We will be in the area for a short time..is it worth a side trip? Do they have any limited type beer at the brewery that I might not find in a bottle shop? THANKS! Mike
I've been there, it's a great place, great food, awesome setting. It's worth seeing. As far as rare beers, when I was there they had one vintage beer and one experimental, not a ton that isn't in the store, but still a good experience. Both beers were on tap, no unique bottles.
Every now and then you will find a limited release. They had cave aged 3 philosophers a few years back. But that is pretty rare. As the other 2 have said, still well worth the trip.
never been, but I always suggest Brook's House of BBQ when folks mention they're going out that way. It's about 15 miles from Ommegang and has some good eats.
It's a great place. But I suggest going during the "Belgium Comes to Coopertown" event! http://www.ommegang.com/#!cooperstown
Don't worry about them having "rare" stuff for you to try or buy. The tour is cool, the buildings are great, the brewpub is excellent, and the food is really top-notch pub food. Definitely worth a visit. Enjoy!
Was there earlier this spring when we went up to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Absolutely worth the side trip. As others have said, its a beautiful setting. Gets very busy on Saturday afternoons. They have 2 tours. A tasting tour and brewery tour. I hit the tasting tour where they go through all of their offerings. At the time they were releasing 2 new beers. The Game of Thrones Blood and Fire as well as the new hoppy Belgian IPA'ish beer. So it was cool to get a sample of those before they were released.
If you're up there. Definitely check out Cooperstown Brewery as well. Small, but pretty cool. Butternuts I felt a lot to be desired (puns aside). Ommegang, great place to bring friends and family to hang out. Plus the tour/tasting is a pretty good one. Just don't choose a hot day or else you'll be sweating the whole time.
Always a great idea to go to the brewery if you are in the area. Such a nice, spacious brewery with good food in a beautiful area of NY. The scenery alone is worth it. They usually have a few beers on tap that aren't widely available, at least the few times I have been there. I second Brook's! Really solid BBQ. I've been going to Oneonta once a year since I was around 3 years old, and we always make a point to go to Brook's at least twice during our trip. The line can get pretty damn long for dinner on the weekends. I suggest going earlier sometime between the lunch and dinner crowd, or go later before they close.
I made a trip to the brewery (thus the avatar) and it is worth going to if you are in the area. To me it was the atmosphere more than any rarity in beer. Great folks and a perfect place to try their beer fresh from the source.
As far as I'm concerned, a stop at Ommegang, if you're in the area, is a must. I used to recommend a stop at Cooperstown Brewing but, on our last visit in October, it was not quite up to previous visits (about half of their beers were not available for purchase on-site and their gift shop selection was near nonexistent). Looks like they've recently been sold again (believe they had been purchased by Butternuts who has sold them) and, as of now, are no longer brewing Strikeout Stout (thought that it was one of their standout brews along with the Benchwarmer Porter). Hopefully, the new owners can make it a worthwhile stop again. Was a great little brewery with a nice little tour. Council Rock is also in the area and, as of our last visit, was worth a stop.
Darn, I was just there last Summer. Benchwarmer Porter was awesome. Had a growler filled with that stuff.
The short answer to the OP's question: http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42/?view=ratings&hideRatings=Y
