The Best Breweries in Nassau County

There seems to be a pattern among Long Island’s Nassau County breweries. All of them came to be as a labor of love, often beginning as a home brewing project of passionate locals. Plus, all of them are relatively young – popping up in the latter part of the past decade.  Grab the family, the dog and be prepared to get your hands on the best local brews  in Nassau County! Here are a handful of impressive breweries to be visited. It’s great way to show some love to local small businesses and get to know the community.

A relatively young brewery in the area, Somerset Brewing Company is the lovechild of co-owner Dr. Manny Fajardo, his brother, and brother-in-law. Since its opening in 2022, the brewery, which is open Thursdays through Sundays, has drawn in locals and tourists with its traditional-style beers, rotating food trucks (Smokin Sandy, Taqueria Mexicas, and Bumble Bee BBQ are part of the regular rotation), and dog- and child-friendly atmosphere. Patrons can try classic IPAs, stout beers, and German-style kolsch beers brewed on-premises, or even try some of the brewerie’s other offerings, like cider from Pennings Farm Cidery. Sit back and relax in the welcoming taproom or enjoy the weather out on the outdoor patio.

Nassau County’s first-ever craft brewery, Barrier Brewing survived the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy and has since overcome hurdles to become one of the biggest draws in the area. Open daily, this brewing company hosts events throughout the week and welcomes numerous food trucks, including Secret Vegan Kitchen on Mondays, The Hush Truck on Wednesdays, and 3rd Rail Kitchen on Thursdays through Sundays. In addition to tons of food offerings, the brewery itself has many different types of beers on tap, ranging from English and Begian-style brews to IPAs, fruited sours, and imperial stouts.

Open Thursday through Sunday, this friendly taproom utilizes New York State-grown ingredients to brew up its array of beers. Local favorites include the 3350 A Pilsner and A Hui Hou – two of the brewery’s most popular summer refreshers. In addition to these light beers, the brewery is also known for its IPAs, ales, lagers, and porters. Long Beach Brewing doesn’t just serve its own brews either, patrons can also try beers from some of the space’s tenant brewers, 18th Ward Brewing and Stay Green Brewing. A small bar menu is also available for hungry imbibers – think short rib empanadas, hero sandwiches, meat pies, and pizza.

True to its name, this small brewery was founded by brothers Gerard and Greg Sims who decided to take their homebrewing prowess to the next level. The brand’s tasting room, which opened in 2018, is open every day of the week sans Mondays and welcomes families, children, and dogs, in addition to its typical non-teetotalers. Small Craft currently offers 12 different beers on taps and interested patrons can take home pints and growlers for beachside brews. While there’s no food on the premises, people are welcome to bring in their own to pair with their drinks.

Like many of its Long Island brethren, Noble Savage Brewing began in the hands of a homebrewer and quickly solidified itself as one of the top breweries in the region upon opening. Here you’ll find hand-brewed beers crafted in small batches made with 100% New York State grain. The tasting room is open to visitors Friday through Sunday and welcomes dogs and children. Whether you’re craving a stout or a pale ale, you’re sure to find something up your alley here, and should you be immensely impressed, you can purchase cans to take home.

Open daily, this popular spot not only churns out delicious beers but also pays homage to famous Long Islanders with its brews. Oyster Bay Brewing is probably most well-known for its Barn Rocker Ale, crafted specifically for the New York Islanders, but the brewery also features a Honey Ale that uses honey from a local apiary, as well as the Alexa Double IPA, which is a tribute to Billy Joel. The taproom features 12 different brews on tap and it doesn’t stop at just beer. You can enjoy the sangria on tap or try one of the brewery’s gluten-free hard seltzers.

Bright Eye Beer Co., named after the Point Lookout Bright Eye Fishing Company that resided in nearby Point Lookout in the 1930s, is only four years old and helmed by siblings Luke and Keira Heneghan and their partner Molly Allare. Stop by for live music Thursday through Sunday and rest easy, both your kids and dogs won’t be turned away (except for after 8 pm on Fridays and Saturdays). The Crazy Pants Cream Ale, a creamsicle ale, is one of the most popular brews on offer, but you can also find a number of IPAs, other ales, and pilsners here, too. There’s no kitchen at the brewery, but hungry visitors can bring in their own food to nosh on during their stay.