As a [South] Bronx native, I'm both excited about and overly critical of anything that associates itself with the Bronx. As such I was naturally curious about Gun Hill Brewing and set on paying them a visit after I got a taste of their Void of Light Stout at the Bacon and Beer Classic. Void of Light, by the way, was voted Best Beer at the Bacon and Beer Classic and it's no surprise as to why.
The day I went to visit was their six month anniversary event. I was sold on the look and feel of the brewery immediately. Formerly a warehouse or garage, they perfected the industrial with the Yeah, I need to hang out here. With actual tables for seating when you first walk in, hanging out there is not hard to do.
I'm not sure how large the crowd gets on a normal day, but they certainly had a full house for their anniversary. This was cause for concern. Aside from being a sucker for great ambience, I'm an even bigger sucker for good service and a lot of people often times equates to a long wait for beer -- no one likes that. The staff at the brewery handled the crowd like pros, however. We were greeted as soon as we walked up to the bar. I asked for a flight but they weren't serving flights that particular day due to the amount of people. No worries though -- they offered me the option of purchasing half pints instead so that I could taste more beers for the same price. Well done, friends. They didn't neglect to tell me about each beer as they served it either. Well done, again.
As for the beer itself, there was a lot to try (they were serving some old favorites for the special occasion). This post would be way too long if I tried to describe everything. My experience with the Pomegranate Wheat sums it all up though. Now, rare is the day I ask for a fruity or sweet flavored beer. It's just not my thing. I prefer beer to taste like beer and not juice. I guess everyone else is doing it wrong because when I tried the Pomegranate Wheat I could (surprisingly) picture myself reaching for one at a BBQ or on any ol' hot day. I could definitely taste the pomegranate but it wasn't overpowering or unbearably sweet. It was refreshing and a great balance of fruit and wheat beer. I knew I'd like everything else if they mastered this one. And I did -- their IPA, Void of Light Stout (again), Schulyler's American Wheat, and the Kraftwerk Alt.
Gun Hill Brewery knows how to make a good beer. It was evident not only by the Pomegranate convert they made out of me, but by the enthusiastic regulars present in the diverse crowd. We drank well, felt good, and appreciated the awesome service. I didn't get to take advantage of the taco trunk they had parked outside (man did that smell good!) but I follow them on social media and so I know I can always come back for that or any other awesome pairing of coolness they provide - beer school (starting September 9th), Yoga (11am on September 6th), and who knows what else?!
