Hi, I’m Brooklyn, and I’m a Locaholic
by Cielo LutinoPage 3 of 6
Don’t let this brewery fool you. Just because it’s not as long in the tooth as Brooklyn Brewery, which started in the 1980s, doesn’t mean it’s a babe in the woods: Proprietor Kelly Taylor began his career in San Diego as a brewmaster at the city’s sole brewery in 1991. In fact, much of the staff at Kelso has spent time at breweries on the West Coast, and has a deep understanding of the craft. Taylor, who runs Kelso with his wife Sonya Giacobbe (the brewery derives its name from a combo of their names), believes New York’s scene is about fifteen years behind its more established West Coast counterpart, but thinks economies of scale skew the comparison. “Every day more and more places open that have 10,000 square-foot beer gardens. It’s insane the amount of beer consumption that can happen here in the city,” he said, comparing it to smaller markets out West. Suffice to say, Kelso is doing well, with beers like its nut-brown lager popular among afficionados. Look for the saison it’ll release in May—it’s one Taylor and Giacobbe featured at their wedding, so you know it’s good.
