56 LONGISLANDPRESS.COM • MAY 2020
MAIN DISH
HOPWIN’S BREWERY
BOOSTING BREWERS ROW
L. to R.: Bill and Rhiannon Hoppe,
Jennifer and Steve Winn.
CURBSIDE COCKTAILS THE BABYLON EXPRESS By CJ ARLOTTA
Without being able to visit their favorite
night spots for cocktails, Long Islanders
have been turning to curbside cocktail
pickup and delivery services, although
the fancy glasses are lost in the mix.
Seeking to quench the thirst of imbibers
near and far, Islip-based Bohlsen Restaurant
Group (BRG) is offering delivery
service for the most popular cocktail in
the high-end Long Island dining outfit:
The Babylon Express.
“The Babylon Express was created to be
the feature cocktail at Monsoon Steak
& Sushi in Babylon,” says Paulo Villela,
beverage director of BRG, which owns
the restaurant known for its Pan-Asian
fare. “The inspiration behind the drink
was to bring the New York City vibe to
mid-Long Island with a fun and easy-todrink
cocktail that appeals to everyone
and would go well with Pan-Asian dishes.
“Having been a longtime New York
City commuter for eight years myself,
the best way to go from Times Square to
my home in Long Island was to catch the
Babylon Express,” he continues. “The
drink connects Long Island to Manhattan
gastronomically as the train does
physically. And so, the name was born.”
The cocktail has four ingredients:
St-Germain elderflower liqueur, Crop
Cucumber Vodka, pineapple juice, and
lime juice. When combined, they “create
an incredible depth of flavor,” he says.
“The St-Germain adds subtle floral and
herbaceous notes to the cocktail, flavors
that pair nicely with sushi, raw bar items,
and seafood,” Villela says. “The tropical
flavors of the pineapple add richness to
the drink, making it more versatile to
pair with richer, fattier fishes and meats.
The addition of fresh lime adds acidity to
balance out any sweetness, making for a
lively and crisp flavor experience.”
To make the cocktail at home, pour all
ingredients into a mixing glass. Then,
shake about 30 times, strain into a rocks
glass over fresh ice, and garnish with a
cucumber slice.
The drink has become so popular that
competitors have added the cocktail
to their own drink menus, but here’s
a little secret: BRG’s fun, crispy, and
refreshing drink won’t be found under
the same name, Villela says. .
Patrons can have the pre-batched Babylon
Express cocktail delivered straight
to your door from several of BRG’s
restaurants, including Tellers, H20,
and Verace.
“Babylon Express is the No. 1-selling
cocktail in five of our restaurants,” he
says. “Its popularity made The Babylon
Express a clear choice to offer
for pickup and delivery at this time,
so that Long Island residents are still
Bohlsen Restaurant Group is making
their top cocktail to go.
able to enjoy the cocktail they love at
home.”
Contact information for BRG’s
restaurants can be found at
brgroup.biz/our-restaurants
BY BERNIE KILKELLY
With the recent debut of HopWin’s Brewery
next to The Brewers Collective Beer
Co., a brewer’s row is booming in Bay
Shore, which is also home to Great South
Bay Brewery, Ghost Brewing, and Destination
Unknown Beer Company.
HopWin’s was founded in 2015 by
brothers-in-law Bill Hoppe and Steve
Winn, who started out as homebrewers
a decade ago and turned their hobby into
a business after some prodding from their
wives, who are sisters. Unable to host a
grand opening, they instead opened with
takeout and delivery.
“Steve and I were spending so much time
brewing late at night and on the weekends
that our wives suggested we start making
money doing it,” says Hoppe.
HopWin’s leased a 2,350-square-foot
space in 2017 and Hoppe, a sheet metal
worker, and Steve, who works in
telecommunications, built a 5-barrel
brewing system while perfecting recipes
and pouring beers at local beer festivals.
“We’re excited to be part of making Bay
Shore the premier craft beer destination
on Long Island,” says Hoppe, a Bay Shore
native. “Main Street is bustling with craft
beer bars and gastropubs, and we’re grateful
for the support we’ve received from
the other breweries in town.”
Hoppe and Winn won the Golden Keg last
year in the annual Brew’d Competition at
the Long Island Craft Classic beer fest in
which nine local craft breweries competed
by brewing a beer incorporating
a mystery ingredient, which in 2019 was
mango. HopWin’s used the ingredient in
a milkshake New England-style IPA called
Dat Mango Tho’.
HopWin’s brewers like to experiment
by using one recipe but splitting the
batch and adding different ingredients
in the fermenting tanks. HopWin’s has
canned several of its beers, including
split batch beers such as Pretty in
Peach, a peach version of its Hefe Handed
Hefeweizen.
The taproom at HopWin’s has 12 taps, will
feature beers such as Strong Island IPA,
Marshmallow Milk Stout, Golden Ale,
and its split version of One Hella Vanilla!
Golden Ale.
HopWin’s tasting room, highlighted by a
50-foot-long bar, will be family friendly
and dog friendly, with plenty of space for
party games like Jenga and darts. In warm
weather a roll-up door will open to let in
the sunshine.
As the name of the brewery suggests,
these hops are a win!
HopWin’s Brewery is located at 1460 N.
Clinton Avenue in Bay Shore. For more
info visithopwinsstore.com
Bernie Kilkelly is the editor and publisher
of LIBeerGuide.com.
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