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Harlem Blue premium craft beer

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LIGHT

THE
WAY

black-owned brewery
black-owned harlem beer

CITY CRAFT BEER

Harlem Blue Beer is defiantly here to say, 'not only "hipsters" like good beer.' There are way more city folks who are here for delicious brews as well. Our city craft beers

appeal to a broader group of people. City people. Our people. Diverse and inclusive, just like Harlem.

We strive to represent Harlem through a premium beer experience, celebrating the hustle and full spectrum of

stories that makes us special.

Our city craft beers are handcrafted to match the unique

diversity of life here in New York City.

Good beer from a good place.

 HARLEM BORN. LOCALLY BREWED. 

harlem blue tap handles
reimagining
FIRST PRINCIPLES

FIRST PRINCIPLES

We like simple.
There are enough things in life that surprise you and are complicated. Making and delivering great beer
to great people should not be hard. 
Everyone associated
with Harlem Blue follows these simple
FIRST PRINCIPLES. 
It's how we do.

best harlem beer in a pint glass
craft beer diversity black-owned business
black-owned brewery fermenters
harlem brownstones stoops african american

Brew
Excellence

Celebrate
Moments

Be
Authentic

Tell Our
Stories

OUR BREWS

OUR BREWS

The inspiration for our brews always starts with our community, drinkability and flavor. Simple. Even when the alchemy to achieve the proper
flavor profiles is more complex. 


We love to hear from our customers your thoughts and feedback on taste and especially how Harlem Blue was part of how you celebrate; whether after completing an odd job around the house, reaching a personal fitness
milestone, or starting a new job, let us know.

It's why we're here.

harlem blue beer 1658 wheat

1658 Ale

​

5.1% ABV       24 IBUs   

For our inaugural beer style, we selected the name 1658 Ale. 1658 is the year Dutch settlers are credited with founding the Village of Haarlem,

and we wanted this beer to reflect

a back-to-basics simpler time.

​

Reflecting a time before hops took over

the beer world,

it is a smooth and full-bodied American Pale Wheat ale, perfectly balanced for taste

and drinking in bunches.

 

We call it our Everyday Ale.

​

Not what you think of a "wheat beer." Gotta try it. It all comes down to the yeast, and ours is really tasty.

harlem blue 6-pack celebrate

Hectic IPA

​

6.2% ABV       63 IBUs   

An old school IPA that pours a rich

amber hue. It has a look-you-in-the-eye

malt flavor, balanced perfectly with

confident American hops, and the end

result is a  full-mouth of

taste with smooth finish.

​

The name Hectic is a nod to author

and columnist, Roi Ottley and his column,

Hectic Harlem, which he wrote for the

historic Harlem-based newspaper,

The Amsterdam News.

​

​

SPEAK EASY

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Celebrate moments and share them with us.

SPEAK EASY
Harlem blue beer blue light harlem prohibition

THE BLUE LIGHT

While researching the history of 20th Century Harlem and its under-recognized craftsmen,

I discovered that renowned gangsters Dutch Schultz and Owney Madden were

not the only local “bootleg”

brewers distributing during Prohibition.

In fact, there was a strong underground of regular Harlemites who

liked to homebrew and served beer to socialize,

from the Renaissance Era and Prohibition, continuing through today. 

​

Notably, the story goes that there was a brownstone speakeasy –for those in the know-

that had a renowned "House Brew."

Whenever a fresh batch was tapped, they'd announce

the same with a blue light out front. That's

brilliantly brazen, and reveals authentic pride.

That blue light notice is what inspired my vision for Harlem Blue premium beer.

Good beer, from a good place!

Such an undaunted “I’m gonna do me” ambition,

followed with boldly and literally illuminating your craftsmanship with a blue light out front,

now that epitomizes OUR Harlem; then and now.  

With Harlem Blue, we seek to recapture this entrepreneurial energy,

without the lawbreaking of course.
 
We are currently brewing our beers locally under contract, with a traditional

co-packing relationship. We pledge to always craft our own recipes

with brewing excellence being our top priority.  Always.

Soon, we will be able to open our TAPROOM and brewery in Harlem.

We will be THE FIRST NEW PRODUCTION BREWERY IN HARLEM

SINCE PROHIBITION, while bringing jobs and the craft back to our community. 

​

All we need is your support.

Drink us. Like us. Support us.

And soon we’ll be the 1st new production brewery in Harlem since Prohibition.

 Always fresh and our best, that’s my pledge.  Harlem Blue is for you.

​

- Julian Riley, Jr., Founder & CEO

THE BLUE LIGHT
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