Keuka Lake beer: Incredible stops in and around Penn Yan
Keuka Lake beer: Incredible stops in and around Penn Yan
Just 90 minutes outside Rochester, visitors can enjoy views and beers at a number of spots. Here are a few...
Note: This newsletter is supported by Rohrbach Brewing Co., a pioneering craft brewery in the city of Rochester.
The Finger Lakes are just bursting with quality breweries, most of them within 90 minutes of downtown Rochester.
Both Monroe County and Ontario County offer some really incredible options. But sometimes it’s worth expanding your scope, taking a little drive, and enjoying the beauty of the Finger Lakes.
Cass, Audie, and I enjoyed a recent trip to Penn Yan and the Keuka Lake area, where we were able to stop at three of our favorite breweries in the region. Here’s a rundown on that itinerary and some highlights from each stop:
Steuben Brewing
Over the last seven-plus years, Steuben Brewing in Pulteney, Steuben County, has quietly established itself as one of the best breweries in upstate New York. Brewer Chad Zimar and the team at Steuben unquestionably make the best lagers in the Finger Lakes.
Zimar crafts truly terroir-driven beers by focusing on locally sourced ingredients. There aren’t many breweries where you can enjoy a Pilsner brewed with hops and malts harvested nearby. It also showcases the growth of New York state agriculture since the passage of the Farm Brewery Act in 2012.
Advertisement: For exemplary takes on traditional styles and the best pretzel in town, make sure to visit Sager Beer Works in Rochester.
“We are definitely calculated. We’re in this for the long run,” Zimar told me in a 2018 interview for the D&C. “We’re not trying to be huge. We could easily be 10 times the size and have a bunch of wholesale accounts and be hooked up with a distributor. We want people to taste the beer here, in this setting, so that we can control the atmosphere and their experience. It’s the glass you’re tasting it out of, how it’s poured, the temperature at which it’s poured.”
What I love about Zimar and Steuben is how carefully the experience is crafted. There’s a strict “no bus” policy, because the brewery encourages you to relax, slow down, engage in conversation, and take in the peaceful surroundings. There is often great live music, too, and then a nice assortment of food trucks. It’s a wonderful spot to sit on a sunny afternoon and enjoy a perfectly poured pint.
Here’s my previous coverage for the D&C: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/rocflavors/2018/10/24/steuben-brewing-keuka-lake-becomes-one-best-breweries-finger-lakes/1550181002/
Abandon Brewing
On the outskirts of Penn Yan sits one of the most picturesque and rustic FLX beer destinations. There’s a huge reason so many people have gotten married or celebrated life’s milestones at Abandon — it’s a gorgeous spot for contemplation and relaxation.
Abandon sits in a barn dating to the early 1800s, adding to its charm and feel. It also offers an Airbnb option at the neighboring farmhouse. It’s a wonderful place to spend an afternoon. It’s just an added bonus that they are all within 30 minutes of each other.
Head brewer Jeff Hillebrandt has led brewing operations at Abandon since it first opened nearly a decade ago. He really excels with traditional Belgian styles. My wife and I are especially fond of Abandon’s Peppercorn Saison.
Laurentide Beer
Sitting in a 200-year-old carriage house probably seems like an unlikely spot to enjoy a house-crafted beer. But that’s the beauty of Laurentide Beer Co. in downtown Penn Yan, a historic spot with a new life and purpose after the husband and wife team of Tracey and Marla Hedworth purchased the property in 2018.
The stunning Main Street mansion was originally built in 1820 by William Oliver Morrison, a former U.S. congressman and New York lieutenant governor. It has been a bed and breakfast since 1989 and re-opened in the last few years as the Laurentide Inn, a five-room property.
After the main house was restored, work shifted to the neighboring carriage house, which is now home to a tasting room, private meeting area, and 3.5-barrel nanobrewery. Laurentide focuses on traditional and sessionable beers, the types you can safely enjoy more than one of. It’s an approach that is very much appreciated. And on a summer afternoon, the outdoor seating area in front of the brewery is a perfect spot to enjoy some live music, too.
Like Abandon, Laurentide offers patrons a chance to stay at a brewery. The stately mansion in front of the carriage house brewery is an updated bed and breakfast, while there is also a studio loft for rent above the brewery. In total, the property can accommodate 16 people. Rooms can be booked through AirBnb.
Look to this space for a future newsletter on Laurentide’s growth and future.
Here’s my previous coverage for the D&C: https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/lifestyle/2021/01/05/penn-yans-laurentide-beer-co-opens-historic-carriage-house/6190336002/
These are just three of the destinations located in and around Penn Yan. I heartily encourage you to get out and explore. And please share your favorites with me!
Lastly, be on the lookout for a more participatory newsletter later this week. I’ll be throwing it back to the readers and soliciting feedback and questions to inform future coverage. So please, please give it a look and get back to me with your ideas.
This space is a lot more fun when we’re collaborating and making it a conversation (preferably over a beer or two).
Title sponsor: Rohrbach Brewing Co.
This work is made possible through support from Rohrbach Brewing Co. Rohrbach features two locations — its Beer Hall at 97 Railroad St. in the city of Rochester and its brewpub at 3859 Buffalo Road in the town of Ogden. Since 1991, Rohrbach has been producing classics and influencing the Rochester beer scene, including its iconic Scotch Ale.
The brewery’s support allows this work to remain free for this audience. So make sure to get out to Rohrbach and support one of the best establishments in our area.
I remain open to sponsorships, sponsored content, and advertisements, especially if it’ll keep the newsletter free for readers. And if you have information about upcoming releases, events, or happenings, don’t hesitate to reach out. For more information, feel free to drop me a line at clevelandprost@gmail.com.
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