Five Boroughs Brewing Company - Gridlock Hazy IPA

Pouring a rich golden color that’s well-hazed, and topped with a prominent cap of off-white foam, Gridlock immediately offered up bright, vibrant aromas that drew us in. Look for boldly citric character delivering big notes of orange zest backed by touches of grapefruit juice, hints of melon and ripe stone fruits, and some light tropical and floral tones. On the palate, lots of zesty citrus continues to take center stage with bright, juicy acidity. The malt backbone here is simple with very light caramelization and crackery touches, but quite round and satisfying on the palate, lightly sweet, and easily supportive of the drier hoppy notes which are firmly bitter without crushing us. For pairing options, we’d look to tacos with a fruity salsa, roasted orange & honey chicken, or orange & ginger stir fry with your favorite protein. Cheers!

Founded in 2017 by longtime friends and passionate homebrewers Blake Tomnitz and Kevin O’Donnell, Five Boroughs Brewing Company emerged with a clear mission: to answer the open question of “What is New York beer?” The team set out to build a brewery to bring together New Yorkers from all over the sprawling city. Blake – who had begun brewing in his dorm room back in college – and Kevin set out to unite their city through a shared love of great beer.

After nearly two years of searching and heavy lifting, they settled on a massive, historic steel-tie factory in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, transforming its gritty grandeur – which included 30-foot ceilings, exposed brick, and remnants of old railroad tracks – into a 12,500-square-foot brewery and taproom in the summer of 2017. In that space, Blake, Kevin, and a team of citywide craft-beer devotees set up a state-of-the-art 35-barrel brewhouse, plus the very 15-gallon MoreBeer pilot system that had fueled Blake & Kevin’s homebrewing beginnings. The latter still proudly operates to this day as the pilot system for their new beer ideas.

Five Boroughs quickly grew, with their cans and kegs soon appearing in hundreds of bars across NYC. Then, in November 2023, Five Boroughs embarked on a new chapter under the ownership of Finestkind Brewing – the parent company behind Smuttynose, a New England craft brewing icon founded in 1994. While production largely transitioned to Smuttynose's larger NH facility, the Sunset Park taproom and brewery remains intact as an innovation lab: a space for creative experimentation, community events, and small-batch showcases that keep the brand’s hometown heart beating strong. The brewery currently offers about a half-dozen year-round beers along with several seasonals and limited-run brews. For more info, visit them at fiveboroughs.com.