New brewery quietly opens in Bay Shore — then makes some noise

There’s a new brewery in Bay Shore — but you won’t find it on Main Street.

Tucked inside a small industrial complex on N. Clinton Avenue, Rites Brewery opened its doors last month and is already turning heads with bold flavors and rare brewing techniques.

The spot now fills the former home of The Brewers Collective (see our 2017 coverage here).

Rites is the creation of Tim Irwin, a retired Wall Street professional who — despite having no background in brewing or hospitality — decided to jump headfirst into the craft beer world with his nephew, Chris Dougherty.

“I was bored sitting at home and I missed being around people,” Irwin told Greater Long Island with a laugh. “I knew all about EBITA and not much IPA, but I knew how talented Chris was, and I believed in what he could create.”

Dougherty, who started as a homebrewer before taking head brewer roles at several well-known Long Island breweries, now finally has a space to make his own.

And he’s doing it differently — through open-top fermentation, an ancient brewing method where yeast interacts with the open air instead of being sealed inside a traditional stainless-steel tank.

“It’s a very different style that not many breweries in New York use,” said Dougherty. “We had to go all the way to Arkansas just to get the right equipment.”

The result is a small (for now) but mighty tap list featuring European-style brews and bold, complex flavors you won’t find on most local menus.

Among the early favorites: a Kellerbier, an unfiltered German lager served straight from the tank to the tap, and a house saison, brewed with lemon peel and peppercorns for a crisp, aromatic finish.

“It’s something I really wasn’t expecting to get into,” Dougherty said. “Unique, complex beer, well-crafted, with local ingredients.”

Rites isn’t aiming to be Bay Shore’s next big party spot — but rather a place for locals and beer lovers to unwind. The team plans to host live music on select nights, bring in rotating food trucks, and build a laid-back vibe for a casual night out.

“You might not think of going out on a random weeknight, but we want to change that perception,” Irwin said. “Great beer has a way of doing that.”