New York beer has been improving by leaps and bounds over the past couple of years. I’ve been to some really cool collaborative events up here lately, from the 11 X 11 Chef’s Beer Dinner at Newburgh Brewing Company during Hudson Valley Craft Beer Week, to the Brewery at Bacchus tap takeover at The Beer Belly with Suarez Family Brewery, Plan Bee Farm Brewery, and Sloop Brewing. We even have an awesome dinner upcoming from two of my favorite local breweries Rare Form and Common Roots at Henry Street Taproom during next week’s Saratoga Beer Week.
The New York State Brewers Association holds an event once a year at The Desmond to not only showcase New York beer, but also echo some of these collaborative beer community efforts like I listed above, whether it be between local brewers, local distillers (with second use of their barrels), or chefs of our local food scene in the Capital Region and beyond. And unlike far too many of the festivals we see around here, brewery staff and reps will actually be present to pour and chat about their beer, and let’s not forget the $40 presale ticket is extremely reasonably priced for unlimited tastings *and* local food in a much nicer venue than your typical convention center beer fest.
