Best brewery for summer atmosphere/experience

Permit me to 'start' your beer journey. A visit to Ommegang in Cooperstown is a must:



Cheers!

 

My favorite place to drink beer in the summer is Marshall Wharf, Belfast, ME. It’s almost two hours north of Portland, but if you take the Maine Coastal Route 1 on the way up, you will enjoy the drive tremendously. MW makes decent beers, opinions vary. I haven’t been in a few years, but I love the place, and you will find many others who agree. The atmosphere is tremendous. On your way up from Portland you can also hit Maine Beer Co. in Freeport and Oxbow in Newcastle.

 

Two Goats in Hector (east side of Seneca Lake) is one of my favorite spots for a beautiful view. It's southwest of Syracuse, so probably doesn't make sense with your route.

 

I always enjoy the beer garden at Lost Nation in Morrisville, VT. The von Trapp bier house in Stowe is pretty nice too.

 

Lawson’s is a really nice place to have a beer. Beautiful indoor as well as outdoor space. I’d rank it up there with my favorite taproom experiences.

 

All the VT sites mentioned I completey agree with,
New to WMass this year is
The brewery at 4 Star farms in Northfield MA
Cheers

 

Wayward Lane brewing in Scoharie is a must-stop. If you're coming from Cooperstown towards Albany you'll go right past it, and its got a gorgeous indoor-outdoor taproom and what they consider a big 'beer meadow.'

If you're gonna be in 'Cuse, the best vibes are at Freight Yard like 6-7 miles north of the city. Very good beer, too, but just an awesome outdoor area.

Meier's Creek in Cazenovia (outside 'Cuse) has gorgeous outdoor seating.

7 Hamlets outside of Utica is a cool spot. Huge wrap-around patio to drink on, rocking chairs, plenty of other various outdoor seating.

Bagg's Square in Utica has a nice courtyard to drink in, the indoors taproom is stunning and you're right across the street from a goddamn beautiful old art deco train station so that's cool to look at.

S&S Farm Brewing outside of Albany is on your way to mass and has a gorgeous farm/rustic vibe and a ton of outdoor seating, but they have odd hours so make sure to check that before heading there.

 

That building on the left in the Ommegang photo was not there the last time I was at BCTC.

 

Whole new taproom.

Which is great because the last one STUNK. The grounds have always been incredible but that taproom felt like you were drinking in a Mariott lobby. Which I'm very much not above but it's also not the experience I want at a place like Ommegang.

 

I gotta say I was not pleased with my most recent visit to Ommegang (two weeks ago). I was camping nearby and stopped in for a few beers with some friends. They wouldn't offer us anywhere to sit if we weren't ordering food--except for a few seats on the outside of their tent that were clearly getting soaked from the rain. I've never gone to a brewery where you weren't allowed to sit down and enjoy a beer. I've been visiting Ommegang off and on from the beginning, but after this I couldn't necessarily recommend it.

 

I thought the same exact thing when I saw Jack's photo. I've camped out for BCTC several times in that exact spot where the photo was taken and I didn't remember that building there. Glad it wasn't just my memory fading

 

That drive is going to be wonderful for you. Beautiful country, If you send us you tentative planned route from Cooperstown to Portland, we could probably help with some minor beercation detours for you.

 

For atmosphere I have to second Von Trappe. The scenery is gorgeous.

 

Von Trapp, Fort Hill. Good question, because many places are in industrial parks.

 

That's garbage, and I absolutely would not go back to a please that wouldn't allow me to sit somewhere to drink because I'm not also ordering food.

 

The NY-MA-NH-ME route: Tree House, Cambridge, Notch (Salem location), Great Marsh, Oxbow (Portland location), Allagash (yes, industrial park but they've made it cozy and, well, they're the best)
The NY-VT-NH-ME route: Lawson's, Hill Farmstead, Schilling, Oxbow (Oxford location), Allagash

 

I’d second most of this but might add a few stops pre-Lawson’s. Although I guess you might need to define what your ideal feel/atmosphere is.

Germantown/Hudson is a touch out of the way but if they open the tap room I’d highly recommend a visit to Suarez. It’s the anti-taproom really, especially in today’s craft beer scene. All low ABV and very well executed. Taproom very much reflects their brand as a whole. Clean, simple, spartan, but perfect for what it is. Dan’s brother owns and is the chef at Gaskins in town. Food is phenomenal and taplist is very tight. You can stay across the street from Gaskins at the Central House hotel. Cool old renovated B&B. Play cards on the deck while sipping some Palantine while time seems to stand still. I had a magical afternoon/evening in that little hamlet that I will never forget. Can’t recommend it enough if that’s your vibe. Chances are it might not be.

If you decide not to go there Foley Brothers in Brandon, VT is on your way from Cooperstown to Lawson’s. (If you do go to Suarez it’s still on the way) I grew up in Brandon so if holds a special place in my heart. But this place is a unique spot IMHO. Order beers in a hundred year old barn they turned into a tasting room and sit outside on the lawn. You can even heckle some golfers if you feel the need as their lawn is about 20 feet away from the 5th green at Neshobe golf course (a cool little public track that’s very affordable). Then make your way over Brandon gap, watch out for moose, and make your way up Route 100 to Lawson’s.

Alchemist in Stowe would be my next stop then Hill Farmstead is a must if you can get a reservation. Favorite place I’ve ever drank beer. Can’t recommend it enough.

Schilling is stunning and the beers are very very well executed.

 

^ To add to that, Red Clover Ale Project is also right in Brandon and one of the absolute best taprooms in all of New England. It's literally right over a river, so in the summer time you can drink in a bright, airy taproom and hear the sounds of the river underneath you. Beyond serene.

The beer is absolutely fantastic, too.

 

Will be covering some of the same ground on the way to VT in early September. Saw Beer Tree in Port Crane on the map. Looks like a nice setting… how is the beer?