You know that phenomenon where you learn a new word and then see it in everything you read? With the crew here at LI Biz Blog it seems we can’t get away from the subject of beer, which is a nice problem to have.
First we did a front page story on the escalating cost of beer featuring Blue Point Brewing in Patchogue. Then the New York Times trailed in our sudsy wake with a long story on Island breweries. We did a blog post about following the reporter, Long Island native and food and drink blogger Nicole Cotroneo, through the hopped-up world of local craft brewers. Not yet having our fill, we did a recent post on Southampton Publik House celebrating the repeal of Prohibition. Don’t get us started on mead, or ask Henry about North Fork wines because we might not stop.
Want more suds news? Sure you do. On March 29 the 2nd annual Spring Craft Beer Festival flowed into Nassau Coliseum with more than 120 beers, ales and stouts from over 50 craft breweries, including Blue Point, Southampton and other local barley-meisters.
From a press release:
“Since 2004, dollar sales by craft brewers have increased 58 percent,” said Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association. “The strength of this correlates with the American trend of buying local products and a preference for more flavorful foods and beers.”
“Craft beer is just leaving its infancy on Long Island,” said Mark Burford, Brew Master, Blue Point Brewing Company. “We are looking forward to a great maturation process.”
Other Long Island breweries are having the same reaction, the beer bars and brew pubs too. “While many are completely content with mass-produced beer, we are seeing that education is leading to experimentation and experimentation is leading to an appreciation of higher quality craft beer” said Drew Dvorkin, Owner of TJ Finleys in Bay Shore, NY. “I’ve seen a change. The people who come to my bar have more sophisticated tastes and are willing to pay a little more for a great quality craft beer,” he added.
Attendance at regional craft beer festivals is up as well.
