Long Islanders Vote for Beer of the Year

Winners to be Announced at Golden Tap Awards Gala on May 19


BAY SHORE, NY. (April 21, 2011) - The Golden Tap Awards Gala, one of the premiere events of Long Island's first Craft Beer Week, will be held at the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts in Bay Shore, NY on May 19, 2011. Awards will be given in a number of "people's choice" categories, including Long Island Beer of the Year. Public voting begins on Thursday, April 21, 2011 at www.LongIslandCraftBeerWeek.com and will end at midnight on Thursday, May 12, 2011. Winners will remain confidential until publicly revealed at the awards gala.

Golden Taps will be awarded to winners in all aspects of the craft beer industry including people's choice for Best Beer Bar, Best New York State Brewery, Best Long Island Brew Pub, Best Long Island New Beer of the Year 2010, and the highest people's choice honor, Long Island Beer of the Year. In a separate poll, industry players will vote on Best Brewery Sales Rep.

The B.E.E.R (Brewers East End Revival) homebrew club will be presenting the first award of the evening to the winners of the 2011 homebrew competition. The L.I.B.M.E. (Long Island Beer and Malt Enthusiasts) homebrew club, sponsors of the Golden Tap Awards Gala, will present The Beer Pioneer Award to Long Island's Blue Point Brewing Company. "We are very honored to be selected for this great honor," said Mark Burford, co-owner of the Blue Point Brewing Company.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Hap Boening, current president of local beer wholesaler, Boening Brothers, Inc. Hap joined the growing family-owned and operated business back in 1950 and, with the exception of 1952 and 1953 when he served in the Korean War, has spearheaded the expansion and growth of the Boening Brothers, Inc. distribution empire.

The emcee for the evening's festivities is Long Island funny man, comedian, Mr. Dan Wilson, best known for his appearances on MTV, A&E, HBO, ESPN and Lifetime. Presenters for the evening include representatives from the beer industry as well as local business owners.

A limited number of tickets will be available for sale to the general public. Tickets include admission to the semi-formal gala, beer sampling, and light fare provided by eatery Milk & Sugar. Tickets can be purchased through the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts box office located at 37 West Main Street in Bay Shore or via their website. Tickets are $55. This is a 21+ event. Funds raised will support Long Island Craft Beer Week (LICBW) and its charity partners. LICBW is a 501(c)3 entity.

Long Island Craft Beer Week will launch next month, May 13-22, 2011 with special events planned for both Nassau and Suffolk counties. The 10-day, island-wide event is a collaborative venture created to raise awareness of the thriving local craft beer culture and promote patronage at local establishments. www.LongIslandCraftBeerWeek.com.

Contact:
Lynda Calimano, VP Media
Starfish Junction Productions
631-940-7290
LyndaC@StarfishJunction.com

First Ever Long Island Craft Beer Week Set to Launch

BAY SHORE, NY. (April 18, 2011) - The first ever Long Island Craft Beer Week will launch next month, May 13-22, 2011 with special events planned for both Nassau and Suffolk counties. The 10-day, island-wide event is a collaborative venture created to raise awareness of the thriving local craft beer culture and promote patronage at local establishments.

The Brewers Association, the trade association for U.S. brewing companies, reports that in 2010 the U.S. craft brewing industry saw volume increase 11 percent and retail sales dollars increase 12 percent over 2009. "Craft brewers' stories resonate with Americans who are choosing small, independent companies making delicious beers in more than 100 different styles," said Paul Gatza, director, Brewers Association.

Uniting local breweries, restaurants, retailers, bars, and business partners with beer enthusiasts, the first Long Island Craft Beer Week will be a celebration of beer, the making of beer, and the enjoyment of beer. Long Island's first Craft Beer Week will be filled with entertaining and educational beer events-including:
· The Golden Tap Awards Gala honoring Long Island's beer makers, innovators and pioneers held at the Boulton Center for the Performing Arts (Bay Shore).

· Breakfast with the Brewers at Carlyle on the Green (Farmingdale). Sponsored by ExecuLeaders and www.LongIslandBeerEvents.com.

· Golf Tournament & Beer Dinner (Wading River) featuringthe beers of Long Ireland Beer Company.

· SimulCask-the simultaneous tapping of beer casks at locations across Long Island, among them T.J. Finley's (Bay Shore), Bobbique (Patchogue), Great South Bay Brewery (Bay Shore), The Good Life (Massapequa Park), The Cortland (Bay Shore), and the Tap and Barrel (Smithtown), .

· Long Island Craft Beer & Casino Cruise Night aboard the Opus Casino Cruise Lines (Freeport). Sponsored by The Good Life.

· Cask Festival which will feature 10 casks from local and regional breweries. Hosted by T.J. Finley's (Bay Shore).

· Super Neat Peanut Butter and Jelly Time at The Cortland-adventurous beer enthusiasts can try a homebrew of PB&J beer paired with Uncrustables® from Smucker's® while raising funds for Little Shelter Animal Rescue.

· East Coast v. West Coast IPA Challenge hosted by Left Coast Kitchen and Cocktails (Merrick).

Meet the brewer nights, beer dinners, brewery tours, cooking classes, beer tastings and more will be hosted by participating breweries, bars, retailers and restaurant owners across the Island. The ever-growing list of events can be viewed at www.LongIslandCraftBeerWeek.com.

Different levels of sponsorship are available to venues who wish to host events during this celebration. Sponsorship includes featured advertising in the special pull out guide being prepared and distributed by Long Island Press as well as on the event website www.LongIslandCraftBeerWeek.com. Official Long Island Craft Beer Week sponsors include: WBAB 102.3, Long Island Press, The New York State Brewers Association, L.I.M.B.E. (Long Island Malt and Beer Enthusiasts) Homebrew Club, and www.LIBeerEvents.com, Long Island's local beer calendar.

Long Island Craft Beer Week is a non-profit organization overseen by an executive board comprised of brewery owners, distributors, restaurateurs, retailers, event marketers. The executive board will oversee the distribution of net proceeds to both local and national charities.

Contact:
Lynda Calimano, VP Media
Starfish Junction Productions
631-940-7290
LyndaC@StarfishJunction.com