For this gathering with friends or family, leave the bring-your-own-beer concept behind and have fun pouring your own beers instead. Long Island Pour House Bar & Grill in Port Jefferson Station opened it's doors last month, and opened the opportunity for craft beer explorers and connoisseurs alike to sample new flavors and guzzle personal favorites from the unique iPourIt tap system.
For those who feel daunted as they approach a wall of 20 taps waiting to be pulled, the process is easy. Each customer registers with his or her server, who in turn provides a bracelet. The bracelet is programmed with the customer's name and table number for tab keeping. Once the customer selects the desired beer, he or she scans the bracelet on the logo next to the chosen beer's tap. When the scan is complete, a light on the screen above the tap turns green and the customer fills his or her glass. The computer keeps the tab running over the course of the customer's visit, and it only charges for the amount actually poured. This enables you to try a few new styles or flavors without committing to full glasses.
There are 20 different beers to choose from, and many of them are produced at New York breweries, from Brooklyn Brewery to upstate's Ommegang and Saranac breweries to the multitude of breweries across Long Island. Above each tap, a screen features information and flavor notes about the particular beer. Sip a seasonal or revel in a regular favorite. For those who have yet to appreciate craft beer, the restaurant’s bar features a menu of signature cocktail drinks.
While many of the beers hail from the northeast, when it comes to food, the menu offers a selection of southern barbecue favorites, including baby back ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, burgers, macaroni and cheese and a satisfying Texas melt, which is Texas toast smothered with your choice of smoked meat(s) topped with cheese sauce and hickory barbecue sauce and sprinkled with Monterey Jack cheese. Other entrees include fish tacos, broiled tilapia blanketed with a creamy blue crab and shrimp topping and chicken wings with a choice of 16 different sauces.
Long Island Pour House Bar & Grill is located at 650 Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station. For a complete menu, directions and hours of operation, visit www.lipourhouse.com