When people (especially Long Islanders) get together, great things happen. When people with similar interests throw the best craft beer festival on Long Island – everybody wins. The raw stats of the Hops and Props Craft Beer Festival on February 6, 2015 are mindblowing (even from a sober state of mind)! Over 90 beer vendors located on Long Island and Internationally. A dozen food vendors, from fine dining to the finest wings. 2000 tickets sold!
As impressive as all that is, we got to live life, two ounces at a time under some of the coolest airplanes ever displayed at LI’s Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City.
Pretzel jewelry!!
What makes festivals like Hops and Props, Bacon Fest or L.I. Wing Festival amazing? Simply put: Attention to detail. The feeling that every decision is made with the customer in mind. For instance, the food vendors were properly separated, so we can savor what each of them produced. The beer stations were not just placed randomly, but with a strategy behind the layout. Event security blended in with a very casual feel. Lest we forget, this was not some open, multi-purpose venue without any feel. We were hanging out in a renowned museum dedicated to astounding jets and planes!
Fine Foods
There was a buzz throughout the festival. Three most talked about vendors were Even Flow for wings, Brick House Brewery’s Krafty Krampus and Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas of Westbury. When we stepped outside to get some air, we overheard people talk about Even Flow. When we stepped into the restrooms we heard comments on Brick House Brewery. Nearly every other food vendor was subject to comparison with Spuntino’s. These vendors set the standard! How, you might ask? Well, Spuntino’s tried something different, serving guests a fantastic risotto and braised short ribs over butternut squash. Very decedent, very winter and very not what most were expecting. I could call it impressive, but that word does not do it justice. The meal was exponentially better than impressive. Hands down, best meal I’ve had in six months (sorry Mom). Spuntino’s is located in the Galleria at Westbury Plaza.
Greatest Wings Every Year!
Bay Shore’s Even Flow Bar and Grill were serving their award winning wings. They served the tasty Tropical Thai Chili (one of my personal favorite), an Ancho-chipolte wings, Habenero Bourbon and a Maple Bacon wing. There is a reason Even Flow wins the Best Wing in Long Island consistently. The bar and grill has placed Second at national competitions in Buffalo for the past few years. Even Flow combines flavor, imagination and execution unlike any other.
Craft Beers and Vision Wines! Brickhouse Brewery is the symbolic backbone that transformed Patchogue to the bustling Mecca of brew that it has become. They were pouring a Black IPA called Krafty Krampus and a Ginger Wheat Brew with Grains of Paradise. Krafty Krampus was a hoppy dark amber IPA. This concoction has moderate sweetness, that play beautifully with the beautifully bitter hops. This was truly a standout!
What were the other standouts Saturday? In terms of beers, we were impressed with Eclectic Ales out of West Babylon. They poured by far the spiciest beer: The Ghost Pepper IPA. This is an IPA that is measured by scolville! They also poured a truly eclectic beet Pale Ale. I have no clue where they come up with these ideas, but thank gooodness they do. It just works! Oyster Bay Brewing Company was pouring both an IPA and Stout. I loved Oyster Bay’s Stout. This was a heavy bodied beer complete with chocolate finish. Vision Wine Brands provided an alternative to the average beer consumption. They carried a bevy of wines- from dry reds to sweets ports. Vision Wine Brands is another detail the organizers of Hops and Props thought of for festivalgoers who, in actuality prefer to drink from vineyards.
Other Treats
The non-fermentative standouts were many. We have discussed Even Flow already so lets move past. Wild Lizzy were some of the tastiest cookie ever! These cookies were made from saltine crackers. I forgot how much I missed a good cookie. Dist INK t’s sold the best hoodies at the show. Their hoodies had the regular Kangaroo pouch, but also a pocket for your open beer. This tee is complete with bottle opener! It’s all you need for the late fall backyard bonfire. This was the best hoodie I’ve ever seen.
Best Pitch Line: Madhouse Creations
Madhouse Mike yelling “Taste my nuts!” was definitely the most noteworthy sales pitch (and yes, they were delicious. The warmed mixed nuts were an excellent accent to craft beers and delicacies.
This festival was amazing. Join LIB Magazine and many of the above greats at Long Island Bacon Fest on March 15th at the All Star Arena, Coram. That promises to be fun. Tickets and details are at www.libaconfest.com. Mark you calendars, May 2nd at the American Airpower Museum in Farmingdale will be Wing Fest. It’s bound to be one appetizing spring!
