OCTOBER 2020 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 55
MAIN DISH
1940S BREWING COMPANY KEGS OF NOSTALGIA
BY BERNIE KILKELLY
Evoking the golden age of brewing
when beer sales boomed after Prohibition
was repealed and Brooklyn-brewed
Rheingold was a top-seller is 1940s
Brewing Company in Holbrook, which
is expanding to meet demand.
One of Long Island’s fastest-growing
craft breweries, 1940s was founded by
Charlie Becker and named as a tribute
to his father, Walter Becker, who graduated
from the U.S. Brewers’ Academy
in 1940 before joining Liebmann’s
Brewery in Bushwick, where he brewed
Rheingold until it closed in 1976.
“I grew up as a Yankees fan,” says Charlie,
whose great-grandfather was also a
brewer, “but Rheingold was our beer even
though it was the official beer of the Mets.”
After retiring a decade ago, Charlie
continued his family’s brewing tradition
at home with his daughter, then
joined a homebrew club, where he
connected with Jon Brengel, who’s
been 1940s’ head brewer since the two
launched the company in 2014.
“We hit it off and made some great beers
together,” said Becker. “It has been a
terrific partnership.”
After raising more than $16,000 on
Kickstarter, they set up shop in a
4,000-square-foot industrial space.
Last month they celebrated their fourth
anniversary. The partners now plan to
expand production.
“We purchased a new 10-barrel brewing
system to replace our old 5-barrel
system,” says Becker, “and with the
addition of new fermenters, our total
production capacity will more than
double to 85 barrels.”
The beer lineup at 1940s reflects
Becker’s German heritage, with
offerings such as Hefie Injustice,
a hefeweizen, Bohemia Blonde,
and 1940s Lager, the brewery’s
take on an old-school lager like
Rheingold.
IPAs are also well represented, including
three New England-style hazy
IPAs — Just Tap it In, Wicked Chowdah,
and In Bloom — while dark-beer lovers
will appreciate Snap Crackle Porter and
two sinfully good stouts, Sinners Mass,
and Imperial Confession.
Popular summer seasonal beers include
Signal 8, a summer wheat beer, and
Sapphire Squeeze Blueberry Ale, which
is one of the brewery’s biggest sellers.
In October, the brewery will have its
popular fall seasonal beers on tap,
including Effen Pumpkin ale and Gute
Zeiten — German for good times — a
L. to R.: Jon Brengel and
Charlie Becker.
traditional German-style Märzen beer.
And with all that German heritage running
through its beers, 1940s makes for
an ideal place to say “Prost” (cheers) this
Oktoberfest.
1940s Brewing Company is located at
1337 Lincoln Ave. in Holbrook. For more
info visit 1940sbrewingcompany.com.
Bernie Kilkelly is the editor and publisher
of LIBeerGuide.com.
LOOKING
TO SELL YOUR
HOUSE?
We Buy Houses! Divorce? Death of a Loved One?
Unemployed due to COVD 19, No luck selling on
your own or with a realtor? No CO? NO PROBLEM !!!!
Closing within 30 days!
No worry about commissions. Repairs and other
uncertainties? Hoarder Home? ANY CONDITION!
Call me Today to get CASH in your
hand!!!! We also buy antiques from 1
item to entire contents!!!!
A n t i q u e & E s t a t e B u ye r s
516- 974- 6528
Do you have a
Special Occasion?
Custom Designs
at Competitive Pricing
for 30 Years
Call for an appointment
917-447-7417
Designs By Shahin
2 locations
34 east 67 Street, #5F, NYC
& Roslyn, Long Island
/LONGISLANDPRESS.COM
/1940sbrewingcompany.com
/LIBeerGuide.com