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Owners of Drop Off Service to Open Craft Beer Bar in Kips Bay

 "We build bars that are comfortable without being intimidating," said Laura Kynaston, who lives in the East Village with her husband Martin, four children and another child on the way.
"We build bars that are comfortable without being intimidating," said Laura Kynaston, who lives in the East Village with her husband Martin, four children and another child on the way.
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DNAinfo/Heather Holland

KIPS BAY — The owners of the East Village’s Drop Off Service are launching a craft beer bar in Kips Bay this week — complete with a conservatory, fireplace and garden.

The new bar, called Albion, will open at 575 Second Ave. near 32nd Street on Friday and will specialize in craft beer from Europe and America with a rotating lineup of 30 beers on tap, said Martin Kynaston, who owns the bar with his wife Laura.

“This place will open up a whole new world of beer,” Kynaston said. “We decided to open our second place and specialize in craft beer because of our love for beer. We’re beer drinkers.”

The 1,500-square-foot space, which is still under construction, includes a bar in the front room and a garden in the back, but the highlight is the bright conservatory room featuring a glass ceiling, brick fireplace and a large compass painted on the hardwood floor.

“We build bars that are comfortable without being intimidating,” said Laura Kynaston, who lives in the East Village with her husband and four children. She has another child on the way.

“It’s not a fancy place, but it’s not a dive bar either. It’s just a casual and comfortable place to socialize.”

Albion's beer line will likely include more obscure brands, including Denmark’s Evil Twin and Mikkeller breweries and Norway’s Nøgne Ø, as well as a selection of beers from New York and the Midwest, the Kynastons said. Drinks range in price from $6 to $9.

 The highlight of the bar is the bright conservatory room featuring a glass ceiling, brick fireplace and a large compass painted on the hardwood floor.
The highlight of the bar is the bright conservatory room featuring a glass ceiling, brick fireplace and a large compass painted on the hardwood floor.
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DNAinfo/Heather Holland

The couple opened Drop Off Service at 211 Ave. A in 2005, just before the craft beer scene exploded. With the new bar, the pair hopes to cater to a more knowledgeable crowd, Martin Kynaston said.

“We want people who appreciate quality over quantity,” Kynaston said. “Younger people are more discernable about their beer these days.

“Some people can get overwhelmed by the selection, but they can ask us and we'll tell them all about it. We want people to know that beer is approachable for everybody."

The bar will soft-open with only beer, wine and cocktails on Friday, but will eventually begin serving food and coffee as well, Martin Kynaston said.

“Beer is fun — that’s what we find,” he said. “But we want to be part of the neighborhood, not a blight to it.”