A Weekend Warrior’s Guide to Hudson Valley Breweries

A weekend warrior’s guide to Hudson Valley breweries.

By Kenny Gould

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We all know that the Hudson Valley has one of the best brewery scenes in the country. But to truly enjoy all of its charms, we feel a beer-themed weekend is the best course of action. From a brewery that was spawned from a hamburger restaurant to one run by the protégé of one of the United States’ most awarded beer makers, what follows is a foolproof route for getting the best out of your experience. Now all you need is a designated driver. 

 


Photo by Eric Laignel

6 p.m.
The Roundhouse

We are going to have you ease into your weekend with your first stop covering all of the bases: food, drink, and accommodations. Housed in a former factory complex, The Roundhouse has one of the best bars in the Valley (with a fireplace and view of a waterfall) and the restaurant uses whole farm ingredients, 90 percent of which come from the Hudson Valley. But wait, you can’t turn in before hitting a brewery…

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2 E Main St, Beacon, 845.765.8369
www.roundhousebeacon.com

 


Photo by Kenny Gould

9 p.m.
Hudson Valley Brewery

Just 300 yards from The Roundhouse is Hudson Valley Brewery, a relative newcomer on the scene. Since opening its doors in early 20017, it has established itself as one of the country’s premier producers of sour beer and IPAs, even earning a nod as Hop Culture Magazine’s Best New Brewery of 2017. Many of their unique creations contain milk sugar, which gives the beer a sweet, creamy mouthfeel, almost like a dessert. If you are planning on picking up a new can release, we recommend you start your weekend earlier and get to the brewery before it opens; people have been known to line up for hours. (Find out the schedule by following them on social media.)

2 Churchill St, Beacon, 845.218.9156
www.hudsonvalleybrewery.com

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Photo by Jackie J Photo

10 a.m.
Stock Up

“Ours is a team of artists, chefs, farmers, butchers, and beer and coffee freaks.” Start your Saturday morning at Stock Up with a sandwich or all-day eggs, and indulge in one of the locally roasted coffee options like Feather in Cap, a medium roast with hints of brown sugar and buttered toast, or Espresso Roast, a light to medium roast with notes of honey and cocoa. If you’re the kind of person who gets hungry around noon, “stock up” — our next recommended food stop won’t be until 2 p.m., when we hit the Sloop Brewing Co. farm stand, and you’ll want a snack at the picturesque Plan Bee.

29 Teller Ave, Beacon, 845.202.7400
www.stockupbeacon.com
Update 12/26/2018: StockUp is closing at the end of December.

 


Photo by Steven Cawman

12 p.m.
Plan Bee Farm Brewery

Forty minutes north of Stock Up is Plan Bee, a farm brewery founded by Emily and Evan Watson who make their beer with 100 percent New York State ingredients. Spring is when the brewery comes alive; explore the brewing operations, which are housed inside a three-story barn originally built in the 1830s, as well as the 25-acre working farm. If you bought provisions at Stock Up, now’s the perfect time for a picnic snack. 

115 Underhill Rd, Poughkeepsie, 845.242.0562
www.planbeefarmbrewery.com

 


Photo by Kenny Gould

2 p.m.
Sloop Brewing Co.

From Plan Bee, it’s only another 40 minutes to Sloop Brewing Co., a farm brewery, in Columbia County’s Elizaville. Built inside an early 19th-century barn, the brewery regularly features live music, as well as a farm stand that sells locally cured jerky and the apples from their working orchard. Sloop specializes in hazy, hoppy beers like Juice Bomb, an unfiltered Northeastern-style IPA, with some Belgians, sours, and stouts thrown into the mix to keep things interesting.

1065 Co Rte 19, Elizaville, 518.751.9134
www.sloopbrewing.com

 

 


Photo by Kenny Gould

3:30 p.m.
Suarez Family Brewery

Before Dan Suarez built one of the country’s most respected lager producers inside an old lamp factory in Livingston, he worked for Shaun Hill, founder of Hill Farmstead in Greensboro, Vt. Hill Farmstead is generally regarded as one of the world’s best breweries, so it’s no surprise that the crisp beers produced in Hudson are also highly regarded. On any given day, expect to see Suarez in the low-key taproom, along with his wife, Taylor, their dog, Vanah, and baby Enzo. If you’re hungry, check out Gaskins, a nearby Germantown restaurant owned by Dan’s brother and his wife, or Lil’ Deb’s Oasis in Hudson — both restaurants come highly recommended by Taylor Suarez, Dan’s wife. 

2278 U.S. 9, Hudson, 518.537.6464
www.suarezfamilybrewery.com

 


Photo Courtesy of the Forsyth B & B

6 p.m.
The Forsyth B & B

Head south and across the river to Kingston for the rest of your Saturday and check into The Forsyth, located at the Rondout, where each of the four rooms is named for a renowned explorer: There’s James, for blind 19th-century explorer James Holman; Erden, for athlete and mountaineer Erden Eruc; Amelia, for aviator Amelia Earhart; and Isabella, for 19th-century traveler, writer, photographer, and naturalist Isabella Bird. Breakfast at this airy establishment includes French press coffee, fresh fruit, house-made granola, baked goods, and lavish mains, all prepared from mostly local, seasonal, and organic ingredients by owner and chef Tamara Ehlin. Since there are only four rooms, make sure to call well ahead for reservations. For dinner or a late-night snack, it’s a short walk to Broadway.

85 Abeel St, Kingston, 845.481.9148
www.theforsythkingston.com

 


Photo by Jennifer May

8 p.m.
Rondout Dining

After resting for a bit at The Forysth, you might just be hungry again. Good thing for you it’s just a five-minute walk to Broadway where you can get a hearty Italian meal at Savona’s Trattoria, southern comfort food at Ole Savannah (pictured above), seafood and a raw bar at Mariner’s Harbor, or savory snacks at Brunette wine bar.

 


Photo by Kashka Glowacka

11 a.m.
Ship to Shore

Most days of the week, Ship to Shore is an American bistro and steakhouse, but on Sundays the restaurant serves a full brunch. In addition to traditional favorites like eggs Benedict and smoked salmon, chef and owner Samir Hrichi crafts more creative dishes like the Grilled Shrimp “BLT” and Bananas Foster French Toast. Like many of the area’s best restaurants, Ship to Shore takes advantage of the Hudson Valley’s indigenous ingredients.

15 W Strand Street, Kingston, 845.334.8887
www.shiptoshorehudsonvalley.com

 


Photo by Kenny Gould

1 p.m.
Equilibrium Brewery

Although it’s over an hour’s drive from Ship to Shore to Equilibrium Brewery, you won’t want to miss this newcomer to the Hudson Valley craft beer scene. Founded by two MIT grads, Equilibrium combines science with a passion for the art of brewing. The results are highly original, unfiltered, unpasteurized IPAs, and the brewery occasionally dabbles in saisons, sours, stouts, and porters. If you really want a taste of the local beer culture, head up on a Saturday when the brewery is releasing cans. 

22 Henry St, Middletown
www.eqbrew.com

 


Photo courtesy of Eddie’s Roadhouse

2:30 p.m. Eddie’s
Roadhouse

Stop for a late lunch at Eddie’s Roadhouse, a farm-to-table restaurant and craft beer bar in Warwick, New York, just half an hour south of Middletown. In addition to pouring local favorites like Equilibrium and Hudson Valley, you’ll often find rarer, interesting beers from more distant breweries like AleSmith and Hill Farmstead.

18 Main St, Warwick, 845.986.7623
www.eddiesroadhouse.com

 


Photo by Kenny Gould

4 p.m.
Industrial Arts Brewing Company 

From the outside, the brick buildings that comprise the Garnerville Arts and Industrial Center look like they belong in Birmingham, England, rather than Upstate New York. Inside, however, they’ve been beautifully restored, making them fit for a variety of artists and a 30,000 sq ft brewery. Industrial Arts founder Jeff O’Neil — who has 20 years of brewing experience and previously worked as the brewmaster of Peekskill Brewery — makes clean, bright beers that serve as the perfect counterpoint to Hudson Valley Brewery’s sours and Equilibrium Brewery’s hazy IPAs.

55 W Railroad Ave #25, Garnerville, 845.942.8776
www.industrialartsbrewing.com

 


Photo by Kenny Gould

6 p.m.
Burger Loft and District 96 Beer Factory 

Finish your evening with dinner at the Burger Loft and order beers from next-door District 96, a new Hudson Valley brewery that specializes in pale ales and juicy IPAs. Both establishments share an entry, and both are owned by beer and burger enthusiast John Potenza. On the food side, we’d recommend the mushroom burger with fresh-cut fries; for beer, try the Mother of All Bombs, a double IPA with hints of mango and pineapple. 

395 S Main St, New City, 845.499.2409
www.theburgerloft.com; www.district96beer.com

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