Defiant Brewing Company

August 10, 2008
Stopped here to pick up some growlers. Just a long, narrow room with high ceilings and no decor to speak of. Pretty industrial looking. Service isn’t bad, it just took very long for the guy to fill two growlers. Also, there’s a bottle list, but you can only drink them there. Why? Beers range from boring to decent. As of now (from what I’ve tried so far) some good offerings are the Farmhouse, and the Stout of War. I just wish we could take the bottles to go as well.

May 7, 2008
Truly one of my very favorite places since moving to NY a year ago. Yes, the decor is bare bones, but the barstools are comfortable, the beer is fresh, and the folks on both sides of the bar are the best people anywhere. Not a massive variety of brews to try at most times, but with the goodness available in the beers, you really don’t care. Very reasonable prices for glasses and growlers, just a nice place to spend an evening. Come by and make a new friend, try a great brew, and have a good time!

May 3, 2008
Walked in at 2 on a Saturday and by 3 there were at least a dozen people in the house. The decor is bare bones, but it seems just right. You get served right out of the conditioning tanks, which is a great touch I think. Service is attentive, intelligent, and just right. Selection was nice with a good variety of different things. It’d be nice if there were smaller bottles available and more tap selections, but it’d also be nice if I was worth $15 million. Whaddya gonna do, ya know? Food is limited to cheese. Overall this is a place to check out. If you want some good beer, you’re a fool to pass it up. I’d go back, and it’s a pain in the ass to get to from Brooklyn.

December 1, 2007
There are cuurently 15 beers that I can recall. Beers are $3.25 per glass and growlers are offered as well. Cheese is currently offered but additional items will be served soon.

April 4, 2007
Neil and Ben are ridiculously gracious and knowledgable hosts that spent a solid two hours with my friend and I, just talking beer and whatnot. There’s no question that these two men love beer and Defiant Brewing Co. They welcomed us like old friends, and we’ll be going back again and again. The beers sampled were all well above average, and the pizza place across the tracks makes some of the best pizza you’ll find anywhere. The food rating is for the pizza, and Neil gets a full five points in ambiance for having the Bennington flag hanging prominently!

January 18, 2007
Met up here with dickinsonbeer for a homebrew club meeting. Long, somewhat narrow brewery with a bar that runs just about the entire length. Neil was a good host and I enjoyed sampling a couple of his beers. Bought a couple of growlers to go. Don’t trust mapquest for directions to the brewery, as it will leave you about a block and a half away.

December 21, 2006
(Growlers to go only.) Neill is the brewer, bartender, and owner. He has some nice beers on tap. There are about 6 beers that are offered. He fill growlers right from the fermenters. Nice selection of beers. The food is limited. Sometimes he has some cheese and bread. Very friendly person. He is very knowledgable. Nice location. Definitely worth a trip up there.

November 8, 2006
As said before, Neil is owner-brewer ect. Every brew was at the least good, with some being great. Price and size of mugs lets you taste all he has on tap, which is served right from the fermenters. Great beer here, and easy to get to. Just follow directins to the pub across the street.

October 26, 2006
Place is basically a brewery that happens to serve beer. Neil Acer is the owner/brewer/bartender who must be up to his ears in work, but his love of brewing really shows. Every beer sampled was at the very least quite good, with some(especially the pumpkin and Christmas ale) outstanding! All beer served in 10oz. mugs for $2.75, with growlers going for $7.50 plus $2.50 deposit for the bottle. Since he was out of growlers, Neil let Joeec5 and myself use our own 2L swingtop growlers for $7.50. Great place in a convenient location from North Jersey(around 35 minutes from Giants Stadium). I can see myself becoming a regular at this place.

September 26, 2006 [ Updated November 17, 2006 ]
11/15/06 NOTE: Growlers to go only. Neill can not serve glasses of beer. ----------------------------------------- Neill Acer, after brewing at serveral area brewpubs has now opened up his own place. The Defiant Brewery is also a tasting room. It is located directly across the tracks from the Pearl RIver Train Station, in the white building. Mapping websites might lead you wrong as there is also Dexter Ave in town, so just find the train station. The beer is served directly from the tanks. Growlers are also filled. 6 beers were offered at the opening, the selection, will only get better, not that there was anything wrong to begin with. No TV’s or loud music. Food is limited, cheese/crackers etc at the opening. There are plans to offer a greater variety of cold foods but there is no kitchen, it is a brewery after all, and not a brew pub.