SUFFERN, NEW YORK
Right across from the railroad station in the bustling village of Suffern lied KEG & KESTREL, a Greek-related restaurant and beer pub refurbished and re-established as a craft bar during September '14. Owned by the Roussos family since 2011, its cool beer-centric transition came with an updated food menu featuring both genuine Greek dishes (gyros, lamb shank, sauvlaki, falafels) and traditional American pub fare (burgers, seafood, salads).
However, by 2016, it was closed for business. The rest of the review follows:
Inside a snug mahogany den with olden 15-seat bar, twin private booths and opposing dining area, this rustic saloon features 14 bronze-stationed tap handles, copious liquor selections, two TV's, one Touchtone jukebox, a whiteboard beer menu and elegant wood decor. Along the maroon walls are promotional Flying Dog, Sierra Nevada, Goose Island, Bells and Troegs banners.
Upon my initial visit in late March '15, the diminutive bar fills up with mostly twenty-something denizens while Red Hot Chili Peppers. Offspring, Green Day and Nirvana play on the back-walled jukebox. My wife and I order the robust Ale House Burger, busy Greek Pizza (with feta-cheesed gyro meat and kalamata olives) and Trata Piato & Tzatziki (fried eggplant, zucchini chips and yogurt sauce with cucumber, dill and parsley) alongside two previously untried libations. Stuffed grape leaves with rice and lemon is also recommended.
Bar manager Patrick Reynar serves the newly discovered New York-based suds as we munch on dinner. Broken Bow Chinook IPA's easygoing wood-dried floral citrus serenade contrasted Southern Tier 2Xpresso Stout's coffee-sugared espresso theme. The next evening, I quaff Roscoe Trout Town Amber, a pleasurable mainstream moderation with laid-back orange-apple fruiting, spicy hop respite and leafy earthiness.
An increasingly popular Rockland County hangout drawing rush hour train commuters, curious brewhounds and young folk alike, Keg & Kestrel's casual intimacy (and convenient 4 to 6 PM Happy Hour) keeps 'em coming. Along with Craft House, one mile east up Lafayette Avenue, Suffern now has two exciting microbrew options.
www.kegandkestrel.com
SUFFERN, NEW YORK
Just up the hill from the center of town, CRAFT HOUSE KITCHEN & BAR joined the microbrew revolution in January '15 (but closed down during 2018). Located at a green colonial homestead on Lafayette Avenue, this quaint Suffern pub's Old World design comes straight out of the pre-Prohibition Roaring '20s. With its retro-styled mahogany setting, Edison bulb lanterns, sturdy wood shelving and stainless steel-handled refrigerators, Craft House's ambiance truly recalls a vintage alehouse.
Accessing the back door entrance near the side patio, I grab a seat at the charming 8-seat bar mid-afternoon March '15. Featuring a private banquet room and spacious dining area, the homey confines suits families, brew crews, booze hounds and food lovers. Salmon Salad is highly recommended alongside various Americana dishes (burgers-sandwiches-pasta).
The quickly revolving 12-tap setup on this day includes two previously untried Empire State libations. The first, soft-toned Captain Lawrence Frozen Flowers, offers botanical elderflower sugaring, polite citric-quince fruiting and dry-spiced nuances. For a resounding changeup, briskly citric-embittered Long Ireland Balor IPA brought lemony grapefruit-peeled orange rind sharpness to pungent hop astringency.
Happily, two Saranac reps walked in before I departed, offering the fabulous Saranac Immortality Imperial Amber, likable Imperial IPA and sessionable Summer Pils (all reviewed at Beer Index).
Craft House's initial beer dinner showcased Captain Lawrence and the next highlighted new Wappingers Falls brewery, North River. Happy Hour is Monday thru Friday from 4 to 7 PM.
www.crafthouseny.com
