BEER REVIEW
Beers of the Finger Lakes region, New York
Thoughts: I recently returned from a family vacation at the Finger Lakes in central New York state. Though the region has become known for its burgeoning wineries, I’m happy to report the craft beer scene is very much alive and well in that part of the world, as well.
An easy 61⁄2-hour drive northeast from Columbus, it’s doable for a long weekend, or a week, if you have it. We stayed in Watkins Glen (known for its famous race track and beautiful state park filled with waterfalls) at the south end of scenic Seneca Lake. Both the east and west shores of the lake were filled with wineries and breweries. Usually I would write about a single beer that is readily available in these parts. But, changing gears a little, here is a brief travelogue of some of the stops we made in exploring the region:
Grist Iron Brewing (in Burdett) offers a nice range of beers along with lake views from a hillside, and activities such as giant Jenga and cornhole. Their Lake Life IPA is a great starting point; also enjoyed their Maxximus Brown Ale and Hoppiness Amplified Double IPA; my wife tried, and liked, That’s My Jam! Mixed Berry Kettle Sour.
Just a stone’s throw up the road on the east side of the lake was Two Goats Brewing Company. In addition to sweeping lake views from the deck, they had a delicious Imperial IPA (X IPA), and, perhaps taking a cue from their nearby wine brethren, some blends — such as kolsch and imperial IPA (Goatgasm), and red and Imperial IPA (Red X).
A unique find on the west side of the lake was Seneca Lake Brewing in Rock Stream (touted as the Beerocracy), which by outside appearances one might wonder whether they’re walking into someone’s actual house, but instead will find a charming British pub with an expansive back lot that hosts live music and a nice deck on which they serve tasty food. Their cask-conditioned ales are served in authentic British style — lightly carbonated and lightly chilled, i.e. nearly room temperature. The Steamship Foreign Extra Stout was excellent.
War Horse Brewing in Geneva, at the north end of the 38-mile-long Seneca Lake, has Lieutenant Dan IPA, a very well-made hazy IPA (not named after Gary Sinise’s memorable character in “Forrest Gump,” but instead a tribute to Daniel Inouye, a Japanese American who served heroically in World War II before representing Hawaii in the U.S. Senate for nearly 50 years before his death in 2012.)
This is just a tiny sampling of what is available in the Finger Lakes region — there were more stops just on the one lake we visited than we would have the time (or the liver) to investigate. And, if you get tired of drinking beer (like that could happen), there are scores of nearby wineries and distilleries to try.
— Patrick Holbrook, Dispatch beer reviewer pholbrook@gannett.com