Bottle Shops around Finger Lakes

Discussion in 'New England' started by bubseymour, Aug 28, 2019.

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  1. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm going to be staying a few nights in Corning, so looking around Watkins Glen and general area on the sout side. I will be driving from Niagara and planning to hit up Other Half on the North side, so if there is anything around Canadiagua area that might work as well. Looking for a bottle shop that sells alot of the beers from around the area, so I don't have to pitstop in alot of breweries. Have very limited time so trying to be efficient with my beer procurements.
     
  2. William_Navidson

    William_Navidson Pooh-Bah (1,557) May 1, 2015 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The Weinery in Watkins Glen has plenty of limited releases that don't see a lot of regular distribution, especially lambic, albeit at a nice markup. They also had Bissell on tap when I was there, and a bunch of good NE IPA cans in the fridge. The food is great as well. I'm not too familiar with the area, but it didn't seem like there was much to look for locally.
     
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  3. SLeffler27

    SLeffler27 Grand Pooh-Bah (4,906) Feb 24, 2008 New York
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    While outside the area you mentioned, if you are coming from Niagara, you may be passing Rochester.

    AJ’s Beer Warehouse has a strong focus on local beer. And lots of other as well. It is a 10 min. drive north of i90 (NY Thruway).
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33226/?view=ratings

    Finger Lakes Beverage Center is another option, about 30 min. east of Watkins Glen in Ithaca.
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/5465/?view=ratings

    The following are all breweries, which may be on your route to or from Corning.

    If you like cask ale done well, try Seneca Lake Brewing, just north of Watkins Glen.
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/47646/

    Another unexpected surprise, for me, is Gael Brewing in Geneva, at the north end of Seneca Lake.
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/42445/

    Your route might take you down i390 to RT. 5/20. If so, two worthy breweries 10 min. apart and just off i390 in Avon are:
    Mortalis Brewing, no growler/crowler fils an only release cans Thursday at 5:00pm and Sunday at 12:00pm. The crowler lines are LONG.
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52338/
    Rising Storm Brewing, IMO just as interesting as Mortalis, and no lines.
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52339/

    About 20 min. east of Corning, try Upstate Brewing,
    https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29376/
     
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  4. IGaveYouPower

    IGaveYouPower Savant (1,070) Dec 2, 2010 New York
    Trader

    No bottle shops at all in Canandaigua, but it does have the single best Wegman's on Earth and they've got a very good beer selection there. Most of the best local breweries there (Other Half, Mortalis, Fifth Frame) don't distro cans but you can find stuff from Young Lion, Big Ditch, Swiftwater, War Horse, Three Heads and some other solid stuff. You'll also be able to find things there like SoS, Wrench, etc. Get yourself a Danny's Favorite from the sub shop, too, and thank me later.

    As far as bottleshops, check out Hammondsport Grocery. It's just a mom-n-pop grocery in Hammondsport but they have a REAL interesting beer selection. Like, it's a mess, but you can find some real gems. They get freshies from LIC, Zero Gravity, Barrier, Sloop, and some others and they had nice Grimm bottles, a rose Tilquin I've never seen elsewhere, etc. They also have, and I'm not exaggerating, IPAs from seven or eight years ago.

    So you'll have to do some sifting but I definitely think it's worth anyone's time to see what you can find there.
     
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  5. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    The Hammondsport grocery store was a nice hidden jem. Lots of obscure Euro beers I’ve never seen before from Italy and Spain etc. Lots of Prairie options. I picked up a Grimm bottle for like $7. The town is really nice as well. Like a Hallmark channel movie set location.
     
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  6. mendonjoebeer

    mendonjoebeer Zealot (735) Nov 9, 2010 North Carolina

    Might be too late, but if still in the area, check out Steuben Brewing on the southwest end of Keuka Lake.
     
  7. bubseymour

    bubseymour Grand Pooh-Bah (4,800) Oct 30, 2010 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    FYI...Seneca Lake Brewing (the Beerocracy) was incredible. Best bitter I've ever had. Even amongst the 5-6 I had on cask while in the UK on business in 2010 (during my pre Beer Advocate days..so my sample size may not have been the better ones over there). Other places were solid. Two Goats has the best view off their back patio, but was super-crowded.
     
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