April has showers. May has flowers. But March? Neglected. Unfairly. March deserves something. A beer, perhaps. Actually…

Hoptron Brewtique
(631) 438-0296, Patchogue
hoptronbrewtique.com

To Infinity…and Beer-yond! If you’re craving a BUZZ faster than a LIGHT YEAR…

In the middle of the craft beer Mecca that is Patchogue, two ladies have opened a new establishment that defies classification. Inside this hybrid of a bar, bottle boutique and home-brew depot, 16 drafts (available for in-house consumption or take-home growler fills) mingle alongside all the equipment needed for fledgling home brewers. Though oozing with options, Hoptron Brewtique’s objective remains consistent: Educate patrons within an intimate environment. “We’re not trying to reinvent the beer wheel, but there is room for something quieter, with light, where people can have a conversation,” says Amanda Danielson, who opened Hoptron Brewtique with Sue Lara last November. “This format exists in the city and Brooklyn, but hasn’t really been done on Long Island. We want to really inform our customers and that can’t be done in a loud setting.”

Prost Grill & Garten
(516) 427-5215, Garden City
prostgrill.com

After extensive brainstorming and an expedition to Berlin and Munich, Jim McCartney and Bill Daly opened their own biergarten. “We initially wanted to do just a sausage and beer spot, but the modern feel of Berlin was really appealing,” says McCartney. “Garden City is an upscale location, so we wanted to cater to the people and offer a neat design, and a full menu for lunch and dinner. But we have that classic biergarten atmosphere, too.” While their 24 drafts are mostly Germany-birthed, including Weihenstephaner Vitus, selections from Long Island’s Barrier Brewing Company (Frau Blücher and Icculus) have also poured. A cool tidbit: Prost’s bar and communal tables were constructed with reclaimed wood from a Syracuse bowling alley.

Drink The Seasons

Beer: Biere de Mars
Brewery: Southampton Publick House
Style: Biere de Garde
Availability: February-May
Profile: Okay. I fibbed. March does possess its own beer homage: Biere de Mars. A special version of Biére de Garde, a France-birthed style traditionally created during late-winter/early-spring and cellared for warmer temperatures, Biere de Mars was brewed March-specifically and intended for right-now consumption. Southampton Publick House’s version is malt-accentuated with subtle fruit and spice. Drinkability is prominent. Farewell, seasonal affective disorder!

I POUR THAT…by Brian Karp, Owner of Press 195, RVC

Beer: Barrier Brewing Company BulkHead Red. Barrier refuses to offer seasonal releases, so this piney-hopped amber ale is almost always available at bars, beverage centers and the Oceanside brewery’s growler sessions (Wednesday and Saturday).
Why: “I heard murmurs of a brewery in the Rockville Centre area, so I went to Oceanside with my partner, Chris Evans. When I walked in, I knew this was my brewery!”

Follow Niko Krommydas and his blog, Super Neat Beer Adventure, Yes!!, at lipulse.com where you can find more craft beer on Long Island.

Photo by Stephen Lang