Start your upstate craft can shopping spree at Suarez Family Brewery. Photo: Brooklyn DoubleWide
The ultimate antidote to summer in the city? Day-drinking under big blue skies at a breezy upstate brewery. You deserve a lazy weekend, slow drives on country roads, and delicious beers at every destination. We recommend staying in Hudson or in a smaller town nearby and hitting one or two breweries within a 30-mile radius each day, and be sure to check their websites for up-to-date tasting room hours. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Sample the finest lagers and pilsner at Suarez Family Brewery. Photo: Brooklyn DoubleWide
Suarez Family Brewery
11 miles south of central Hudson: 2278 U.S. 9, Hudson, NY; suarezfamilybrewery.com
If you prefer a crisp, classic lager or pilsner to a dank, hop-heavy IPA, then Suarez Family Brewery is your spot. The fresh and grassy Fine Line Kolsch is like liquid summer. Sample a glass or two in their sunlit tasting room, and then grab some bottles, cans, or growlers to go.
Grab a juicy, hoppy IPA at Sloop Brewing Co. Photo: Brookyln DoubleWide
Sloop Brewing Co.
13 miles south of Hudson: 1065 Co Rte 19, Elizaville, NY; sloopbrewing.com
If you’re craving an IPA, just drive 5 miles from Suarez to Sloop, for a hazy, hoppy Juice Bomb. They’ve got a farm stand built into their homey tasting room, a solid food truck out back, and a playground for beer drinkers toting small children. Everybody wins.
Soak up the farm brewery goodness at Honey Hollow Brewing Company. Photo: Brooklyn DoubleWide.
Honey Hollow Brewing Company
Go deep into the woods, find a small handmade sign marking the spot, and drive behind owner Matty Taormina’s house to find this magical cottage of a tasting room. Be prepared for a warm, friendly locals-only scene that feels light-years away from NYC.
21 miles northwest of Hudson: 376 East Honey Hollow Road, Earlton, NY; honeyhollowbrewery.com. Note: On Sunday, July 8th, 2018 they’re hosting an open house from noon to 6pm with food, music and vendors.
Dream a little backyard brewery dream at Hop Barn. Photo: Brooklyn DoubleWide.
Hop Barn Brewing
24 miles northwest of Hudson: Hop Barn Brewing, 94 Maple Ave, Greenville, NY; hopbarnbrewing.com
If you made it to Honey Hollow, then it’s just a short drive to Hop Barn, which is actually built into a family home. Say hi to the cow in the neighbor’s backyard, sample the Maple Pail, which uses maple sap instead of water and packs an 11.5% ABV, and start dreaming about opening a backyard brewery of your own.
Head down to Keegan Ales, an old favorite in Kingston. Photo: Keegan Ales.
Keegan Ales
30 miles southwest of Hudson: 20 Saint James St, Kingston, NY; keeganales.com
It’s worth stopping in Kingston to visit this well-established brewery that has been crafting solid beers since 2003. They’re known for their smooth, dark Mother’s Milk stout, but they’ve also got fresh IPAs, a crisp Old Capital golden ale, and a reliable bar menu serving beer-friendly nachos, hot pretzels, salads, and sandwiches.
Visit Crossroads Brewing Company in either Catskill or Athens, NY. Photo: Brooklyn DoubleWide.
Crossroads Brewing Company
Catskill tasting room is 5 miles southwest of Hudson: 201 Water St, Catskill, NY The Athens location is just across the river and accessible via the Hudson-Athens Ferry, or it’s a 9-mile drive to
Hit the Catskill Taproom and pair a pint with a food truck snack at a picnic table on the banks of the Hudson, or get a full meal at the Athens Brewpub, where much of the menu is sourced from local farms. In either spot, we always grab a pint of the toasty, malty Brick Row Red Ale.
