Half time or deciccoS

Both great. I'd go to both if I could. Depending on your route I'd also recommend Cable Beverage in Bardonia (they have Hopponious Union on growler fill right now!) and possibly Rt. 59 Beverage in Nyack. About 10 minutes apart. The latter is a weird, weird store but if you have some time to go through their unorganized piles of beer littered all over the place you can turn up some real gems, particularly oddball vintage stuff that the owner has had stashed somewhere for years. You might strike out but if you're close every beer fan owes it themselves to go there at least once. You might find 12 year old IPAs (literally) but also super old stouts and barleywines, discontinued brands, and random one-offs. Also her beer is just about as cheap as you'll find it anywhere in my experience.

You should probably just take the day off and do a big loop and be ready to drop some cash. Go over the George, up to Decicco's in Ardsley, then work your way up to Halftime. If you have time Captain Lawrence and Peekskill are in between the two stores. After you load up you can take the Beacon bridge back across the river, hit up Cable and Rt. 59, and if you want more breweries, Newburgh has a really cool taproom, Rushing Duck is really good, and Defiant, very close to the stores, has so-so beer but tasty bbq.

 

Couldn't have said it better Tobelerone.
DeCiccos Brewster (the best of their stores beer-wise) has Evil Twin and Great Divide products which Halftime doesn't have plus a larger selection of Mikkeler. There isn't much at Halftime that you won't find at Deciccos minus the occasional Halftime exclusive (which is Lazy Magnolia right now). Halftime's foreign section is much larger than Deciccos.

 

If you are interested in singles, DeCiccos Brewster has a nice selection, but (if I am remembering correctly) Half Time allows you to buy anything as a single. You probably will not be dissappointed with either store. If you don't want to go store hopping, I'd skip Cable and the other DeCiccos.

 

Decicco's Brewster. They have a beer bar in the store. http://www.beermenus.com/places/2197-decicco-s-brewster- and great hot food / pizza so you can make it a destination not a stop.

This week I got OT/Law - Double Dose, ME - Lunch (10/8), Victory - dirtwolf, CC - Dry Hop... and had a pint of Jack's Abbey Mass Rising at the bar. They also have a purge growler system that'll keep a growler fresh for a week if not more. Note for planning - Decicco's Beer Menu is great for current tap list at the bar but not for the bottle/can stock. FB page updated with some (not all) of their key arrivals.

 

DeCicco's Brewster, and it's not even close. DeCicco's has A LOT more "rarer" beers, and a bar you can drink drafts at. Halftime technically has a larger selection, but it's primarily stuff you can find anywhere, and is more expensive. To be fair, DeCicco's is a bit pricey as well, but Halftime is worse.

 

Agreed that if you are looking to save a few $ on this trip Halftime is the priciest. I was just at Halftime today and you won't get Cigar City there nor any Jack's Abby in growlers. If DeCiccos was same distance from me I'd pick them every time over Halftime. OP: You won't miss anything if you skip them and stay farther south.

 

I just find DeCicco's vastly superior in every way. Prices, selection, employees, bar. That's just my opinion though.

 

Both DeCicco's Brewster & HalfTime are great stores and as others have said, both have great selections but are a little pricey. Also, because they carry so much beer, you need to be vigilant about dates in both stores. DeCicco's also has a new store just off 684 in Armonk. Their growler selection is bigger there but I haven't checked out their bottle selection.
And...you MUST stop at the Peekskill Brewery and I'm surprised no one else has mentioned this. Award winning beers and growler fills with a pressure system like DeCicco's. You won't regret it.

 

THIS.

 

Peekskill and DeCicco's....or consider a Philly trip if you havent done one

 

To Sandman: Would you recommend Fairgrounds in Danbury?

To the OP: if he does, the selection is quite a bit sparser but the prices are quite a bit better than most NY stores.

 

Fairgrounds is decent, but it depends what you're looking for. DeCicco's blows it out of the water, but Fairgrounds has NEBCO and is cheaper.

 

Exactly. But I've also found the NEBCO products are catch 'em if you can.

 

Only for Bot and special releases there. They always have Sea Hag, Elm City Lager and Friars Quad.

 

I agree with the blowing and water bit in every way. A word of caution: last time I was at Fairgrounds, both of the beers I wanted to buy were way past expiration date. Fairgrounds is a life saver when your significant other wants to go to the mall.

 

I hear ya on that. That said, I think Fairgrounds is a decent place and they get some limited beers in and have NEBCO and the prices are usually decent. I just don't think it's fair to compare anyone in the area to DeCicco's

 

Half Time is fantastic but DeCicco's Brewster location is the best beer store in NYS I have shopped in.

 

Both overpriced, both have great selections, Half Time has the best selection of Belgians you will find, DeCicco's has more knowledgeable staff, better American selection, and great bar at the location and does CP growlers, so DeCicco's for the win.

Oh, and to heartily endorse what others have said, go to Peekskill if you haven't been and enjoy the finest local beer in either of our states.

 

I just wanted to beat you to the Peekskill Brewery recommendation.