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Leah Smith

Leah Smith

11 May 2026

Junior’s and Other Half Brewing launch cheesecake-inspired craft beer collaboration

Junior’s and Other Half Brewing launch cheesecake-inspired craft beer collaboration

Two iconic Brooklyn brands are joining forces in a limited-edition product collaboration that blends classic New York desserts with craft beer innovation.


Junior's Restaurant and Bakery and Other Half Brewing have unveiled a four-beer line-up inspired by some of Junior’s most recognisable dessert flavours, marking a new crossover between the bakery and beverage categories.


Launching in May, the collaborative range includes dessert-inspired IPAs, stouts, and cream ales designed to capture the flavour profiles of iconic New York treats while appealing to consumers seeking experiential, flavour-forward craft beverages.


The limited-release collection includes:


  • Strawberry Dream Imperial IPA (8.5% ABV), a hazy oat cream IPA inspired by Junior’s Strawberry Cheesecake

  • Key Lime Cheesecake Sour IPA (6.5% ABV), brewed with lime-forward hops, graham crackers, milk sugar and oats

  • Egg Cream Milk Stout (6.0% ABV), made with Fox’s U-Bet syrup to replicate the flavour of a classic New York egg cream

  • Black and White Cream Ale (4.8% ABV), brewed with cacao nibs and vanilla to evoke the city’s iconic black-and-white cookie


The collaboration reflects a broader trend in craft beer toward dessert-inspired formulations and cross-category partnerships that tap into nostalgia, regional identity and indulgent flavour profiles.


For Junior’s, the partnership represents a new extension of its brand into alcoholic beverages while reinforcing its longstanding New York heritage positioning.


Founded in 1950 in downtown Brooklyn, Junior’s has built a national reputation around its New York-style cheesecake and classic diner menu.


Alan Rosen, owner of Junior's, said: “I have always wanted to expand our brand into the alcohol business. What better way to achieve this than by partnering our legendary desserts with an up-and-coming Brooklyn-based legend?”


Other Half Brewing, established in Brooklyn in 2014, has become known for its hazy New England-style IPAs and experimental brewing approach. The brewery has since expanded to eight locations across New York, Philadelphia and Washington, DC, with broader East Coast retail distribution and e-commerce shipping capabilities.


The collaborative beers will be available in cans and on draft at all Other Half Brewing locations and Junior’s New York restaurants beginning 7 May. The products will also roll out through select East Coast retail partners and will be available for shipment to consumers in 33 states through Other Half Brewing’s online store.

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