While I was costume shopping and downing the first of the Christmas beers, Gothamist reported the news that Brooklyn Brewery received a New York state grant that will help it expand, upping its production from 8,000 to 50,000 barrels a year.

This is big news not just for the neighborhood, which will see new business and jobs as a result. It’s great for the beer world because Brooklyn is what I call a major “ambassador brewery” — that is, they introduce many people to good beer because they’re widespread and available in places that don’t serve much craft beer. As with Sierra Nevada and Samuel Adams, it’s good news for anyone that likes beer when these guys do well.