There is no question that the beer scene is ever-evolving. Rich Vandenburgh, co-founder of Greenport Harbor Brewing Co., has his finger on the pulse of the North Fork scene, keeping up with the latest and greatest ways to thrive as a local booze business.
The newest brews-news is that the Peconic location, while still boasting its tasting room and restaurant, will also feature a private event space and music venue.
Moving toward this model began this fall when the Greenport and Peconic-based business moved the majority of its brewing operation from the Peconic property to Great South Bay Brewery’s up-island manufacturing hub, with the Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. brewmaster visiting twice a week.
“We really wanted to make sure there was no change whatsoever in terms of our product quality and freshness,” says Vandenburgh.
When Vandenburgh started the business, his priorities were brewing on-site and providing jobs for locals. With increased costs of brewing and the rise in housing costs, it became challenging to pay staffers what he’d like to.
The decision to outsource manufacturing was not an easy one, but rather “somewhat emotional,” Vandenburgh says, but it is saving the business multiple dollars per case and, in turn, opened about 8,000 square feet of space in Peconic.
Since the brewing company sees plenty of requests to rent the space for weddings, rehearsal dinners and retirement parties, it made perfect sense to host events there while also keeping the tasting room at the kitchen open, something they weren’t able to do in the past.
“It’s a large space,” says Vandenburgh. “It has that kind of industrial feel. It’s not a vineyard, a sleek, white tablecloth kind of space.”
With that, Vandenburgh is also looking to use the large stage at the Peconic location, built right where brewing once took place, for amped up live music — a concept that isn’t new to the brewing company, but something they’re looking to have on a larger scale.
“For over 10 years we’ve been the place where on the weekend you can go and see live music — you just go and you hopefully buy a lot of beer,” says Vandenburgh. “We’re shifting that culture slowly to where people understand that if you come to see an act, there’s going to be a cover charge. The stage has a professional lighting set up and the plan is to expand further where we’ll get an in-house sound system.”
On Nov. 8, the band Playing English will bring covers of Joe Jackson, Squeeze and Elvis Costello’s music to the venue. Later this month, catch Who Are Those Guys‘ Neil Young Review on Nov. 15 and The Realm on Nov. 28.
And while craft beer is at the forefront, grab some cocktails and local wine while you enjoy the show.
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