The Bushwick-Ridgewood border is about to get evil in the best way, as Copenhagen-born, Brooklyn-based Jeppe Jarnit-Bjergsø’s Evil Twin Brewing is finally opening their taproom and beer garden, located on George Street steps from the Halsey L stop. The opening comes—in typical New York fashion—after several years of delays and anticipation, but the brewery’s taproom will officially be ready for boozing on Wednesday, October 2.
It’s not as though this area has been totally lacking in breweries—there’s Kings County Brewers Collective over by the Jefferson L, Grimms Artisanal Ales and Interboro Spirits and Ales in more industrial East Williamsburg, Brooklyn Brewery in north Williamsburg, and Queens Brewery just a few short blocks away.
But Evil Twin’s decision to put down roots in New York represents more than just a real estate success in a city where that can feel like a miracle. For almost a decade, Jeppe operated Evil Twin as a “nomadic” brewing company, producing his uniquely-named and flavored brews without a dedicated home base. He did this all while running the Greenpoint bar Tørst with his wife Maria, who is also his business partner at Evil Twin. (According to Grub Street, Jeppe has since left Tørst to focus on his brewery.) Now, they have a stable place to both produce and serve their beers.
Though Evil Twin’s first beers had names like “Soft Dookie” and “Cat Piss,” the ones on tap in Ridgewood will be a bit less scatological and a bit more dedicated to the city they call home. Jeppe says their 20 beers on tap will rotate frequently, but some selections served at a recent preview party include Isn’t Brooklyn A Little Sketchy? Why Would You Live There? (a double IPA), Chuck Berry Twister Bodega Smoothie (a sour IPA that’s “like melted purple ice pops”) and Today’s Forecast: Unhealthy Air Quality For Sensitive Groups (a 14% ABV toasted marshmallow stout).
The brewery will also offer some collaborations with local businesses, such as a “root beer beer” sour ale created with Oddfellows Ice Cream.
Though the name might conjure goth-like aesthetics (it’s actually more of a wink to the fact that his estranged twin brother also runs a craft beer company), Evil Twin’s space is more on the light and whimsical side. The main space is a greenhouse-like glass structure filled with string lights, green plants, and communal tables, and the spacious outdoor area offers plenty of benches and yes, more string lights. The actual brewery lies next to the taproom, and has been functional for the past year.
Despite its compatibility with sun, Jeppe says the glassy indoor space will be heated in the colder months, and that they’re even working on “some sort of heating solution” for the outdoor seating area so people can sip on brews inside and out, all year. And for those in a hurry, the beers can be taken away in crowlers or purchased in can form at an adjoining retail store, which also sells merch like T-shirts.
Beer is undeniably the star at Evil Twin, but there will also be food in the form of rotating trucks (the current plan is tacos from La Carcachita Thursday through Sunday, and other offerings the rest of the week) as well as smaller snacks like jerky and chips, plus coffee from Bushwick’s Sey Coffee. And for people who like their beer with an activity, Jeppe says they also plan on hosting some events in the space, like film screenings and DJ nights.
Evil Twin Brewing, opening October 2, is located at 1616 George Street.