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Drinking LI, Part 2: The Islander Fan's Guide to Craft Beer

Let's discuss this further over a beverage, shall we? - Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Since I last published the Isles Fan's Guide to Craft Beer, there's been some good solid drinking going on by yours truly. I got to attend my first LHH meetup with 19! and a few others, and we were happy to bond over our love of the Islanders, heavy music and tasty beer.

Response to my first guide to Long Island's craft beers was quite warm, and I hope it inspires us all to show Island pride through what we drink while rooting for our team. I've now sampled enough excellent brews to create Part 2 of the Islander Fan's Guide to Craft Beer below.

As always, feel free to throw in your favorites or any I may have missed--my liver does have its limits. Here is Part 1 if you're extra thirsty.

1. Port Jefferson Tripel

Starting out with the heaviest one of the bunch, but this is the best Tripel-style ale brewed on our fair Island. The Belgian- monk style is smooth, rich and practically winelike. You can find three-packs of it in tall-boy cans all over LI--just don't be like my girlfriend and pour a giant 24-oz glass full of this stuff without reading the ABV (10.1%). When that giant glass was drained, we were both speaking Flemish!

2. Greenport Harbor Black Duck Porter

Yes, they're Ranger fans. Yes, it's sold at MSG. No, it doesn't matter.

Like most of Greenport Harbor's offerings, Black Duck Porter's flavor is top-notch. On draft especially, it takes on a slightly creamy, chocolately sweetness that really takes the cake. Not too smoky either, and I think it would go well with roasted meats and vegetables of any kind. A buddy who lives in Brooklyn told me that his local bar started serving this on a permanent basis. Very happy to see that they're expanding.

Oh, and a really good date idea for the spring or summer is to do a Sunday wine-tasting at Pindar down the block, sit outside with a bottle and a pizza, listen to some music for a while and digest. Then pop down to Greenport Harbor (less than a minute away), and repeat.

3. Blue Point Oyster Stout

Sipped this on an Italian Christmas Eve in between courses while we opened a round of presents and listened to the Hall and Oates Christmas album. Keeping with the seafood theme of the night, you could just taste the rich saltiness under this not-too- heavy dark beer. Served in 24-oz bottles and good for sharing.

4. Spider Bite - First Bite Pale Ale

This IPA-focused small brewery in Holbrook really knows its hops. Even its First Bite Pale Ale, one of the "lighter" beers it has on offer, would easily pass as a regular IPA anywhere else besides the West Coast. It's also the one you're most likely to find at your beverage store. I chose First Bite because oddly enough when I went to the tasting room, Spider Bite's flagship IPAs were still brewing (Eye Be Use and Eight-Legged RyePA), so I didn't get to try those from the source. But they had 12 Legs Imperial IPA instead, and let me tell you, that stuff is nectar. 8% ABV and you felt like drinking a whole growler yourself. If you go there and they have it, drink it. It's hard to drink anything else after you've had one.

5. Spider Bite - Boris the Spider

A beyond-delicious, very rich Imperial Stout just tailor-made for sipping by your fireplace after a hard day of shoveling (like the blizzard we had this past weekend). Plus it honors one of the best bassists of all time. Cheers to the Ox!

6. Long Ireland - Celtic Ale

Another one of Long Island's best breweries worth going to in person (out east in Riverhead). Celtic Ale is their best seller, and man it is obvious why. Somewhat light in color, but certainly not in taste, it reminded me of the traditional ales served at my favorite bar, McSorley's Alehouse. Which means you could drink it all day and all night and never get tired of it. Balanced and tasty, just right. Start serving this beer on tap at Barclays Center! Right now!

7. Long Ireland - Balor IPA

Long Ireland's best IPA out of the three or four they have on rotation at any given time. I liked this even better than their Double IPA, as it still had that richness and depth of hop bitterness flavor I like from the best IPAs, but with 3% less alcohol. A regular stop on brewery bus tours, a gracious bartender who had to serve almost forty people or so by himself, and a number of autographed thank-you photos from military families and units, Long Ireland is a true credit to the best our Island can offer. My hat's off to them.

8. Barrier Brewing - Evil Giant Rye IPA

Finally went to this place in Oceanside on recommendation from fellow LHHers in the last guide's comments. Did a flight of 6 beers and they were all pretty much on the same level of goodness. I chose Evil Giant as my favorite since I personally love a good rye ale--the balanced, tasty spice just gives an outdoors presence to the brew, like observing the fall harvest. From what I hear, Barrier's menu changes quite a bit, but really it doesn't matter when the quality level is this high across the board. I've only seen it for sale in one bar outside the tasting room itself, so I hope that changes. Well worth visiting.

9. Great South Bay Blood Orange Pale Ale

Another pleasant surprise from these guys in Bayshore. I was skeptical about this brew since fruit beer tends to be really hit or miss for me. Someone offered me one at a group dinner, and it was actually pretty good. The namesake blood orange is in the background, not front and center, of this well-balanced amber ale. Reminiscent of those blood orange Pellegrinos (though of course, you know...beer, not seltzer).

10. Rockaway Brewing Company ESB

Let's just go ahead and call this a Queens bonus for those who call Long Island City home. Malty and slightly sweet, this eminently quaffable beer should be on the to-drink lists of Mets fans and Isles fans alike. So is everything else they brew, which are all unapologetically easy-drinking, delicious, smooth beers in best of the Central European tradition.

Maybe for part 3 I'll start checking out and adding more Brooklyn and Queens breweries to complement the Long Island ones, as I'm intrigued as to what's available in the Isles' new borough. Till then...Stay thirsty, my friends.

Written by Matt P

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