Finger lakes area

http://fingerlakesbeertrail.com/content/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Beer_Trail_Map.pdf

 

This is the only link you will need, check out the map
http://fingerlakesbeertrail.com/content/

 

Definitely hit Abandon Brewing in Penn Yan. Many Finger Lakes breweries are quite subpar, but Abandon is definitely a really solid stop.

 

That map sucks by the way. It doesn't really tell you how far breweries are from each other. Are you coming from 17 through Bighamton?

 

Abandon is top notch, also NakedDove, Climbing Bines, and Two Goats are worth looking up.

 

Yeah... let's see the route.

Finger Lakes Beverage in Ithaca is a good stop. Ithaca Beer Co. Two Goats in Hector.

 

Great beer, and a great atmosphere and view!

 

In addition to Abandon, I thought Keuka and Horseheads had some solid beer as well. But both are more of a growler stop, not a place to hang out at.

 

there's this thread that was helpful to me:
http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/threads/watkins-glen.312835/#post-3926078

and my post in there (I was up there last week):

was a good trip with near perfect weather. Basically we spent the mornings hiking to waterfalls (4 NY State Parks and 5 or so shorter "hikes" in and around Ithaca and the afternoons doing the winery, brewery, cidery, distillery thing.

Brewery wise we went to:
Seneca Lodge - had one to celebrate setting up camp, at it is a brewery just outside of the state park entrance, was okay but needed on a hot day
Rooserfish Brewery - they recently opened a new brew pub closer to the lake. Good beers there, and the start to a cool patio/beer garden that will have a couple of levels and a water feature. They mentioned that he thought the beers being made at the new spot were better as they tweaked the recipies and got some newer equipment. Also had dinner at the (their) wildflower café, which had really good food.
Abandon Brewery - Cool view, nice deck, good beers which were a little different than the others in the area, more Belgian styles and a little more adventurous.
Climbing Bines - enjoyed it here, didn't play disc golf, and the beer could use a little work. was a little dead, but it was Monday afternoon.
2 Goats Brewery - really cool view, good beers, friendly staff. Unfortunately they were out of the roast beef, so no sandwich for me.
Ithaca Brewery - nice outdoor area, good lunch and good beers.
Hopshire Farm & Brewery - (just east of Ithaca) was told they only use NY ingredients. Really nice husband and wife running the place, cool vibe, and good beers. Got a growler to take to PA and share with my dad and bro in-law. They both liked it too.
Bandwagon Brewpub- pretty good beers, liked that you could order in 3 different sizes and after 10 the pints are only $4. Also had some decent guest taps.

Really like the Wienery, cool place with really good food and good beers available.

Thanks for all your suggestions, was helpful.​

 

Prison City in Auburn makes some excellent sours. Plus they have a great lineup of guest taps and crowler fills.

 

But avoid the catfish poboy and perhaps all of the food.

 

Prison city has been putting out Vermont/mass inspired turbid ipas lately and they are absolutely amazing...on par with treehouse/trillium etc but usually only one option. Overall I think prison city is the gem of the Hudson valley brew scene but I enjoy ithaca and climbing bines - as others have mentioned.

 

Prison city is in the Hudson valley? Let me guess you live on the eastern end of long island haha?

Definitely check out prison city and bottomless brewery. Near prison city there's also a nice brewery called lukenheimer

 

I'm born and raised LI thought this comment was hysterical. Once upon a time I thought everything north of Yonkers was "upstate."

Never heard of Bottomless or Lukenheimer. Will check out.

 

That bad? the same owners just bought another pub in Auburn to run.

 

Depending on route, #1 stop is North Brewery in Endicott.
If going that way, you can also hit up FarmHouse in Owego
A new brewery, Diversion, just opened up this past weekend in Chemung.
[All of these are easily accessible off the highway]

Upstate Brewing in Elmira has done some nice beers lately and their stuff is available in cans.
Seneca Lake Brewing Company opened up across from Glenora Winery a week ago. They are NY's first and only English cask ale brewery.
I visited Lucky Hare on the east side of Seneca this weekend. Pretty decent beers and while over there, you can visit Two Goats, Grist Iron, Wagner, etc.

If you want to travel a little bit, both Prison City and Ithaca brewpubs are worth the visit.