Steve Hindy was a correspondent to the Associated Press, operating in Cairo, when he discovered the wonders of craft beer.  After meeting up with staff members at the US Embassy, Hindy complained about the lack of good beer in Egypt.  That’s when his new found friends let him in on their little secret, they were actually brewing their own beer.  After tasting their wondrous brew, Hindy had a moment.  It was the kind of moment when you realize your life’s calling - BEER!

Hindy moved back to the States and began pondering what it would take to start his own brewery, specializing in craft beers.  Living in Brooklyn, New York, a neighborhood that was once bustling with breweries, inspiration was all around him.  He began brewing beer from his apartment and served his suds to his neighbors.  They enjoyed his concoctions, marveling at the flavors Hindy was able to produce from his own home.

Hindy knew he had a good product, it just needed a great marketing pitch.  He decided to call his beer Brooklyn Beer, banking on the notoriety of the famous New York borough.  His idea was right on.  In its first year, Brooklyn Beer sold a respectable 1,768 cases.  This year, Hindy’s little operation has grown to an eye-opening 800,000 cases.

While mainly sold on the East Coast, Brooklyn Beer is slowly expanding throughout the US and abroad.  This year the craft brew moved into the Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Alabama markets as well as Norway, Switzerland, Britain, Hong Kong, Japan, Finland, Denmark and Sweden.  Apparently, the whole world loves this Wise Guy’s beer!

You know, I’ve been thinking about making a beer of my own …