Get Your Buzz on at Cold Spring's Barber & Brew

Your new favorite watering hole might just be the same spot you go to spiff up your ‘do. Cold Spring’s Barber & Brew yields a sense of harmony between two unlikely services, mixing up the classic barbershop experience by serving fresh cuts with a side of locally curated craft pours.

The most recent Main Street addition manages to meet that equilibrium by dividing its 1920s-meets-modern-day interior into two distinct spaces. Lined with emerald leather barber chairs and a sturdy wood mirror mounting, the front offers the perfect aesthetic for an old-school shave. The back functions as a bar room, clad with exposed brick walls, antiques, and generous room to gather.

Ladies, don’t let the name scare you away. Barber & Brew also provides services for women, so you can get in on the experience, too.   

In case you’re hesitant about the hair/hops combo, co-owner James Caroll extends an invitation: “Just come in and check it out,” he says. “When people walk in and understand that it’s two separate spaces under one roof, they get it. Once you see the place, it all falls into line.”

If you’ve taken a stroll down Main Street lately, you may have noticed that Cold Spring Apothecary recently collaborated with The Pantry to add a café inside of its retail store and salon. And though this may seem like a similar business model, Caroll notes that the two concepts are in fact very different.

“Their efforts have brought apothecary items, truly artisanal coffees, teas, and pastries to Main Street,” he says. “Our program is old school barbering, great beer, great wine, and upscale bar bites. They’re completely different atmospheres and directions.”

​Caroll notes that the Cold Spring Apothecary café addition happened around the same time his partner and head barber Richard Corio approached him about the potential for the space. The idea for an old-school barbershop seemed natural, given Cold Spring’s many antique shops and vintage charm, but given the depth of the space, the two local residents had a hard time deciding what else to do with the rest of it.

“It wasn’t long before we both agreed that a craft beer bar would be a great fit, not only because of the vibe I knew we could create there, but also because Cold Spring really doesn’t have anything like it as far as real, quality craft beer goes,” says Caroll. 

So, go ahead and order up some wine or tap beer with your barber treatment (only $5 a glass!), or head over for just beer and a bite. The bar stays open an extra few hours after the barbershop closes, so Wednesdays through Sundays, you can grab a cold one until 10 p.m.

You can spot local names on their 10-tap beer list, like Hudson Valley Brewery and Industrial Arts Brewing Company. Or, if you’re looking for a quick bar bite, Caroll notes that Garrison’s Fresh Co pork-and-duck terrine (made with Cold Spring-based Marbled Meat smoked pork) is particularly stellar. Moving into summer, Barber & Brew anticipates broadening its food and drink provisions by collaborating with more local purveyors and working to provide house-exclusive beers. 

Barber & Brew
69 Main Street, Cold Spring
(845) 265-2834
www.barberandbrew.com