Spider Bite Beer Company - First Bite Pale Ale

This pale ale was the first beer the Spider Bite guys brewed together, hence the name, First Bite. A rich and hazy reddish-orange hue brightens our glasses on the pour, topped with a nicely lacing cap of foam. We picked up big citrus notes in the aroma, along with pine and some herbal spice character. The malts make an appearance here, too, with a noticeable undertone of caramel and light toast. These aromas translate well to the flavor, as well; look for zesty citrus hop notes to abound, joined by plenty of herbal spice and a touch of earthiness. The malts come through quite robustly, providing a sturdy caramel core. Moderate hop bitterness does a good job of overpowering the light residual sweetness, keeping this pale ale nicely dry, especially at the lingering finish. This is a food-friendly brew that should pair well with burgers, roasted fowl, sweet and sour shrimp, pizza, or a snack of pub cheeses like Cheshire, Cotswold, Cheddar, or Derby. Cheers!

Spider Bite Beer Company was founded in October 2011 by Larry Goldstein and his friend, Anthony LiCausi. After graduating from SUNY Stony Brook with a degree in biology, Larry, a Long Island native, ventured off to Atlanta to study chiropractic. It was there in Atlanta that he developed a taste, and ultimately a full-blown passion, for craft beer. Over the next few years, he traveled around the U.S. to visit breweries and taste their beers, compiling over 5000 beer reviews in the process. Larry worked as a competition beer judge, became a columnist for the Southern Brew News, and homebrewed, all while running a chiropractic business for over ten years and raising a family. Eventually his passion drove him to take an assistant brewing role at a nearby brewpub, and that's when things turned even more serious.

Larry, along with his wife and four daughters, moved back to Long Island, at which time he studied brewing formally at the American Brewers Guild, and followed that up with an apprenticeship in San Diego under the respected Tomme Arthur of Lost Abbey & Port Brewing fame. After about three years of discussion and planning, the idea of Spider Bite Beer Company became a reality with their first beers hitting the scene. Amazingly, at just their first appearance at a major beer event, Spider Bite beat out over 50 other entrants to win the F.X. Matt Memorial Cup for "Best Craft Brewery in New York State."

West Coast IPAs, wild & sour ales, and imperialized styles provide the inspiration for much of Spider Bite's portfolio, and we can't wait to see how this growing enterprise develops and what new beers they'll craft next. For more info about Spider Bite or their Tasting Room in Holbrook, give them a ring at 631-942-3255 or visit spiderbitebeer.com.