https://www.facebook.com/easternfrontbrewing/

Eastern Front’s front. The parking lot is on the west side.

Since it was a beautiful day, we wanted a place where our rather large party (six adults and two children) could sit outside.  Happily, we discovered that Eastern Front had set out several tables in their yard, nicely screened from Main Road by some bushes.

The building had been a florist, and they still use the greenhouse to grow the many plants which decorate the place.

So while the children read their books, we sipped and chatted and compared notes while enjoying a tasting of the five beers on offer.  I should note that I was recognized as the blogger who had been there before, since they had seen my post on Facebook and remembered my notebook!  We chuckled over that. 

A tasting consists of five little glasses of whichever beers are on tap, for $12, and each couple found sharing one tasting between them was plenty.  You can also buy a pint to drink there or a growler to take home—which we did.  We were planning to barbeque some pork chops from 8 Hands for dinner, so we got a growler of North Shore Red Ale, the consensus favorite, to drink with dinner. 

1.        Miami Weiss     5.4% ABV (Alcohol by Volume)

Our tasting started with a beer I would never plan to drink, since I generally don’t care for wheat beer.  However, I was pleasantly surprised by this one, which tasted more like a pilsner than a wheat beer.  This is a somewhat yeasty, light-bodied beer, easy to drink, with a slight taste of stone fruit.

2.       Anomalous Ale                6.1%

We had a difference of opinion on this one.  Some in our group liked it.  I did not.  It has a—fittingly—anomalous taste, somewhat like petroleum.  I would not think it was an ale.

We sat outside, but inside is also pleasant.

3.       Love Lane Lager               6.4%

Some interesting terms were thrown around as we tasted this one, including “cherries,” “ice cream sundae,” “butter,” and “caramel.”  It is a bit on the sweet side.  Again, we had a difference of opinion in the group, with some liking it more than others.  That, of course, is the fun of going with several people, as you can see how much people’s tastes vary.

4.       North Shore Red Ale       5.9%

On the other hand, we all liked this one, which we were told is one of their most popular brews.  It is toasty, with a pleasantly bitter finish.  The taste reminded me of ales I’ve had in British pubs.  Since we all liked it, we decided to get a growler to take home.  By the way, you can find Eastern Front beer on tap at the Broken Down Valise, across the street from the Mattituck LIRR station.

5.       Autonomous Ale             9.8%

One of our visitors from the north, a wine and beer aficionado, immediately said, “I like it.”  This is a nicely balanced double IPA, with piney rather than citrusy hops, with just the right amount of bitterness.  We joked about hoppiness creating happiness.  Well, it is 9.8% alcohol by volume…

NoFoDoCo is right across the street.

Reasons to visit:  conveniently located on Main Road, just across the street from the NoFoDoCo (North Fork Donut Company, where, if you’re lucky, you may be able to get a chocolate iced donut topped with potato chips) and Love Lane; pretty tasting room, which was once a florist, and is still decorated with some impressive plants; nice outdoor area; the Miami Weiss, the North Shore Red Ale, the Autonomous Ale; you can get a growler to take home; there’s wine if you’re with someone who prefers that to beer.

Wine is available.