Seasonal Selections
Newburgh Brewing Company Angry Eggbert IPA
The Pacific Northwest has Bigfoot; Scotland has Nessie; Mexico, the Chupacabra; and Orange County? Orange County has Eggbert, the talking egg who manifests around the holidays and magically knows your name. Thanks to the folks over at Newburgh Brewing Company, Eggbert has had a beer in his honor for the past three years. Angry Eggbert IPA is a crisp, refreshing departure from heavy winter beers. Brewed with spruce needles, the IPA is light-bodied with hints of citrus and pine.
Hillrock Estate Distillery photo courtesy of venue
Hillrock Estate Distillery Solera Aged Bourbon, Pinot Noir Cask Finish
By using solera aging — a complex aging process used for centuries in producing sherry — Hillrock ensures a smooth, consistent final product in their aged bourbon. This limited-edition holiday release finishes in Shea Vineyard Block 23 Pinot Noir wine casks. The result is a sipping experience as transformative as the aging process, with notes of vanilla, cherries, toffee, and oak complemented by fruity, floral aromas.
Doc’s Draft photo courtesy of venue
Doc’s Draft Hard Cranberry Spice Cider
Fall belongs to all things apple cider and pumpkin spice, but come December, it’s cranberry’s time to shine. Doc’s Draft presses New York State apples and cranberries into a cider, along with those Thanksgiving spices like cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cardamom. This holiday cider has garnered a devoted following in the eight years since Doc’s Draft started making it. Enjoy it while supplies lasts — usually until the end of January.
Hetta
Based in Kingston, Hetta is the Hudson Valley’s take on glogg, the traditional Nordic mulled wine popular around the holidays. While the recipe originated with vodka, it now consists of about 80 percent port wine and 20 percent brandy. Warm up the beverage on the stovetop and soon the kitchen will fill with the aromas of fruits and spices. It’s candy-sweet before giving way to red wine plumminess and brandy’s caramel undertones.
A Crafty Confection
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Knick Knacks
Half Time growler photo courtesy of venue
The Cadillac of Growlers
Sleek and insulated, this stainless steel Drinktanks container combines a growler and keg into one product. Keep a half gallon of your favorite brew on tap at home. $109.99
Nine Pin Cider Works photo courtesy of venue
The Scent of Cider
Full disclosure: There is no actual cider in these candles, but Nine Pin Cider Works partners with Collar City Candle in Troy to recreate the aromas of their beloved ciders — and not just signature flavors. They’ve made candles to commemorate their limited releases like pineapple mosaic and lemon rosemary. $15
Bluecashew photo courtesy of venue
Atomized Aromatics
This little James Bond-esque gadget has been used by bartenders to punch up the flavor of their cocktails for ages. At home, the Morgenthaler Triomphe Atomizer is the perfect gift for that friend who just has to make a fuss about everything. Whether it’s adding vermouth to a martini or absinthe to a Sazerac, this tool of the trade is a satisfying toy for any wannabe bartender. $15
Gift a Subscription
Plan Bee Farm Brewery
Their Hive membership sends subscribers a bundle of beer (usually about four 375 ml bottles, plus one 1.5 L magnum), some merch like a Plan Bee tote and coffee mug, plus a $10 gift card to an online craft beer retailer. $100, quarterly.
Kingston wine photo by Oresti Tsonopoulos
Kingston Wine Company
Their wine share sends two thoughtfully selected wines along with background stories and recipes right to your door. Available by the month for local pickup ($35) or shipped ($49).
Half Time Beverage
Their cider of the month club contains an impressive selection of 12 ciders shipped to members each month. A combination of New York State and international beverages, a mix of super sweet and bone-dry varieties, the club offers subscriptions in three-month increments, with the monthly cost decreasing the longer the subscription. Three months starts at $147.
