'Uncertainty': LI's Blind Bat Brewery Co-Owner Talks Coronavirus

CENTERPORT, NY — Merchants across Long Island were forced to adjust their business models to meet New York State regulations imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Craft beer brewers had to temporarily shutter tasting rooms — a core part of a brewery's business.

Paul Dlugokencky, who co-owns Blind Bat Brewery Bistro & Take-Away in Centerport with his wife, Regina, said sales are "definitely down" as a result of the viral outbreak. To account for tasting room sales lost, Blind Bat has turned solely to curbside pick-up. There was stress related to ensuring his brick-and-mortar store would make it through the challenge, Dlugokencky said.

"That’s a thing that kept us up in the middle of the night: uncertainty," he told Patch.

The brewery is fortunate to have had a small staff to begin with, Dlugokencky said. He serves as brew-master and has taken on some of the cooking duties as the regular chef's hours were cut, he said. When Regina also works, she's up by the front of the store, as whoever among the three staff members are present on a given day are social distancing and wearing masks and gloves.

"Just trying to maintain safety for our patrons as well as each other," Dlugokencky said.

The bistro portion of the shop seats a modest 16 customers, so Blind Bat had a head start in gearing up for a takeout-only model. Once the full New York shutdown of in-store service came in March, Dlugokencky was ready. However, there have been issues related to sales due to the coronavirus.

"Understandably, people aren’t just not going out as much, but people are starting to watch their spending, which I certainly understand," he said. "Some people are unemployed, and some people are wary of what might be down the road, so they’re trying to conserve their resources financially."

Dlugokencky is bracing for a potential second wave of COVID-19, he said, mentioning the resurgence of the Spanish Flu more than 100 years ago.

"I don’t think we’re going to go ‘back to normal’ well into 2021," he said. "I think [Blind Bat] can hold on with what we’re doing and conserving our resources. And really hope for the best."

For customers who would like to support the brewery and bistro, Dlugokencky asks that they call and place an order at 631-944-3333. Though if they're just in the mood for beer or don't mind waiting 20 to 30 minutes for grub, people are welcome to pull up to the brewery at 94 Washington Dr. Unit B, Centerport, and wait in their car. Every item on the menu is cooked to order. Delivery isn't being offered due to the heavy fees taken by the companies running it, Dlugokencky said.

An online ordering system is in the works on the Blind Bat Brewery website, which also has separate beer and food menus. Both sections are regularly updated.

Food options include burgers, sausages, sandwiches, knishes, soups, salads, vegetarian/vegan options and specialties. Huntington Hospital staff are welcome to a free soup or burger if they show their ID.

As far as beers go, Blind Bat Brewery has become known for its unconventional brews, such as Hell Smoke Porter (smoky porter), Long Island Potato Stout, Long Island Oyster Stout and Hickory & Maple Smoked Brown Ale. However, Dlugokencky has largely been keeping it simple during the coronavirus. The current rotation includes Devils Belt Sour Red IPA with a grapefruit character, Harborfields HefeWeizen, Old Walt Smoked Wit and Saison du Soleil, a citrus-tasting saison.

While Blind Bat usually has eight different taps, Dlugokencky hasn't been able to brew as much as he'd like due to his increased share of doing the cooking. So, there may only be four, six or eight taps at a given time. A German-inspired lager, Blind Bat Helles Bock, is one of the brews scheduled to come out soon.

"I’ve been doing some new beers, as well as old, familiar, beers," he said. "People do tend to like variety. That’s something we learned years ago. We’re trying to mix it up with the food menu as well as the beer in that regard. We’ve got some standard things going, and we’re trying some new things."

Blind Bat Brewery Bistro & Take-Away is open Thursdays and Fridays from noon to 9 p.m.; Saturdays from 1 to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 6 p.m.