This display was at Windy Acres, where we went apple-picking, but it could have been any of a dozen places!
Piled at farmstands, lined in rows in fields, on front porches—pumpkins are everywhere on the North Fork. Magic Fountain ice cream store has not one, not two, but three flavors of pumpkin ice cream. (The pumpkin cheesecake is delicious, and I look forward to trying the pumpkin praline.) So it was not exactly subconscious suggestion that led our visitors to want to try one of the many pumpkin beers on offer at local breweries. Jamesport Farm Brewery was close by, so we decided to pop in and see if we could take home a growler, as we didn’t have time to stay for a tasting.
The band was inside the tent.Many jolly groups were sitting at the picnic tables.
We began to worry that “popping in” would not be on the menu, when we were directed to park in about the fourth row in a field full of cars. And indeed, as we entered, the place was in full Octoberfest mode, with a live and lively band, food trucks, and crowds of people—young, old, couples, families, groups of friends, and lots of dogs—everywhere. Uh-oh.
Lots of pooches.You can see the food trucks off to the side.
Then we spotted two take-out windows, with only a couple of people on line. “Can we get a growler of Basic Witch?” I asked. “No,” but, he added, “we do have Crowlers of it, in the refrigerated case inside.”
What’s a Crowler? A tall 32 ounce can, I soon learned. Crowlers in hand, we paid at the window, listened to the music a little while, and went home.
We enjoyed the beer, a smooth, pleasant ale, which we sipped with some cocktail hour snacks of dill pickle flavor hummus (surprisingly yummy), crackers, cherry tomatoes, and truffle flavored nuts. We agreed that we were not sure what made it a pumpkin beer, but the Jamesport Farm website describes it as, “Easy-drinking, with subtle pumpkin & spice flavors. Malty sweetness with a smooth, sessionable character.” (4.8% ABV) I’d agree.
The Crowler we took home, plus a pumpkin waiting to be carved.
I hope to return in the off-season to do a complete tasting!
Reason to visit on an October weekend: lively Octoberfest scene, dogs welcome.
The front entrance of Eastern Front is on Main Road, but they also have a parking lot off to one side.
We were in a celebratory mood, because dear friends had come for a visit. One of them is a beer aficionado, so we decided it was time to return to Eastern Front Brewery, which we had last been to in 2019. When we arrived, we discovered that they were also in celebration mode, hosting the opening of an artist’s exhibit. Lindsay Lange, the artist, had set out huge bowls of chips, and, she confessed, been “up all night baking” some of the best chocolate chip cookies I’ve had. Woohoo!
The table at which we sat.
We settled down at a table and proceeded to make steep inroads in a bowl of potato chips while we tasted our flights of beer. By the way, one flight is more than enough for two people to share, and we didn’t even finish all of ours.
Eastern Front’s flight consists of five beers, two of which are regulars, and the other three vary according to season and the whims of the brew master. A flight only costs $12.
We’ve already made some inroads on that bowl!
The tasting room is small, though it is augmented by some outdoor tables, and tends to be noisy, even with not many people there. They often host live music, so I would go there for music only if I could sit outside, since I tend not to like places that are too noisy.
The art exhibit
They don’t usually have free chips available, but they do allow outside food, and I discussed with our server various options. Right across the street is Meats Meat barbeque (only open Thursday-Sunday), and in the comments you’ll find my recommendation on which beer to sip with their ribs, pulled pork, and/or brisket. Then, literally across the parking lot, is Lucia, which says it serves “Spanish” cuisine; which, we were informed, is mainly Salvadoran, with the pupusas being heartily recommended. Just a few doors down is a pizzeria—so no lack of good food-to-go-with-beer options.
Our flight–from right to left…
Fat Old Sun American Lager 5.5% ABV (Alcohol by Volume)
My first comment is that it “smells like a frat house,” and my friend has a similar reaction. This is a crisp, light beer, which she characterizes as “an immature beer for immature people.” Well, to each his own.
Some of the beers are available in cans.
Bob’s Pale Ale 5.8%
This is one of the “regulars,” a rather typical pale ale, with a touch of sweetness to counteract some spiciness, and a funky, grainy taste. We think it would go well with a Meats Meat pulled pork sandwich, especially if you add in their hot sauce.
Yummy treats.
Love Lane Lager 5.8%
I’m sorry to note that this is not a regular, since it is our favorite so far. My friend says to her it seems more like an English brown ale than like a lager. It is balanced, with a touch of nuttiness and sweetness, and very drinkable. I fantasize sitting in a pub and sipping this, and that seems just right. It is also the best choice to go with Meats Meat, especially the brisket (which we had the last time these friends visited us).
North Shore Irish Red Ale 6.3%
Ooh, I like this one even better, and so does my friend. It is another regular, always on tap. I may have to stop in and get a growler of it one of these days. It is nicely bitter, with subtly piney hops.
Belgian Strong Ale 9.5%
“This is good,” I assert after the first sip, and my friend notes that it is a very “me” beer. She adds that it has all the flavor of a heavy beer without the heaviness. It is complex, with notes of clove and brown sugar. Yummy.
The artist!
Reasons to visit: good brewery with a changing roster of beers; you can bring in food, including from some very local places; dogs are allowed; they often have live music and art exhibitions; the Love Lane Lager, the North Shore Irish Red Ale, and the Belgian Strong Ale.
Your GPS says, “You have arrived,” but as you look around you are thinking, “Where?” Never fear, you are near. Just turn off the road you are on into what looks like an alley, and a few yards down the road you will see the sign for Übergeek Brewery. In a past life, this warehouse-looking building was home to Moustache Brewing Company, and apparently nothing has been changed on the outside, except for the sign, and the only change on the inside is the painting of a large and rather geeky mural. Yes, they take the geek theme seriously.
The taps look exactly the same as the taps when this was Moustache.
We entered on this President’s Day weekend with our guests to find the small room fairly full, with what seemed to be mainly locals, enjoying pints and chats with friends, or playing a board game from the selection on a shelf off to one side. We managed to find seats—uncomfortable metal stools—for our group of six at a long table, and sent a delegation to the bar to find out if they had flights. Though there were plenty of signs on the walls—describing the beers, giving notice of upcoming events of various sorts—nothing said anything about flights. However, the sole server came over to tell us that yes, they do flights, four of any of their ten beers for $13. So we discussed our options with each other, and decided to get two flights, careful not to overlap, so we could sample eight of their brews. The server then gave us little cards on which to write our selections.
The stools were rather uncomfortable, but no one else seemed to mind.
In addition to beer, they have a few snacks for sale, and a cooler with juices and such, so we got apple and cranberry juice for the youngsters in our party (who had already discovered the arcade machine in one corner) and ordered a pretzel. We think the server forgot the pretzel, because we had to remind him of it when we were almost done with our tasting. In recompense, he brought us two pretzels (with some honey mustard) and a bag of chips. Nice.
As we sipped and compared notes, we found ourselves often thinking of food pairings—maybe we were just hungry for that pretzel, or maybe these are just beers that demand food. The names of the brews are…creative. No idea if they have anything to do with the beers themselves! Maybe they name the beers the way the Surrealists titled their paintings, at random.
This flight includes the peanut butter porter, the dark beer on the right.
Rockets Don’t Fuel Themselves Pilsner, 4.1% ABV (alcohol by volume)
This is a very light, almost watery beer. To me, it’s a beer to chug at a ballpark, after a salty hot dog, but one friend says he likes these crisp, refreshing beers.
All the things, all the time Amber lager, 4.5%
I like this one better than the pilsner, as it had a nice well-rounded toasty taste. One friend proposes it would go well with tacos. Yes, I can see that.
The mural enforces the geek idea.
Now we’re just making stuff up Cold IPA, 5.6%
Fresh cut grass under pine trees, I say, as I take a sniff. This is a refreshing, piney but not too piney, IPA. Good with barbeque, suggests the hungry member of the party.
Yes, that’s a very blue beer there, not a glass of ink!
Blue beer, don’t care Blue raspberry soured, 5.2%
Well, at least this name makes some sense, as this beer is VERY blue. Very. Although I am not a fan of sour beers, this one is at least potable, though I find it sets my teeth on edge. It does have a bit of sweetness that balances the sour. One friend imagines a hot day at the beach, and adding a squeeze of lemon to this. Meh.
I never asked to be here Winter lager, 6.5%
If you were at a party and didn’t want to pay attention to the beer, but just drink one that’s easy to drink, this would be my choice, says one guest. I could see this as a generally acceptable beer—and I’m not damning with faint praise, as it is quite pleasant to drink, with a slight citrus note.
You call that a calculator? Doppelbock, 7.5%
This was my favorite so far, a good sit-in-a-pub-and-sip beer. It’s not too heavy, but does have texture and classic bock flavor.
All these quarters, still no dollars Peanut Butter Porter, 6.5%
Don’t get this one if you’re allergic to peanuts, as it is actually brewed with that legume. This is the only really dark beer of our flights, and I like it, but less than I thought I would. It tastes and smells strongly of coffee, with some umami nuttiness and an aftertaste of, yes, peanut butter.
Only when we suffer can we be great Marzen lager, 5%
No suffering necessary when drinking this brew, as it is a light, slightly fruity lager, very easy to drink.
Clearly, geeks like to learn!
Reasons to visit: casual, relaxed brewery, with easy to drink beers; dogs allowed; you call that a calculator? and now we’re just making stuff up (the two beers we bought in cans to bring home); they also had warm hard cider and some wines available; lots of events, including “Geek Talks,” Stand-up Night, and live music.
It was hot, hot, hot, and we’d spent the morning on the beach, so a cold beer sounded a lot more appealing than a glass of wine, even a crisp white or chilled rosé. In addition, our guests had brought their dog with them, limiting the number of wineries that would welcome us all, so a brewery seemed like the best idea. We knew Greenport was dog friendly, so off we went.
My list.
At the bar, each couple picked five beers from the extensive list, and, without planning to, we only overlapped on one, so we got to try a panoply of brews. I asked our server where we could sit with the dog, and she gestured all around and said, “Anywhere you like.” I asked, because there weren’t any free tables in the main room, and it was too hot to sit outside. So we settled ourselves in the side room. Feeling a touch peckish, we added fish dip and freshly made fried potato chips to our order. The chips were crisp and tasty, and the dip reminded me of one I’ve made with smoked bluefish and mayonnaise, perfect with the beers.
Yummy snack.
We were more than halfway through our flights when a different worker came over and, very apologetically, told us that we’d have to take the dog into the other room. A health department violation! Oh my. There still were not any good four-person tables, but they quickly wheeled in a nice big table and added chairs for us, so no problemo. At the end, our guests decided to prolong the experience with a glass of Dog Adoption. For $12, they could have gotten a keepsake glass and Greenport Harbor would donate $4 to Unicef for Ukraine.
Our doggie guest felt comfortable enough to demand a tummy rub.
By the way, there is no attempt to tell you in which order to taste your flight. You give the server your list of choices, and they put them into the whale-shaped carrier in the order in which you listed them. However, it is best if you try to order them from lightest to heaviest, since a light beer’s taste will evanesce if you have it following a porter.
Our two flights. Note the PINK beer in the background.
My notes are rather sketchy, since we were enjoying our conversations on other matters, but I would say overall I was a bit disappointed with this particular array of beers. They mostly seemed aimed at easy summer drinking, which I suppose is appropriate, but, while refreshing, they were a bit short on interest.
Summer Ale
This is our only overlap, so we tasted it in tandem. I pronounced it refreshing, while one guest opined that it had a “faint dishwater aftertaste.” Not being in the habit of sipping dishwater, I can’t verify that judgment, but I would categorize that flavor as reminiscent of mineral water.
Haus Pilsener
This had a fuller taste than the Summer Ale. It reminded me of beers I had on tap in Prague, and I could see drinking it with a hearty serving of sausages.
Dog Adoption
Greenport Harbor really does sponsor a dog adoption service, hence the name of this beer. Since our visiting dog was adopted from a shelter, it seemed appropriate to include this beer in our tasting. I’m not a big fan of grapefruity IPAs, which is what this one was.
Evil Duck
The cloudy, unfiltered appearance of this one sparked a conversation about whether or not unfiltered beers were healthier. The jury is out. Words we used to describe this are sour, fruity, like a green apple or bosc pear…not so evil.
Claudio’s Pirate Lager
Ho ho ho. Better than Bud, opined one of us, but not by much. So much for pirates.
Black Duck Porter
This is a fixture in the panoply of Greenport Harbor brews, and one I like. It is a stout-y dark brew, with some chocolatey tastes. Good sipping in a pub stout.
The Hot Sauce
I asked the server about this before I added it to my list, and she said, in a cautionary tone, “It’s hot.” It does have an aftertaste of chilies and lemon, and smells a little bit like hot peppers, but it is not super spicy. It may give one a bit of heartburn. I would say, drink this with something bland, like simple hamburgers.
Maibock
This is my favorite of the day, in that it has lots of taste for a fairly light beer. Again, a good summer sipper.
Up in the Mix
Ever have a pink beer? Me neither—until this one. One guest dubbed it “candy beer,” and “like a kid’s drink.” I guess it is a beer for someone who doesn’t like to drink beer, but somehow found themselves dragooned into a visit to a brewery.
Reasons to Visit: dogs are allowed; lots of choices and a changing menu all the time; Haus Pilsener and Black Duck Porter; freshly made potato chips and fish dip (plus they have a more extensive menu of food than many places).
The beer garden is relatively new–or at least, I had not noticed it before.
Yes, they grow their own hops and barley on their farm in Jamesport, and they are quite proud of it, too. The farm connection is also evident in the actual tasting room building, which was originally a potato barn. You can read all about the construction in big posters on one wall of the tasting room, which provided a welcome distraction for the small visitors we had with us.
Once again, we thought carefully about where to take these visitors, who are lovers of wine, beer, cider, and cocktails—which makes finding a place to go easy—and the parents of two young girls—which complicates matters, though in a good way. We decided on Jamesport for several reasons: it is a short drive from our home; it is a large facility where the girls would be able to be up out of their seats; it is informal, so no one would object to small fry (though the tasting room does not welcome under-21s on weekends); and our guests had never been there. Also, we ourselves had only been there once, not long after they opened, and we were interested to see how they were doing.
As it turned out, this was a good choice in every way. We pushed two of the little picnic tables in the tasting room together, so the girls could sit comfortably and read their books, and we enjoyed tasting the brews. (We bought soda and chips for the little ones.) The tasting room is big, with a stage for live performance on one side, picnic tables, a bar with bar stools, and a little shop area selling t-shirts and such. The menu has fourteen brews on offer, which I guess may change seasonally, so there was plenty of variety. The four adults shared two flights, of four beers each, so we may go back and try the ones we missed. A flight, by the way, is $25, and includes not just the four tastes, but also a pint of any brew in a glass you get to keep.
On this rainy, chilly day, there were only a few other people in the tasting room, though we were told that they’ve been getting good crowds on the weekends, when they have live music. They have plenty of room outside, with a huge beer garden space, and a very large parking lot, which I wish they would pave, as it was quite muddy.
The parking lot was very muddy!Our little girl guests were charmed by this well-behaved Australian shepherd.
At the end, we bought a growler of Wined Out to take home, which proved to be the perfect accompaniment to the tacos we bought at Mattitaco. (I particularly recommend the BLT–bacon, lobster taco–the Korean BBQ, the Chicken Tinga, and the mushroom and cheese quesadilla.) My growler, by the way, was from Greenport Harbor, for which I apologized to Joe, the friendly and informative server. “That’s okay,” he replied with a smile, “we’re all friends out here.”
Nite Lite 4.3% ABV (Alcohol by volume—a number which can vary widely for brews)
“Light lager” is the description of this brew, and light it is—only a step up from Bud light. It is a hot-summer-day-after-mowing-the-lawn beer, almost watery, with slight citrus and bread notes.
Prancing Pony 5%
As Lord of the Rings fans, we of course had to try this, even though it is a blackberry wheat beer, and I generally dislike wheat beers and berry-based beers. However, I find this quite potable, not sweet, crisp, with just a touch of blackberry flavor— “enough to make a Hobbit smile,” says the menu. We agree it would be a good accompaniment to Thai food.
Weekend at Bernie’s 5.4%
I like the sweet aroma of this blond ale. It drinks like a classic blond ale, tasty, with a long finish. Good for sipping by the pool 😉
Waves of Grain Amber 6%
We all like the distinct, malty, toasty taste of this amber/red ale, with just a nice amount of hops.
Wined Out Fresh Hop 6.5%.
This is my favorite so far, an IPA that is not overly grapefruity. It is made from fresh hops, and is quite refreshing. We discuss that it would go well with, for example, a vinegary pulled pork, and decide it will be perfect to take home for the Mattitaco take-out we have planned for dinner. Which it is.
Wicked Little Sister 7.2%
There are two little sisters at our table, and one approves in theory while the other approves in actuality of this IPA. It is pleasantly bitter, with plenty of grapefruit and other citrus tastes. In fact, our visitors like it so much, they buy a four-pack of cans to take home.
Gentleman Joe Porter 6.8%
We save the dark beers for last, since drinking them first would make it hard to taste the lighter brews. I generally like dark beers, and this one has a promising aroma of coffee and chocolate. However, I find it has too much coffee flavor for me. I joke that if you have a glass of Wicked Little Sister and another of this, you’ll have breakfast—grapefruit juice and coffee.
The Kurgan 10%
I should have asked why name this Scotch ale for a character from “The Highlander,” other than the movie is about Scots. The menu describes it as “the Scottish version of an English-style barley wine.” I say it is almost too easy to drink, with some sweetness and caramel flavor. It is really delicious, and I could definitely see sipping it in a cozy pub.
I forgot to take a picture of my pint before it was mostly gone–but it was a full glass!
Now it is time to return our trays of tastes, in exchange for which we each get a pint of our choice. I decide on Wined Out, and our guests opt for Waves of Grain. At the end, Joe very kindly rinses out our glasses and wraps them in paper towels for us to take home.
Additional options. They could improve their soda and snack selections.
Reasons to visit: good brewery, with choices for all tastes in beer; big facility, especially in the warm weather; farm to table; dogs allowed; they will have a food truck starting in March, but no outside food is allowed; wines and sodas available; Weekend at Bernie’s, Waves of Grain, Wined Out, Wicked Little Sister, The Kurgan, and, if you like wheat berry beer, the Prancing Pony.
Plenty of room outside at Greenport Harbor Brewing.
This beautiful, warm, sunny October weather is making up for all those rainy days we had in July. It was such a nice day, that we decided to do our daily walk in Greenport, check out the shops, see what’s new. The on-street dining areas have been cleared away, which we think is too bad, as really, who needs to drive down Front Street? We noted that Sweet Indulgences is closing. I hope that whoever comes into that space maintains the pretty little front garden there. Quite a few places were closed, as shops tend to close Tuesdays and Wednesdays after the season is over, but there were plenty of people strolling around. Gradually, some of the funky off-beat “antique” shops are being replaced with boutiques, but so far no national chain stores.
After our walk, we headed home, but the warm weather had worked up a thirst, so we decided to stop at Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s Peconic location to see what new brews they have. Since we were there not long ago, I’m not going into detail about the experience. We chose our beers and took the $15 flight outside to a picnic table on the capacious lawn, which we shared with maybe three other small groups. We had more beer than we actually wanted to finish, but we enjoyed them all.
The flight looks pretty in the sun.
Cuvaison 7.5% ABV
Not sure where the name came from, but my guess it is some sort of play on the wine term cuvee, since this is “Saison” made with “local merlot juice from McCall Vineyard.” It has a lovely slight cherry flavor as well as some typical beer bitterness. We liked it, but also felt it was a good beer for a non-beer-drinker.
Leaf Pile Ale 5.2% ABV
Of course, they have an entry in the October mania for all things pumpkin. This is called a pumpkin ale, but is not overly spiced, with a bit of nutmeg taste. Refreshing. It would go great with pork chops and apple sauce.
Well Rested 11.2% ABV
Brews like this are a reason I like Greenport Harbor Brewing so much. This is described as a milk stout, “aged in Heaven Hill Bourbon Barrels,” and it is quite unusual. It has umami, and an almost malted mouth feel. I also taste fudge, with a touch of bitterness. I could definitely see sipping this in a cozy pub, maybe with a dish of shepherd’s pie. My tasting buddy thinks it is a bit “overpowering.”
Otherside IPA 6.8% ABV
This smells like a combination of pine woods and fresh-cut grass, and tastes piney and lemony.
Black Duck Porter 5.0%ABV
This is one of my favorites of their brews, and never disappoints. Recently, we had dinner at the North Fork Roadhouse, and got a glass of this and one of Guinness, and actually decided we liked this better. It is dark but not too heavy, with some coffee flavor and aroma.
Reasons to visit: What I’ve written about before, plus they are always trying new flavors (like Cuvaison and Well Rested) and their brews are good.
The logo represents a barn swallow, which has several symbolic meanings.
After the fourth or fifth dog entered, owner in tow, our son-in-law turned to us and said, “I feel as though we should have brought a dog with us.” We had arrived at the North Fork Brewing Company tasting room around lunch time, and almost every person who entered seemed to have a sweet, well-behaved dog with them. (I stopped counting when I got to six!) The room is well adapted to canine visitors, since the brewery is located in a former fire station, with concrete floors and an industrial vibe. Many of the visitors were having a glass of beer and a sandwich, from the food truck outside, while others, like us, had opted for a tasting.
The last time we went to North Fork was exactly a year ago, and that time, too, it was with our daughter, son-in-law, and two granddaughters after a couple of hours at the Safari Play Space in Riverhead. The girls settled in with coloring books and books, and split a root beer (which W. said went very well with her orange lollipop from Safari), while we tasted and discussed. We decided that the beers had improved over the year. The last time we felt that while we appreciated the creative choices they were making, there was also no beer we wanted to just sit and drink. In contrast, this time there were several we could see getting in a growler, and in fact our son-in-law took home a growler of “It Must Have Been Light, But It’s Darker Now.”
A flight is four glasses of your choice from a list of eleven beers on tap for $9, and comes in a little muffin tin. You write your choices on a little card, and they are put in the pan in number order, with the numbers on the bottom of each spot.
The number in the bottom of the muffin tin which holds your tastes.
After a little while, we got sandwiches from the food truck, which had a limited menu because, we heard the person in it explain, they had not expected to be open this day. Our daughter is lactose intolerant, so she was delighted to try the vegan cheese and pesto sandwich, which was very tasty ($10). My husband and I shared a grilled cheese sandwich, which was a rather ordinary offering of grilled cheddar on white ($6). The brewery also sells bags of North Fork potato chips for $3.
In between sips, I chatted with the server, who explained that the logo represents a barn swallow. The barn swallow symbolizes their commitment to be a farm brewery—they grow many of their own hops—and also was a tattoo sailors would get to symbolize their home-coming.
It Must Have Been Light, But It’s Darker Now 5% Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
This is a dark beer for someone who is making the transition from being a light beer drinker to darker beers. It is dark in color, with a caramel aroma, pleasantly bitter, with a refreshing, complex flavor, lighter than most dark beers. A German bock style, our son-in-law says it compares favorably with bocks he’s had in Germany.
The flight I shared with my tasting buddy.
Change (In the House of Hops) 9%
Change indeed. This IPA smells and tastes like mandarin oranges. My daughter and I agree on what to drink it with—I say a po’boy sandwich and she says a basket of fried clams.
They have their own food truck, called the North Fork Chewing Company, parked right outside the tasting room.
Dark Side of Maple 6%
I have liked porters ever since I first tasted one in an English pub many years ago, but I think this one is a bit too sweet. Another of our group says it is “a good porter.” I think it needs more body. You can definitely smell and taste the maple syrup used in making it.
The menu is sometimes more extensive, but they hadn’t expected to be open on a Monday. I suppose they forgot it was a holiday.
Gaffer’s Hearth 9%
On the other hand, I really like this stout, which is also brewed with maple, plus North Fork Roasting Company coffee. It had a delicious coffee flavor and aroma, with just the right amount of bitterness. Our son-in-law describes it as a “breakfast stout,” and reminisces about a place he went to when he was in college that would serve at breakfast a glass of stout with an egg beaten into it. Really? Much discussion ensues over whether that is a good idea or not.
The other flight our group had. You can see how cloudy Run the Juice is.
Hold Me Closer Tiny Lager 5%
I’m at the end of my flight, but our daughter and son-in-law have a couple of different choices in their flight, and this is one of them. This is a light, fizzy, German pilsner. Refreshing, but not to be sipped on its own.
Run the Juice 4%
Like many IPAs, this smells and tastes like grapefruit, though this one also has a touch of funkiness. It is cloudy in color. Refreshing.
You can peek into the brewery itself.
Reasons to visit: you want to go out for a beer and not leave your dog at home alone; all the beers, but especially It Must Have Been Light, But It’s Darker Now; Gaffer’s Hearth; Hold Me Closer; they have their own food truck; convenient to downtown Riverhead. Note: Google map directions are not accurate! They tell you you have arrived when you are actually around the corner from the parking lot.
We’ve never seen the parking lot this empty. And look–blue sky!
After what seemed like forty days and nights of rain, the sun made a brief appearance on Wednesday, so we took advantage of the pleasant weather to get out of the house. We took our friends to the Riverhead Aquarium, where it was actually nice enough to sit outside and watch the sea lion show and wander around to see the playful otters and penguins, as well as the other exhibits inside. We all stood mesmerized at the shark tank as those giants glided past the windows, and tried to pick out each variety of colorful fish in the coral reef tank. The butterfly room felt like a brief visit to the tropics.
After a couple of hours, our feet were tired and our mouths were dry, so we headed to Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s Peconic location (the original place in Greenport has limited hours in the winter, like much of the rest of the town). It was the least crowded we’ve ever seen, with only a few people in the tasting room. Usually, you have to go into the room off to the side to order food, but today the man behind the bar was filling all orders, so we ordered a giant pretzel. They actually have real food, but we were planning to go out for an early dinner, so we didn’t want to eat too much. We did, however, end up getting a second pretzel!
At the bar you are presented with a printed list of the available beers, and you simply circle your five choices, which are then handed to you in the form of small glasses set into a wooden carrier shaped like a whale/Long Island (their logo). There’s plenty of beer for two people to share. Our friend chose some of the same beers we did, but also some different ones, so we were able to try eight beers in all. Our designated driver was happy with a Boylan Black Cherry Soda (made with real cane sugar).
Soda for the designated driver.
We took our flights to a table looking out at the yard, enjoying the sunny day.
This room was also empty.
Vapor Kisses 5% ABV (alcohol by volume)
This is described on the menu as a “smoked Helles Lager,” and indeed it does have a slight aroma and taste of smoke. It is a refreshing, post-lawn-mowing-on-a-hot-day type of beer. Light and crisp.
The flight I chose. You drink them in order, from light to dark.
Respect to Process 6%
“Unfiltered pale ale with Galaxy and Citra,” reads the menu for this one, but I think it could just as well have said “grapefruit juice,” which is what it smells and tastes like. I’m glad it was my friend’s choice rather than mine, since I don’t care for this type of beer.
Far Out There Series 4 7%
I guess the “far out there” refers to the very hoppy quality of this IPA. Although I sometimes don’t like hoppy IPAs, I don’t mind this one, which just begs for a snappy hot dog accompaniment. It has some bitter lemon taste, but also warm grain taste.
The Hot Sauce IPA 6%
No, the name does not refer to what you should drink this with, but what it is made with: Thai Bird chili peppers! My friend compares it to biting into a jalapeno, and opines that she would rather cook with it than drink it. For example, she continues, you could braise chicken in it and then use that to stuff enchiladas. I think it is fun to drink, and would be good with nachos that were more cheesy than spicy.
Our friend’s choices.
Otherside IPA 8%
I’ve had this before, and find it pleasantly piney, dry and crisp.
OG Double Otherside 1%
As the name suggests, this is a more intense version of the Otherside IPA (whose name refers to the fact that the hops come from the West Coast). I taste grapefruit pith as well as pine. Preferences are so personal—My friend likes it and I do not! Happily, it is also from her flight, as one sip is plenty for me.
Inner Glow 8%
Although I’m not sure I agree with the menu’s description of this as “decadent,” I can certainly taste the coffee mixed with golden stout. However, they also say cocoa is involved, and I don’t taste that at all. This is a sit-in-a-pub and sip stout, and goes down easily. The coffee flavor is not super intense.
Fork and Beans 5%
On the other hand, this has robust espresso coffee flavor, and is made with NoFoRoCo coffee. It has an aroma of roasting coffee as well. You could have a glass of this and a glass of the Respect to Process and call it breakfast, I joke—coffee and grapefruit juice. It is tasty, but our friend thinks it could have more body to it. True, it is not a real heavy stout. Our friend says she likes a brewery where there are a couple of reliably good beers you can get any time, and I tell her the Harbor Ale and Black Duck Porter, both often available in local markets, are both good choices.
I like the art they commissioned for their labels.
Reasons to visit: lots of good beers; a roomy space (formerly a car dealership) which nonetheless can be very full on busy days; of the ones I tried today, my favorites were the Hot Sauce IPA (definitely not for everyone), the Inner Glow Stout, and the Fork & Beans Stout; big, hot, soft pretzels served with cheddar sauce and mustard; a menu of “real” foods if you want lunch.
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.
Certain beverages just seem to go with certain seasons, like icy lemonade and cold beer in the summer. It was a beautiful sunny day on the North Fork, so we decided it was definitely beer weather, and furthermore that it was time to return to Greenport Harbor. They have two locations: the original small place on a back street in Greenport, and a huge space in Peconic, with a large restaurant area and outdoor lawn. Since we wanted a bite to eat, we opted for the Peconic facility.
A remodeled car dealer, the tasting room has a definite industrial vibe, with exposed beams and a concrete floor. Simple wooden tables and benches provide seating. The restaurant area is a separate room off to one side. Usually, you go in there to order food, but on this day a sign instructed you to order at the bar in the tasting room. At the bar, we carefully perused the beers on offer, aiming to try varieties we hadn’t had the last time we were there. We wrote down our choices on a piece of paper, and asked the server to please organize the glasses in the order in which we should taste them. Then we gave him our food order—a giant pretzel—and, after filling our tasting glasses, he handed me a device which emitted a loud buzz and flashed lights when the food was ready to be picked up.
Hot pretzel with melted cheese. Yum.
When you order a glass or a tasting, you surrender your credit card, which you get back when you return your glasses. A tasting consists of five generous pours for $12.
The beer menu changes seasonally, so you never know what to expect.
Our server was quite busy when we placed our order, as a large group had gathered on the lawn outside and individual members kept coming in to make orders. In addition, it was lunch time, and we saw a number of people quietly having lunch and a beer. However, when we were ready to leave and I went to pick up the credit card, the room was quiet, so I was able to chat with him about the names of the beers—a subject that always fascinates me.
If you want to take some beer home, you can buy bottles, cans, or growlers.
Because we were aiming to try new flavors, we skipped my favorite of their beers: The Black Duck Porter. I highly recommend it if you like dark Guinness-like beers.
Our tasting, plus the paper where we wrote down our choices. Make sure you ask for the order in which to drink them.
1. 1927 Pilsner 5% ABV (Alcohol by volume)
This was one name our server couldn’t explain, but he thought it might have been named for a restaurant which had requested this particular brew. (The menu says “brewed exclusively for The Paramount”.) In any event, the date is appropriate, because my reaction was this is a “good old-fashioned-beer beer.” My tasting pal said, “Nothing jumps out in your mouth,” which sounded to me like something to be grateful for. In any event, it’s a mellow, rather monochromatic, malty beer.
2.Summer Ale 5% ABV
Good name for this light ale, which I described as a “beer on the beach” type. Also not an exciting beer, this is an easy to drink quaff, refreshing, with a touch of sweetness.
There’s a gift counter where you can buy t-shirts, etc.
3.Velvet Sea 5% ABV
The server described this as “between a lager and an ale,” and clearly it is designed to go down smoothly—which might explain the name. It smells hoppy and has some citrus taste, but not too much. I said it was pleasant but not OMG. I could see this with a hot dog and fries at a barbeque.
You can buy t-shirts like this in the little store area.
4.Locals to Locals #14 7.2% ABV
They call this a “Hazzzy IPA.” Whatever that means, this is a beer that smells like a Christmas tree and has a pleasantly piney taste, with a touch of cardamom. We both like this the best of the brews so far. It has enough taste to be interesting, but not so much that we can’t enjoy drinking it. We also like the concept behind the name, which is that local breweries and retail outlets and restaurants band together to promote local beers and the places to drink and buy them.
Note the taps. Greenport Harbor makes use of the fact that Long Island is shaped somewhat like a whale.
5.Face Value 8% ABV
Like grapefruit juice? Then you may love this beer. I like grapefruit juice, but I prefer that my beer not taste like it. This one tastes like a slightly sweetened grapefruit juice, just less acidic than most. My husband, however, really likes it. The menu describes it as an “Imperial IPA brewed in collaboration with Barrier Brewing Company,” in Oceanside. One of the brewers used to work for Barrier, the server told us, and that also explains the name. Barrier likes to use money references for its beers, with names like “Legal Tender” and “Claim the Vault.”
As we discuss the beers we drank and what we did and did not like, our server pours us a tiny taste of a beer he says we must try: Maine Coarse. It’s an IPA brewed with sea salt, key limes, and lactose. It’s certainly interesting, and shockingly salty. This is a beer that you have to drink with food—maybe something like fried chicken—so that the saltiness would complement the food and not overwhelm your taste buds.
Reasons to visit: a brewery with lots of interesting options plus a restaurant with some unusual dishes as well as what you’d expect; the Black Duck Porter and Harbor Ale, though we didn’t drink them today; Summer Ale, Velvet Sea, Locals to Locals #14; you can bring your dog, though not into the restaurant area; sometimes they have music; they always feature displays of art from local artists in both venues.
NoFo Wineaux 