Just want to let folks know about this fairly new, really small, and simply fantastic brewery in Chester, New York, which is in Orange County. Dan, the owner and head brewmaster, who learned his skill at Weyerbacher, took the time y'day to give our homebrew club a fantastic tour and patiently answered every question we had. He offered us generous samples of the five fantastic brews he had on tap. All of them, without exception, were of a quality that makes me so appreciative of what we have, and so hopeful for the future of Hudson Valley brewing. Between Crossroads, Keegan, Sloop, Rushing Duck, Peekskill, and Captain Lawrence (named from North to South), Hudson Valley brewing is set to make not just local or statewide waves, but poised to gain national recognition for its greatness. Rushing Duck's sample bar and brew tours are Saturdays only, and their beer is only distro fairly locally, more or less through five counties in Mid Hudson Valley, but if you see their beer on tap I highly recommend a pour or three. They will be at TAP NY, and it wouldn't surprise me if they came away with another trophy (they won best of show at Mid Hudson Brewfest).
Cable Beverages has them on draught pretty regularly, for those who live down here. Always a pleasure to come across one of their beers.
For those hopheads in love with War Elephant, as am I, be on the lookout for their Imperial Red, called Kroovy. Drinking one now, and I mean to tell you it is what Cascazilla tries to be, and what Nugget Nectar once was, with a yeast twist to it, and a surprise dry hop, Bravo, that is just stunningly delicious.
Good to hear and thanks for the report. I'll have to make the trip up north soon. Was at Peekskill again yesterday and continue to be blown away at the beer they're brewing up there.
I think a bunch of you guys from up there and a bunch of us Philly/South and Central Jersey BAs need to meet somehwere in the middle and have a huge tasting/growler share. I'm sure we could get enough people interested on both sides and we can bring up stuff like Tired Hands, Kane, Carton, etc. from down here and a group from up there can bring down some cool stuff mentioned in this thread. Is this a good idea or am I crazy?
Sounds like a good idea. In north Jersey, not much by me except for the new Bolero Snort, and they just have two for now. Of course, could always do a growler or two from brewpubs.
To put other posts in perspective: When your local beer is this good, it's pretty easy to drink and support local breweries.
really like Rushing Duck and Peekskill (which I just visited Saturday)... Dan and Nikki at Rushing Duck are as great as the beer... the smoked barleywine was my favorite thus far but they really know what they are doing
Beanhead Coffee Porter, Nimtopsical and the Pale Ale are great. Good folks destined for great beer...
