Deer Park Resident Opens Beer Garden In Town

DEER PARK, NY - Joining in the trend of beer gardens and breweries on Long Island, the Hops Scotch Bottle Shop recently opened in Deer Park.

Owner and Deer Park resident, Mark Doublet, officially opened the business on 848 Long Island Avenue back in June.

After the birth of his first child, he knew he wanted to set roots and contribute to the growth in town, so he did that by adding the town's first beer garden.

"I love Deer Park but there really isn't much that much great beer here," he told Patch.

The business is just a few miles away from many popular breweries in Bay Shore and Lindenhurst, but definitely stands out from the crowd.

"Hops Scotch bottle shop is the art of beer so we're all about beer," he said.

Walking in, two large shelves containing 75 assortments of bottles and cans from a large variety of breweries line the wall, which are up for grabs for customers to purchase and enjoy right there in the store or take it to go. In addition, the beer garden offers 10 additional beers on tap that rotate every week. Customers can also enjoy their beer with a few different appetizers on the menu, including a make-your-own cheese board.

The business also offers workshops to teach residents all about beer. Doublet, along with all the other employees, took beer courses before opening the business so that they could educate the consumer on their product.

"For most people they'll buy a beer in the store and they'll just drink it but to really understand what went into it, the ingredients — everything from the hops, the water, the grains — it's really nice to know what you're supposed to be tasting when you're drinking something," he said.

But perhaps the most unique thing you can get from Hops Scotch is their whipped cream topped beer. Rather than use syrups or sugar on the rim of the glass to enjoy with the beer, Hops Scotch sweetens their drinks by topping them with whipped cream, cookies and candy.

Currently, they offer two different kinds of this specialty beer. One is a dark stout topped with chocolate whip cream and chocolate wafer. The other is a seasonal spiced ale or winter ale topped with peppermint whipped cream, nutmeg and candy cane.

Like the beer, everything about the business seems simple, but comes with a story. The pieces of art that hangs on the walls come from local residents and even the wooden caricatures on the bathroom door were made by Doublet's father.

The Deer Park residents have been very receptive to the new business, according to Doublet.

"We've had incredible feedback, a lot of positive stuff and a lot of repeat customers, which is really awesome," he said.

Every Thursday, there's a different event. They will host a "Beer 101" course, take residents on brewery tours, "paint your own beer glass" workshops and more. Soon they will also be hosting fundraisers for the Long Island Blood Bank and American Diabetes Association.

All photos courtesy of Priscila Korb