W A Meadwerks acquires new space in Lindenhurst for more production

Long Island’s only meadery with a tasting room is about to triple its production capabilities.

W A Meadwerks signed a lease last Wednesday to take over a former Jiu-Jitsu studio at 290 North Wellwood Avenue in Lindenhurst.

For now, the new 2,500-square-foot location will serve as a production facility for the fast-growing meadery. The tasting room will remain at 26 West Hoffman.

With the larger space, the honey-based wine producers, Joe Abruzzo and Roger Wanner, will be able to make 300-gallon batches. The two made 100 gallons at a time at their original location.

With more production, W A Meadwerks eyes selling to beer distributors and wholesale outlets, says the owners.

“It also gives us more leeway,” Abruzzo told GreaterBabylon this week. “It was hard to make new flavors because we’d sell out and have to refill our originals.”

A fan favorite since Day 1 is their ResQ mead, 6.8 percent (ABV) with a taste of strawberry and raspberry.

“Everyone loves it,” said Abruzzo, of Bay Shore.

Abruzzo and Wanner, who opened W A Meadwerks in September of 2018, said it was important to them to stay in the Village of Lindenhurst.

“It is such a cool community here,” said Abruzzo. “The people love us and we love them.”

Since its launch, W A Meadwerks has made collaborative concoctions with Lindenhurst’s 27A Brewing Company and Hermanas Kitchen and Cocktails, as well as Bay Shore’s Destination Unknown Beer Company.

The meadery also hosted Long Island’s first mead festival last summer in Lindenhurst that quickly sold out of tickets.

“It’s such a great village,” said Abruzzo. “We’re glad we were able to find this spot.”

After research, the mead makers found out there is a storied history at their new facility — that was an extra bonus.

“Most of this building used to be the original Lindenhurst post office,” said the owners. “We thought that was awesome.”

According to the owners, construction should begin within days with an opening date sometime in June.

Top: W A Meadwerks co-owner Joe Abruzzo at his new space that will be used for more mead production in Lindenhurst (credit: Nicholas Esposito)

prior coverage

https://babylon.greaterlongisland.com/2019/02/05/a-look-at-long-islands-only-meadery-w-a-meadwerks-in-lindenhurst/

https://babylon.greaterlongisland.com/2019/08/03/25-photos-scenes-from-lindenhursts-ales-by-the-rails-long-island-mead-fest/

https://babylon.greaterlongisland.com/2019/02/18/the-495-podcast-this-ones-for-the-locals/