If running a brewery in Manhattan was easy, there would be more than one. Despite the difficulty, maybe even defined by it, Torch & Crown Brewing Company knows how important it is for a community to have a relaxing, laid-back place to gather over drinks. To succeed in the Hamptons, like Manhattan, you have to work a little harder, but the rewards are appreciated all the more. Torch & Crown’s commitment to the community is clear—in Manhattan and Montauk—”it’s all about the vibe.”
Torch & Crown’s beer garden pop-up will be open all Summer at Dive Bar Pizza between Amagansett and Montauk (2095 Montauk Hwy Amagansett, NY 11930). After speaking with Torch & Crown, I’m even more excited about what they bring to The Hamptons—not what they are hoping to get from the Hamptons. Hearing co-founder John Dantzler speak, his passion and appreciation for this place are as clear as his love for brewing beer.
John knows the Hamptons is where New Yorkers spend their summers because he is among them. Coming to the Hamptons is an obvious choice for Manhattan’s only brewery, but there is more than that. Torch & Crown is attracted to the community already here, so they chose Dive Bar Pizza specifically as their location in the Hamptons.
Torch & Crown aims to join the Hamptons community, not tap it as a resource. While the Beer Garden they built at Dive Bar Pizza seems like a departure from their lauded location in SoHo, it shares a critical commonality. “We serve beer and the community, so we need a central meeting place to build a community vibe. Dive Bar Pizza was the perfect opportunity for us to partner with a like-minded group for a great Summer!”
While the Summer in the Hamptons is known for its exclusive and elevated events, Torch & Crown aims to cater to the less-visible, relaxed surfing and beach community that has defined Montauk for years. The Summer has an exciting host of events planned, but the downtime intrigues me most: “Ultimately, it’s a laidback beach beer garden. You can come alone or with 20 friends and have a great time – you don’t need an event for that.”
Joe Correia and John Dantzler love Dive Bar Pizza for the same reasons you likely do—nothing fancy—and have built their Beer Garden to complement the space. Check out how John describes a good Beer Garden. They get it. “A good beer garden has very little to do with design or features and more to do with the vibe – it’s a place where people of all ages, from all walks of life, can get together and be themselves. We didn’t overthink it, and we’re not doing anything gimmicky – just great beer, fast and careful service, and a great place for the community. “
Their Share House Summer Ale proves Torch & Crown knows a few things about the Hamptons. Says John, “The name leans into the absurdity of the New Yorker’s experience in trying to vacation in the Hamptons on a budget – who among us hasn’t shared a tiny rental with 40 of our closest friends? And the beer is light and citrusy, perfect for the beach atmosphere.”
Torch & Crown’s approach to their pop-up is unique and highly refreshing. “We’ll have a ton of live music, some cookouts, and of course, some skating on their halfpipe. You’ll also find a wide range of people there, from city people in for the weekend to fishermen who’ve lived at the End for years. That sense of community was our driving factor.”
Bringing more than their award-winning beer to the Hamptons, Torch & Crown has built a full Beer Garden at Dive Bar Pizza with plenty of comfort features, like couches and tables. “Essentially, we’re bringing a different occasion to experience the atmosphere that Dive Bar Pizza has already created.”
Torch & Crown Brewing Company is steeped in New York’s culture and energy—it’s the only brewery in Manhattan, and even the name is a nod to The Statue of Liberty. Brewing beer in Manhattan is ambitious, purposely. “Operating out of Manhattan is difficult and requires constantly innovating and staying creative in what Torch & Crown delivers to our guests. Being in the only brewery in Manhattan gives us an edge… and there is no place else like New York City. The grit, determination, and spirit that the city embodies are what defines Torch & Crown.”
Lifelong friends Joe and John co-founded Torch & Crown in 2020, ten years after their humble origins brewing award-winning beer at 16 before they could legally drink it or accept their awards! Torch & Crown’s Brewery and Beer Garden in SoHo has been listed as one of the best in the city, and their skills in crafting comfortable community spaces are well-known. “We like to say our spots in the city are the perfect mixture of high brow and low brow – every aspect of the guest experience has been obsessed over, but at the end of the day, we make beer, a social drink meant for good times, and we don’t take ourselves too seriously.”
Vibe Check: Passed
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