Jamesport Farm Brewery: Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Everywhere!

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with Basic Witch, beer tasting, dogs welcome, food trucks, Jamesport Farm Brewery, live music, North Fork, Octoberfest, pumpkin beer October 22, 2025

October 18, 2025

*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.

*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.

*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.

Warm Welcome on a Cold Rainy Night: The Clam Bar

Posted by nofowineaux in Distillery, Restaurant visit and tagged with Alize Brewing, art, beer tasting, Caesar salad, chicken fingers, fishandchips, food, House Boat, Lager, lobster, North Fork, onion rings, photography, poetry, Porter, short ribs, Sunset, The Clam Bar, Tradewinds, travel February 21, 2025

February 16, 2025

*The main dining room. I didn’t photograph the bar, but there are tables in there, too.*

We are deep into winter on the North Fork. The farmstands sport signs saying, “See you in the spring,” the snow fences are strung across the fields, and some restaurants and shops are taking a winter break. However, a relatively new place in Mattituck is very much open. The Clam Bar, filling a space previously used by several other restaurants, welcomed our family group, which included two youngsters, warmly, and did a great job accommodating our various needs.

Why is a wine and beer blog commenting on a restaurant? Because it is affiliated with Alize Brewing, featuring their beer on tap. Plus, we hadn’t ventured out in quite a while. Also, it takes a lot to lure us away from our warm fireside when the weather is so…yucky, to use the technical term.

*The beer list: they didn’t have all the ones listed here, but they did have some others.*

Speaking of fireside, a crackling fire in a fireplace was the first thing we noticed, as we entered through the bar area, before proceeding into the dining room. We’ve been in this room during previous iterations, and the décor seems pretty much the same, rustic and somewhat maritime-y.

However, the food was an improvement. We shared a special of bacon-wrapped scallops in maple syrup, which everyone agreed was yummy. I had another special of short ribs with mashed potatoes and baby carrots ($34), and my tasting buddy had the fish and chips ($24). Others had the whole steamed lobster with corn and tater tots ($39)—the latter replaced by sweet potato fries for one member of the group who can’t have onion—a huge Caesar salad ($13), crisp onion rings ($7), and chicken fingers from the children’s menu ($12). The chicken fingers looked freshly made, not those commercial pre-formed ones I’ve seen other places. We were all happy with our choices, including our beverages.

True to its affiliation with a brew pub, Clam Bar offers a flight of its beers, which my husband and I opted to share. Our guests liked them so much that they ordered a glass of one of them to go with their lobsters.

*Fish and chips–properly crispy and fresh-tasting.*

*I liked that they listed the price on the menu, since so many places say “market price.”*

*Very tender short ribs, from the special Valentine’s Day menu.*

The grown-ups were too full for dessert, but the little ones shared a huge dessert featuring a chocolate brownie or cake and a pile of whipped cream. My husband and I took home enough leftovers for dinner the following night.

(One comment on the menu—someone needs to go through it and eliminate all the excess apostrophes!)

*Our flight–there were other choices, so I guess we’ll have to return to check them out!*

As to the beers (four tastes of the Tradewinds beers for $12):

House Boat

This is an IPA, with lots of mango, pineapple, and other tropical tastes and aromas. (6.5% ABV)

Porter

Lighter than a Guinness, this is nevertheless very satisfying, with deep tastes of chocolate and coffee. (5,9% ABV)

Sunset

Very hoppy, with a piney taste and smell. Ever been in a pine forest and wish you could drink it? Then order the Sunset!

Lager

This is a classic lager, your good basic beer, and what our guests ordered to drink with their lobster dinners.

I finished the porter and lager with my dinner, and my tasting buddy was happy with the House Boat and Sunset.

Reasons to visit: classic brew pub with what we decided was a “straightforward” menu, with something for everyone; good beers on tap. The staff was gracious and accommodating. I could see sitting at the bar with a glass of lager and a dozen clams and being very happy.

Eastern Front Brewery: Celebration Time

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with beer tasting, Belgian Strong Ale, Bob's Pale Ale, Eastern Front Brewing Company, Fat Old Sun American Lager, Love Lane Lager, Lucia's, Meatsmeat, North Fork, North Shore Irish Red Ale June 8, 2023

June 3, 2023

*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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Übergeek Brewery: You Have Arrived

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with all the things all the time, All these quarters still no dollar, beer tasting, blue beer don't care, dogs allowed, I never asked to be here, juices, North Fork, now we're just making stuff up, only when we suffer can we be great, pretzels, Riverhead, rockets don't fuel themselves, snacks, you call that a calculator? February 23, 2023

www.Ubergeekbrewing.com

February 19, 2023

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.

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.

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.

Jamesport Farm Brewery: Really a Farm; Really a Brewery

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with beer tasting, dogs allowed, food truck in the summer, Gentleman Joe Porter, Jamesport Farm Brewery, Nite Lite, no outside snacks, North Fork, Prancing Pony, The Kurgan, Waves of GRain, Weekend at Bernie's, Wicked Little Sister, Wined Out Fresh Hop March 1, 2022

February 25, 2022

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.

*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.

*Next time I go, I need to ask what this is!*

Greenport Harbor Brewing Company: An Impromptu Stop

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with beer tasting, Black Duck Porter, brewery, Cuvaison, dogs allowed outside, food available, Greenport Harbor Brewing Company, Leaf Pile Ale, North Fork, North Fork Roadhouse, Otherside IPA, Well Rested October 23, 2021

October 20, 2021

*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.

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.

North Fork Brewing Company: Who Let the Dogs Out? February 17, 2020

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with beer tasting, brewery, Change (In the House of Hops), Dark Side of Maple, dogs allowed, food truck, Gaffer's Hearth, Hold Me Closer Tiny Lager, It Must Have Been Light But Now It's Dark, North Fork, North Fork Brewing Company, Run the Juice February 20, 2020

https://www.northforkbrewingco.com/

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.

Greenport Harbor Brewery: Summer Sippers June 14, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with 1927 Pilsner, alcohol by volume, Barrier Brewing Company, beer tasting, Black Duck Porter, dogs allowed outside, Face Value, food available, giant pretzel, Greenport Harbor Brewery, Harbor Ale, Locals to Locals #14, Maine Coarse, North Fork, Summer Ale, Velvet Sea June 16, 2019

https://greenportharborbrewing.com/

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.

Fido can come with you , but has to stay outside.

North Fork Brewing Company: Newbie Joins the Riverhead Clan February 17, 2019

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with ABV, Basement Pipe, beer tasting, Bill's Hyper Local Forecast, craft beer, Crooked Ladder, Dark Side of Maple, Dough'nt Stout Me Now, Hop Contagion, IPA, Iron Pier, Long Ireland, Mattitaco, Moustache, North Fork Brewing Company, Perabell, Pierce the Ale, Riverhead, Run the Juice, South Bend Shovel Slayer, Stick Bandit, Take for Ever February 20, 2019

North Fork Brewing Company: Newbie Joins the Riverhead Clan

This was formerly a fire house.

The Mattitaco truck outside the brewery.

https://www.northforkbrewingco.com/

Just a couple of blocks off Main Street in Riverhead, in a former fire house, we found the newest member of the Riverhead craft beer scene, North Fork Brewing Company, joining Crooked Ladder, Moustache, and Long Ireland. We went there with our daughter and son-in-law, who are both beer lovers, and our two granddaughters, who sampled the home-made root beer for us. The junior members of our group rated the root beer as very good, with a nice licorice flavor, not too spicy, and “goes well with a grape lollypop.”

With four of us, we were able to sample all eleven brews currently on tap. If we had not just had lunch at Perabell (I recommend the thin-crust pizza.), we could have gotten tacos from a Mattitaco truck parked just outside the firehouse doors. They also sell North Fork potato chips.

This back area was roped off, but I assume they use it when the space becomes crowded.

The space is medium sized, and subscribes to the frequent brewery esthetic of industrial chic. I’ve noticed that many wineries evoke the rural scene around them, being housed in former barns or buildings that suggest farm structures, while breweries tend to be more factory-like, using repurposed car dealerships or firehouses or other industrial spaces. Not sure why that is, and of course it’s not true of them all.

Note the taps made from re-purposed firehouse lockers.

The very helpful and accommodating server explained to us that a flight consists of any four of their brews for $8. She handed out little cards on which we wrote down our choices. The four little glasses were carefully placed in a carrying tray with numbers corresponding to the number on the card of each choice. She noted that if we had trouble choosing, we could get a sip of the beers before deciding on our flight. However, with a little coordination, we realized that we could easily try all eleven. We gave up on a strict order of tastes, and there was no offer to suggest a succession, but we did generally try to go from lighter to heavier. (We overheard a server note that they carry Bridge Lane red and white blend wines, for those who would prefer not to drink a beer.)

Overall, we agreed that the beers were interesting and quite varied, though we didn’t like any one enough to take home a growler. Our son-in-law summed it up by noting that this was a good place to come to try lots of experimental beers, but most were too “in your face” to want a full glass to sip with a meal or on its own.

We have gotten take-out from Mattitaco several times, and liked every variety we’ve sampled so far.

Sticky Bandit IPA 6.9% ABV (alcohol by volume)

The brewery prides itself on acknowledging its North Fork roots, including literally, in that they have a farm where they grow much of their hops. This is a fresh, nicely hoppy IPA, with lots of grapefruit flavor. I could definitely see having this with one of Mattitaco’s fish tacos, like the seared tuna one on offer from the truck.

Run the Juice IPA 6.1% ABV

This tastes like a joint, said one of us (anonymously). It does have some vegetal notes, plus the grapefruit one expects in an IPA, in this case more like the pith than the fruit.

Pierce the Ale IPA 6.8% ABV

My daughter likes this the best so far of the IPAs, and said it would be refreshing on a hot day. I said it was like a better version of a Budweiser beer, easy to drink. This would also go well with a fish taco.

South Bend Shovel Slayer IPA 6.8% ABV

Some day I’ll have to come back and stand at the bar for my tastes so I can ask how they came up with some of these names. This is a piney rather than a grapefruity IPA, and my daughter liked this one as well.

Basement Pipe Belgian Dubbel 8.2% ABV

When we were in Belgium, I became very fond of the dubbel style of beer, which tends to be rich, with caramel and raisin flavors. I also like Raisin Bran cereal, which the taste of this reminded me of. Very good and refreshing. If I were to get a glass of a North Fork beer, this would be one contestant.

Take for Ever Sour 6.2% ABV

On the other hand, if I were given a glass of this, I would say thanks but no thanks. This is a dark, heavy sour beer, brewed with cherries, and tastes both sour and sweet. Last fall, I went to a brewery upstate that specialized in sour beers, and I never dumped so many tastes before. I say bleh, but, in a perfect illustration of how subjective and individual taste is, this is my son-in-law’s favorite.

Hop Contagion Imperial 8.25% ABV

Contagion indeed. This is very hoppy, and more bitter than I like, though balanced with some creaminess.

Dark Side of Maple Porter 6% ABV

My daughter and I both like this one, which reminds me of the glasses of bitter I have had in many English pubs. It is a bit on the light side for a porter. My daughter says she could see enjoying this with a serving of Shepherd’s pie, and I agree. Or maybe with the Mattitaco Ruben taco, made with corned beef.

Bill’s Hyper Local Forecast 5.9% ABV

I didn’t ask about this name, but I assume it refers to News 12’s tag line (this cable-company-sponsored channel specializes in Long Island news, traffic, and weather). The brewery characterizes this as a “winter warmer,” and it evokes a pumpkin ale, with tastes of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. A bit too much cinnamon, though not bad in a small dose.

They kept the firehouse doors, though you enter through a small door on the side. I wonder if they open these in the summer.

Dough’nt Stout Me Now Imperial Milk Stout 9.3%

I knew right away that I had to try this one, as it is made “in collaboration with North Fork Doughnut Company,” one of my favorite new businesses in Mattituck. I also tend to like stouts. This has rich chocolate tastes, and though my son-in-law characterizes it as “too sweet for a pint,” I wouldn’t mind sipping it in a pub, perhaps with an order of chips (a.k.a. French fries). We are so inspired by our discussion of the North Fork Doughnut Company that our guests stop there on the way home to pick up some doughnuts for breakfast the next day. One granddaughter, a Girl Scout, is delighted to get a Samoa doughnut, and the other is pleased to have snagged “the last chocolate doughnut!” Alas, they were out of the maple-glazed bacon flavor.

A Samoa doughnut from the North Fork Doughnut Company. Yum.

Iron Pier Porter 5.4% ABV

My husband and I just recently drove over to Iron Pier beach, on the Sound, within the bounds of Riverhead (so our Southold parking stickers are not valid there), and thought it seemed very nice, with a good-sized parking lot and a little playground. This porter is made with coconut milk, and though I often like porters, this was not a favorite. It has a slight metallic taste, which I likened to licking metal, perhaps the source of the name.

Reasons to visit: you’re making the rounds of the Riverhead breweries; you like to try a wide variety of styles and experimental tastes of beer; the Mattitaco truck; the Pierce the Ale, Basement Pipe, Dark Side of Maple, and Dough’nt Stout Me Now (though, for some people the choices might be quite different!); a pleasant place with generous pours.

Moustache Brewing Company: October and Fest October 20, 2018

Posted by nofowineaux in Brewery and tagged with beer tasting, children allowed, Crooked Ladder, dogs allowed, Everyman's Porter, Long Beard, Long Ireland, Milk & Honey, Moustache Brewing Company, North Fork, outside food allowed, Riverhead, Sailor Mouth IPA, Slow Claps pale ale October 22, 2018

http://www.moustachebrewing.com/home

We liked the coasters.

Riverhead has become something of a mecca for craft beer, with at least five brewing companies as I write this: Crooked Ladder, Long Beard, Long Ireland, North Fork, and the subject of today’s blog, Moustache Brewing Company. I haven’t been to Long Beard and North Fork yet, and it’s been awhile since I’ve been to the others. Part of the problem is that they tend to keep limited hours, opening late in the afternoon and not opening during the week.

Many of the breweries have limited hours during the week.

However, in the spirit of Oktoberfest, we decided to brave the crowds of cars headed east on this partly sunny Saturday and check out Moustache, which we hadn’t visited since January 2016. Then, the tasting room was an alcove between huge tanks of brewing beer, with a short bar and limited table space. Now they have opened an actual tasting room, with a long bar and communal tables, located on the same hard-to-find industrial back street of Riverhead. Thank goodness for Google maps, or we’d still be wandering around.

That is the rather nondescript entrance to the tasting room on a nondescript back street in Riverhead.

We were quickly greeted by one of the two bearded men behind the bar (there’s also a woman, who does not have a beard), prompting me to ask if a moustache was a prerequisite for employment. Nope. He cheerily informed us that a tasting consisted of four five-ounce pours, took and held our credit card, and gave us two blue tickets for our second round of drinks. What was this tasting going to cost us? There was nary a sign. What would a glass or growler cost? No idea. They should post a price list. At the end our bill was $9.01 for our shared tasting. Why the one cent? With some embarrassment he confessed that they had tried to make the price something that would include tax and come out even, and had miscalculated.

The menu is posted high on the wall.

They also have boxes of Bridge Lane wines.

Meanwhile, we studied the menu, trying to decide what to get, and looked around the fairly full room. It was quite noisy. As we left we noted a limo and a multi-cycle waiting outside, so maybe part of the noise was because we had happened on two parties. By the way, they allow dogs, children, and outside food. According to the website they sell North Fork potato chips, but I saw nothing about that at the bar.

Beards are not required, but it seemed as though they were.

Our server told us that their signature beers were the porter and the brown ale, so we decided to start with those. There was no indication, either in print or from our server, in what order to drink the beers, even when we asked.

The Everyman’s Porter and the Milk & Honey brown ale.

Everyman’s Porter 4.5% ABV (alcohol by volume)

This dark brown quaff has a lovely aroma of grains. It is light for a porter and easy to drink, with a pleasant bitterness but no depth. I could see sipping this in a pub along with an order of steak and kidney pie, hold the kidneys.

Milk & Honey 6%

A slightly lighter brown than the porter, this tastes quite different. It has a faintly vegetal aroma and the taste has a touch of sweetness and what my husband describes as “cold metallic.” Nice carbonation. This would be fine to drink on its own, or with a hot dog with spicy mustard.

Sailor Mouth 6.5%

There are several IPAs on the menu, so we asked for descriptions of them. I tend not to like extremely hoppy IPAs, thus we settled on this one. As I recall, two years ago when we asked for the origin of the name, Lauri Spitz, the co-owner with her husband Matthew, told us that it was named for her and her, shall we say, command of the language. In any case, this is a good summer beer. It smells of Christmas trees and citrus, and the taste is also somewhat piney and not very fruity, though we also detect tastes of pineapple and grapefruit. It’s not really a beer you’d want to sip on its own, but it would go great with barbequed pulled pork.

Note the structure of the bar: There is a raised lip a few inches in from the edge, which, we speculated, might lead to spilled beer with some regularity.

Slow Claps 4.3%

Again, there were a couple of pale ales on the menu, so we asked for help in choosing this one. It is the closest to a regular American beer, the type you might drink while eating nachos and watching the Stupor Bowl (as I call it—I watch it for the commercials). It is pleasant and light, but not memorable. We had brought a growler with us in case we wanted to take anything home, but left it in the car. No need to retrieve it.

As we left we noted a limo and a multi-cycle, which probably accounted for the noisy groups inside. Groups need a reservation, by the way.

Reasons to visit: you like craft beers and are not afraid to navigate the back streets of Riverhead; all the beers are definitely easy to drink and pleasant, but, at least based on what we tried, we prefer Greenport Harbor.

NoFo Wineaux

Wine notes from Long Island's North Fork

Tag Archives: beer tasting