I am headed up Watkins Glen with my wife in June. I was wondering if anybody had any recommendations for breweries/brewpubs that had good food and beer. Any place I should definitely stop and check out nearby?
Stop at a tourist information center and pick up a copy of the Finger Lakes Beer Trail Map. As of last year there was 69 breweries in the area.
And a vast majority of them suck. One of them that doesn't it Abandon, which is in Penn Yan, not far away from Watkins Glen. Also, Ithaca Beer Company and Prison City. Those are the three I'm visiting when I'm in that area for two days next month.
As mentioned above there are a ton of breweries in the area. Many of them are just average. http://fingerlakesbeertrail.com/content/ In Watkins Glen, Roosterfish isn't bad for food and beer.
Climbing Bines is on the way to Abandon if you're coming from Watkins Glen, and is pretty good. They have their own hop farm and it definitely showed in the beers. Nothing spectacular when I visited last summer, but it was on the way to Abandon and worth a quick stop.
Two goats isn't far and has a great view of the lake. I don't think you will be wowed by the beer, but the experience is nice. Grist Iron is supposed to be ok too.
I wouldn't say they suck but most were no more than average. I went to about 10. Some were good but none stood out. Iron Flamingo in Corning was the best of them.
Half way through a 5 night stay in the area right now...my picks...so far...Lake Drum Brewing (Geneva), Abandon (Penn Yan), Steuben Brewing (Great view), Two Goats (also for the view). I was unimpressed with Grist Iron and Lyon Smith. Lake Drum in Geneva has great sours, great ciders(about 4 taps of their stuff) and about 11 taps of other local breweries so it's a great place to sample the local brews.
New one just opened up on friday. Lucky Hare Brewing, east side of Seneca, across the street from Penguin Bay winery.
