Surge Protector IPA, a Sandy Relief Beer, launches today at Alewife in LIC

Image source: Sandy Relief Beer

Tonight is the launch of Surge Protector IPA, a project of Sandy Relief Beer, and you can get it at Alewife in LIC. This beer was made in the spirit of fundraising for Sandy relief – Long Island Cares, Inc. will receive half of all proceeds from the sale of Sandy Relief Beer. Long Island Cares runs a food bank and is a hunger assistance organization. Additional support will go to Barrier Brewing Company, which was wrecked during Hurricane Sandy (more on that below).

More about Sandy Relief Beer:

Sandy Relief Beer started as a video project by Matt Furman and Niko Krommydas, but quickly morphed into a collaborative relief effort by eight local breweries after Hurricane Sandy devastated Long Island and destroyed Barrier Brewing Company in Oceanside.

The participants gathered at Blue Point Brewing Company on December 04, 2012 and brewed Surge Protector IPA, an India Pale Ale, to raise proceeds for victims of Hurricane Sandy and the recovering brewery.

Each brewery donated an ingredient for Surge Protector IPA, exhibiting the solidarity of Long Island’s beer community.

Here’s a video about the project:

[vimeo http://vimeo.com/55102765]

One of the founders of Barrier Brewing Company is Craig Frymark, a Queens resident. The other founder, Evan Klein, and his family had to move into Frymark’s apartment in after Hurricane Sandy hit. Both his home in Long Beach and the brewery in Oceanside were seriously damaged. Just in May 2012, the brewery had expanded into a 4,600 square foot space in Oceanside near the water (GMAP); Hurricane Sandy brought four feet of water, and $100,000 in damages – machinery, vehicles, and ingredients were damaged and/or destroyed.

Alewife also sustained plenty of damage from Hurricane Sandy. Four feet of water flooded the gastropub, damaging the interior, including the flooring and furniture. The pub’s equipment, refrigeration, as well as their food and drink inventory was ruined. They have rebounded, and it seems fitting that this is the place where Sandy Relief Beer makes its appearance in Queens.

Sandy Relief Beer Release Party [Sandy Relief Beer]
Barrier Brewing coming back ‘stronger than ever’ [Oceanside Herald]
Help Alewife Rebuild [Murph Guide]