What a gem!
We sought out the location of the Defiant Brewery after trying to order an Orange Cream beer at a local restaurant only to find out they were out. Â What's the next best thing? Going to the brewery itself, of course.
The Defiant Brewery isn't anything special, but it is pretty awesome. Â The bar is simple yet efficient, and there are no computers to enter orders. Â Large copper kettles full of beer liven the room, and chalk boards listing delicious options for beverages hang high on the wall. Â Food is apparently new to the establishment, and we were pleasantly surprised. Â We opted for the Ample Sampler -- pulled pork, ribs, brisket, wings, corn bread, and 3 sides -- which was plenty for the two of us. Â As a matter of fact, my boyfriend and I both thought that the ribs were the best we'd ever had, with meat that practically fell of the bones. Â The only bummer being the fact that they were out of a few of the sides that we wanted to order, so we'll just have to go back one of these days to try the full menu.
Prices are more than reasonable. Â The Orange Cream beer was just $3.75 for a mug and $13 for a growler. Premium beers are a bit pricier, but are still reasonable. Â Food prices range depending on what you order, and our Ample Sampler was about $35.
Since the place is pretty simple, we opted to pay with cash. Â They may accept credit cards, but I would play it safe and bring plenty of cash along just in case they don't.
I'll be back, and hope to see you there when I return.
Based on beers alone, I would probably give Defiant Brewing a 4 star. I like the fact that it's different here. A little more rugged then your typical bar, dark with a small TV, and a nice blend of rock music. Different can be good. The problem here is the customer service at this place sucks! Either they have been severely undermanned the past few times or they just don't mind letting customers wait 10 minutes to place an order for drinks. The last time was one too many. We got up and left. I will get my Defiant beer elsewhere... if I feel I should support them.
Different is good but if keeping track of tabs with pen marks on coasters doesn't let you move faster then a snails pace, spend some money on technology and make it easier.
Yep 5 Stars.
I came here on a Monday night around 7pm. I was the only person in the place.
There were 2 guys working and they were glad to talk to me about the beers. I had 1 Orange Cream that was on an other level and 1 Shandynanigans that I did enjoy. I wish it wasn't a Monday as I've heard the BBQ is awesome. I needed to take home a Growler of Orange Cream. Growler was $13 bucks and I enjoyed EVERY SIP a week later when I drank it. I emailed them to find out about how much a keg of the OC is and it was reasonable.... I just need to find a reason to get a keg now. This place probably could not be any further from my house but while I was there one of the guys told me they were filling a order for several bars down by the beach. I will keep my eyes open for Defiant from now on.
This place gets better and better. I'm not a beer connoisseur (luckily everyone who works there is), but I definitely enjoy trying things beyond Bud Light, and I've had some really interesting beers at Defiant. The other day I tried the Orange Cream beer, and their Shandynanigans- both hits for the summer. Great beer and service in a pleasant brewery atmosphere (now with some nice outdoor seating) should be enough- but they're just knocking it out of the park with their BBQ. It's absurdly delicious. The ribs and the chicken wings are incredible- and I wouldn't tell you to not get the mac n' cheese or the deviled eggs. If summer didn't also happen to be bathing suit season I'd happily eat here several times a week.
Review Source:Mayfest was the best! Â That was a special festival party Defiant had to celebrate the releasing of two new Spring/Summertime Beers.
With live music provided by Part Time Dragon Slay, Â which is made of very talented musicians!
And the Beer! Â
**Defiant's Orange Cream Beer - a seasonal ale that will remind you of a creamsicle and of summertime
** Shandynanigans - a light golden ale with fresh muscat grape juice dry-spiced with rosehips, cardamom, and lemon grass
There is no better place to kick back and have a few in Pearl River! Â WE LOVE LOVE LOVE DEFIANT!!!!
Hubby and I walked in at 1:00 p.m. on a Saturday. Â The door was propped open and people were inside but the sign on the door stated they open at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Â The atmosphere was very dreary and not inviting. Â The place had some huge chalkboards with pricing on it. Â You could smell nothing but spicy BBQ sauce in the place. Â In my past I was at Mountain Valley Brew Pub, Company B's and they looked like a place you would like to hang out. Â This place looked like a dungeon. Â I was happy that we just walked in and looked around and left. Â I really prefer Growler and Gill in Nanuet. Â Call me a snob, I just got a bad vibe off this place.
Review Source:Two nights per week, it's a restaurant with wonderfully large and tasty servings of pulled pork. When I say large, I mean big enough to take home and get a couple more meals out of it.
All week long, it's a local brewery with a wide range of beers catering to different tastes. Just keep trying them until you find a brew you love.
We stopped in to Defiant one weekend afternoon on a beer tour of the Hudson Valley we found online. We began here and ended up really liking the beer. We unfortunately arrived too early to try any of their food, I guess they only serve at dinner time. The atmosphere was very unassuming, there is basically a long bar and a few tables under the active fermentation tanks. Some of the tanks are even used for serving and the bartender will draft your beer from them. They have a rotating selection and a few regulars. We tried the blonde and the IPA and both were very good. There's something about beer straight from the tank that tastes way better.
The service was good as well. We were served right away and the bartender kept checking up on us and told us a little about the history of the brewery and about the beer. The owner even stopped by and talked tous a little about running the place.
It had a great local family owned vibe and we'll definitely be back to continue to fill our new growlers.
Beers are great. Setting is great. Love the brewery scene.
I would have given 5 stars if not for the food. just remove the food menu if you dont do it up as good as the beers. a "cheese plate" IS NOT one piece of cheese with no dippings or sides and wrapped saltines. just take it off the menu. and the jerky was rock hard.
I love almost all the beer that the boys at Defiant make, but ever since they started serving food, I have notice a bit of a yuppy crowd. I've only been here twice in the last year so many I just have bad timing. Other then that, This place is a must see if you live in the Area. There seasonals are fantastic, "Pumpkin Ale being my favorite." I plan on coming back here in a week or so, so I will have a more updated review.
Review Source:The beer is some of the best I've ever had. They have a wide selection that changes with the seasons. In the summer, you'll get fruity wheat beers. In the fall, you'll get pumpkin lager and octoberfest. I am excited to see what they serve in winter. The food is really good too. Quality pulled pork, homemade beef jerky, and mac and cheese served in generous portions. It's all a great compliment to the beer.
The place has a great atmosphere as well. It's literally a fully-functioning brewery. No TVs or dance music. Just a standard bar, some tables, and a bunch of copper brewing vats. I recommend this place to anyone in Rockland or North Jersey. It's just a short drive or a train ride away, but it is one of my favorite places to eat and drink.
The beer is what brings this place down. Â Their beers are at best watered down I find. Â In a world of flavorful IPAs and stouts the only reason they stand out is because they lack flavor. Â For me, this just doesn't cut it, which makes me sad because they're right down the road. I consider this a good place for people to get an intro into craft beers, not for someone who appreciates them though. Â
Love the setting of the place. Â The people are always friendly, ambiance is great, BBQ is great. They need to improve their beer however for me to really enjoy it.
After over a  year I finally got out to Pearl River and Defiant.  I'd had their beers at a beer festival and knew they were good and strong.  Recently they added BBQ as well.  The brewery/tap room is right across the tracks from the Metro North train, perfect location!  Inside it's a long bar and tables amongst the brewery, I loved that.  We went on a Saturday late afternoon and had no problem getting seats at the bar - not crowded at all.  The beer was excellent, 10oz beers for $3.75 so one can sample many, and the BBQ was top notch.  My wife and I split a sampler platter - 6 dry rubbed ribs, brisket, pulled pork, 4 dry rubbed wings (I usually don't eat wings but these were excellent) and 2 sides (baked beans were really good).  Great beer selection (which rotates) and friendly and prompt service.  I'll definitely be making the trip back.
Review Source:Funky place, but in a good way. This is the first bar I've been to that doesn't have a single TV in the place, but it adds to the charm. You got a decent beer selection (Medusa IPA FTW) and some food options which looked pretty good. Best of all, for $3.75 a pop, you can get a nice mug of some fine craft beer, and a little more for a 750 mL bottle. A little far from Hoboken, but being at the train station, it may be worth the trip again.
Review Source:So I discovered that I can walk 5 mins from my house, catch a train, and the train will drop me off directly in front of Defiant's front door! How did I get so lucky?
There are several beers on tap, as well as others bottled. Â The Defiant Muddy Creek is their signature beer, and I'd guess the best seller. Â Buy a growler and come back for more! Â
The bottled (not currently on tap) Begian Tripel was my fave! Â Reminded me a little of Franziskanner. Â I also liked their Chocolate Stout (better than Guiness, I think and great for dessert!) and the Little Thumper was good too. Â They have a citrus flavored Winter Ale that probably won't be available much longer, though I'm eager to see what sort of seasonal summer brew Defiant will offer!
They have somewhat recently introduced a food menu to compliment their delectable craft beers.
We had the sampler with pulled pork, brisket, and ribs! My God, the boys raved about the ribs! They also make their own beef jerky in Original, Teriaki, and Spicy Hawaiian. Â I definitely failed at not eating meat that day. Â They were all out of side dishes the first time we went, which was sad, but also encouraged me to come back another time so I can try them.
There was lots of room at the bar and plenty of tables. Â It gets packed pretty quick on a Saturday night and has a mature crowd. Â By mature I don't mean grumpy old men.. I mean there aren't any 21 year olds dancing on the bar and vomiting in pitchers. Â I don't think I saw any pitchers by the way...
I can't wait to go back!
I want to give them a three and a half because that is more fair. If it were just based on the beer it would be four.
We were looking forward to "the tour" their website says they have......well apparently we had the full tour the moment we walked in the door.
I admire their attempt at BBQ. We ordered the $22 sampler which is plenty for two people. The ribs are amazing and truly the highlight. The brisket was like jerky, and the Pulled Pork was just okay. The sides included coleslaw and cornbread. The cornbread was simply awful and the slaw was bland. We asked the bartender for salt (for the slaw) but were told "our food has enough seasoning and doesn't need salt" ...um, really?!?!? Okay, your meat may have a seasoning and was fine...your slaw on the other hand is as bland as can be and could use some salt...or maybe your "seasoning"....your choice...either would be an improvement!
I think I tried everything on tap, except a wheat (not a fan), my personal fav. beer that day was the Unfiltered Medusa. Â Â Â
I would return for beer and ribs.....and if I brought a salt shaker maybe some slaw.
Defiant is a brewery - they don't say "brew pub" or "restaurant" in their title, they are a brewery and when you go there you step into the heart of the brewery, not a restaurant.
I've seen some negative reviews for Defiant and each time I feel that the reviewer is at fault, not the brewery. Defiant is what it is and makes no apologies for it. There are kegs piled up, pallets of hops and barley, big copper brewing vats and enough copper piping to rig a large ship. There is a wooden bar that looks like it was built by college guys and could easily have found itself in my fraternity house. The floor is sometimes sticky and the crew often hoses down the bar back with high pressure hoses. There is no A/C, its hot, its in a warehouse, its next to a train stop and guess what... IT SMELLS LIKE A FREAKING BREWERY!!!!!
If you're some snooty, d-bag who thinks he is going to impress his 20+ city friends by bringing them to a bohemian joint, just STAY AWAY.
If you want to try some excellent beer made by hand by someone who is a real master at what he does, then go to Defiant. (chances are you will actually see them mixing or working the brew while you are there) If you actually care about learning what went into a beer and how it was crafted, then go to Defiant. If you like good BBQ, then get there early on Friday and Saturday, its a brewery not a restaurant so there is no guarantee that they will have food later in the night.
Don't expect ambience, it is a working brewery, that does us the courtesy of serving pints and excellent BBQ.
The name is Defiant, not compliant, when you go there you are the brewer's world, not yours.
Appreciate it for the great things it is, not for what it is not.
I highly recommend the Single Malt Lager and Muddy Creek when you go!
I will always go where the beer is good (and someone else will drive!). Â I had been waiting for months to try Defiant's Pumpkin Ale straight from the barrel but alas, the beer had run out! Â So many people had shown up on Friday and Saturday that by Sunday I was out of luck. Â Nonetheless the available brews were very good. Â
Every Sunday they have a special cask ale for the week. Â On this particularly day they offered Honey Cask Ale. Â It was fantastic! Â It featured a sweet taste but worked well. Â I also highly recommend the Medusa IPA.
I couple of pointers if you're looking to visit Defiant:
(1) There are no TVs. Â Don't expect to come here and watch the game, its just a warehouse.
(2) Pulled pork is only available on Friday and Saturday. Â All other days you can still buy cheese platters.
(3) Tip your bartenders. Â Most of the time its the brewers themselves. Â Support your local brewery!
And now for my 100th review.....the mighty Defiant Brewing!
I have stuck through with this place since it was run only by Neil. Over the years there have been issues with zoning and after that it's all been nothing but fantastic times.
When I first started going here nobody knew about it and it was fantastic. Such delicious beer all to myself and the few other people seated around me. I even remember my first Christmas season there! Ah the good old days! My heart broke when zoning issues crept up as during that time it was a growler fill station only. Disputes were resolved with the town and he was back in business and I was happy as ever.
This place has definitely grown from a fledgling company. It bottles and distributes to local stores and it even puts it in kegs for restaurants. They have BBQ which I've never tried but probably will based on the reviews...one day!
Their seasonal brews are amazing and no review can do this place justice.
Ok, I've been to brew pubs before and they don't have to smell like a brew pup - Gordon Biersch, Sin City brewing etc. Â This one is a mans brew pub, which is good and bad. Â If I was 21, and on spring break, this is a good place - but I am 45 and looking for a little more upscale experience. Â The plastic trays they serve the BBQ on makes me feel like I was in prison, and I know what prison is like because I watch 'Lockup' on A&E. Â BBQ - mediocre too, it was cold, and served in little hat like cardboard containers. Â
As I sat on my bar stool, Â next to what looked like a graveyard for 1/4 kegs waiting to be put down didn't help. Â I'll probably enjoy the Defiant brews at other local bars they service - no need to go back to the source.
I've been going here for years, but some how have never written a review. Â When I was working in the city, I would take the train from Pearl River and the station is right across from the brewery. Â Â Which makes it kind of hard to miss.
Inside it is just a brewery with a bar the length of the place. Â You can buy a growler which can be refilled. Â If it is not busy your growler will be refilled quickly. Â However when there is a crowd you may be ignored for a bit. Â That bothers me when my growler is on the bar, you know that I am a guaranteed sale.
I do enjoy there beers, but I love the triple which can only be bought 750 ml. Â The refills on the growlers depend on the beer but by the glass is $3.25. Â You can't beat that.
I have not tried their barbecue, so I can only comment on the beers.
Cash ONLY!
Awesome, amazing, can't ask for more.
First, the beer - great variety, and $3.25 a mug is killer pricing. Â In 2 hours there I saw about 20 growlers walk in the door from other fans of the beers.
They have a great Belgian Tripel available for sale here and in other places - one of the best American-made Belgians I've ever had (Allagash would be my other). Â Other 750ml bottles are available for sale there, including ones that are brewery exclusive.
Next, the place - awesome feeling spot, the bar is right around the copper kettles. Â Truly industrial brewery style. Â Not a romantic spot, but awesome for anything else.
Last, the food - oh the BBQ. Â Available after 5pm-ish on Friday and Saturday, the food is amazing. Â A smaller Brisket plate (with two sides) was enough for me (I'm a biiiig guy) and was just great. Â Top 5 BBQ meals I've ever had, and at a great price.
This was the first time for me to Defiant, but 10000% sure won't be the last.
Just went here for the 3rd time and I have to say that I've never been disappointed. Â
First off the beer it top notch. Â I haven't had a beer there that I didn't like. Â Now before you judge, I'm not a raging alcoholic (yet) and I'm passed binge drinking (on a regular occasion) but I make sure to try a mug of a different beer on every round when I'm at a brewery. Â They do an especially good job with the varying porters and ales here. Â I had the Headless Horseman Pumpkin Ale and couldn't help but go back for seconds on it.
Second, I highly recommend only going on nights that they have fired up the smoker. Â Which basically means any Thursday through Sunday (I believe). Â The wings are covered in a dry rub that gives a nice sweet and spice mixture as well as a crispy texture to it. Â Obviously since they're smoked the wings are not deep-fried so to get that same kind of crunch is impressive. Â Add that to the smokiness and it's a home run. Â I've also had the pulled pork, brisket and ribs. Â All well done, but the wings are ally something that sets them apart.
The great thing about Defiant Brewing Company is that it's very unassuming. Â Meaning that they're not trying to be much more than they are. Â You're sitting at a bar in a brewery that is literally across from the vats and containers they brew in. Â Not to mention the pallets of empty kegs, growlers and bags of malt behind you. Â They're just making a quality product at a great price!
Definitely a place to visit either to start a night of drinking or just to catch up with some good friends.
Defiant has a nice beer selection and all of it is from their own brewery! Â They have some really nice seasonal stuff (my friends are obsessed with the fall pumpkin spice one!) and everything is nicely priced for a local brewery, or just any bar in the area.
I couldn't go there every night, but for a drink here and there and for something different than your typical bar it's definitely a nice breath of fresh air. Â You'll never see your college frat guys or whiney girls there, it's a nicer crowd which is sometimes surprising considering how close it is to the Pearl River bars where you can see all those types.
Always a good time!
I love Defiant. The beer selection is great for such a small brewery. There's almost always something new being brewed up, and the prices are great. Albeit the mugs are small, but it's fine, because you get some specials pretty frequently.
The smoked BBQ wings are great if you go on Thursdays (wing night).
Definitely a place to visit once in you're life, and for those of you who live by trains, NJ Transit will take you right to Pearl River... literally next to the Brewery!
In my later years I don't get much of a chance to enjoy the late nite scene much. Â Based on the reviews of fellow Yelpers we decided to meet up with my sis and her hubsand for some beers and grub on a Fri. night. Â This place is really more of a bar that brews it's own beer rather than a brewery that has a bar. Â We were a little dissappointed that there weren't any tables to sit down (as mentioned in other reviews) so we took 5 seats at the end of the bar. Â The menu is simple... Â Beer or Water. Â Meat, Meat and More meat. (Just how my DW likes it ;-) The ambiance is nice, it's not too dark, the music is not too loud and the size of the crowd is managable.
As for the food end of the business... The BBQ is pretty decent, we decided to share the large platter which basically comes with one big ass serving of everything on the menu. Â Wings, Ribs, Brisket, Pulled Pork, Corn Bread, Beans, Potato Salad, Mac and Cheese and Cole Slaw. Â The meat was very good, most of it was covered in a dry rub with a very heavy dose of liquid smoke. Â As other reviewers have mentioned it wouldn't appear as though this stuff is produced on premise.
The beer in representable. Â They had about 10 styles on tap ranging from your typical american lager (good for all you bud light drinkers... eck!) Â to a pretty decent pumpkin ale. Â I think the Belgian ale was my fave, but unfortunately they do not allow you to purchase growlers of the Belgian. Â None of the others that we tried (we had about 5-6 diff beers in total) knocked my socks off enough for me to take a growler home. Â I did purchase a 750ml bottle of their Christmas ale (which they didn't have on tap). Â I'm always up to try something new.
I'm glad to have given this place a shot. Â I'm not sure how often we'll go back, but I'd like to maybe give it a try in the summer when they have a different set of brews on tap. Â I will continue to try the bottled products that they brewery offers as my experience with those has been much better than the fresh beers we had at the brewery.
That's right. I came back to feed my new found addiction.
This time, I brought a bunch of colleagues over on a Thursday.
Now that "Thursday" is of major significance. They serve smoked wings!!
These wings are incredibly delicious. Usually smoked stuff are a bit dry, these wings are juicy. The smoked (jerked I think) taste sinks all the way into the core for those fortunate chickens.
The wings are a huge hit!
Of course somethings never change....the beers are awesome. I think it was love at first sight for several people. And yes, many people also got lost. GPS just can't find this place.
There is something new this time, of course. The growlers are back in stock! I took the chance to stock up on the pumpkin ale:-D
I was there for the first time last saturday and I wish this place was closer to me.
Upon entering I was greeted by the sounds of the Grateful Dead channel on Sirius - awesome!
The beers were good and inexpensive. $3.25 for a mug.
I had 5 (one was on the house) it came to $13.
I was hungry and read about the bbq on weekends so I had some.
I had the sampler for $22 and it was really good.
Smoked wings, ribs, brisket, pulled pork plus 2 sides (mac n cheese and cole slaw - both seemed not to be made there) and pickles and cornbread. Great value!
Pondering when I'll go back again - hope its soon!
My friend and I tried out this place during their anniversary celebration.
We will NEVER go back here again.
The board on the wall said beers were $3.50 unless u wanted a "GLASS" (their words) which would be $6.50each. Â We sat down and were served in PLASTIC cups that said the breweries name and figured they must be ghetto about it, using plastic cups....but we've been to plenty of breweries that do...no biggie.
There were multiple beers, mostly hoppy IPA type stuff. Â They had a board of other brews, but would not let us order them saying we had to join a special club if we even wanted to taste them.
3 Beers later they tell us that the shitty plastic cups is the anniversary   "GLASS" they posted was 6.50.  Normally when sum1 tells you a GLASS you figure they mean one made out of glass.  Not a ghetto plastic cup.  They also claimed they were the amount of two beers in one...we measured...theyre not.  They're a pint.
When they billed us we were like wtf esp since their board made it clear a "GLASS" was the higher price. They charged us 26$. Â The man next to us got a growler, which must have been at least 3x the amount of beer we had....for 13$. Â We at that point had them close us out and take off the two beers we had in our hands, neither of which we had drank cuz they were warm anyway. Â They then had the audacity to tip themselves from my change and walk away.
We consider this really bad business. Â My friend returned and asked to speak to a manager and they refused to let him, refused him any contact info, and the dude wouldnt give his own name either....by the time we had come back they had changed the sign to be accurate and told us there was no excuse that we should have assumed the plastic cup was more then a pint (when it isnt) and its not their fault that they werent clear. Â They also had this smirk on their face like they found it amusing. Â
We'll never come back, nor will we suggest it to our friends. Â All the beers tasted the same...hops r suppost to compliment the beer, not be the only flavor.....and were warmish.... plus this place is like 95 deg inside and dark. Â There were little kids in the bar (not just outside) which is COMPLETELY inapropriate being that people go to a bar to get AWAY from that kinda stuff AND its against the law..
My friend reported this place to the BBB and If I had a picture with one of the kids in it, Id be showing it to the authorities.
Bad Business....Mediocre Beer...and Con men.
The smoked brisket and pulled pork after the St. Patty's Day parade were just incredible. Â Simply amazing. Â
Best beer in the area, plus freshly smoked BBQ every weekend. Â I am sad for you if you haven't been here and let these fine folks take care of you. Â Please cheer me up and go.
This was place was absolutely amazing.
A group of friends and I came here on a cold night in January. None of us had been here, but we heard great things.
We sat at the bar, and our bartender explained to us all of the different beers and entertained questions (including really interesting ones and likely "stupid" as none of us had really experienced a place like that). We just had to try every beer possible. (Of course we got cheese too!)
The staff was excellent, helpful, and friendly.
The price was UNBEATABLE!! Not to mention, they had a brilliant way of calculating how many each of us had (they counted on a piece of paper in front of us). Each mug was the same price so five or six mugs times the price and BAM it was that easy.
No muss, no fuss. I don't live on the east coast anymore, but I'm very likely to go back to Defiant on my next return.
A fantastic place to waste your time and money away on craft brews. When I first walked in the brewery I thought it smelled a lot like a pet store but the beer helped me get over that fact pretty quickly. In particular, the pilsener was out of this world. Definitely, the best pils I've had in years and the Muddy Creek Lager was pretty nice too. Â In addition to having great, well priced beer, they have a bbq menu which I didn't try unfortunately.
I will be going back and I will be buying a growler.
The bar here is epic - and not just because it runs, literally, the length of a warehouse! Â The beer is fresh (but of course!) and the low-key feel of this place really makes it. Â It's one of the few places my boyfriend and I go just to sit at a bar and drink. Â The crowd is always really great - no glittery shirts or heels here. Â Just people who like good beer.
The prices are low low low for the great beer they offer. Â Nice to note also: not only do they do growlers and kegs, they also do half-kegs, which is unusual.
They started serving barbecue recently and I haven't had it, but I'm sure it's delicious - there's always a line for it when I'm there.
After reading Tim R's review from last winter, I decided to return to Defiant last week to see if they were brewing Abominable Snow Beer. Â Yes they were and it was delicious! Â A spicy white beer. Â I was thoroughly delighted. Â Thanks Tim R for the recommendation!
PS - Bartender Jeff still rocks.