Picture courtesy of Huge Artistic
The craft beer scene in Westchester County is flourishing due to this collective of gifted breweries all through the area.
Further reporting by Alyssa Politi
Over the previous 10 years or so, Westchester’s craft beer scene has exploded. The place as soon as there have been few and much between choices when it got here to a regionally brewed pint, the thriving trade has given rise to hop homes and taprooms from Yonkers all the best way as much as Peekskill. For those who’re cruising for a brand new quaff or possibly some completely paired pub grub, listed here are the Westchester-based breweries you ought to be looking for out.
Picture by Andrew Dominick
Various Medication Brewing Co.
29 Elm Avenue, Ste 1A, Mt Vernon; 914.530.3269
Yr Based: 2021
Longtime residence brewer Jordan Hahn (a software program community engineer) teamed up along with his buddy Tom Ryan (an audio engineer) to open Alt Med Brewing just because they wished to. Positioned instantly throughout the road from Mount Vernon East’s Metro-North cease in what was once a producing firm within the early 1900s, now renovated by the 2 pals, the darkish, however cozy subterranean house options Hahn’s recipes scaled up for beer geeks to take pleasure in very like all his family and friends did, therefore giving him the braveness to open a brewery.
Flagship Beers: Charlatan, a crisp, shiny, simple ingesting cream ale, and Juice Cleanse, a hoppy, tropical, hazy New England type IPA are each normally in heavy rotation on the traces.
Meals: Though the brewery welcomes BYOF, Caribbean Soul Meals Delight serves up every day specials. For a lighter snack, go for the small batches of popcorn with the choice of including flavors, flavored pretzels, and beef jerky.
Damaged Bow Brewery
173 Marbledale Rd, Tuckahoe; 914.268.0900
Yr Based: 2013
A homebrewing passion that began in Michael LaMothe’s household residence in Bedford Hills become a profession and a household affair along with his mother and father and sisters serving to him run the day-to-day operations. Inside this former tile manufacturing facility, you’ll discover a number of repurposed nuances from the constructing’s earlier occupant and, when the climate requires it, enterprise outdoors along with your pint for a little bit recent air and cornhole.
Flagship Beers: Grooving on a chocolatey, coffee-laden Damaged Coronary heart Stout is a correct transfer. Bearded Cranium is a Mexican-style lager that additionally takes the cake.
Meals: There are snacks within the taproom, so be at liberty to deliver your individual meals or have a meal delivered from close by eating places. Leila’s Empanadas, The Steak Truck, and Latusion have made common appearances, so control the web site for meals truck friends.
Picture by Huge Artistic
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.
444 Noticed Mill River Rd, Elmsford; 914.741.2337
369 Lexington Ave, Mt Kisco; 845.261.3279
Yr Based: 2006
Captain Lawrence wasn’t at all times a brewery. Earlier than that, he was Samuel Lawrence, a Westchester County Militia captain throughout the American Revolution. In fact, it’s additionally a road in South Salem the place founder and head brewer Scott Vaccaro grew up. When the brewery opened in Pleasantville, Captain Lawrence was the one Westchester brewery and, in 2011, it moved its operation to Elmsford and doubled manufacturing and general house, making it one of many largest breweries within the Hudson Valley. Whether or not you’re having fun with Belgian-inspired brews with a New York twist in a energetic taproom or outdoors on the patio (with bocce ball and cornhole), anticipate an often-busy scene that’s nice for group gatherings and plenty of particular occasions. Captain Lawrence has since opened a Mount Kisco spinoff named the “Barrel Home” the place patrons can get their fill of many various drafts and related meals to that of the primary brewery.
Flagship Beers: Freshchester Pale Ale, a lightweight ingesting, barely hoppy brew is the unique, however something barrel-aged or puckeringly bitter shouldn’t be handed up.
Meals: Captain Lawrence’s kitchen is centered on pub grub like pretzels with beer cheese, two fried rooster sandwiches (one is Nashville scorching), wings, two burgers, and mac and cheese, and a summer time ahi tuna poke bowl. Pizza is a spotlight, too, with 11 completely different pies to select from and an occasional particular.
Decadent Ales
139 Hoyt Ave Ste A (within Half Time), Mamaroneck; 914.848.4060
Yr Based: 2018
Paul Pignataro began Decadent Ales as a result of, as he places it, “I received bored with studying beer labels that stated, ‘marshmallow this, marshmallow that’ and it could by no means style prefer it was presupposed to.” The dessert-like IPAs, stouts, and collaboration beers with different breweries like Evil Twin and Fats Orange Cat began being brewed and canned with the assistance of Twelve % Beer Challenge. Quick ahead to now, and the brewery has discovered a everlasting residence within Half Time Mamaroneck.
Flagship Beers: Something “Cream Pop” is what you covet. These lactose-laden, creamy IPAs are all excessive within the ABV division, however you’ll swear you’re ingesting a beer milkshake.
Meals: After the departure of Hapa, Decadent now makes use of the kitchen to serve Pat LaFrieda mix burgers, scorching canines, and wings. Be looking out for meals truck pop-ups.
*Taproom at the moment closed for renovations
Associated: Seize a Drink at These Rooftop Bars and Eateries Round Westchester
Picture by Andrew Dominick
Peekskill Brewery
47 S Water Avenue #53, Peekskill; 914.734.2337
Yr Based: 2008
Peekskill Brewery’s reputation skyrocketed when it moved from its authentic facility on Hudson Avenue down the road to a four-story constructing in 2011. This riverfront brewpub with a second-floor restaurant (the place the vibe is extra mellow) is among the locations to be in a metropolis that’s on a redevelopment rise. PB is younger and hip, and also you’ll encounter loads of craft beer aficionados who’re each native and “simply visiting” to crush a few of Westchester’s greatest beer and one of many extra various lists when it comes to beer kinds.
Flagship Beers: Japanese Normal, an IPA that includes a mix of West Coast Citra and Simcoe hops, supplies bitterness, however its maltiness makes it stability out.
Meals: Ten-inch private pizzas, the signature Brew Burger (Applewood smoked bacon, garlic aioli, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and onion on brioche), loads of snackable apps, and fresh-cut fries out there in Cajun spiced or truffle with parmesan, together with garlic aioli for dipping.
Picture by Huge Artistic
River Outpost Brewing Co.
5 John Walsh Blvd, Peekskill; 914.788.4555
Yr Based: 2018
Positioned contained in the Factoria at Charles Level, this collaborative enterprise involves the desk courtesy of Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.’s founder Scott Vaccaro, together with native builders Louie Lanza and John Sharp. However there’s greater than only a brewery; Factoria homes an leisure house referred to as Spins Hudson with a ropes course, laser tag, shuffle board, and an arcade, in addition to a personal occasion house, and Fin & Brew, a full-service New American restaurant.
Flagship Beers: There’s no actual flagship, however River Outpost has quite a lot of kinds on faucet from mild lagers and pilsners to hoppy IPAs.
Meals: Fin & Brew is a legit restaurant that’s getting fairly a little bit of recognition for its seafood-forward focus. Chef Mike Anastacio likes to make use of Hudson Valley elements, particularly on the fish and produce entrance, to specific himself with dishes like creamed corn brulee, chargrilled octopus, and seafood Kare-Kare.
Run & Disguise Brewing Co.
223 Westchester Ave, Fl 1, Port Chester; 914.305.1352
Yr Based: 2020; Brewery opened in 2022
Named after an outdated Prohibition time period, Run & Disguise Brewing Co. involves Port Chester by beer aficionado Tim Shanley, who you may know from his time at Coals Pizza in Bronxville. A proud New Yorker who says, “I’ve by no means left [New York] and by no means will depart,” brings a much-needed inflow of one thing new and thrilling to the village with scrumptious drafts that vary from an Italian pilsner to no-lactose double IPAs and a shiny, floral quaff in Fuque de French, a farmhouse saison.
Flagship Beers: There are two! Stick With Grandma is a crushable Italian pilsner and Larry’s Liquid Love is a clean double IPA, minus any lactose, that’s a pleasant stability of tropically juicy and dank.
Meals: There’s no kitchen at R&H, however they’re doing salads, cold-cut sandwiches, and Italian/Spanish tapas bites like olives, cured meats, and cheeses.
Easy Motive Brewing Co. Picture by Ryan Noel
Easy Motive Brewing Co.
222 Lake Ave, Yonkers; 914.968.1406
Yr Based: 2023
After six years of planning and numerous obstacles delaying the method, Easy Motive Brewing Co. opened its doorways on June 3 this yr. The brewery, which resides in a historic constructing, is the proper hangout spot to go to with pals. You’ll be able to interact in an evening of trivia with a crisp brew in hand whereas listening to stay music.
Flagship Beer: A Kölsch, two IPAs, a pale ale, porter, stout, and additional pale all make up the number of eight beers. Nevertheless, extra choices are quickly to be crafted.
Meals: Mild snacks are provided on the bar whereas meals truck rotations are within the works. Nevertheless, there are additionally native meals choices that clients are welcome to deliver inside to eat.
Picture by Andrew Dominick
Sing Sing Kill Brewery
75 Spring St, Ossining; 914.502.0577
Yr Based: 2018
With a tagline like, “It’s water, not homicide,” Ossining residents Eric Gearity (whose spouse is Ossining’s mayor) and Matt Curtin are referring to the Sing Sing Kill Creek, not Sing Sing Correctional Facility. They hope to vary the notion of a spot that’s notorious for its jail and be part of the village’s revitalization. This native hang-out options Curtin’s homebrew recipes with an emphasis on being 100% native, so each malt, grain, and hop they brew with is from New York.
Flagship Beers: Singularity is a single malt and single hop brewed with 100% sail freighted grains. This pour is a throwback to West Coast IPAs of outdated upstate NY and Cascade hops.
Meals: Search for small stuff like scorching canines, Papa’s Greatest Batch Nuts (they’re glorious, btw), Hal’s Potato Chips, and fresh-baked pretzels made by First Village Bakery.
Soul Brewing
41 Wheeler Ave, Pleasantville; 914.800.7685
Yr Based: 2020
Founder and brewmaster Allen Wallace wished to create a small neighborhood gathering house and, when mixed along with his love of beer that he found whereas touring in Belgium and Germany, opening a microbrewery in Pleasantville was a no brainer. Given his inspiration, it ought to be no shock to seek out mild Belgian-style witbiers and German-inspired toasty, hop spicy maibocks amongst an inventory that additionally consists of fruited sours, a chocolate milk porter, IPAs, and easy-drinking lagers.
Flagship Beers: Something brewed within the German or Belgian type is what you covet. Go for the maibocks, pilsners, ales, wits, and powerful ales.
Meals: Soul’s grub choice is all about supporting native, so that they’ve partnered with close by Sundance Deli to supply empanadas (beef, rooster, buffalo rooster, and vegetarian). Moreover, Bavarian pretzels (both with mustard or Hudson Honey Blonde beer cheese) come to the taproom through Ossining’s First Village Espresso and, if you happen to’re simply snacking, there’s the vegan Hudson Valley produced BjornQorn to eat by the fistful.
Picture by Andrew Dominick
Wolf & Warrior Brewing Firm
195A E Submit Rd, White Plains; 914.368.8617
Yr Based: 2019
Former tv producer and embellished residence brewer Michael Chiltern named Wolf & Warrior after his two sons, Vuk (means “wolf” in Serbian) and Branko (translated to “defender,” however tailored to warrior). The taproom is a chill vibe with an IPA heavy beer record — together with hazy juice bombs and imperial IPAs — that’ll hold the hopheads pleased and making this a hotspot beer haven for the foreseeable future.
Flagship Beer: Ardour Wolf is dry hopped with Mosaic, Sabro, and Calypso, then conditioned on mango and passionfruit puree, making it the proper stability between a refreshing tropical drink and a hazy IPA.
Meals: The menu refresh is extra beer-friendly than earlier than as they’ve added mouthwatering birria tacos, wings, 4 completely different burgers (together with a molten-cheese-center Juicy Lucy-style burger), hand-cut fries, and three sandwiches in a Cubano, a rooster sandwich coated in spicy IPA buffalo sauce, and a cheesesteak.
Picture by Andrew Dominick
Yonkers Brewing Co.
92 Major St, Yonkers; 914.226.8327
Yr Based: 2015
When Yonkers Brewing first began out, they contract brewed out of Thomas Hooker in upstate Connecticut, however they wanted neighborhood help from a Kickstarter marketing campaign. The end result was successful, over $40,000 value, and it helped deliver to fruition a brewery to Westchester’s solely current trolley barn on the Yonkers waterfront, proper by the Metro-North station, making it perfect for a post-work thirst quenching session.
Flagship Beer: The 914 has been round since YBC’s inception. It’s an easy-drinking, true-to-the-style Vienna lager that’s malty and candy.
Meals: Go for the wings, parmesan-dusted blistered Brussels sprouts, Bavarian pretzels, Italian-style pastas, rooster and waffles, and plenty of handhelds like tacos, quesadillas, and sandwiches.