May ExtravaCANza: Sip on Gold With TAP NY Winning Beers

Drink like a champion with these top-ranking Hudson Valley brews.

This month on ExtravaCANza, we are showcasing the Hudson Valley gold medalists from this year’s TAP New York Craft Beer and Food Festival. From pale ales with sweet pineapple and mango flavors to porters exuding smooth coffee with a chocolate finish, these brews appease any palate. Check out this list of the best brews in New York State and find out where you can experience them for yourself.

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2018 Cup Winners

F.X. Matt Memorial Cup
Best Craft Beer Brewery in New York State
District 96 Beer Factory – New City

The Matthew Vassar Brewers’ Cup
Best Craft Beer Brewery in the Hudson Valley
Mad Jack Brewing Co. – Schenectady

Governors’ Brewers’ Cup
Best Craft Beer in New York State
There and Back Again Sour Cherry – Equilibrium Brewery – Middletown

This Saturday, 5/5 at the brewery from 11:30am-6pm, we will be releasing our gold medal winning There and Back Again Cherry (6% ABV) at $16 per bottle. Limit set at 6pp (subject to change). There and Back Again is a tale of a spontaneous fermentation, isolation, confiscation, rejuvenation, mutation, and finally perturbation. This sour American wild ale is a collaborative effort with our dear friend Dr. Jason Rodriguez. We took our house “honey badger” mixed culture (no saccharomyces) and allowed it to ferment and sour over several months before refermenting it on cherries. The result is a bright and clean cherry pie boosted by the tropical expression of our microorganisms. This beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized, naturally carbonated and will continue to evolve over time if properly cellared. These new labels feature Dr. Rodriguez’s original images of the wild yeast culture at 100x magnification. This beer took gold at this years Tap NY beer festival and we are excited to be releasing it this Saturday for you.

A post shared by Equilibrium Brewery (@eqbrewery) on May 2, 2018 at 12:19pm PDT

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2018 Medal Winners

Gold in Light Lagers Category

District 96 Beer Factory – Bright Line Helles Lager
ABV: 4.7%
Style: Light Lager
Flavor: Dry with a complex maltiness
Notes: Brewed with Bohemian Pilsner, Vienna, and Munich malts
Where to Get It: District 96 Taproom
Availability: Until supply lasts

Bright Line Helles Lager 4.7%.. Brewed with high quality bohemian pilsner, Vienna, and Munich malts. Finished with a clean lager yeast that properly expresses them. Light in color, complex maltiness, and dry.

A post shared by District96 Beer Factory (@district96_beerco) on Jan 5, 2018 at 12:26pm PST

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Gold in Strong Dark Lagers Category

New Paltz Brewing – Single Bock
ABV: 6.4%
Style: Strong Dark Lager
Flavor: Nutty tones
Where to Get It: New Paltz Brewing Company Taproom
Availability: Seasonal and limited supply

Gold in Pale Ales Category

District 96 Beer Factory – Silent Majority Pale Ale
ABV: 5.5%
Style: Pale Ale
Flavor: Sweet pineapple and mango flavor
Notes: Citrus aroma with smooth finish
Where to Get It: District 96 Taproom
Availability: Until supply lasts

Apparently #namethatbeer wasn’t the only thing being voted on at Tap New York. We are completely humbled to win best brewery in New York State! Cheers to our Brew Masters @chaserwhitney @sal_518 #legends

A post shared by District96 Beer Factory (@district96_beerco) on Apr 28, 2018 at 10:59am PDT

Gold in Light Ales <6% Category

Wolf Hollow Brewing – Amber Ale
ABV: 5%
Style: Light Ale
Flavor: Crisp, dry hops
Notes: Toasted notes
Where to Get It: Wolf Hollow Brewing Taproom
Availability: Year around supply

Gold in Brown Ales Category

Rare Form Brewing – Members Only Brown Ale
ABV: 6%
Style: Brown Ale
Flavor: Slightly sweet and nutty
Notes: Toffee and caramel balance
Where to Get It: Rare Form Brewery
Availability: Year around supply

Hello weekend! ðŸ‘‹ Pretty stoked with our beer line up right now. A great range to suit many kinds of beer lovers. Back on tap: Members Only! A slightly sweet and nutty brown ale. No jacket needed, but of course encouraged. ðŸ˜‰ To see our current offerings anytime, go to our website and click “our beers”. Direct link also in profile. #cheers #enjoytroy #rareformbrewing #friday

A post shared by Rare Form Brew Co (@rareformbrewco) on Feb 16, 2018 at 11:04am PST

Gold in Porter Category

Mad Jack Brewing – Mont Pleasant Porter
ABV: 6.3%
Style: Porter
Flavor: smooth, slightly sweet, full-bodied, and intense coffee and chocolate aromas
Notes: Brown, Munich, and Vienna malts
Where to Get It: Van Dyck Lounge
Availability: Supply based on demand

We are proud and flattered beyond words to receive THREE awards at TAPNY 2018! Our Dutchmen Lager has won Gold for the Amber/Dark Lager category! Our Mont Pleasant Porter also won Gold in the Porter category! And most of all we are humbled to receive the Matthew Vassar Cup for best brewery in the Hudson Valley! Thank you to TAPNY, Hunter Mountain, and especially to the great patrons of Mad Jack who keep us wanting to make great beer! Cheers! #tapny #tapny2018 #schenectadydoesntsuck #craftbeer #thinknydrinkny #huntermountain

A post shared by Mad Jack Brewery/The Van Dyck (@madjackbrewery) on Apr 28, 2018 at 11:01am PDT

Gold in Irish Style Stout Category

Hudson Brewing Co. – Tainted Senorita Stout
ABV: 7.3%
Style: Mexican Coffee Stout
Flavor: Chocolate and coffee
Notes: Tierra Farms cold press coffee with a smooth chocolate finish
Where to Get It: Hudson Brewing Co. Taproom and County Fare
Availability: Year around supply

Gold in English Style Stout Category

Newburgh Brewing Company – The Newburgh Conspiracy Aged Imperial Stout
ABV: 12%
Style: English Style Stout
Flavor: Rich, dark, and warming
Notes: Dried fruit and licorice
Where to Get It: Newburgh Brewing Company Taproom
Availability: Until supplies last

Beer Release Friday (on tap only): 2018 The Newburgh Conspiracy | 12% ABV | Russian Imperial Stout | Rich, dark, warming | Notes of dried fruits & licorice ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ Named for an actual historical event that occurred here in Newburgh. After the Revolutionary War had come to an end, General George Washington found out that unpaid officers in the Continental Army were thinking of revolting. George was having NONE OF THAT. So he rode into Newburgh (presumably upon a horse, unclear, possibly donkey) and barged in on their meeting to tell them “simmer… simmer”. And they did. And that is why he’s on the quarter. THE END • • • • • • • • #newburghbrewing #craftbeer #craftbrewery #ris #imperialstout #stout #beerstagram #beerporn #beerrelease #newburgh #hudsonvalley #nbny #washington #georgewashington #conspiracy

A post shared by Newburgh Brewing Co. (@newburghbrewing) on Jan 31, 2018 at 4:57am PST

Gold in Sour Beer Category

Equilibrium Brewery – There and Back Again Sour Cherry
ABV: 6%
Style: Sour Beer
Flavor: Cherry pie
Notes: Bright and clean
Where to Get It: Equilibrium Brewery Taproom
Availability: Sold out — may brew again

We are proud to announce that out of more than a 100 NY breweries we have won best overall beer in the state and took home the Governor’s Brewers Cup this year at Tap NY. We were awarded Gold for ‘There and Back Again’ Cherry sour and Silver for our DIPA ‘Sexual Fluctuation’, a collaboration with District 96. Thank You to all of you who voted. We appreciate and recognize all the support you’ve shown us!

A post shared by Equilibrium Brewery (@eqbrewery) on Apr 28, 2018 at 1:00pm PDT

Are you a brewer with a killer release in your lineup? Send us an email at sfowler@hvmag.com.