Finding purpose: U.S. Brews in Centerport is a dream fulfilled

It’s been a dream of Brian Mcgunnigle for years – a place to sample high-quality craft beers and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and community vibe of breweries he’s visited throughout the northeast. That dream became a reality yesterday, when his very own beer bar, U.S. Brews, officially opened in Centerport.

Brian and Jessika Mcgunnigle met in Manhattan, where they lived for about a decade before settling down in East Northport. A Long Island native, Brian was born in Northport and graduated from Cold Spring Harbor High School. Married for 14 years, the couple has three children together.

Before he made the transition to business owner, Brian had a career in finance, working long hours and commuting every weekday to the city. “He would say, ‘I gotta put on my monkey suit and go to work,’ and it felt like he was wearing a uniform that wasn’t him,” Jessika told the Journal. While Brian’s heart and soul weren’t in the job, it would take challenging and painful circumstances for him to leave his routine and pursue a longtime dream.

In January 2020, Brian became ill. “I got intense headaches and neurological symptoms. I got tested like crazy, but never found out what it was because Covid tests weren’t even out then,” Brian said. To this day, his symptoms in those months are undiagnosed but they were so severe, he had to leave work on disability. Shortly after, Brian lost two friends, one to Covid and the other to a drug overdose. Then another tragedy: Brian’s 17-year-old sister passed away.

“Within six months, I had my health scares and so much loss, and I thought ‘What is the purpose of this all?’” That’s when Brian says he began to reassess his life; it “gave him the kick he needed,” he explained, and led to his decision to follow through on an idea that he’d had for years.

“I have family in North Carolina and take road trips constantly to taste local beers – it’s unbelievable, the quality of beer all around us and the vibe in those places,” Brian said. He really wanted to bring “that kind of feel” to Huntington: “It’s my hometown and I’m excited to do it,” he said.

Jessika, an East Northport elementary school teacher, has been on board since day one, though she admits she was nervous about the endeavor. To her, U.S. Brews will be a place where a couple with kids can go on a date night, or visit with their family for a casual setting and board games. “It’s not a club and it’s not too quiet or stuffy,” Jessika said. “It feels like there’s a need for that here and the possibilities are endless.” The couple wants their business to be a community space for meet-ups and celebrations.

The Centerport location is special to Brian and Jessika; their kids learned how to swim at Fleets Cove Beach, and Brian would often take them to the neighborhood bake shop, Blondies, for a treat. They passed the vacant building U.S. Brews now occupies often. “It’s always been empty and I thought it was a great spot for something,” Brian said. While he and Jessika considered other locations, they kept going back to the space in Centerport.

The couple signed the lease on the location in January 2022, after months of negotiations, and spent the next year obtaining permits and architectural plans. It took another six months to completely renovate the space. “There were so many things to think about that I did not consider when I first did this, but it’s great and I’m loving every moment of it,” Brian said.

U.S. Brews has a craft beer bar with 20 rotating taps, offering seasonal and well-loved beers from the northeast and beyond. “It’s mostly New York on the board for the first go,” Brian explained, with many award-winning craft breweries featured. There are also ciders and wines available, with options for flights and small pours, too.

A separate food counter where customers can order and bring items back to their tables is “like a food truck, but indoors,” Brian said, with options including soft pretzels, hot dogs, sliders, french fries and more fan-favorite bar foods.

There’s also a gaming counter with board games for all ages, a chess board (hand-painted by their daughter), and a shuffleboard. Tables and seating nooks are plentiful throughout the space, along with band posters and original artwork by Northport resident Jaime Kraft on the walls. A bottle shop offers options for beers to go, and live music can be expected in the near future.

“The positivity from the community has been amazing, and everyone seems excited and friendly,” Jessika said. Although the kids are still too young to work, they’re receiving plenty of early training, Brian added, and this has surely been an experience that has brought the family closer together. A dream fulfilled, sparked by loss and a desire to find purpose… for Brian, U.S. Brews is a major accomplishment that he can enjoy with a community of thirsty neighbors.

U.S. Brews is located at 109 Mill Dam Road in Centerport and is currently open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 10pm and Sunday from 11am to 9pm. For more information, visit their website here.