During the warmer weather months, even the most loyal New York City residents are likely to be seeking a nearby escape. Fortunately, Long Island offers great hiking trails and plenty of of sea, sand and sun, just a quick train ride away. Those seeking even more relaxation may also be craving some beer – an ideal summer adult beverage – and Long Island is full of fun, beer-related destinations.
Below are three great Long Island breweries serving top-notch beer, which one can easily get to via public transportation.
Barrier Brewing Co.
Where: 3001 New Street, Unit A2, Oceanside, NY 11572
Why: Barrier is a dog-friendly, baby-welcoming craft brewery that produces over 50 beers, many of which IPAs. Its tasting room has games and free popcorn. The food truck outside Barrier changes every month, as does the artwork adorning the walls of the taproom. Weekly events are posted on the Facebook page of Barrier, and often include live music, food pairings and crafts. Thursdays are especially of note at Barrier as there are hourly drawings for free beer.
How To Get There: Although the address says “Oceanside,” take the Long Island Rail Road from Penn Station to East Rockaway. Board the train towards the front. Barrier is across the street from the East Rockaway LIRR station — just cross carefully at the light – and down the block. You will arrive at Barrier less than five minutes after getting off the train.
Oyster Bay Brewing Company
Where: 36 Audrey Avenue, Oyster Bay, NY 11771
Why: Founded in 2012, the Oyster Bay Brewing Company is known as “Long Island’s Gold Coast brewery.” The winner of honors from Edible Long Island and the Best Of Long Island, Oyster Bay Brewing produced a mix of IPAs, stouts, lagers and pilsners. The Barn Rocker – also available in cans at retail locations – is one of its popular brews, and reinforces the brewery’s love for both beer and baseball.
How To Get There: The Oyster Bay Brewing Company is located within walking distance of the Oyster Bay stop on the Long Island Rail Road. Take the LIRR from Penn Station to Oyster Bay – spending about 80 minutes onboard – walking about five minutes along Shore Avenue and you will be at a great brewery.
BrewSA Brewing Company
Where: 180 Woodcleft Ave, Freeport, NY 11520
Why: Located on Freeport’s Nautical Mile, BrewSA opened in March 2017. Specializing in “all-American beers,” the brewery — which features high ceilings and an outdoor area for the warmer months — gives 25 percent of its profits to veteran-related charities. A friendly neighbor on the Mile, BrewSA encourages its patrons to order in food from nearby establishments and food trucks. It is currently a cash-only establishment, so make sure you visit an ATM beforehand.
How To Get There: BrewSA is not within walking distance of a Long Island Rail Road stop, but it is a quick taxi ride from the Freeport or Baldwin LIRR train stations. Those LIRR stops both have connected taxi services, while Uber and Lyft both service those towns.
For more information on Long Island, head to www.discoverlongisland.com.
Want other Long Island drinking ideas? See our Long Island Guide to Drinking Like a Local. Also check out our guides to breweries in Brooklyn and Queens.
Featured image: Oyster Bay Brewing Company
Additional images: Quinn Dombrowski, Barrier Brewing Co. and Oyster Bay Brewing Company
Darren Paltrowitz is a New York resident (and Long Island native) with over 15 years of entertainment industry experience. He began working around the music business as a teenager, interning for the manager of his favorite band Superdrag. In the years following, he has worked with a wide array of artists including OK Go, They Might Be Giants, Mike Viola, Tracy Bonham, Loudness, Rachael Yamagata, and Amanda Palmer. Darren’s writing has appeared in dozens of outlets including the Los Angeles Times, New York Daily News, Inquisitr, The Daily Meal, The Hype Magazine, All Music Guide, Guitar World, TheStreet.com, and the Jewish Journal.
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
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Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram