Hudson/Mid-Hudson Valley Breweries

Storm King is awesome. I'd recommend that if you can get a reservation.

I'll recommend Minnewaska State Park since it looks like you are going to Gardiner. I've hiked there a few times and really enjoyed the scenery.

I'd avoid any of the hiking spots along route 9D (Breakneck Ridge, Mt. Beacon etc). These spots have been really crowded on weekends lately since NYC is still under lockdown (I think?).

 

I lived in New Paltz for 2 years and definitely second Minnewaska. You can basically find any length and level of trail there. If you’re feeling a little more adventurous, there is Peter’s Kill Park which is about a mile and a half east of Minnewaska on 44/55 and there is a really cool, semi-challenging trail that leads to a pretty cool waterfall. We used to go there when it was warm and take the 25-foot jump off the rocks there all the time. Even in the cool weather it’s a good hike with a lot of nice scenery.
No ones mentioned yet, I think, but Rushing Duck would be a nice stop too since you’ll be fairly close. If they have Beanhead or Imperial Beanhead, that’s a must buy in this weather.

 

Was at RD last night and can say, they do have Beanhead on tap! But went with the Oatmeal Stout instead...cheers!

 

There's a trail along the Hudson that's got some beautiful views... maybe it's too far south for your plans. Hit up Captain Lawrence and then take a sweet walk by the Tappan Zee Bridge (aka: Da Mario C).

 

Tappan Zee Bridge forever

(I’ll take a Native American derived name over an American politician derived name any day of the week)

 

No one's mentioned it on here, but Manitoga, 20 minutes south of Beacon; and, Untermyer Gardens in Yonkers match your sculpture/nature/design interests to a tee. I'd second Opus 40, and recommend Woodstock Brewing. Not a can't miss; it's in or around the same ballpark as IA. A really beautiful, 35 min, ride from there to Arrowood. As far as Arrowood beers are concerned, they're unique; but, they do have a really nice outdoor setup.
My only can't miss breweries in this area are D96, Obercreek, and HV for their sour IPAs, and Suarez further north. Every now and then a brewery will come out with a pure winner, but I wouldn't call anything can't miss. For example, Drowned Lands gets a lot of love, but I found it a little overpriced, and crowded with people trying to flout their gram. Arrowood can actually be like that too, but these are places that cater very much to the bride-in-waiting, wedding venue crowd. I put MHBC in that company as well. Good beer that I thinks get a bump from their ambience.

 

Their beers are almost all $5-7 for 14oz, not sure how on Earth anyone could consider that overpriced.

Also not sure why anyone would be affected by other people taking pictures on their phone with their friends.

 

Half their menu is $7, the other half is $9-10. I'm speaking to the large handful of people who were casually buying beer in their sports bra like it was a fashion statement. Just a vibe thing, nbd.

 

Fashun baby! (although sports bras weren't what I was expecting necessarily)

 

No, not at all. I was drawing attention to their distinctive house yeast. And they do like to utilize local ingredients like chaga mushrooms, maple syrup, dandelions, etc. I was recently surprised by how much I enjoyed their Mohonk IPA recently.

It does seem that their offerings at their Outpost in New Paltz do differ from the ones at the farm.