FEATURES Times Newsweekly Our Neighborhood: The Way It Was • Interesting People • Local History • Events Around Town And More 39 • TIMES, THURSDAY, AUGUST 28, 2014 Brewing Up Something New Glendale Beermaker Builds On Area’s Sudsy History Spinning Around For Good Cause At Carousel Families turned out in droves to the Forest Park Carousel last Friday night, Aug. 22, for the annual “Evening Ride at the Carousel” benefitting the Alzheimer’s Association’s New York Chapter. Proceeds from the benefit will be used to fund the charity’s ongoing efforts to treat and cure the degenerative neurological disease and offer support services to patients and caregivers. The event included unlimited rides on the carousel for contributors, live clown and music performances and treats. (photos: Marcin Zurawicz) story and photo by Kelly Marie Mancuso Nestled at the far end of a cozy, tree-lined street lies the Finback Brewery, an artisanal microbrewery in the heart of Glendale. New Principal For St. Brigid Academy Taught Math Last Three Years by Noah Zuss The St Brigid Catholic Academy in Ridgewood will have a new principal this fall, an educator that grew up in the next borough over, and obtained her masters in the field at Queens College. The incoming principal, Lisa Ross, was born and raised in Queens, mostly in Whitestone and Briarwood. She is entering her third year at the school, having previously taught math to grades five through eight, and has worked in the field since 2001. Located on Grove Street in the Ridgewood section of Brooklyn, the school educates young people from pre-k to the eighth-grade, and is entering its 105th year of operation. Ross told the Times Newsweekly on Tuesday she is excited to jump into her new position, and is looking forward to the school year starting Sept. 3. One of her main goals is to increase enrollment, and bring in more young people from surrounding communities, she said. “I want to make it a great school,” she said. “It’s already very good, but I want to make it great.” Reportedly, current enrollment is around 241. The school is named for the patron saint of the arts, and Co-founders Basil Lee and Kevin Stafford first opened Finback Brewery in January 2014. After searching throughout Brooklyn and Manhattan, their realtor took them to Glendale where, according to Lee, they “fell in love with the space,” and the neighborhood as well. They began by producing three types of beer, but quickly expanded to a larger roster of over 10 different microbrews, each with its own appetizing flavor profile. The large space of the brewery allowed Stafford and Lee the chance to implement a unique barrel-aging program in which beers such as their flavorful “BQE” (Brooklyn Queens Espresso) imperial stout, are blended with unique ingredients like roasted coffee and cocoa, and then aged in bourbon barrels. This process imparts a rich, complex flavor along with added hints of smoke. The spaciousness of the facility also lends itself perfectly to future expansion and experimentation. In addition to their barrel-aged brews, Finback also has space dedicated to the brewing of sour or “funky” beers, such as their popular Saisons, as well as added room to create unique seasonal blends, including their upcoming pumpkin IPA (India Pale Ale) set to debut this fall 2014. When asked about the creative process behind their brews, Lee explained that both he and Stafford are often “inspired by food or combinations of different ingredients.” “We start by brainstorming about an ingredient or flavor,” Lee added, “and then craft the recipe around it. Then, we’ll branch out, adding a touch of spice or smoke.” This personal attention to detail and dedication to crafting new and exciting flavors is part of what sets the Finback label apart from the larger, massproduced brands on the market, it was noted. Another unique aspect of Finback Brewery is its openness and accessibility to the surrounding community. Free tours of the brewery are offered at 3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. These tours offer local residents and beer connoisseurs alike the chance to actually see where and how their beer is produced. It also offers visitors the opportunity to meet and connect directly with the people brewing their beer. This one-to-one experience is yet another way in which Finback Brewery, and other small-batch businesses like it, are revolutionizing and revitalizing local economies with a focus on small, community-based industries and trades. Good company & good brew In May 2014, Finback opened its bright and spacious tasting room to the public. Large, wooden slab picnic tables and benches are available throughout the tasting room for people to gather, chat and play vintage board games. Stafford and Lee opened the tasting Beer enthusiasts gather at Finback Brewery’s tasting room to sample some of the Glendale microbrewery’s beverages, from standard India Pale Ale (IPA) to more exotic featuring flavors from coffee to chocolate. -SEE BREWING ON PG. 67- -SEE PRINCIPAL ON PG. 69-
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