TAP New York is 17 — and boy, how our little festival has grown. What once was a gathering of a hundred or so beer-drinkers and craft brewers has now blossomed into the self-proclaimed “largest and longest-running craft beer festival in New York State.”
Of course, it owes much of its success to the region’s wildly growing craft beer industry; here at the mag, we like to joke that you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a new Hudson Valley brewery. Not that we mind: Held at Hunter Mountain, the weekend-long celebration offers everything from ales to weissbiers — about 250 individual beers in all — from nearly 80 of the state’s breweries, including several from the Valley (full list of confirmed Valley breweries below).
The Newburgh Brewing Company is serving a cask of its yet-to–be released XYLEM SAISON, a special ale made with sap from Crown Maple Syrup, while the Dutch Ale House in Saugerties can bus you to the event for $85 (which includes admission, a T-shirt, and even brews on the bus).
The breweries are all vying for coveted awards, such as “Best Craft Beer in New York State” (last year’s honor went to Peekskill Brewery for its Higher Standard Imperial IPA, in case you were wondering).
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Naturally, there’s plenty of grub for those looking to soak up all that booze. Guests can nosh on dishes inspired by regional fare; enjoy daily cooking demonstrations; and sample goods from two dozen vendors, including artisan goat cheeses, sausages, cinnamon-roasted nuts, and venison jerky. Pick up souvenirs, too: cigars, home brew kits, beverage gadgets, and even scarves and “beer jewelry” (we’re intrigued) are all available.
Though the festival is for those 21-and-up (sorry, kids), there’s still plenty to do if you’re not partaking in the sudsy festivities. Raffles, live music by local bands, and overnight packages on the mountain provide enough fun for designated drivers and their lager-lovin’ friends alike. Now here’s a weekend we can raise a toast to!
Hudson Valley and Westchester breweries (invited):
- Andean Brewing Company, Blauvelt
- The Brewery at Bacchus, New Paltz
- Broken Bow Brewery, Tuckahoe
- Brown’s Brewing Company, Troy
- Bull & Barrell Brewpub, Brewster
- Captain Lawrence Brewing, Elmsford
- Cave Mountain Brewing, Windham
- Chatham Brewing Company, Chatham
- Crossroads Brewing Company, Athens
- The Defiant Brewing Company, Pearl River
- Doc’s Draft Hard Ciders, Warwick
- Druthers Brewing Company, Saratoga Springs
- Brewery at Dutch Ale House, Saugerties
- C.H. Evans Albany Pump Station, Albany
- Gilded Otter, New Paltz
- Hyde Park Brewing Company, Hyde Park
- Keegan Ales, Kingston
- Last Stop Brewing Company, LaGrange
- Mad Jack Brewing Company, Schenectady
- Mill House Brewing Company, Poughkeepsie
- Naked Flock Hard Cider, Warwick
- Newburgh Brewing Company, Newburgh
- Nine Pin Cider, Albany
- Olde Saratoga Brewing Company, Saratoga Springs
- The Peekskill Brewery, Peekskill
- Rushing Duck Brewing, Chester
- Shmaltz Brewing Company, Clifton Park
- Sloop Brewing Company, Poughkeepsie
- Yonkers Brewing Company, Yonkers
If you go…
TAP New York
Apr. 26-27: Sat. 1-5 p.m., Sun. 12-4 p.m. $56-$68 early rate, $62-72 at the door, $105 two-day pass, $20 designated driver pass
Hunter Mountain, Hunter. 518-263-4223; www.tap-ny.com
