Something special is brewing in the Hudson Valley. The beer-making business is booming there, leading drinkers to refer to the region as the Napa Valley of beer.
The 150-mile distance from New York City to Albany encompasses 10 Hudson Valley counties and is home to 90 craft breweries, nearly 20% of the Empire State’s 515 craft breweries. I am.
Traffic along the Ale Trail by beer enthusiasts has begun to bypass the region’s winery and craft distillery stops. brew bathowner Regina Rose Lott told Bloomberg.
Scott Vaccaro, owner of Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, has two breweries in Westchester County, Elmsford and Mount Kisco, that appeal to city dwellers.
“Our on-premises business is strong, growing and as strong as ever,” Vaccaro told the Post.
When they first opened their brewery in 2006, there were 46 breweries across New York.
It now trails only California, which has twice as many, according to the New York State Brewing Association.
The concentration of breweries in the Hudson Valley is also good for the region’s economic health, Paul Leone, executive director of the Brewers Association, told the Post.
“People will travel to go to breweries, but if they can get four or five, they will do that and that will attract tourism,” Leone said.
Many of the new breweries take on the image of a winery, flaunting acres of farmland and offering visitors the opportunity to sit at picnic tables amid rolling hills and picturesque landscapes, or to host weddings and other special events. You can enjoy tastings in our beautiful tasting room, which is reserved for the public.
lasting joy The brewery, located in Tivoli, about two hours north of the city, opened a modern tasting room in 2022 with floor-to-ceiling windows offering 360-degree views of the farmland.
Plumby Farm Brewery Located on 25 acres in Poughkeepsie, it moved into a three-story 1830s barn in 2015 and is a popular destination for weddings.
Empire State breweries got their start in 2013 when a law was passed that allowed beer makers to serve customers in their taprooms as long as 60% of the hops and other ingredients they use were from New York. did.
When I was 7 years old hudson valley brewery At Beacon, all beers are made from 100% New York-grown wheat. Arrowwood Farms Founded in 2013 and located on 48 acres in Ulster County, the store also uses nearly 100% New York-sourced ingredients.
In 2023, the brewery completed renovations to its historic factory building and added a new tasting room and event space.
“Wineries have been around for a while, and whether they’re traditional wineries or new wineries with a hipster vibe, they’re in beautiful, romantic locations,” Brewbus’ Lott told Bloomberg .
“Breweries have done the same thing. They’ve created gorgeous venues for weddings and rehearsal dinners, and they’ve also created venues that are beautiful old buildings that have been brought to life. That’s a big draw. .”
The resurgence of Hudson Valley breweries is occurring even as national statistics show Americans are drinking less alcohol overall.
Some urban breweries are struggling, including Coney Island Brewery, which closed its taproom in November due to its seasonal location on the boardwalk.
By another measure, alcohol sales have been flat over the past 12 months after a period of heavy drinking due to the pandemic.
In 2018, New York was adding new breweries every week.
“It wasn’t sustainable growth,” Leone said. “But at this point, while craft beer as a whole is experiencing some declines, we’re holding strong.”
