The craft beer scene on Long Island is roaring in like a lion this March and it doesn't look like it will go out like a lamb, with lots of beer festivals and other fun events planned for April and May.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to our subscribers and readers and this year the traditional Irish toast of Sláinte (pronounced SLAWN-CHE) is especially appropriate, since it means health! Stay safe Long Island -- Sláinte!
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Race to Feed Long Island
LIBeerGuide is proud to again be a sponsor of the Eisner Amper Race to Feed Long Island, coming this Sunday March 13 to Eisenhower Park. This year's race was named in honor of late Long Island runner (and beer drinker) Neil Chadderton. Come out for a fun fast four mile run that benefits Long Island Cares - The Harry Chapin Food Bank, one of Long Island's great organizations that helps thousands of Long Islanders who deal with food insecurity every day. We hope to see you there!
Beerfests Are Back
The Spring Craft Beer Festival is returning to the Nassau Coliseum on March 26 after a multi-year absence due to the closing of the Coliseum for renovations and then the pandemic. The festival was first held at the Coliseum in 2007 and had a good run at Belmont Racetrack from 2016 to 2019. Produced by Starfish Junction, Long Island’s premier beer festival organizer, this year’s event will feature one afternoon session with general admission from 2:30 – 6 pm and VIP tickets that include an extra hour starting at 1:30. Over 100 craft breweries from Long Island and across the U.S. will be pouring their brews and the event will raise funds for the local Kids Need More charity and their Camp Adventure program to enhance the lives of children coping with life threatening illness. The beerfest will also feature tastings of homebrew from Long Island’s three homebrew clubs (more info on homebrew clubs and competitions below).
Blue Point Brewing is holding its annual celebration of 4/20 on the afternoon of April 20 (of course) at the brewery in Patchogue. The Shakedown on Main Street party will feature a live headline performance by the funk band Lettuce, the Shakedown market with munchies including grilled cheese, local arts and crafts vendors, and the Blue Point Terpene Tent with exclusive variations of Blue Point’s seasonal Legalize Wheat Ale.
The New York State Brewers Association is planning to hold a beer festival on Long Island on April 30, with the likely location being Belmont Racetrack to celebrate the opening weekend of live racing.
The TAP New York Craft Beer and Food Festival is returning this year after a two-year pandemic hiatus and is moving to an exciting new venue, Bethel Woods Center for the Arts located at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Festival. This year's festival on May 21 and 22 will not only feature great craft beer from breweries across New York State but will have live music from The Wallflowers, The Nude Party, Almost Queen and Black Dog.
Here on Long Island, several more events are coming in April and May:
- Port Jeff Brewing is also holding a three-day Spring Music Fest-of-Ale, with live music from 10 bands and plenty of craft beer, at the brewery in downtown Port Jefferson on April 29, 30 and May 1.
- Great South Bay Brewery in Bay Shore will host the Long Island Feast Fest on May 7 with dozens of food trucks, live music, local artists and vendors, and craft beers from Great South Bay and neighboring Ghost Brewing.
- NY Best Wings Fest, a celebration of finger licking good wings and great craft beer, will be held on May 21 at South Shore Craft Brewery in Oceanside. There will be two sessions with attendees able to eat wings from some of Nassau County’s top restaurants while enjoying South Shore beers and live music.
Necromantic Brew Co., Long Island’s first gluten-free brewery, is putting the finishing touches on its new taproom on Main Street in Farmingdale. The opening was planned for March but now looks like it will happen in April. The new taproom is located just down the block from Lithology Brewing Co., giving downtown Farmingdale its own brewers row.
Co-founders Ralph Mandarino and Jesse Silano (below in their brewhouse) had been homebrewing gluten-free beers for several years before deciding to go pro in 2018. Mandarino, who loves beer, was diagnosed nine years ago with gluten intolerance, also known as celiac disease, which causes an immune reaction in the small intestine to eating wheat, barley, and rye. He worked with his avid homebrewer friend Silano to develop recipes that matched the taste of popular beer styles while using gluten-free millet, quinoa, and buckwheat, also known as ancient grains. They got positive feedback from fellow homebrewers at Long Island Beer and Malt Enthusiasts (LIBME) and from other brewery owners and looked for a location in Farmingdale where Mandarino grew up and where his father owned a bakery.
Necromantic's beer lineup will include a range of popular styles such as India Pale Ales (IPAs), amber ales, brown ales, porter, and stout. Silano said, “We don’t plan to have lots of seasonal beers because we want our patrons, including non-celiac beer lovers, to be able to taste a variety of styles and decide what they like." In addition to the beers, Mandarino and Silano are excited to welcome fans of horror movies, their other passion and the inspiration for the name of the brewery. Necromancy refers to black magic and the conjuring of spirits, which for the partners includes brewing excellent gluten-free beers. The brewery’s taproom will feature a 26-foot-long bar and several big screen TVs playing horror movies, and they plan to have theme nights and other events to keep beer enthusiasts entertained while enjoying some scary good gluten-free brews.
Club members have also been busy competing in club competitions like the Last Brewer Standing competition of sponsored by the Handgrenades club. B.E.E.R. is holding its 25th Annual Brew Off homebrew competition with the final judging and awards presentations in person on May 21 at Po’Boy Brewery in Port Jefferson Station. Good luck everyone and Sláinte!
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We look forward to connecting with you! Stay safe - Sláinte!
Cheers, LIBeerGuide
