Long Ireland Beer Co. in Riverhead seeks a lifeline to stay afloat

Call it an SOS. Or a last call. Or maybe just a heartfelt plea in a pint glass.

Whatever the case, Long Ireland Beer Company is asking its community to step up and help keep the taps flowing at the 16-year-old Riverhead brewery.

Ownership took to social media this week to share a sobering update: like many local businesses, it’s struggling to stay afloat.

“We’re not crying into our beers … but we’re definitely staring into them a little longer these days,” the brewery’s message begins. “We are struggling to survive.”

Citing rising costs on everything from hops and grain to aluminum cans and plastic cups — combined with a slowdown in consumer spending — the owners said the future of Long Ireland Beer Company “isn’t guaranteed.”

Founded in 2009 by friends Dan Burke and Greg Martin — homebrewers with Irish roots and a passion for craft beer — Long Ireland was an early player in Long Island’s now-vibrant craft brewing scene. Their flagship Celtic Ale quickly developed a following, and over the years, they expanded production, opened a tasting room, and became a fixture at beer festivals and community events across Long Island.

Yet even with a loyal following, the brewery, located at 817 Pulaski St., faces the same daunting dark clouds and headwinds that have already shuttered other beloved businesses.

“Every day we see local breweries, restaurants & local businesses we love closing their doors and we don’t want that to be our fate too,” Long Ireland’s Facebook post reads.

Nationwide, the craft beer industry continues to cope with inflation, rising supply costs and evolving drinking habits. The Brewers Association reported that while the total number of U.S. craft breweries reached a record 9,761 in 2023, the number of new openings declined for a second straight year, and closures rose to 418.

Overall production volume was flat. On Long Island, several breweries have closed or scaled back operations in recent years, including two in Riverhead: Peconic County Brewing and Moustache Brewing Company.

For Long Ireland, the costs are climbing — and the community’s support is more important than ever.

The brewery laid out a five-point call to action: stop in for a pint with friends (they’re open seven days a week), stock up on cans or grab a keg for your next barbecue, ask for Long Ireland at your local distributor or store (the brewery is now self-distributing), keep them on tap at your bar or restaurant, or host a group outing in the beer garden or brew house.

“We want nothing more than to keep making beer for you and throwing fun events that we’ve all come to love,” the brewing company said in its Facebook post on Monday. “But we can’t do it alone.”

The message ends with a simple rallying cry: “The more you sip, the more we survive. Let’s keep this brewery alive one beer at a time.”

Long Ireland Beer Company is located at 817 Pulaski St. in Riverhead.

_{Top photo: Facebook}