“It was natural to offer a helping hand and foster the communal spirit of the industry,” Thorpe said. Made with an astonishing 200 pounds of hops, the ale is being called “the hoppiest beer” ever brewed at Ommegang but the collaboration is in keeping with the innovative character of the craft brewing community. Ommegang began brewing Barrier Relief Ale on November 28 during a visit from the Barrier team. “Ommegang is a brewery we’ve always been inspired by and have admired and to actually be here on the ground making a beer with them is a really exciting thing.”

Klein contacted Ommegang and the breweries decided to collaborate on a beer.īarrier’s Craig Frymark said the opportunity to work with Ommegang is a positive outcome of the storm. After seeing the devastation wreaked across the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, we’d like to offer our assistance and support to other breweries that may have suffered from the storm.” Sandy caused nearly $100,000 worth of damage to Barrier Brewing, which has been operating at their new location on Long Island’s South Shore for just four months.Īfter the storm, Simon Thorpe, President and CEO of Brewery Ommegang and Duvel Moortgat USA, released this statement to the craft brewing industry, “Brewery Ommegang in Cooperstown, NY, is fortunate to have been undamaged by Hurricane Sandy. “The goal is to be up and running before the year is out.” The company was able to salvage some of its finished beer and currently has limited distribution near Oceanside, NY. We’ve reordered all of the equipment that we need to be operational again,” explained Barrier’s founder, Evan Klein.

Barrier brewing