After ten years and countless brews, Finback Brewery has officially deepened their Queens roots with a brand new taproom in Long Island City.
The space itself spans 3,800-square-feet with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking 41st Avenue.
The airy main taproom, complete with light-stained woods, brick, and textured walls in rich colors, seats 99 people, while the back of the space houses a production zone, boasting a close-up view of the brewing area.
Finback was started by Basil Lee and Kevin Stafford ten years ago, quickly building a following for their hazy IPAs and barrel-aged stouts.
But this new taproom showcases even more than that–”mixed-culture beers highlighting New York State fruits and other local ingredients will be the focus, with agriculture-driven sour and wild ales conditioned in an array of wooden foeders, ceramic amphora, and more unique fermentation vessels on the premises,” reads a press release.
Stafford, who helms the brewing duties, stated:
We have always brewed a wide range of styles, and certainly hazy IPAs have been dominating, but it’s exciting to have a space dedicated to making wild and mixed-ferm beers. Each of our spaces has a different creative perspective and lets us focus on different techniques. I’m excited to…craft a line of fruit-forward fermentations and fun creations that involve coaxing out all kinds of different flavors.
Twenty rotating taps feature both new and beloved beers, along with a broader cocktail program (including non alcoholic options), rotating menus of small-batch natural wines and mezcals, and even slushy drinks! Plus the taproom is also planning to offer drip coffee, cold brew, and matcha lattes in the coming weeks.
Beyond the brews, the taproom is also home to Dumpling Up, a restaurant serving Chinese street food run by Lee’s mother.
“Long Island City is a really vibrant community that’s diverse, creative, and is undergoing rapid development as a mixed-use neighborhood,” says Lee. “It’s the perfect place for us to explore our more wild and unique beers and the concept of ‘time as an ingredient.’”
The Finback Brewery taproom is located at 29-37 41st Avenue, on the ground floor of the premier rental tower Sven at Queens Plaza. It’s open Monday & Tuesday 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., Wednesday 12 p.m. to 11 p.m., Thursday 12 p.m. to 12 a.m., Friday & Saturday 12 p.m. to 1 a.m., and Sunday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m.