Things Are Brewing!

When it comes to “hoppenings,” the North Fork has its share of gold on tap. If you’re looking to kick the keg and raise a pint with some friends, we’ve got the skinny.

Greenport Harbor Brewing Company is tapping into the season with some fresh releases at its Peconic location, located on 42155 Main Road. These include Tidal Vienna Lager, Otherside India Pale Ale, Harbor Pale Ale, Black Duck Porter, Velvet Sea New York Ale, Light Work Hoppy Anytime Ale, Little Park IPA, 1927 Pilsner, Rattle N Him India Pale Lager, Stonefruit Parfait IPA with Peach Apricot & Lactose, UnRested Imperial Stout, Kettle Cookies Brown Ale with Almonds, Maple Syrup & Milk Sugar, Far Out There 2019 Hopped Up IPA Series, and Naturally Juiced Unfiltered Pale Ale.

Try any of those brews while listening to live music. The lineup reads Bob Blatchley Trio on Friday, April 12; Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks on Saturday, April 13; Zanti Misfits on Sunday, April 14; Local Motion and Quaddra Love on Saturday, April 20; and concluding the month of April will be Route 48 on Saturday, April 27. Looking for something different? Every Thursday at 5:30 PM, join Slapshot Trivia. It’s free to play and teams of six or less can win a $50 gift card.

Home to the Fresh Hop Festival each Fall, Jamesport Farm Brewery at 5873 Sound Avenue is proving to be the place to be. In addition to hosting Pints, Flights, & Trivia Nights every Friday at 6:30 PM, it’s welcoming back the Brewery Comedy Tour on Wednesday, April 17, for a barrel of laughs.

Tasting room selections read Barn Swallow Brown, Brown Ale – American; Gentleman Joe, Porter – American; Hay Baler, Pale Ale –American; Le Lecha De Madre, Stout – Milk/Sweet; Penalty Box, IPA – American; Rows & Hoes, IPA –American; Prancing Pony, Fruit Beer; The Lightest Beer We Have, Lager – American Lager; Waves of Grain Amber, Red Ale – American Amber/Red; Weekend At Bernie’s, Blonde Ale. It also carries hard ciders such as American Pie, an herbed/spiced/hopped taste; Not Far From the Tree, a sweet option; and Wild Thing, incorporating other fruit flavors.

Riverhead is where both the forks meet, and accommodates the dual communities with several brewery options to choose from.

Moustache Brewing Company at 400 Hallett Avenue in Riverhead has on tap Everyman’s Porter; Blueberry + Ginger Tripel, a Belgian Tripel; Empower Indian Pale Ale – American ; Lawn, Lager – American Light; Scorpion Drawer IPA – Imperial/Double; Milk + Honey, Brown Ale – American; Procrastinator (pints only), Bock –Doppelbock; Nine Pin NY Dry Hopped Cider; and Nine Pin Signature Cider.

Thursday, April 18, kick off the Moustache’s Fifth Birthday Weekend. Beginning at 7 PM that night Moustache is hosting “The Nature Talks: Quan-What? A Small, Forgotten Bay on Eastern Long Island.” The talks are co-produced by Christopher Paparo of Fish Guy Photos. Mattitaco will be serving some delicious tacos. Friday afternoon, April 19, Pizza Rita will pair good beer with wood-fired oven pizza.

Head to North Fork Brewing Company – yes, it’s in Riverhead at 24 East 2nd Street. There’s plenty to fill your pint glasses and growlers with. Sandpaper Handshake, Bock – Single/Traditional; Pierce the Ale, IPA – American; Hop Contagion, IPA –Imperial / Double; Run the Juice, IPA – New England; Sticky Bandit, IPA – New England; Iron Pier, Porter – American; Lack To the Bacto, Sour – Ale; Bill’s Hyper Local Forecast, Winter – Warmer; Hold Me Closer Tiny Lager, Pilsner – German; Between the Bourbon And We, Saison – Farmhouse Ale; Gaffer’s Hearth, Stout – Coffee.

Sometimes it’s hard to choose just one brewery to try. Brew Crew Cycles takes you on a truly interactive experience to two or three breweries in downtown Riverhead. Having just launched on Friday, April 6, it’s a great way to leave the keys behind and change up the experience. Called “Long Island’s only party bike and beer experience,” you can find out more on www.brewcrewcycles.com.

This is the first article in a series on local breweries. Stay tuned to future issues of The Independent for more.

nicole@indyeastend.com