Croxley's Ale House & Eatery

slander

New York

3.83/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 3.5 | food: 4 | $$

On the heels of SSS (Seasonal Southampton Sunday), what goes out, must come back in. First all Pathogued and working westward still, surely there's something doing in Nassau, I saw not before. Maybe something Southern State accessible, along the return corridor although I'll deviate if whatever for. And you know there's that Croxley's; no, not that one and no, not that one...

Passed (that was it, there) and back (I'll turn around here) and parked (just past, easy get away) and in (through the corral doors) to the outside pen, 5 black steel cross hatched roundy tables here. Entering past there through the funny glass garage doors open over Main Street, Farmingdale, into the large open room, sterile, and sure to be filled with considerably more of the folks here now when not now, Sunday afternoon.

"L" shaped white marble topped bar along the left wall, seating upwards of a dozen and a half on backless Randy stools. Brick wall barback, with 2 white marble panels holding 34 taps each, alternating up down up down, and center shelving in between with booze over glassware, a dirty Jager dispenser below, and more booze & glassware displayed on the ends. A row of 7 flatscreens above the bar, lined with strung red, white & blue starred garland, and drop lantern lamps over the bar seating.

An adjacent bar counter of the same white marble play sits across the room seating a dozen, with 3 booths beyond and 3 tables on the back wall; rows of flatscreens lined above all the seating, just so you don't accidentally not look at a TV no matter which way you look. Past there in a side room; 3 booths on the inside wall, 5 tables in the middle, and 5 booths on the far wall. Far booths are deep for larger wing eating parties, as are the 3 tables to the rear sharing common benchage. And another stretch of seating, down past the bar; 8 booths on the far wall & a dozen+ tables from the rear & forward across the way. Drop lamps over the seating areas, bland everywhere brewery signage & pub signs, some of them spinning, and some of them glowing neons, and seriously, flat screens everywhere & in between. Lots of brick and, well, I thought, I think its black painted everything else but it might be a slate gray blueish & black panel walls, pillars, booths, ceilings, duct work blending & hanger rafters.

68 taps in all, roughly ½ of them craftish, evenly split in thirds by local (Blue Point, Captain Lawrence, Brooklyn, Six Point), regional (DogFishHead, Sam Adams, Yuengling, Smuttynose, Sly Fox, Magic Hat, Troegs, Geary's), and beyond (Leinenkugels, Flying Dog, Anchor, Lagunitas, Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues, Goose Island, Green Flash, Abita, Mendocino). The other ½ are a mix of mostly bland & unexciting imports, Belgians, German, UK, and elsewhere (the best of the lot being, maybe Paulaner Salvator Dopplebock or Grimbergen Double), plus an offensive collection of beer cocktails for which some body should be punched. In the neck. Repeatedly. And without mercy.

Also, 3 dozen bottles, with fine fine descriptions. 10 Belgians, including Orval (Orange Amber color with hints of juniper, lemon and flowers. Crispy light body with a touch of bitter hops). I think I'll just wait for no one to drink them and go collect them aged, thank you. What else, what else? Oh, Duvel (Belgian golden ale, refreshing and golden like a pilsner, but with the depth and complexity of an ale. Bottle conditioned), and Delirium Tremens too (The flavor was cloves, banana and peppery with pungent hops. Crisp carbonation right off with a medium-light body. Nice dry finish). And 3 Canadian (including Peche Mortel), 7 Germs, 5 English, and 11 American micros (Stone Arrogant Bastard, Brooklyn-Schneider Hopfen Weisse & Local 1, Omme, Hennie & Rare Vos, Rogue Dead Guy, Hazelnut Brown & Mocha Porter, Long Trail Double IPA, and something just called Biere De Mars, a 750 going for $36, doesn't say what or from whom, although the description reads "Wild yeast, tartness, funky dry hopping & touch of space dust" so I'm narrowing in on it as we speak).

Had a Sixpoint Righteous Rye, Dave had the Green Flash Hop Head Red, and said of it, "In fine shape, as always". Don't know if that's sarcasm, he is Witzel after all. And then I had the Blue Point Hoptical Illusion (that bitch was nicely hoppy), and the Goose Island Honkers Ale for Dave, as expected (though I don't know why it would be). We split a cubic assload of wings just because, settling on medium. They were crispy good and they were tasty and I hardly cried. And they were of the 20 cents each variety which is of the not suck. Tunes, from country to Cult and hey, Woodstock is 40 this year, I thought, on hearing "Somebody to Love" and Joe Cocker doin', "With a little help from my friends" just after that. The place was pretty dead on sports bar Sunday, so the crowd wasn't offensively just that. Not the worst place to be stuck beering. It's Croxley's is all.

07-05-2009 17:02:24 | More by slander

plaid75

New York

3.83/5  rDev -7.7%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4 | food: 4 | $$$

Located on Main Street, Farmingdale just south of the LIRR tracks. Plenty of parking in the rear, but strangely no rear entrance. For those who know the area, it occupies the former Downtown space.

The space itself is huge with about 3/4 of the area devoted to dining. The bar area is spacious, although there is limited seats at the bar itself. However, there are ledges and stools to pick up the slack. Very industrial in design.

The draft list is typical for Croxley's - 50+ beers on tap, with a handful of seasonals mixed in. While this may seem like a good thing, and it obviously is, don't expect to sample the cuttng edge in craft beer at Croxley's. Other than the seasonals (which are the same every year by the way), the beer list hardly changes.

The wings were good (they always are) and the prices were toward the higher side, as with the other locations.

There was only one bartender on duty to cover the roughly 25 patrons at the bar as well as the table orders. I have noticed this at all the LI locations. So needless to say, it was a bit difficult getting a beer.

10-22-2008 14:15:28 | More by plaid75

daliandragon

North Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -2.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

Stopped by with my brother and a buddy the other night before I left to come back to NC. Casual place with outdoor seating but a little loud considering it was only half full. Tried the Deviant Dale's and Great South Bay's Massive IPA. Prices were decent for Long Island. Service was nice but a little slow. Ten cent wings were hot and tasty. I am glad they will be opening up one of these in Smithtown, in theory. This is a good, although fairly generic version of the Croxley's brand, but the location just south of the LIE sets it apart a bit. The selection and atmosphere are superior to nearby Black Forest, who brew their own beer of course. Solid choice any easy drive from most of Long Island.

07-08-2012 19:25:57 | More by daliandragon

BeTheBall

Massachusetts

3.6/5  rDev -13.3%
vibe: 2.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 3 | $$

Stopped for dinner Wednesday night after a full day at Bethpage Black for a practice round. Atmosphere was sort of cheap, concrete floor with plain round tables in the back half, a crowded long bar with more tables in the front half. Very loud, no doubt in part due to the hard floors and walls. Had to almost yell to talk to my brother at our table; I hate that.

Beer selection was certainly better, much better than average with about 20-30 drafts and dozens of bottles. That being said, I kind of struggled to find what were to me intersting beers to drink. I had one IPA that I couldn't finish (can't now remember what it was), but had a Stone IPA that was great, along with a couple of other beers. The waitress was friendly and attentive.

We ate 20 wings that were 10 cents each, their special that night, then each had a sandwich. Food was decent, nothing special, but nothing bad. I gather that this is the best beer selection in Farmingdale, and is certainly better than anything near where I live in Mass., so cheers to them for being there.

All in all a decent place to put a few down, nice selection and decent pub food if you can handle the roar of the crowd.

06-23-2009 17:41:47 | More by BeTheBall

socon67

New York

4.21/5  rDev +1.4%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.25 | $$

A - Crowds range form business types for lunch weekdays to the train hopping Happy Hour folks and the college scene at night. It is generally lively. Tv's show the local sports games. Outside patio area in the warm weather.

Q - Beer poured in proper glassware, taps are cleaned regularly, and a well maintained tap list.

Ser - Proper glassware, knowledge of what was poured, and paid attention to my food order. Decent enough.

Sel - 66 taps and bottles. Didn't find anything earth shattering rare, but an exetnsive list tohat should have something for everyone.

F - I had a BBQ chicken wrap lunch special that was tasty, and priced really well.

V - One of the better places to get craft on the cheap. $5 pints for many of the options is a good deal. I'll be back.

05-12-2013 02:39:17 | More by socon67

bonbright7

New York

4.13/5  rDev -0.5%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4 | $$

I visited the new addition to the Croxley Ales group of bars on opening night and by chance as I had not seen the notes about when it was going to open. I walked in after buying a great cigar down the street and surveyed the mix of industrial looks with old English wood paneled booths. It didn't quite work, but it was clearly planned out to accommodate large numbers of patrons.
As I settled into the bar for two rounds, I was summoned by my friend Ryan from Manhattan Distributing, who was also attending the opening. While we dined on platters of great bbq/hot wings with another beer rep and great glasses of Palm from one of the taps, I noted the place was functioning very well under the weight of its first night.

I have passed by the Croxley Ales a couple of times since and noted the younger crowds packing the place out into the street. I am looking forward to another and quieter evening there in the near future when I can go.

08-22-2008 04:27:49 | More by bonbright7

CHickman

New York

4.15/5  rDev 0%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4 | service: 4.25 | selection: 4.25 | food: 4.25 | $$

I've only been to this outpost of the Croxley family for lunch, but it has always been good and due to a small lunchtime crowd I've always gotten great service. I imagine that this place is a mob scene at 6:30 pm on a Thursay or Friday night with the commuters and college crowds packing it in. The wings and pretzels are outstanding, and there is always a great selection on tap. Last few times I was there the bartender was just as nice to look at as she was at providing service, which was an added plus. For basic bar food, a very good beer list and a laid back attitude, Croxley's has perfected the formula. Prices are reasonable by NY standards and I suggest going for lunch if you can pull it off.

04-13-2013 04:33:48 | More by CHickman

washburnkid

New York

4.33/5  rDev +4.3%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

One of two Croxley locations I've been frequenting. This one looks like it was a former warehouse...there's a ton of space. A rather long bar and a counter with stools facing the partitioned dining space. Plenty of TVs all around if you're wanting to catch a game. The bartenders are also usually happy to put something on for you.

The beer selection is fantastic. No BMC offerings at this place. Craft, local and import only with 50+ taps easy. The menu is divided by draft and bottle, with the draft list divided by seasonal offerings (the taps most frequently rotated) and other styles. I had the most divine glasses of Nugget Nectar here a couple of weeks ago. From what I've experienced, the tap lines are always clean and the beer is always fresh. I usually steer clear of the bottle selection because the prices are a little outrageous. It's more bang for your buck if you go with the draft offerings (which is what I based my "value" rating on). They also have a full bar.

Croxley has sweet potato fries and gravy, a combination to die for. Their veggie burgers are good, too. I've never heard a complaint from the meat-eating friends I usually go with.

I've never had a problem with service here. People have always been really friendly, even the burly security guard who greets everyone and checks IDs at the door on busier nights.

Don't go to this place on a Friday or Saturday night if you're interested in peacefully enjoying some good brews. The young crowd from the college down the road takes over.

03-13-2011 16:11:52 | More by washburnkid

Biggness

New York

4.25/5  rDev +2.4%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 4.5 | service: 3.5 | selection: 4.5 | food: 4.5 | $$

I got my first glimpse of Croxley's Last night, and I was certainly impressed for the most part. I really liked the atmosphere, nice trim work inside, nothing like seeing 68 taps on the wall and the open walls was a nice addition. Everything I ordered was very high quality so I can not complain. Our server mixed up beers way too often and forgot beer orders just as often, BUT sh e was very nice. How can you complain about 68 taps? Well of the 68 I count 15 I would certainly order, 5 that I would not leave without ordering, not a great ratio but certainly enough to tempt me to come back. 12.95 for a burger with toppings, fries and a draft. Great deal and it was good!

08-29-2008 19:40:02 | More by Biggness

steelerguy

New York

4.4/5  rDev +6%
vibe: 4 | quality: 4.5 | service: 4 | selection: 5 | food: 4 | $$

This place is the best I have gone to on Long Island for beer selection, and one of the best I have ever gone to period.

It definitely has that sports bar feel, so if you are not into that well...you won't like the atmosphere. I am a big sports fan and all the TVs with games on work for me.

I have not gotten a bad beer there, meaning wrong temperature or improper carbonation, all foam...etc. These beers come from the tap right on.

Service is nothing special, but it is fast and that is even when they are busy. I don't need someone making sure I am doing okay every 2 minutes, as long as you get me what I need with minimal wait I am happy.

The selection is amazing! The number of great beers they have on top is extraordinary and if they don't have it on tap you can order from a very nice selection of bottled beers, many Belgian or speciality and hard to find. The bottled beers can be a bit expensive though.

I have only had wings there, they are good. They are not great or even really good...but at 10 cents on a Wednesday night, I am not going to complain. Leaves plenty of extra coin for beer.

If you order from the taps and I don't see why you wouldn't, expect to pay $6 a pint. Not cheap, but for the quality of beer and the selection, I think this is very reasonable.

03-12-2010 00:42:12 | More by steelerguy