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New Trappist-Style Pub Coming to Astoria

By Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska | November 27, 2012 7:57am

QUEENS — Monks aren't usually the the kind of people to inspire boozing — but a new gastropub in Astoria is taking a cue from the monastery at its new beer-centric venture.

Snowdonia, scheduled to open in February 2013, will serve craft beer and food cooked with specialty suds, its owners said.

“We were inspired by the Trappist monks, their concept of frugal living and using what they have available to them,” said one of the owners, Carrie Spiller, who is also a beer enthusiast. “And they are awesome beer brewers.”

The pub won’t actually offer beer brewed by monks, as it is produced in Belgium, the Netherlands and Austria and considered by many to be some of the best in the world. But customers won’t find Budweiser at Snowdonia either.

“It’s about craft beers,” said Spiller. “There are a lot of small local breweries that are really good and offer a lot of flavors.”

Among the beers that Snowdonia plans to serve are “Brew Free! Or Die IPA” made by 21st Amendment Brewery, “Hibernation Ale” produced by Great Divide Brewing Co. and “Hazed and Infused, Dry Hopped Ale” brewed by The Boulder Beer Company, according to the pub’s Facebook page.

But the beer is limited to just the mug.

"Most of the dishes are featuring beer that we’ll have on tap, so you can actually pair it with your meal," Spiller said. "Or you can try something different and get all different flavor combinations."

Spiller said the goal is to "upgrade pub food," though fish and chips will be an important part of their menu, she added.

Snowdonia, which took its name from a mountain range in Wales, is located at 31st Street and 34th Avenue in Astoria.