Occupying an inconspicuous red brickface corner lot tucked into Route 59 East at the easternnmost part of Nanuet (just one mile off Route 287), GROWLER & GILL CRAFT BEER SHOPPE serves Rockland County as a homey country store doling out craft draughts, fine wine, mixed 6-packs and light food. Opened during 2012, its white-trimmed glass windows and etched Growler & Gill insignia welcome true beer geeks to a fascinating one-room boutique. And its kid-friendly board games will keep families busy while imbibing 4-ounce tray flights or pint-sized offerings.
On a rainy Sunday afternoon in October ’13, my friend Dennis and I grab one of the 4-seat tables to watch the Giants-Eagles football on the two TV’s sidling the back bar. Refrigerated and shelved beers are located to the right behind a few bar-stooled barrel tops. Sundry tap handles line the shelves above the blackboard beer list (along the bar walls) while exposed ducts and large wood moulding help define the cozy cafe-styled ambiance. People next to us munch on giant pretzels and barbecue wings as we settle in to catch the Giants lose their fifth straight game.
Artisanal cheese, hummus and sandwiches are available alongside today’s draughts from local (Newburgh/ Rammstein/ Captain Lawrence), national (Victory/ Ommegang/ Left Hand/ Allagash) and international brewers (Schneider/ Paulaner/ Lindemans). Furthermore, 25-ounce bottles of eight different barrel-aged Hof Ten Dormaal Belgian strong ales pique the interest of true conniosseurs.
Dennis and I reach for pints of Newburgh Peat-Smoked Stout, a rich dry Irish stout (with low 4% alcohol volume) parlaying its coffee-burnt chocolate roast into compost-wafted peat smoke and tar-like charcoal bittering, leaving a lightly peppered hop-charred espresso finish.
On Wednesday Trivia Night during October ’13, revisited Growler & Gill with wife to try a few new Jack’s Abby brews from Massachusetts. We ate the hot spinach with artichoke spread alongside hummus and pita (with green olives and sun-dried tomato dip) before devouring the fish and chips.
For starters, Jack’s Abby Smoke & Dagger Smoked Porter liberally doused black chocolate malts, molasses-smoked hickory and hop-charred dried fruiting with rauchbier-like kiln-fired beechwood. After dinner, Jack’s Abby Copper Legend Octoberfest brought fall foliage to bright citric spicing and honeyed tea illusions (check Beer Index for full reviews).
Oodles of brewer specials, tap takeovers and Meet The Brewer nights should keep the beer hounds comin’ out for more. Whatever cannot be found at Growler & Gill may be available at nearby Bardonia’s Cable Beverage (also recommended).
A few days later on Halloween Eve, my wife and I chowed on Bavarian Soft Pretzels (with separate pilsner cheese and stone-ground honey mustard dips) while consuming three local one-off brews including Rushing Duck De Levende Doden (strong dark ale with Trappist yeast and chocolate spicing), Barrier Saazsquatch (Saaz-hopped fall seasonal with butternut squash, ginger, honey and peppercorn) and Newburgh Squashtoberfest (hybridized Belgian pale ale with butternut squash restraint and salty pumpkin seeding).
