The mastermind in history must have agreed on one thing: there is no time for a cold beer. In one part of the world, beer lovers in California, Denver, and Vermont compete to be named the finest.
Meanwhile, the Hudson Valley and the Catskills have been discreetly boosting the stakes while they’ve been busy arguing over who is the best. The major brands have been supplanted by Catskills local producers, which is evident if you visit any trendy waterhole from Brooklyn to Hudson.
Breweries in Catskills
Upstate New York is a one-of-a-kind place to experience the authentic flavor of the region, thanks to the breweries’ dedication to using only locally sourced ingredients in their creations.
A beer-drinking location with locally sourced menu items, a stage for live music, and a few close friends, what, what else is left to ask for?
Some of the world’s best and most highly regarded beers and wines are produced in New York State and the Catskill Mountains in particular. These are some of the best breweries in the Catskills, and they deserve your patronage whether you’re a resident searching for a new hangout or a hiker passing through on their way upstate.
West Kill Brewery
In Spruceton Valley, not far from the trailhead for the Diamond Notch Trail, you’ll find West Kill Brewery, a small, family-run business that serves delicious beer and is well worth the trip.
Freshly tapped maple sap, yeast from local farms, and honey from local beehives are just a few of the ingredients West Kill Brewery uses to make its beers, all of which pay homage to the beautiful region in which the brewery is located. Open at noon on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays; they have first-come, first-served seating.
Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company
Catskill’s Route 32 is home to the Rip Van Winkle Brewing Company, a brewery, and restaurant. After a day of exploring Tannersville and Haines Falls, or a hike to nearby Kaaterskill Falls, this is the ideal place to relax and rejuvenate.
Rip Van Winkle Brewing is a premier Italian eatery, serving everything from garlic knots to traditional pizza and its selection of locally chosen craft brews. Hours are 4-9 PM on Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12-9 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 12-8 PM on Sundays.
Chatham Brewing
Chatham Brewing is a trustworthy, family-run business that offers a wide variety of delicious beers made from local ingredients. The Matthew Vassar Cup for Best Craft Brewery and a bronze medal from TAP New York have helped establish this business as a frontrunner among Catskills breweries. This is a must-visit for beer aficionados in the area. You can check out Chatham Brewing’s website for a full timetable of openings and closings.
Woodstock Brewing
Woodstock Brewing in Phoenicia, which began as a garage operation, is now a vast, 15-barrel brewery. It’s an excellent place to go after camping at Woodland Valley, Kenneth Wilson, or the Ashokan Rail Trail, and it’s conveniently located off Route 28. Woodstock Brewery is a must-visit for anyone finishing up a day in the Catskills since it offers a wide selection of lunch options featuring vegan and gluten-free alternatives.
Catskill Brewery
The land around the Catskill Brewery offers the materials and the energy needed to brew their beer. Their “Honest Hardworking Beer” is brewed in a Gold LEED-certified facility using only the purest Catskill Mountain water and ingredients gathered as close to home.
Using only renewable energy sources like the sun and the earth’s core temperature, they can produce high-quality beer without negatively impacting the environment. They do all they can to reduce their impact on the environment and the Catskill Mountains by recycling, reusing, and repurposing.
Honey Hollow Brewing Company
The folks at Honey Hollow Brewing Company care deeply about the quality of their brews and the ingredients they use. They are a New York State Farm Brewery that uses homegrown hops and other farm-sourced materials to brew their beer in small amounts.
The motto at Honey Hollow is “brew to share.” Having a good time while drinking beer is just as essential to them as the brew itself. Therefore, they make it a point to tell their story to the people in their neighborhood.
They frequently donate money to the community food pantry and support local farms. Visit their tasting room for a beer and join in on the fun.
Shrewd Fox Brewery
Shrewd Fox Brewery is known for producing high-quality, locally brewed beer. This farm brewery serves craft beers made with all-natural, locally-grown, GMO-free ingredients. Even in their barrel-aged formulations, they use only New York State ingredients, including barley, hops, and water from the Catskills.
Although their components are already top-notch, Shrewd Fox Brewery doesn’t stop there. They employ cutting-edge natural brewing techniques to avoid the use of the esoteric chemicals, additions, and preservatives that are standard in mass-produced beer.
Roscoe Beer Company
At Roscoe Beer Company, you can taste the authentic Catskills while learning about the area’s storied history of fly fishing. A group of beer-loving locals established Roscoe Beer Co. to pay tribute to the area’s rich brewing tradition and culture, as well as to the great outdoors and the town in which it is located.
Undeniably successful, they’ve experienced rapid growth because of it. A self-serve tap wall, full-service sample bar, lounge area, and more can be found at the new tasting room, brewery, store, and beer garden. Relax with a cold one and chat with some locals, and immerse yourself in the Catskill experience
Subversive Brewing
Tucked away on Bridge Street, this quaint brewery offers stunning views of historic downtown Catskill. They employ only locally sourced ingredients in their beers and are one of just a handful of breweries worldwide. What a great example of regional cuisine!
Come hungry to this Catskill hamlet sanctuary in the form of a garden; the taproom kitchen serves up smash burgers, beer cheese cooked in-house, and a kid’s menu!
Coffee tastes better in the backcountry, while beer tastes best at Catskill. Visit the Catskills to taste the real thing and take advantage of the region’s rare combination of forested wildness and quaint villages.