9 Local Craft Beverages To Try in New York
With more than 300 breweries, 400 wineries, and dozens of cideries and meaderies throughout the state, is it any wonder that New York is home to some of the best craft beverages in the country? Next time you find yourself in The Empire State, be sure to check out these delicious drinks:
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Double Dry Hopped Double Mosaic Dream by Other Half Brewing Company
A double dry-hopped beer will have more hoppy flavors and aroma than your standard beer, and Other Half Brewing Company has done a fantastic job creating one that will impress. Double Mosaic Dream is said to give drinkers a blast of tangerine and citrus flavor with hints of mango and papaya, making it a sharp but smooth drink to enjoy on a warm afternoon.
See more: Get a Taste of the Empire State at These 8 New York Food Festivals
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Oolong Mead by All Wise Meadery
Launched by former Disney Channel star Dylan Sprouse, All Wise Meadery is one of the up-and-coming meaderies in New York. Mead, for those unfamiliar with the term, is an alcoholic beverage crafted from honey and water that is fermented with yeast. There are several options available from All Wise, but their Oolong Mead is a fan favorite, brewed with their in-house oolong tea that imparts a light and floral taste.
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Softly Spoken Magic Spells by SingleCut Beersmiths
SingleCut Beersmiths is known for making top-notch beers with creative, musical names. Most of their drinks are named after some of their favorite musicians or various music parts. Needless to say, musicians are welcome here. Each of their specialty crafted beers are worth a try, but we recommend starting with Softly Spoken Magic Spells. This golden double IPA weighs in at 8.6% ABV and boasts notes of tropical fruit, citrus and a hint of pine.
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mc² by Equilibrium Brewery
Who wouldn’t love a beer named after the arguably most famous physics equation? Pete Oates, co-founder of Equilibrium Brewing, says this double IPA, also nicknamed “energy in a glass” is extremely drinkable with notes of mango juice and chewy hop resins. But be warned, despite being an easy drinking beer, this hazy brew weighs in at a surprising 8% ABV. So even though it tastes light and easy, it can pack a punch.
See more: Top 9 Craft Beverages From Vermont
Fall Spice Bombshell, from Three Brothers Winery
Nestled away in the Finger Lakes of New York is Three Brothers Winery. Despite its name, it’s actually a microbrewery and coffee house in addition to being a proud member of the Seneca Lake Wine Trail. With a huge selection of beers, ciders, wines and seltzers, you may have a hard time narrowing down your options. If you want a recommendation, we suggest ordering the Fall Spice Bombshell. It’s everything you could want in a hard cider: fresh apple, cinnamon, cloves and allspice mingle together for a warm but hearty autumnal beverage.
Afterimage by Grimm Artisanal Ales
If you want to hit up a Brooklyn brewery with a knack for crafting creative beers, look no further than Grimm Artisanal Ales. The owners are keen on limited-edition releases and got their start as a nomadic brewery, perfecting recipes in their kitchen before working with various breweries to bring their vision to life. Afterimage is one of their juicy double IPAs that delivers hints of mango, honeysuckle, marmalade and pine.
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Cuvée De Castleton by Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
Captain Lawrence Brewing has a nice ring to it, and their beer will seal the deal. The Cuvée De Castleton is one of their sour ales. It’s made with Muscat grapes, 2-row malts and aged in oak barrels to provide notes of toasted oak and, in their own words, “a touch of funk.” If you need more convincing, consider this: it won the gold medal at The Great American Beer Festival, a remarkable achievement that means it’s well worth a try!
Flaming Fury by Captain Lawrence Brewing Company
Have you ever tasted a peach sour? If not, this is your chance. Captain Lawrence Brewing Company’s Flaming Fury is a smooth 6.5% ABV that combines their signature Sour Golden Ale with ripe Hudson Valley peaches to create a one-of-a-kind summer drink that will leave you wanting more. Like some of the other drinks on this list, the Flaming Fury also holds a medal from The Great American Beer Festival, placing third in 2018 for Fruited American-Style Sour Beers.
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Burr Knot by Treasury Cider
Treasury Cider not only produces some of the best hard ciders in the state of New York, but they also use apples grown on their family orchard at Fishkill Farms. Burr Knott is one of their dry and unfiltered ciders, crafted with Hyslop Crab, Granny Smith, Pink Lady, old-growth Golden Delicious and Jonamac apples and bottle-conditioned to produce a tart and full cider that’s easy to drink. It even won the gold at the Seattle Cider Awards.