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There’s a new name pouring pints along the Peconic.
Riverhead Brew House has officially rebranded as Moonfish Brewery, now led by brewer Robert Kurtz and his wife, Skye Hamburg, who are putting their own stamp on the riverfront spot with a bigger focus on beer, local flavor, and a refreshed bar scene.
Kurtz’s path to Riverhead is anything but typical. He started in IT, picked up homebrewing and chased the craft all the way to Asheville, N.C., where he trained at a brewing school and worked at Wicked Weed. That eventually led him back home to Long Island and to Blue Point Brewing, where he rose to brewing lead.
“I always knew I wanted my own place,” he said.
That shot came thanks to Skye’s father, Dr. Richard Hamburg, a physician who was preparing to retire. He spotted the Riverhead Brew House — a 5,000-square-foot industrial building right on the river — listed for sale. The family checked it out, and fell in love.
“I was just mesmerized,” Dr. Hamburg said, recalling the panoramic views of the river.
Over the summer, the couple officially took over. The continued operating as Riverhead Brew House before deciding to take the full leap.
“I just wanted it to feel like ours,” Kurtz said. “This is a brewery first.”
And now, it’s Moonfish.
The rebrand comes with an expanded lineup of house-made beers. Kurtz is also working to bring in more North Fork wine and local spirits.
Inside, they’ve expanded the bar area, added a new stage for live music, and kept the kitchen and staff they felt were already strong. The food menu is highlighted by its artisanal pizzas, gourmet burgers, handcrafted sandwiches and more. Here’s the menu:
As for the name? It came from Dr. Hamburg, inspired by the moonlight reflecting off the water near property the family owns in Bay Shore.
“We wanted something fun, whimsical and aquatic,” said Kurtz on picking the name.
For the couple, opening in Riverhead feels like coming home — they both worked on the North Fork years ago and spent plenty of nights eating and hanging out in town.
“Riverhead always felt like a place with so much potential,” Kurtz said. “We’re looking to become one of the pillars that helps grow with it.”
the food
the beer
the cocktails
the space
