Kreators Bar
(631) 509-4930, Mt. Sinai
facebook.com/kreatorsbar

Ken-E Bones is a founding member of Negative Reaction, a Long Island sludge band with abrasive vocals and dense, decaying riffs. After 23 years of creating hardcore metal, Bones opened Kreators for individuals who also enjoy self-expression, but within any medium. The space, formerly Ric Jamison’s, was acquired with Robin Witt in April and features a wall dedicated to local artwork. 

There is also liquid art from Rocky Point Artisan Brewers, including Irish Red, Irish Porter and Belgian Wheat (the latter is brewed with a blend of Belgian yeasts and does not feature coriander and orange peel). Mike Voigt, one-third of the Rocky Point-based brewery, temporarily donated his kegerator to enable Kreators to offer draft beer.

“I’ve known Mike for almost 10 years, and I’ve always thought he’s made great beer,” Bones said. “Ric Jamison’s didn’t have any drafts, so he’s letting us use the kegerator until we get our own. And we’re going to add more taps soon.”

Empire State Cellars
(631) 369-3080, Riverhead
empirestatecellars.com

Ever since a nine-hour shopping expedition for discontinued trousers during my adolescence, retail outlets have held a spot in my hateplace. Empire State Cellars in Riverhead’s Tanger Outlets, however, has successfully deleted the memory from my brainbox. The store was initially a New York-only wine boutique and satellite tasting room for Cutchogue’s Peconic Bay Winery, but it expanded to local beer with its farm winery license (the license also allows for on-site wine production). Though still vineyard-heavy, three drafts and 50 plus bottles are available for lovers of hop. The latter includes Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Golden Delicious, a sweet and boozy tripel (Belgian yeast and alcohol are prominent) aged in apple brandy barrels.

“Tanger Outlets gets more annual foot traffic than the entire North Fork, so we can expose a lot of people to New York wine and beer,” said Evan Ducz, co-manager. “We figured the store would get only accidental foot traffic, but locals are coming to Tanger Outlets too. It has become their liquor store.”

Niko’s Seasonal Suds
Greenport Harbor Brewing Company Summer Ale

Style: Blonde Ale
Availability: May-September
Taste Words: Light, Grainy, Citrus, Floral
Profile: Greenport Harbor Brewing Company adds orange blossom honey to the whirlpool, equipping Summer Ale with subtle citrus flavors and providing the grain bill with a sweet companion. A whirlpool is used to collect the layer of sediment (proteins and hop and grain particulates) remaining before fermentation.

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