Plattduetsche Park Restaurant
(516) 354-3131, Franklin Square
parkrestaurant.com
Though an array of German beer styles are offered at Plattduetsche Park Restaurant, including hefeweizen, pilsner and Oktoberfest, General Manager Matthew Buck wanted a unique story for the establishment’s first house beer in its 54-year existence. After nearly three years of waiting for “the right candidate,” Buck opted for a local source and selected Long Ireland Beer Company in Riverhead. The two parties chose kölsch, a crisp, subtle-flavored style designed for refreshing.
“It’s something we’ve never offered before,” said Buck. “The guys at Long Ireland brewed some test batches and we sampled and critiqued until it was perfect. The beer is great on a hot summer day in our expanded biergarten, which is another project we’re proud to debut this year.”
The project, which involves the renovation of an early-1900s building on Plattduetsche Park Restaurant’s property, will create a year-round indoor biergarten (a bowling alley was unearthed beneath three layers of floor, which will be used to construct tables). The expansion opens in June.
The Country Corner
(631) 751-2800, East Setauket
facebook.com/thecountrycorner
After his father’s death in 2010, Ben Saraydarian, a Port Washington native, left Boston and returned to operate the East Setauket-based tavern. Though unexpected, the decision was easy; Saraydarian was committed to his family’s dream.
“It was the right thing to do,” Saraydarian said. His father, Sahak, purchased The Country Corner in 1990. “He worked really hard on the bar and it was something he loved. He was friends with everyone.”
Since entering his new role,
Saraydarian has craft-converted the bar’s 12-draft system and “focused on supporting as much local beer as possible.” The latter includes Port Jeff Brewing Company White’s Beach Wit, a quaffable witbier with orange and coriander notes.
“The only time I don’t have their beer is when they don’t have any left,” laughs Saraydarian.
Brewery Hoppenings
A crooked ladder is not dysfunctional; it leads to beer. After two years of construction and license delays, Stephen Wirth opens the Crooked Ladder Brewing Company in June. Wirth, who owns Digger’s, renovated the Riverhead bar’s adjoining space (formerly Crystal Bar) and installed a seven-barrel brew house with brother, David. Duffy Griffiths, owner of Duffy’s Deli in Riverhead and Jamesport, is Crooked Ladder’s third partner and brew master. The brewery will start with “around eight beers” says Wirth and use a modified 1970s-era Jamesport Fire Department truck to dispense beer at events.
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