OUR STORY

Nestled in the heart of the Finger Lakes, Big aLICe Brewing began its journey in January 2013 in Long Island City, Queens. On a humble 10-gallon pilot system, founders Kyle Hurst and Scott Berger brewed bold, experimental batches—flavor-forward beers made from fresh, local and organic ingredients sourced through CSA and food-co-ops. Those early efforts laid the foundation for what we’d come to love: small-batch creativity, community driven beer, and a classic NYC right-in-the-neighborhood spirit.

From Queens we grew—opening taprooms in Long Island City and Brooklyn, connecting with locals, building our community, and always staying true to that experimental edge. Then, in May 2021, we planted our roots in the Finger Lakes region. At our Geneva, NY brew­ery, with its 15-barrel system, dog- and family-friendly taproom, and sweeping grounds, we embraced the laid-back beauty of upstate New York.

Being a licensed New York State Farm Brewery means more than a label. It means partnering with state hop-growers and maltsters, collaborating with local Queens businesses for specialty ingredients like cold brew coffee, donuts, and honey, and always trusting the craft of place. Our beers aren’t just brewed—they’re grounded in community, in the land, and in the spirit of experimentation.

Our name? It’s a nod to our origin in Queens. The massive Ravenswood generator stacks—a landmark of the borough—and the largest of them, nicknamed “Big Allis” in the 1960s, inspired our name and reminds us where we started and how far we’ve come.

As we raise our pints in the Finger Lakes, we’re proud of our journey—from a tiny pilot system in Queens to a full-scale brewery in New York’s most scenic beer country. We’re celebrating every step, including our fourth anniversary, and looking ahead to new beers, new collaborations, and new stories to tell.

WHAT IS A FARM BREWERY?

A New York State Farm Brewery is a special type of brewery license created to promote local agriculture and small-scale brewing. To qualify, breweries must use a significant percentage of New York-grown ingredients in every beer they produce — including malt, hops, and other agricultural products.

For example, today’s requirements mean:

• At least 60% of hops and 60% of all other ingredients (like malted barley, wheat, oats, fruit, or honey) must come from within New York State.

• Those numbers will continue to rise over time, strengthening the connection between brewers and local farms.

But beyond the legal definition, a farm brewery is about community and terroir — showcasing the flavors of New York agriculture and keeping money, creativity, and craft close to home. Farm breweries often collaborate directly with nearby growers, using fresh, seasonal ingredients that reflect the region — from local fruits and herbs to specialty malts and wildflower honey.

At Big aLICe Brewing, our farm brewery license allows us to pour not just our own beer, but also New York-made wine, cider, and spirits — making our taproom a true celebration of the state’s craft beverage community. It’s our way of staying rooted in local soil while continuing to experiment and innovate.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

When we founded Big aLICe Brewing in Long Island City, Queens, we wanted a name that reflected both our neighborhood pride and our bold, creative spirit.

Across the East River, towering over the Queens skyline, stands the massive Ravenswood power plant—a set of three red-and-white smokestacks locals have long nicknamed “Big Allis.” The nickname dates back to the 1960s, when the world’s largest generator was built there by the Allis-Chalmers Company, earning it the title Big Allis.

We loved the grit, scale, and personality behind that name—it felt unmistakably Queens. But we also wanted to make it our own. That’s where the capital letters LIC come in: a nod to Long Island City, our original home and the community that shaped us.

So “Big aLICe” is more than a name—it’s our origin story.
It connects the power and creativity of Queens to the spirit of craft brewing that continues today in our Finger Lakes home. From the industrial heart of the city to the rolling hills of upstate New York, we’re proud to carry a piece of our roots in every pint.