Mid-Atlantic breweries in planning (2021)

I swear to god 90% of what I've posted in here this year has been Finger Lakes-related shit but.... here we go again.

We've got Okay Beer Co (undecided on how I feel about the name) opening up a combo brewery and bowling alley in Honeoye Falls. LOVE that idea. A lot. And that area in particular is getting mighty busy; already got NO BS and Little Lake, that Geneseo spot is opening in a few months and Mortalis/Rising Storm/Dublin Corners are all very close.

Anyhow -- OBC is using a spot that was already an old bowling alley, fixing that up, adding a taproom and outdoor beer garden.

Edit: Found the location, actually gonna be a bit north of the lake itself and only like 6-7 miles from Mortalis.

 

Another (quiet) closing. Naptime Creations in Blauvelt closed in May apparently. Had been on my list to go to but only found out about it last year so didn't get a chance. Seemed to be in a decent location, pretty close to Two Villains, but no word on the why.

 

Unrelated, made it out to a few new spots recently. Naples Brewing in Naples is awesome. Small but gorgeous taproom, 7-8 beers on, good style variance. Dug the IPAs and even really enjoyed their oatmeal stout which is for sure my least favorite style.

Also went to the FLX Big Alice and wow. What a change from Gael; taproom is beautiful, bright as hell, airy. A LOT of outdoor seating (like 100+ seats) which makes sense due to the bachelor/bachelorette bus situation in that area. Beers were good as I knew they'd be but -- and I think some BAs touched on it -- good lord they're expensive. Cheapest pint was $8, cheapest 5oz pour was $4. The real mind-blower was them selling a 6.8% IPA FOR TWENTY-TWO DOLLARS. $22! For an IPA! OH's IPAs in that ABV range are usually $16, sometimes $18. How are you charging 25-40% more than a more established brewery in the same region? Wild shit.

 

Couple-a twos-threes things:

- Got a spot called Brazen Brewing going up in Lancaster NY (outside of Buffalo) by end of year. Gonna be a brand new build. No word on beer focus but from their IG they're making pilsners, IPAs and adjunct stouts so fairly standard (I don't mean that to be derisive) stuff.

- Brewery Lahoff just opened right outside Coxsackie last month. Small spot in a beautiful old barn. There was nothing else at all in that area so I'm surprised it took so long for a place to come around. Perfect timing for me, too, b/c I was gonna be heading downstate on Sunday as it is so I just picked up a new stop.

 

Brewery Lahoff was absolutely fantastic.

A really quiet, beautiful and serene location with a good amount of outdoor seating (for sure a place to come in nice weather), all the beers were very good-great (two blondes, two pales, two IPAs) and the owner was one of the most friendly and genuine I've ever met. This will be in the regular rotation for sure.

 

Rail II River (Ravena) and Upper Depot (Hudson) both on track for fall openings. UD especially looks like it's gonna have a really cool spot.

 

We got a THIRD spot opening in Hudson and only .3 mile from the other two. A couple wants to open Union Street Brewing in what used to be a warehouse there, so big taproom and a big outdoor beer garden coming with it. Cool looking old building (716 Union if like me you're inclined to Google Map street view it) so I'm excited to see what they do.

 

Oh buddy we got a spicy meatball today. The Poughkeepsie area is about to welcome Locust Grove Brewing and I love what I'm seeing. It's in Milton on a gorgeous old farm with unreal views above the Hudson. Their taproom looks done and their latest IG posts (from a couple days ago) is their NYS license, so we could get a "hey we're open come on down" post literally any day.

I was thinking about hitting up Plan Bee and Gardiner next weekend so them opening before would definitely seal that decision for me.

 

- Okay Beer Co (Honeoye Falls) gearing up for a soft opening on the 17th. Looks like both beer and bowling will be a go.

- Strange Design Public House (Geneseo) just had its own soft opening.

- Locust Grove (Poughkeepsie) still looks like its ready to go any day.

 

Eh I've lived 90 minutes from Poughkeepsie for the last 11 years, am in that area every couple months and even I couldn't have ventured a guess at where Milton is if asked, so just saying P-Town seemed like a safe enough bet.

 

The people that own Vosburgh Orchards in Elizaville just opened their own brewery on the site of the orchard. They've got an Italian Pils and a NEIPA and are canning out of the gate. What didn't hit me until I Google Map'd the location, though, is that it's actually at the old Sloop Barn.

So that rules, gonna check them out in the next couple weeks.

 

Ebbs in NYC seems about ready to open the doors... just not sure where. Their sign says Williamsburg and last I read it was gonna be on Bedford near the L train stop but can't find anything with the exact address.

 

Cap Region is adding a brewery -- Minor Key in East Greenbush. Looks like they're building their taproom now (like a totally new build) so I'd be shocked if they opened before next spring but who knows. Husband-and-wife team, 4-barrel system, looks like they'll be doing a bunch of different styles once up and running.