USA, NY: The Patchogue Beer Project welcomes first public in Patchogue Village

The most state-of-the-art micro brew operation on Long Island has just opened in Patchogue Village, the GreaterPortJeff reported on January 5.

The Patchogue Beer Project has been 2 1/2 years in the making.

“It’s such a great feeling,” said co-owner Mackenzie Dispirito, while tending to a packed bar during Saturday’s opening day. “Just that we’re part of the community now. We can’t wait to host events, fundraisers, and get everyone involved.

“Everyone loves good beer.”

There are no kegs at Patchogue Beer Project, and the entire brewing process is visible to the public, with the storage areas, mash tons, fermenters and vessels all behind glass.

The beer is piped from the fermenters and across the ceiling to the storage tanks, which then feed the taps. There are even two storage tanks built into the tasting room bar.

“It’s pretty amazing, actually,” said Dave Schultzer, the owner of Bellport Cold Beer & Soda and a pioneer in growing the popularity of craft beer on Long Island. “I’ve never seen anything like this in all the places I’ve ever been.”

Port Jeff Brewing Company owner Mike Philbrick is also involved in the project.

He heads the brewing operation and designed the brewing system, though he’s not the head brewer.

“This is probably the most state-of-the-art thing that you’ve seen on Long Island so far, other than like Blue Point, but definitely on this small of a scale,” Philbrick told GreaterPatchogue.com. “And we wanted to make a place where people can see everything, the open tanks, the serving tanks. You really feel like you’re in the middle of the entire brewing process.”

Plans for the brewery, owned by Mackenzie Dispirito and her husband, Ryan, who live in Port Jefferson, along with Ryan’s stepdad, Peter Arciero, were approved by the Patchogue Village Planning Board in December 2016.

Just over two years later, 12 craft brews and ciders were flowing from the tap lines as craft beer lovers and heavy-hitting brewers from across Nassau and Suffolk headed to Patchogue — along with plenty of locals.

Among them was David Kennedy, the executive director of the Greater Patchogue Chamber of Commerce and a craft beer enthusiast.

He especially liked the EZ Swezey, an homage to the old Swezey’s department stores.

“This has to be the best beer name that ever came out of Patchogue,” he said. “This is exciting though; it re-establishes Patchogue as the beer capital here on Long Island.”

The Patchogue Beer Project is on the east side of Railroad Avenue but the address is 76 West Main Street, directly behind Buttermilk’s Kitchen and Local Burger Co. The brewery will be serving food from Local Burger.

The tasting room is open from noon to 9 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays, then noon to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and Sundays from noon to 8 p.m.

07 January, 2019