It’s almost hard to believe that it has been 10 years since the North Fork got its first taste of Tidal Lager.
Southold Town’s first and largest craft brewery is celebrating its aluminum anniversary with not one, but two special parties this weekend — and you’re invited.
The weekend kicks off with a grand re-opening of the newly renovated original tasting room on Carpenter Street in Greenport. The former firehouse turned brewery was closed for the past several months as owners John Liegey and Rich Vandenburgh worked to transform the space yet again, this time into a showcase for live music and special beer releases starting this summer.
Greenport Harbor Brewery has since added a Peconic outpost, where many of its staple beers are brewed and bottled, but the experimental styles are still brewed in small batches where it all began by head brewer Pat Alfred.
“Since it’s been 10 years, we wanted to make sure the brewery was up-to-date and continued to be an active part of Greenport,” Liegey said. “A decade ago, we were painting that same place with our kids and it was a family effort. It went by quick.”
Prior to Greenport Harbor Brewing Company’s 2009 opening, the region was typically known for its wine, in fact, there were no breweries at all on the North Fork. Now there are seven craft beer tasting rooms from Riverhead to Greenport and the industry continues to grow.
To celebrate the milestone, on Friday, July 12 from 7 to 10 p.m. the Carpenter Street location will serve up new beers, food and live music — and that’s just the beginning.
On Saturday, the party moves to Greenport Harbor Brewing Co.’s Peconic location, which opened in a former car dealership in 2014 and features a kitchen with indoor and outdoor seating, plus and a large lawn for lounging.
Saturday’s bash is a 10-hour “mega-party” that will include a new beer release every hour, human foosball, live art, food and two live bands and a DJ. Foster Europe Band plays from noon to 3 p.m. and MoTown Band performs from 4 to 7 p.m. DJ O’Henry starts at 7:30 p.m. Doors open at noon.
Since its inception in 2009, Greenport Harbor Brewery’s reach has grown far beyond the North Fork. Its beers have been served and distributed on Long Island, New York and beyond. Madison Square Garden, The U.S. Open and Bryant Park Café are among the venues that serve up Greenport Harbor.
“It’s been a wild journey. We were on the start of a road not knowing where it would lead to,” Vandenburgh said. “All we wanted to do was make great beer. It’s amazing to see how far we’ve come.”
The original tasting room is located at 234 Carpenter Street, Greenport and the Peconic tasting room and restaurant is located at 42155 Main Road. Visit them at greenportharborbrewing.com
