Original Jason Voorhees Actor To Visit Farmingdale Brewery

FARMINGDALE, NY — A dark presence is set to descend on Necromantic Brew Co. of Farmingdale — or at least the man who played one.

Ari Lehman, the first man to play Jason Voorhees in the famed "Friday the 13th" horror flick franchise, is set to visit the gluten-free brewery at 7 p.m. Sunday.

People can buy a general admission ($40) or VIP ($110) ticket to hang out with Lehman. A screening of "Friday the 13th" will be followed by a Q&A with a meet and greet. Attendees must be 21 or older, and there are no refunds. Tickets can be purchased here.

"It's only fitting that the first actor to play Jason Voorhees visits Long Island's first gluten-free horror brewery," Ralph Mandarino, co-owner of Necromantic Brew Co., told Patch. "We're proud and excited to be able to bring Ari to Farmingdale for movie fans!"

Mandarino said he met Lehman last year at a horror convention in Connecticut.

"He's a genuinely kind soul who embraces his part in the historic franchise, '"Friday the 13th,'" Mandarino said. "It's exciting to be able to hang out again and share my passion with him."

Lehman will be joined by his band, "First Jason."

The general admission tickets include the film screening, Q&A and meet and greet.

The VIP package features:

• A pour of a Necromantic beer.
• Autographed photo.
• Commemorative ticket.
• "First Jason" t-shirt.
• Selfie with Ari Lehman.
• Selfie with "First Jason" band.
• Hangout with Ari and "First Jason."

Mandarino opened Necromantic Brew Co. with his friend, Jesse Silano, in October 2022. The brewery is at 253 Main St., Farmingdale.

Mandarino, who has been gluten-intolerant for more than 10 years, missed beer and suggested he and Silano brew their own gluten-free batches while watching horror films.

The two eventually opened Necromantic Brew Co. together, which offers people with celiac disease and other gluten intolerances a place to go out and feel included. The horror-themed brewery's walls are adorned with memorabilia and signed pictures from many scary films over the years, including "Friday the 13th" gear signed by a few actors who have played Jason Voorhees.

Traditional beer is made with wheat, barley, rye, malts and hops. Of those, hops are the only ingredient that is naturally gluten-free.

To make gluten-free beer, Necromantic Brew Co. uses buckwheat, Millet flour, flaked quinoa, rice, and in some instances, organic corn. Their ingredients come from a dedicated gluten-free facility in Oregon.

Generally speaking, Mandarino said, gluten-free beer would not appeal to people without celiac disease. But he and Silano pride themselves on making beer that tastes "normal" to anyone.

Necromantic Brew Co. runs 10 rotating tap lines.