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The dry aged burger, served on a brioche bun, is popular at Alewife. The bar's interior (to the right) is sleek and welcoming. Best Beer Program Alewife Queens Long Island City, NY of Alewife Queens. Named for an archaic English word for a tavern brewer, Alewife opened last October in Long Island City, Queens, a neighborhood that is rapidly gentrifying thanks to its proximity to Manhattan and a thriving art community. Dillon adds that, "there was a void for a nicer place for food and drinks." Brew-centric Alewife Queens ably fi lls that void with 28 "W e are dedicated to off ering the best brews we can get our hands on and serving food that is as high quality as our beer," says Jennifer Dillon, manager taps featuring a continually rotating selection of hard-to-fi nd kegs from all over the world. Draft is served in 12-, 16- or 20- ounce pours, with prices varying from $5 to as much as $15 for rarities. Recently on tap, for example, were American crafts like Southampton Biere de Mars and Boulder Beer Mojo and Mahrs Ungespundet from Germany. Alewife's bottle list varies from 50 to 75 selections, says changes; noted at the bottom are upcoming casks to be tapped, to whet customers' interest. Staff training on the wide-ranging off erings is extensive, and servers are encouraged to taste unfamiliar beers. Another educational tool is fl ights. Alewife off ers a number of Dillon, depending upon what is available. Bottles skew towards European and foreign selections. Prices run the gamut from $8 up to as much as $52. At any time, the ever-changing collection might include brews from American craft producers Dogfi sh Head or Jolly Pumpkin to Norway's famed Nogne, Schlenkerla from Germany or Belgians like Abbaye de Saint Bon-Chien. Th e beer list is printed out nearly daily, as the selection samplers, depending upon what's on tap. Regulars can also join the 300-member Mug Club, with the aim of drinking their way www.cheersonline.com through 60 drafts and 100 bottles. Th e prize is a 24-ounce mug engraved with the member's name. Of course, Alewife Queens is not just about beer. A dozen well-crafted cocktails (priced $8 to $12) are off ered, including the Alewife 75 and Tamarind Whiskey Sour. "We're a place where a beer geek can take a date who isn't necessarily into beer," quips Dillon. Rounding out the drink off erings are a dozen or so wines ($7 to $14 per glass; around $40 to $50 a bottle), with a pinotage from South Africa and a mencia from Bierzo, Spain. "You can't serve fabulous food and not off er wine," points out Dillon. Alewife Queens off ers a full menu, including entrees such as Berkshire Pork Shank ($27) and Magret Duck ($22) as well as bar plates like a cheese platter ($18) and the popular Jalapeño Mac & Cheese ($13). Guests can also buy into fl ights of appetizers paired with beers. Beer dinners are planned for the future. Th e restaurant is a roomy two-fl oor industrial chic space. Downstairs is a zinc-topped bar, fronted by corrugated metal sheeting; six-tops and larger communal tables are made from railroad ties. Upstairs is a lounge with comfy couches as well as a dining room. Weather permitting there is also back patio. Alewife Queens is part of the beer bar empire—Alewife Baltimore and Lord Hobo in Cambridge, Mass.—both opened in the last two years and owned by Daniel Lanigan, which all follow a similar format of eclectic beer selections balanced by cocktails, wines and bistro-type food. As for the newest sibling, Alewife Queens aims to educate locals in the world of beer. "We want to convert more people into beer geeks," enthuses Dillon, "or at least pique their interest if we can't get them all the way to geekdom." JUNE 2012 | —By Tom Strenk 35