Phila to Cooperstown, NY

I grew up in the Cooperstown area and would recommend taking a look at the Cooperstown Beverage Trail.
http://cooperstownbeveragetrail.com/

All of the breweries on the list are worthwhile, Butternuts operates out of a defunct dairy farm so that is kind of neat and Cooperstown Brewing is just minutes from Ommegang. I wouldn't bother with the cider mill this time or year and the wineries aren't bad if you have the time but not a must stop IMO.

I don't know where you're staying but if it's near Oneonta, Brooks Barbeque is good spot to stop in for dinner. As for bars in the area, the only one I can think of with a fair selection of craft would be The Black Oak Tavern, they always have 3-4 Ommegang taps and usually an Ithaca or 2. It's a dive but it's pretty cheap and should be very quiet during the week. I spent plenty of time there during college.

If you are headed north toward the Utica area there is the FX Matt Brewery and the best bottle shop in the area Marcy Discount Beverage. Enjoy Ommegang, I look forward to visiting again this coming week as I move back to NY from DE. Feel free to BM if you have any other questions about the area.

 

I have done the full Cooperstown Beverage Trail a few times and have always enjoyed it. I'm really not much of a wine drinker but enjoyed the stop at Bear Pond.. (I think its $5 to try maybe 6 wines but they will put your $5 towards your purchase if you decide to buy any of the wines) Otherwise I would have to agree with Mohican about Brooks BBQ and actually about a minute down the road at the Rainbow Inn, there is a bar that always has some good craft beer, both draft and bottles

 

My Father's Place, is the bar behind the Rainbow Inn. Not a huge selection, but a quickly rotating choice of great beer, also a great vibe in there. Ommegang is obvious, but Cooperstown Brewing and Butternuts Beer Co. are also must-visits.

 

A nice small place in Oneonta but they do not keep regular hours, closed on nights and not open during the day at all.

 

yeah, you must NOT stop @ cooperstown brewery... their beers are not worth the time with all the other good stuff you could do along the way. Fly creek is right outside of cooperstown and has some tasty apple wines they make as well as hot sauces, pickled everything, and intense dipping sauces.

 

I'd advise the OP to stop in and check it out for himself. I think they make some tasty beers and they were also recently purchased by Butternuts, so things are changing quite a bit at Cooperstown.

 

Their hours are odd, but they are regular. They're posted on the internet and they honor those hours.