Jericho Ale & Bean combines coffee and spirits | Local news

JERICHO — When the cold weather sets in, we want nothing more than to enjoy a good coffee and a book or sit back and relax with friends and a beer.

Head to Jericho and you can get both in one place. Jericho Ale & Bean, located right on the quaint town’s Main Street, offers locally brewed coffee shop and house and draft beer four days a week.

The shop was founded in 2022 by couples Jay and Dena Ouimette of Brew House Coffee and Jesse Cronin and Libby Bonesteel of Lucy & Howe Brewing.

The Wimettes began their coffee venture in 2019, selling iced coffee via subscription delivered to community doors and at farmers’ markets. Around the same time in 2020, just as COVID-19 hit, Cronin opened a nanobrewery in his home.

The two couples had been considering a joint venture for some time when they saw that Mel’s Grocery Store, which had been a center of the Jericho community since the early 1900s, was for sale.

And since January 2022, they have done just that. Although Jericho Ale & Bean started out as a retail outlet, two and a half years later it is a full-fledged cafe and beer garden. Customers can branch out and order a coffee or beer while enjoying light bites, including a variety of baked goods, sausage and kale soup, chicken quesadillas and other small bites.

If you’re more of a coffee drinker, try the Victoria, a dirty tea with whole milk, or the Alex, a spicy maple mocha. And if you’re craving a beer, try Paintbrush Legend, an amber lager that Libby says is perfect after a long day at work. Or try Grade School Ninja, brewed with 20 pounds of fresh Champlain Valley Hops.

The store is open from 9:00 to 17:00 on Sundays and from 8:00 to 20:00 from Thursday to Saturday. The long hours provide a unique space for relaxation that is not always available in the small town of Jericho or surrounding communities.

“I think there aren’t many places where you can spend a decent portion of the day… I think we’ve done a lot to try to create a space where as many people as possible can feel welcome and not feel rushed. said Cronin.

Stop by Jericho Ale & Bean and you can see this relaxing atmosphere for yourself.

From the exposed beams to the comfortable furniture and local art hanging on the walls, the entire cafe and brewery instantly feels welcoming. Many customers become repeat customers, and it is not uncommon for people to bring their children to watch cartoons on Friday mornings.

And over the last couple of years, the community has praised us. Although Mel’s Restaurant was a staple in the community, it had seen better days towards the end of its reign. But Jericho Ale & Bean were able to breathe new life into the space while maintaining the Jericho vibe.

“Some people are writing, ‘We’re glad you guys are doing this, thank you so much for bringing this to the community.’ And that’s great to hear because it’s needed in this area,” Jay said.