Gun Hill Brewing Company

   What better way to spend Independence Day weekend than a visit to Gun Hill Brewery? This Bronx, NY based brewery credits its name to nearby "Gun Hill", the site of a strategic battle in which Colonists stored ammunition and dragged a cannon up hill to fend off the British army. From its beers to its branding, this brewery has made its mark by playing into its deep local history. On the exterior of what used to be an old transmission repair shop, there now bares brown painted brick with white "old american cursive" style writing proudly displaying the name of their brewery across the top. To one side of the entrance is a painting of a revolutionary war cannon surrounded by a circle of stars and their signature "GH" while an old American flag proudly flies on the other side.

   The brewery is set up with the tap room and bar in front where you enter, and the brewery behind it. The space is fairly large with a 5,000 square foot open layout, and provides its customers a brief glance at the brewery in the back where their beers are brewed. We were greeted by part time bartender Chris, who started us off with a flight of their six offerings on tap; Gold (a fresh and hoppy session style ale), India Pale Ale (a more balanced east coast style IPA), Schuyler's American Wheat (an american style wheat ale with "a thirst quenching bready character and a mild yeasty nose"), Pomegranate Wheat (Schuyler's American Wheat but with the addition of pomegranate during secondary fermentation), Void of Light Stout (a dark, roasty stout with smooth hints of coffee and chocolate), and Thunder Dog Stout ("half comprised of caramel and roasted malts, creating a complex, chocolaty, chewy delight"). After talking a bit with Chris about brewing, he surprised us with a small flight glass of beer pulled from one of the fermentation tanks in back of a German style Altibier that Gun Hill is currently working on; a well-hopped, malty treat.

   While there, we had the opportunity to meet co-owner Kieran, who didn't think twice to give us a private tour of their brewery and answer any and all questions. With 23 years of experience, mostly on the west coast, award winning brew master Chris Sheehan is the veteran behind their brews. Operating on a 30 barrel system, they are hoping to hit 2,000 barrels by the end of the year. Relatively new, they've only been open for around four and a half months now and only brewing since February, Gun Hill Brewery seemed to have just popped up on the local craft beer scene. Although they had been building for about a year, they remained low key with little media attention and hype until they were ready. The first beer manufacturer out of the Bronx in nearly five decades, Gun Hill is introducing craft beer to a community and neighborhood that hasn't had the same exposure to it as many of the other neighborhoods in NYC. They are reaching a new market and creating more craft beer drinkers with their diverse crowds in the tap room. You can find their beers at their brewery during hours open to the public as well as some bars scattered across the five boroughs.

   What could have been more patriotic than spending a couple hours imbibing on brews such as Schuyler's American Wheat? An american style wheat ale named after the wife of a Patriot general during the Revolutionary War who burned her fields of wheat in order to prevent the British Army from harvesting it. Gun Hill's Battle cry is "We hold these truths to be self evident, that not all beer is created equal". They are setting themselves apart by using the freshest ingredients from local New York farmers to craft their beers.  "From our location, to our ingredients, to our logo, Gun Hill Brewing Co. celebrates those who stand for their ideals. So get excited.....Because the revolution is almost here".