Over the last three years Jim Thompson and daughter Courtney Citko, co-owners of Farmingdale’s specialty food market and incubator kitchen, A Taste of Long Island, has made it their mission to provide an array of local treats for customers. Now they have added a new addition to their shop—a microbrewery—which can be found right in their kitchen.
A Taste of Long Island rents its commercial kitchen to local producers who need an insured licensed space to work. Items produced on site are sold in the front of the market and are also independently distributed. A Taste of Long Island gives small startup businesses a way to get their goods to the public. It was recently issued New York State liquor licenses to brew craft beers and hard ciders as a New York State microbrewery. But this microbrewery has a different twist from other breweries. First, in addition to A Taste of Long Island brewing artisan handcrafted beers, the business is licensed by the government to operate as an alternating proprietorship brewery. As such, A Taste of Long Island is considered a host or landlord brewery and is permitted to have tenant brewers obtain their own licenses to produce beer at the facility.
“We created the microbrewery to increase business revenue in these tough economic times,” said Thompson. “All the brewers in my shop are from Long Island, and they are experienced. These brewers have been brewing for over five years, and they won national level home brew awards, so that told me they have talent.”
With 13 taps to choose from, the shop has a variety of freshly brewed beers and ciders from 1940’s Brewing Company, The Brewer’s Collective and Po’ Boy Brewing Company. In addition to the Farmingdale Honey Harvest Blonde Ale, the Useful Idiot India Pale Ale, the English Pale Ale called Arsenal and a hard cider called Catch Me if You Can Gingerbread Cookie, A Taste of Long Island is adding new recipes every week.
Thompson intends to help the local economy by purchasing local products to make the beer and cider. He said: “We source our ingredients like hops and malt from New York State farmers in hope to support the local market.
Thompson also has a knack for microbrewing, and he is glad to bring his hobby into his job. He said: “I was home brewing back in the early ‘90s, which was just a hobby. I brewed beer for special times of the year. My brother and I would make Holiday Cheer which was a Christmas beer. I’m glad to be brewing again.”
Thompson makes three barrels of beer at a time which is roughly 90 gallons, and he is currently experimenting with a porter. He enjoys sharing the kitchen with other brewers because they share his hobby.
Bob Rodriguez, the founder of Po’ Boy Brewing Company, said: “Sharing this kitchen builds camaraderie, and we all help each other. It’s exciting to be brewing in the shop because
I’m used to brewing at home.”
Customers can try samples before they make their purchase to make sure they like it, take some home with them or have a glass in A Taste of Long Island.
“Customers have the chance to purchase fresh draft beer in bomber (22oz) and growler (64oz) sized glass containers,” said Thompson.
In January A Taste of Long Island Microbrewhouse had a brewery launch party to announce the grand opening of the brewery operation. Fellow Main Street merchant John Court, who owns the Nutty Irishman Pub, provided floor space for the four microbrewers to sample their beers and hard ciders to the public. Residents were excited about the new addition to their town.
“Farmingdale Village is now on the map of Long Island and New York State craft microbreweries,” Farmingdale Village Mayor Ralph Ekstrand said. “By adding a microbrewery to A Taste of Long Island, it anchors its position as a destination merchant and increases foot traffic in our downtown.”
For more information, visit www.atasteoflongislandny.com.
