One of Long Island’s best-known breweries is becoming even better known following the successful opening of its second location and the planned launch of a third location this summer.
Great South Bay Brewery, which was founded in 2009 and started out with a brewery and taproom in Bay Shore in 2013, opened a gleaming new gastropub in the heart of downtown Lindenhurst in March. Another gastropub is expected to open by August at the Station Yards development in Ronkonkoma.
GSB Lindenhurst is in a renovated bank building on South Wellwood Avenue, which was built in 1930 and originally called the First National Bank of Lindenhurst. Before being purchased last year by the Davis family, majority owners of GSB, the building had been vacant for 17 years. Brian Davis, who owns GSB with his father Doug and brothers Chris and Billy, said they were attracted by the opportunity to repurpose a historic building.
“We live in Islip and saw what a great job Tellers steakhouse did with a former bank,” said Davis, “and we fell in love with this building and its location downtown.”
The Davises were also attracted by downtown Lindenhurst’s revitalization over the past 10 years, with several new brewery taprooms and new restaurants such as Belfast Gastropub and Restoration Kitchen & Cocktails. In 2019, 27A Brewing became the first brewery in Lindenhurst since the closing of Linden Brewing in 1949. Sand City Brewing, based in Northport, expanded south to Lindenhurst in 2021 by taking over a former CVS building (directly across from GSB) that had been vacant for over five years. Other breweries in town include Breslau Brewing Company and W A Meadwerks.
GSB spent $5 million to renovate the 8,500-square-foot bank building, with work completed in just seven months despite needing to remove concrete and ceilings to create a large open space.
“Turning a bank that is meant to be secure into a restaurant presents unique challenges,” said Brian, “but we are thrilled with the outcome.” The interior is stunning, with the focus being a 30-seat horseshoe-shaped bar under six chandeliers, which are not really needed during the day due to plenty of natural light, along with plenty of tables and high-top seating for diners.
The bar has a 12-tap system featuring GSB’s year-round and seasonal beers brewed in Bay Shore by head brewer Greg Maisch, who has been with GSB since its founding. Maisch has won numerous awards for brews ranging from lighter ales such as Blonde Ambition Blonde Ale and Jetty Honey Ale to more hoppy beers like Field 5 Golden IPA, Massive IPA and the best-selling Blood Orange Pale Ale. The bar also serves GSB’s Tipsy Tea and Tipsy Lemonade, and as a New York State-licensed farm brewery GSB also serves wines from Pindar on the North Fork and several house cocktails made with New York spirits.
The gastropub’s second floor has two spaces including a dining room with a bar that can be rented out for parties and events, and a casual lounge with a patio overlooking Wellwood Avenue. GSB also turned the bank’s vault into a room that is used for dining or can be rented out for private parties or events.
To provide an elevated gastropub experience, GSB turned to veteran Long Island chef Chris Palmer, who most recently spent 11 years as executive chef at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury. “Coming to GSB was like coming full circle for me,” said Palmer, “since one of my first restaurants as head chef was a brewpub, Long Island Brewing Company in Jericho.” Palmer ran the kitchen and Mark Burford, who later co-founded Blue Point Brewing Company, was head brewer for the short-lived brewpub, which operated from 1994 to 1998.
Palmer’s menu showcases his versatility, with the CIA-trained chef serving upscale versions of pub favorites such as a short rib grilled cheese sandwich and the Captain Kidd pirate sando, a fried fish sandwich made with a patty of ground scallops, shrimp and lobster. Entrees from around the culinary world include Kung Pao cauliflower, white clam ramen, steak pizzaiola and a German-style brewhouse sausage sampler. The reasonably priced menu also includes artisanal 12-inch pizzas, smashburgers, wings and fun apps like crab rangoon egg rolls.
The manager in Lindenhurst is Ryan Kim, who has been with the brewery in Bay Shore since 2019. He is starting to launch regular events including trivia and tiki nights, and plans to work with Palmer to hold beer dinners pairing GSB brews with special menus. Kim and Palmer are also involved in planning the next GSB gastropub, set to open at the Station Yards development in Ronkonkoma.
Brian said, “We’re very excited about the team we’ve put together and are interested in looking at more locations to expand on Long Island, probably sooner rather than later.”
Great South Bay Lindenhurst is located at 147 S. Wellwood Ave. in Lindenhurst. For more information see gsblindenhurst.com.
Bernie Kilkelly is the editor and publisher of LIBeerGuide.com, where you can find info and listings on where to enjoy great beer on Long Island.
