Brew Central

Brewfinder interactive map

You’re invited to experience the craft renaissance brewing in Central New York, a place where the stories, traditions and tastes behind craft beer, hard cider, wine and spirits collide like nowhere else in the country.

Brew by the numbers

Whether tipping a farm-to-glass beer at a brewpub, sampling some moonshine or enjoying a sip of hard cider or wine, you’ll be a part of something special in Brew Central, America’s Craft Brew Destination.

Across the region, you’ll find fathers and sons, brothers, couples and just plain cool people brewing up world-class craft beer, serving up the pints and making conversation. We want you to not only taste the beer, hard cider, spirits and wine; we want you to really get to know the folks who make it and make us America’s Craft Brew Destination.

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Every one of these 70-plus producers has a story to share, tales you can often hear direct from them.

Over 2 Dozen Award Winners

But for now, let’s talk about pop culture: the music nights, trivia nights and days filled with tastings; the big shows and Game of Thrones at Brewery Ommegang – an endless flow of entertainment in the brew communities of Central New York.

 

Learn all about the great producers and products all around Central New York in our Stories on Tap YouTube Series!

And the stories are endless in an area filled with adventurous brew pioneers. Butternuts Beer & Ale was putting craft into cans long before it was cool. Four generations ago, F.X. Matt Brewing‘s founder perfected an IPA recipe that was recently resurrected as a Saranac release. A tour of that brewery, founded more than 125 years ago, delivers a history lesson.

It harkens back to the days when hop yards were as common as corn fields. The counties that make up Brew Central became the hop capital of the country, peaking in the late 1800s when it produced 90 percent of the nation’s supply.

Modern-day brewers like Good Nature, Foothill Hops and Woodland are bringing back the tradition at farm breweries. We have plenty of those laid-back places to enjoy a pint among the bines and natural beauty of Central New York.

And don’t forget the scenic wineries, uncorking products on par with New York’s famous Finger Lakes region. Enjoy some hard cider on the farm at Critz Farms Brewing & Cider Co. in Cazenovia or among the orchards of Rogers’ Cideryard in Johnstown. Sip some of our finest spirits from across the region delivered in lovingly distilled small batches.

There’s a reason we call it America’s Craft Brew Destination. And it’s one you can enjoy right in the heart of New York State.

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Brews

Hops

Breweries

Born from legacy and inspired by tradition, the breweries of Central New York represent a collection as eclectic as anywhere in the nation. The former hop capital of the country remains fertile ground for budding brewers and generations-old operations alike.

This is a land where the legend of F.X. Matt, producer of Saranac beers, mingles with the likes Brewery Ommegang, author of the red hot Game of Thrones series. This is the home of cult favorites and up-and-comers.

From backyard brewhouses like Stump City in rural Gloversville to downtown brewpubs like Water Street in vibrant Binghamton, America’s Craft Brew Destination is a place to discover stories, traditions and tastes too numerous to count.

The creativity is unlimited as well. What’s on tap is driven by both the seasons and personalities. You might, for instance, find a rhubarb brew at the North Brewery in Endicott or something exceptionally hoppy when harvest time rolls around at Copper City in Rome.

Forget the beer trail and wander a bit. Each step onto the grounds of a farm brewery or into a tasting room begins a new craft beverage experience to enjoy over and over in Brew Central.

Gin bottles

Distilleries

Central New York complements its endless beer offerings with homegrown, handcrafted beverages of another variety. There’s a new tradition brewing here in form of some of New York state’s finest spirits.

You’ll find big, often locally sourced, taste in these small batches prepared by the likes of 1857 Spirits, which makes its home on the 160-year-old Barber’s Farm where the potatoes make the vodka. That’s not the only unique ingredient you’ll find in Brew Central. Perhaps the truest local flavor comes from Adirondack Distilling, which uses Herkimer diamonds mined nearby to filter its vodka, gin and whiskey.

Baseball meets bourbon at Cooperstown Distillery, which naturally takes a cue from our nation’s pastime in the home of its Hall of Fame. It’s just one of the distilleries, many of which are the first in their counties since prohibition to produce spirits, that are leading the movement.

Stop in a tasting room or ask for something local to go with your meal and savor a sip on your next trip through Brew Central.

Pouring Villa Verona wine into a wine glass

Wineries & Cideries

Our deep roots in brew stretching back to the hop yards of the late 1800s are undeniable. But, our traditions are just as varied as the tastes you’ll find across the region.

There’s a hard cider revival brewing in Central New York led by the likes of historic Fly Creek Cider Mill & Orchard and award-winning Critz Farms Brewing & Cider Co. Smaller producers like Rogers’ Cideryard chip in with unique stylings inspired by time-tested fermentation techniques.

The grapes are as plentiful as the apples here, with places like scenic Owera Vineyards producing worthy competition to the Finger Lakes. Hummingbird Hills too keeps its own crop and places like Villa Verona Vineyard put their own spin on Finger Lakes grapes.

Whatever your taste in fermented fruit, Brew Central has a great place to grab a glass for yourself and your travel mates.

Copper City Brewing entrance

Pubs

Pull up a stool for a pint or a flight at any of our craft pubs for a taste of New York or something special from beyond our borders.

There are plenty of under-the-radar drink destinations like Fulton County’s Project 29 Pub & Filling Station, always serving up a sizable selection of New York state exclusives. The TV-less Green Onion Pub in Utica is a place to gather for friendly conversation. Nail Creek Pub & Brewery built a community around its taps, bottles and original brews in the spirit of European pub culture.

As an alternative, you can add some gaming to the mix at the Upstate Tavern located inside Turning Stone Resort Casino or BBG’s, which features dozens of arcade classics.

No matter your style, there’s an ideal place to imbibe in Brew Central, where the only tradition stronger than making beer, ciders, spirits and wines is serving them.