TAPPING INTO SPA CITY
Local family-run brewery to expand to Saratoga Springs
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.>> A family-run brewery in Washington County has plans to expand with a Spa City tasting room.
R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery, located in the town of Hebron, first opened its doors to the public in 2015.
After a few years of brewing and sharing their beers on the Taylor family’s Misty Bleu Farm, the business is ready to expand into Saratoga Springs.
Founders Richard and Kelley Taylor aim to open the company’s first off-site taproom this June in Congress Plaza, on Congress Street in the city’s downtown area.
The new tasting room will fill the 1,600-square-foot corner unit of the plaza.
The Taylors hope to bring the farm atmosphere to the city at their new space, which will have a barn-like ambiance.
“Hopefully it will remind people a little bit of the place we have out in the country, because that’s one of the things that people tell us all the time is they like coming, not just for the beer, but they really enjoy the atmosphere on the farm,” Kelley said.
The owners would also like to have some outdoor seating for their guests at the new location.
The bar will feature 12 taps of primarily R.S. Taylor & Sons products, along with some guest local farm-brewed beers and ciders.
A small scale brewery, R.S. Taylor and Sons Brewery specializes in brewing English-style ales, but makes other types, too. “We’re always trying to do new exciting beers,” said Richard, the lead brewer. About half the taps at the new bar will consistently be R.S. Taylor classics, and the others will change regularly.
Some popular R.S. Taylor and Sons beers are the West Coaststyle Sticky Fingers IPA and Willie’s Nut Brown Ale.
R.S. Taylor and Sons Brewery brews on a 100 percent American-made system custom crafted by Portland Kettle Works in Oregon.
The brewery uses a combination of its own hops grown at Misty Bleu Farm, hops grown up the road at Cold Spring Hop Farm, and a selection of fine British-grown hops.
Originally from Guilderland, Richard and Kelley Taylor ventured into the country in 2011 and got to work creating their new home at Misty Bleu Farm.
Richard had always enjoyed beer, then started home brewing. When they left the suburbs for the farm, and the state’s farm brewery legislation took effect in 2013, all was in place to open R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery.
“I can’t say that it was a lifelong dream, but it has become that after many years,” Richard said.
Since starting R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery, the Taylors’ plan was always to open some additional taprooms, and now the time has come.
On why the brewery chose this location for their second taproom, Richard said, “Saratoga is the closest and it fits the demographic we wanted.”
This expansion will also give the couple’s sons Owen and Ian an opportunity to become even more involved in the family business. Owen Taylor will manage the new Spa City location.
The new R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery tasting room will pour flights, pints, half-pints and pitchers, as well as growlers for people to take home.
Another unique take-away option offered will be The Crowler. This device can seal fresh craft beer from the source in a 32-ounce can.
The future tasting room will serve some cheeses, hummus, chips and other snacks, but the owners aren’t trying to compete as a downtown eatery. They invite customers to bring in or order in cuisine from other local businesses, and will even provide those menus at the bar.
The tasting room is initially expected to be open seven days a week, from 4 to 11 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
On the taproom stage, the Taylors plan to host live bluegrass music, as they do in Hebron, on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.
On-site construction is expected to begin soon.
Following a soft opening, R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery will throw a tasting room open house and grand opening celebration,
Looking ahead, the Taylors may open a third location in the Capital Region, possibly in or near Latham. This would be managed by Ian Taylor.
As the company continues to grow, R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery will add to its brewing system in order to increase production.
More information on R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery is available at www.rstaylorbrewing.com.
For updates on the new taproom, follow the R.S. Taylor & Sons Brewery Facebook page.