Every year we seem to see more new breweries up at TAP-NY. Maybe it’s the tax free zones that are available or just people that want to craft beer for their home town and general geography. Either which way you slice it, it’s great to see this boom in New York state and always welcoming to try beer from a company that is just starting up. Here are 17 new craft breweries that have opened up shop and were pouring at TAP-NY this year.
The Galaxy Brewing Company was founded in 2011 by a local father and son brewing team who are dedicated to producing the finest craft beers and excellent food, using as much locally sourced products as possible. This was their first time at TAP-NY and they had quite the reception with their Andromeda IPA. I look forward to paying these guys a visit in the months to come.
Is that a bag of weed? The folks at Last Stop Brewing thought it would be cute to take a note from Half Baked and staple a bag of hops to their business cards. They had some pretty tasty beer including one very roasty stout called Big Stick. Last Stop is one of many in the Poughkeepsie and we will be making it a point to make a visit when we make our rounds in the months to come.
Crooked Ladder is Long Islands newest brewery located in down town River Head, New York. Comprised of like minded and local business owners. With like minded founders at the helm, Crooked Ladder is as local as the faces involved including head brewer, Duffy Griffiths, who is a long time brewer and fire chief in near by, Jamesport. The beers were great and their place looks pretty cool. Head over to their website to find more about this new start up on the Island.
Moving down the line, we found ourselves at Mill House Brewing. Another Poughkeepsie brewery that is also a brew pub, focusing on local and quality ingredients for both their food and beer menus.
They had their One Steady Rye IPA flowing through a randall of fresh hops, which was certainly a hit with the beer drinkers of the festival.
Although they were established in 2012, this would be the first year that Montauk Brewing Company would be pouring at TAP. I had a can of their Drift Wood weeks before the festival and was more then impressed. It was nice to try their Offland IPA and meet the guys behind the brewery. Keep up the good work.
One of my favorite breweries of the festival was Finback Brewing. They recently opened their doors in good old New York City in the boro of Queens. With two taps flowing they brought out beers aimed toward the session side of things. Star Child was probably my favorite beer at the festival and great example of the Berliner Weiss Style. This is another brewery we will be visiting real soon. After all Queens is only a stones throw away.
Bull & Barrel had some pretty amazing beers, including one particular Saison made with all New York ingredients. It is great to see these brew pubs out at the festivals. Sometimes this is the only way they can let others experience their beers without having to head to the tap room.
One of the best IPA’s at the festival goes to Wolf Hollow Brewing from Glennville, New York. Their District IPA was kegged up hours before coming to the festival. Beer doesn’t get any fresher than that.
Another favorite of mine from the festival was The Brewery At Bacchus. They are a small three barrel brewer in the back of the Bacchus Restaurant in New Paltz. What started out as a home brew experiment is now a staple of the restaurant and community that surrounds them. Their Orchard Sour was out of this world good. In the traditional Berliner Weiss style, they had a nice simple syrup to with it and had a steady line all day.
At first I was a little confused about seeing two breweries with similar names. There was another Bacchus Brewing Company on hand. This one how ever was located just outside of Ithaca near the Finger Lakes in Dryden New York. Their Floras Fate Pale Ale was very refreshing and a great example of the style. I see they have some sours on Untappd that I would very much like to get my hands on.
Mad Jack Brewing is the recreation of the historic brewery that was once the center of Schenectady. Named after John (Jack) McDonald, Mad Jack Brewing Company is attached to The Van Dyck Lounge of Schenectady, NY and can be found through out the region at their other restaurants. I only had a chance to try Fightin Irwin IPA as time was of the essence.
Broken Bow is brewed and canned up in Tuckahoe, New York. Family owned and operated, Broken Bow is turning out some great beers. Although I wanted to try their Marbledale Pale Ale, their Irish Red and Imperial IPA were a welcome treat.
If your not in to beer, you can always find a cider at beer festivals. Nine PIn Cider Works came down from Albany with their tasty hard cider that is sourced completely from Hudson Valley apple farms.
Another new beer maker from NYC made its presence. Operating as a farm brewery in the concrete jungle, Gun Hill in the Bronx is making some damn fine beer in a very cool spot. The beer speaks for it self and instead of rambling on here about them, you should just go and watch this video.
Hamburg Brewing Company had a fantastic Saison called Small Town. Aimed toward providing quality craft beer for it’s consumers, their mission is to provide a piece of NY brewing history. They have a great tap handle and some tasty beer and definitely a brewery to keep you eye on in the years to come.
After spending some time at the outside tent, it was time to venture inside to check out the rest of the fresh faces. While it might not be from Westeros, The North Brewery had some awesome beers.
I was a big fan of their Haters IPA.
Fresh from Trout Town USA. Roscoe Beer Company had some fantastic beers as well. I do not fish but I would definitely take a trip to Roscoe to have some more of their beers and experience one of the most popular fishing spots in the state.
St. Lawrence Brewing Company had some really tasty beers. Barn Stormer and Maple Porter were fantastic and I am still kicking myself for not bringing home a four pack.
Farm breweries are becoming a big thing in New York. With the recent bill passing, more of them are opening and they are all turning out awesome. Since I am a Lord Of The Rings fan I spent some time with Hopshire Farm & Brewery. Everything from their Shire Ale to Beehave were fresh and fantastic. Another brewery that is on our hit list this summer.
Just when I thought I had hit them all, there was one I did not cross off my list. That brewery was Paradox. At this point in the day, they had gone through quite the amount of beer. I had to sit tight while they tapped a keg of their Beaver IPA. Wait aside it was a great beer and a great way to end the festival.
It is great to see the growth of the festival this year. With almost 80 breweries in attendance, I can see this festival being over 100 in 2015. You have to keep in mind that not every NY brewery was there and there will probably be more than 20 breweries that will be new next year. Hunter Mountain most certainly has the space so am confident that we will see a much bigger turn out next year. As always it is a blast going to this festival and a day that I would love to be my personal ground hog day scenario. Until next year cheers to Hunter Mountain and the Hudson Valley Beer and Food fest for another outstanding event. TAP-NY is the best and something to be very proud of.
-Brian