Blue Point Brewing Company

Lore & Background

Blue Point Brewing Company was founded in 1998 in a former ice factory by Mark Burford and Pete Cotter, both avid home-brewers. Pete noted that other parts of the country had local microbreweries and they saw an opportunity for a microbrewery to meet demand in the market between Montauk and Manhattan. The brewery's flagship Toasted Lager won a gold medal at the 2006 World Beer Cup in the American-Style Amber Lager category.

In 2014, Blue Point was sold to Anheuser-Busch InBev for nearly $24 million. At the time of acquisition, the brewery was distributed in 19 states as well as Washington D.C., and it continued to operate in Patchogue, New York. In 2023, Anheuser-Busch InBev sold the brewery to Tilray Brands as part of a deal that included eight beer and beverage brands.

The brewery hosts an annual Cask Ale Festival, concerts, and other events in the brew yard. Its tasting room is open to the public on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Reader's Guide

Blue Point Brewing Company holds a notable place in the Long Island beer scene as one of the early microbreweries in the region, founded by home-brewers who identified a gap in the market between Montauk and Manhattan. Its flagship Toasted Lager earned recognition at the 2006 World Beer Cup, cementing the brewery's reputation. The brewery's acquisition by Anheuser-Busch InBev in 2014 for nearly $24 million marked a significant transition, and its subsequent sale to Tilray in 2023 as part of a multi-brand deal reflects ongoing consolidation in the industry. Despite ownership changes, the brewery has remained in Patchogue, New York, and continues to operate its tasting room and host community events such as the annual Cask Ale Festival and concerts in the brew yard. The brewery's history as a former ice factory and its founders' home-brewing origins contribute to its local identity.

Did You Know?

• Blue Point Brewing Company was founded in a former ice factory.
• In 2023, the brewery was sold to Tilray Brands as part of an eight-brand deal.