The bar at Alewife NYC in Long Island City. View Full Caption DNAinfo/Ewa Kern-Jedrychowska

LONG ISLAND CITY — Queens beer hall Alewife NYC, a favorite amongst the city's craft beer lovers, is planning to break into the brewing business soon.

Patrick Donagher says he and co-owners Roz Donagher and Daniel Lanigan are applying for the city and state permits needed to turn the bar into a brewpub and start making beer on the premises.

"Hopefully we'll be brewing in the next few months," he said.

Donagher, who has been home brewing for the last few years, said they are planning to convert one of the bar's two kitchens into a brewing space for the Alewife Brew Company.

They would start off with a one-barrel brewing system as a pilot and would serve the beers on tap at Alewife, he said.

But they hope to expand later to a five-barrel system capable of making enough beer to sell and distribute to other bars in the city.

"We're starting small and we'll work our way up," he said.

Donagher is working with Charlie Wildman, a brewmaster who's helping them test different styles and flavors.

"He's one of the best brewers," Donagher said. "He's very adventurous. He's not afraid to try new things and go off style a little."

They plan to produce three or four different brews at a time, including an IPA, a pilsner and wheat beer hybrid and a faison. They'll likely introduce seasonal brews at some point, Donagher said.