’m willing to bet two cases of Brooklyn’s finest non-GMO pickles from Brooklyn Brine that Brooklyn brings home the Best Brewery title in this ‘spirited’ competition!”
“Manhattan’s first commercial brewery opened in 1632, nearly 400 years ago and 150 years before the British evacuated New York. Our heritage is unmatched, we are in a brewing renaissance, and we can throw down with anyone,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “I’m willing to bet anyone some artisanal chocolate, from the new but already-iconic Harlem Chocolate Factory, that our beer does Manhattan’s four-century-old brewing tradition proud.”
“Our craft beers are as diverse as home borough,” said Queens Borough President Melinda Katz. “Queens is already world-renowned for offering the best foods, and we will soon emerge as offering the best brews – at least in the City of New York. While we pledge to offer signature pastries from Mama’s, Queens has every reason to look forward to sampling the spoils of victory from across the city.”
“Staten Island has a long history of brewing beginning with German immigrants here in 1853,” said Staten Island Borough President James Oddo. “We’ve brewed an awful lot over the years and after a hiatus, I’m pleased to say that three new breweries have opened their doors on the Island since 2014. Our brews vary from the mild to the super hoppy and flavorful. We’re ready for this challenge. Bring it on.”
The Finalists (Winners determined March 15):
• Bronx Brewery (Bronx)- American Pale Ale
• Kings County Brewers Collective (Brooklyn)- Sonic Rocket, West Coast Style IPA
• Harlem Brewing Company (Manhattan)- Renaissance Wit
• Rockaway Brewing Company (Queens)- Rockaway IPA
• Flagship Brewery (Staten Island)- Flagship IPA
The Festival Beer Schedule:
● February 22
○ Gun Hill Brewing Company (Bronx)
○ Sixpoint Brewery (Brooklyn)
○ Harlem Brewing Company (Manhattan)
○ Big aLICe Brewing (Queens)
○ Flagship Brewing Company (Staten Island)
○ Featured specialty menu from PARM
● March 1
○ Bronx Brewery (Bronx)
○ Brooklyn Brewery (Brooklyn)
○ Alphabet City Brewing Company (Manhattan)
○ Rockaway Brewing Company (Queens)
○ Kills Boro Brewing Company (Staten Island)
○ Featured specialty menu from AMADA
● March 8
○ Bronx Brewery (Bronx)
○ Kings County Brewers Collective (Brooklyn)
○ Heartland Brewery (Manhattan)
○ Transmitter Brewing (Queens)
○ Staten Island Beer Company (Staten Island)
○ Featured specialty menu from PJ CLARKE’S
The Best Brews of NYC finale is free to attend. Beer from the borough breweries and food from Brookfield Place eatery Le District will be available for purchase. In partnership with the participating breweries, 100% of the beer sales will be donated to New Yorkers for Parks’ mission to build, protect, and promote parks and open spaces throughout New York City.
For more information visit: broofieldplaceny.com.
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