Chicago vs. NYC in terms of breweries

Discussion in 'Great Lakes' started by adamgnoth, Nov 13, 2013.

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  1. adamgnoth

    adamgnoth Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2012 Colorado

    Has this been a topic before? I always wonder to myself why it seems that Chicago has way more craft breweries in the city than NYC. I live in Chicago so it's possible someone from NYC could quickly make a very long list of breweries operating within the 5 boroughs that I just don't know about.

    Without even trying I can quickly come up with at least 10 Chicago breweries and really all I ever hear about from NYC is Brooklyn Brewery and Sixpoint. I'm not looking to create a battle of which is better, because we all know it's Chicago. More over, I'd just like to know why Chicago seems to be harboring more breweries? better taxes? more open space? more alcohol friendly city? midwest is just full of drunks?
     
    #1 adamgnoth, Nov 13, 2013
  2. lowbit

    lowbit Initiate (0) Jul 24, 2013 Wisconsin

    Proximity to Wisconsin. :wink:
     
    #2 lowbit, Nov 13, 2013
  3. nickMB

    nickMB Savant (1,130) Nov 17, 2009 Illinois
    Trader

    from beeradvocate it looks like 13 vs 25 (or really 23 if you combine the gooses:
    versus


    But your assessment is all perception based, how many of those chicago breweries are in new york, I'm guessing 2 or maybe 3 (finch, revolution, goose). How many NYC beers are in chicago, 2. Chicago I think has more of a food/booze culture where NYC seems to have more of an art/music culture amongst its under 40 crowd. Both cultures arent mutually exclusive and there is obvious cross-over, but those slight leans might make up the difference. It also appears NYC has more of a concentration on cocktails then craft beer in any of the restaurants I've ever been in from brooklyn to the bronx. Give it a year and it'll change.
     
    #3 nickMB, Nov 13, 2013
  4. Stinger80OH

    Stinger80OH Initiate (0) Nov 11, 2011 Ohio

    Actually, Finch's nor Revolution are in NYC. So just the Goose.
     
    #4 Stinger80OH, Nov 13, 2013
  5. Davidsoul

    Davidsoul Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2013 New York

    It's not technically in the New York City limits, but Peekskill is the one you guys want to look out for. Not bottling any time soon, however.
     
    #5 Davidsoul, Nov 13, 2013
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  6. adamgnoth

    adamgnoth Initiate (0) Apr 2, 2012 Colorado

    You got the inside tip on where to go in manhatten and brooklyn for awesome craft beers? I'm heading there the weekend before Christmas and will be staying near times square (yes, I'll be a weekend tourist.....doh!) I'm planning on hitting up Brooklyn Brewery as I went last year and it was a blast. I also know about Gingerman and Tiger bars.
     
    #6 adamgnoth, Nov 14, 2013
  7. Summer78

    Summer78 Zealot (592) Jan 18, 2013 Illinois
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    torst is supposed to be great. i plan on going on my next visit.

    as far as why there are more in chicago, i can think of one reason: economics. the cost of space it takes for a comparable size brewery has got to be significantly higher in nyc. breweries arent exactly a high margin business to begin with.
     
    #7 Summer78, Nov 14, 2013
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  8. Davidsoul

    Davidsoul Initiate (0) Jan 8, 2013 New York

    go check out the mid-atlantic board. people ask all the time so there are tons of threads on the subject.
     
    #8 Davidsoul, Nov 14, 2013
  9. Summer78

    Summer78 Zealot (592) Jan 18, 2013 Illinois
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    according to loopnet: asking prices in $/sf/year of industrial space for nyc: 8.75 vs chicago: 6.50, or about 35% higher.
     
    #9 Summer78, Nov 14, 2013
  10. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    There used to be many regional breweries in the Bushwick(Sp) part of Brooklyn. Those are all closed, real estate value was a part.
     
    #10 hopfenunmaltz, Nov 14, 2013
  11. mychalg9

    mychalg9 Pooh-Bah (2,123) Apr 8, 2010 Illinois
    Pooh-Bah

    Four years ago (maybe less even...) I kept wondering why Chicago had hardly any breweries compared to the rest of the country. Glad to see things have changed, as I'm sure they will in other major cities that seem to be "behind" the rest of the country.
     
    #11 mychalg9, Nov 14, 2013
  12. schteve

    schteve Pundit (884) Sep 10, 2003 New Jersey

    If NYC is going to include Peekskill, then the Chicago radius would get much larger. Peekskill is in the Hudson Valley. Doable, but not really the same. By that standard Chicago would be able to include Two Brothers and anything inside that circle.

    That said, there are a couple of newer 5 boroughs places that didn't show up, like Bridge and Tunnel and Singlecut, while a couple that are on the list are contract/marketing fronts.
     
    #12 schteve, Nov 15, 2013
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