Business & Tech

Crooked Ladder Celebrates Grand Opening

The wait is over for the downtown Riverhead microbrewery.

It's official: After months of anticipation, the brand-new Crooked Ladder Brewing Co. celebrated its grand opening over the weekend. 

Digger's owner Steve Wirth has been working on opening the microbrewery in downtown Riverhead over the past months, and this weekend, the Crooked Ladder Brewing Co. officially launched.

Though Wirth had originally hoped for a fall, 2011 opening, permitting took longer than anticipated.

Wirth isn't the only current small businessperson among those behind Crooked Ladder. Duffy Griffiths, who will be doing the brewing, owns Jamesport's and Riverhead's Duffy's Deli, while Wirth's brother David will be doing the construction and renovation work at the former Crystal Bar.

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"We knew it was going to take some time," said Wirth. "While it's inconvenient, it's not the end of the world."

The brewery will feature a year-round menu including India pale ale, an Irish red-style ale, a lager and a porter, in addition to seasonal varieties. Located adjacent to Digger's, though a separate business, the beers will be available on tap at the Irish pub, with a tasting room at the front of the brewery, as well.

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Final approvals were received in June, and brewing began at that time. Wirth said the plan had always been to couple the grand opening of Crooked Ladder with the 20th anniversary of Digger's opening in 1993. 

With reporting by Joseph Pinciaro.




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