Participants get their Savor The Bronx Passports stamped for additional promotions from the borough’s bar/restaurants
As more craft beverage producers and bar/restaurants make The Bronx their home, The Bronx Tourism Council, in association with Taste NY, an initiative launched by Governor Cuomo in 2013 to promote New York’s food and beverage industries, has launched the Savor The Bronx Breweries & Distilleries Trolley Tour.
While riding the famous Bronx Trolley, a historian will talk about the history of brewing in the borough, which dates back to the late 19th century and ended during the Prohibition Era.
The trolley visits Gun Hill Brewery, established in 2014 and produces a variety of beers for all palates ranging from their light seasonable ales to their pitch black stout. Then onto Chelsea Craft Brewing Company, which relocated from downtown Manhattan this year. The company brews over 20 ales annually and their signature Checker Cab Blonde Ale is brewed in the style of a German Kolsch beer. The third, and last, brewery the trolley visits is the Bronx Brewery founded in 2011 and offers a uniquely diverse range of beers that explore the limits of what a pale ale can be.
Tirado Distillery is the veteran of the bunch. They opened their doors in 2010 and was the first artisanal spirits producer in the borough since the 1920s prohibition. Their desert whisky is infused with apricot and still-filtered twice for smoothness. The fifth and last tour/tasting is at Port Morris Distillery, who’s Añejo Pitorro (or Puerto Rican moonshine) has a smoky taste while their Coquito Pitorro is sweetened with coconut and cinnamon and is perfect straight or mixed.
Tour participants will also receive a Savor The Bronx Passport to be stamped by the places they visit. The fully-stamped passport can be taken to any of the aforementioned breweries and distilleries, as well as any of the following restaurants that serve craft beverages, where the passport holder will receive their first pint free: Blackstone Bar and Grill in Riverdale; Bronx Ale House in Kingsbridge; Bronx Beer Hall on Arthur Avenue; and Bronx Draft House near Yankee Stadium. The Breweries and Distilleries Passport Promotion is open to anyone who chooses to visit the Breweries and Distilleries on their own as well and can be acquired at any of the craft beverage producers.
“This is the perfect tour for folks who are both history buffs and craft beverage aficionados”, says Olga Luz Tirado, executive director of The Bronx Tourism Council.
“The Bronx is quickly becoming known across the world for its top notch breweries and distilleries. If you’re interested in the art of craft beverages, and would like a closer look at the ongoing revitalization of our borough, this tour is a tremendous opportunity. I look forward to greeting visitors from all over the region as they take part in the Savor The Bronx Breweries & Distilleries Trolley Tour,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
The tour costs $50 per person, lasts five hours, and includes a passport and light snacks at one of the breweries. The trolley leaves from 851 Grand Concourse (between east 161st Street and 158th) at 11am. No one under 21 years of age is allowed on the trolley for this tour. For a full schedule and to purchase tickets visit www.ilovethebronx.com or call 718.590.3518.
About the Bronx Tourism Council: Established in 1991, The Bronx Tourism Council (BTC) is a division of the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC). The role of BTC is to continue to nurture a cohesive and symbiotic relationship between arts and culture and economic development, as well as to promote the borough’s rich history, its institutions, and cultural diversity on a local, national, and international level thereby increasing tourism traffic. For more information about BTC visit www.ilovethebronx.com. Follow us. Like us. Connect with us. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
About Taste NY: Taste NY is an initiative launched by Governor Cuomo in 2013 to promote New York’s food and beverage industries. It is overseen by the Department of Agriculture and Markets and has created opportunities for local producers to showcase their goods at large public events, such as the Great New York State Fair. The program has also opened stores at Thruway rest stops along the state’s highways and in transportation hubs, enabling travelers to buy New York State’s homegrown and homemade products. Approximately 1,100 local companies have participated in these opportunities, further linking their products and the state’s growing food and beverage market to consumers from across the globe. For more information about Taste NY, please visit www.taste.ny.gov. Connect with Taste NY through Facebook,Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.