We made it to the double digits!!! Ten breweries, ten flights and if you don’t mind we’re going to do a little math. If each of those flights have four 5oz beers that means The Brewery Boy has tried roughly 200 oz of the best craft beer in the area! Brewery #10 is one you guys have been recommending since day one and I’m glad I waited because Council Rock Brewery in Cooperstown has a character all it’s own unlike any other brewery we’ve visited so far. If I had to describe it I would say Council Rock is country kitchen, meets grandma’s house, meets German brew house. Prost Grandma!
There are a few layers to dig through here at Council Rock but I’m going to start with my expertise and that is the beer! Lets pour a glass and dive right into beer number one, the FestBier!
Council Rock’s FestBier comes in with an ABV of 7.4% and as far as flavor goes this one is all malt. If you’ve ever been at a brewery while they’re in the process of brewing there is a really distinct bakery like smell and that is exactly what this tastes like. The name really fits though, the FestBier is definitely a great beer to fill a stein with and enjoy with a side of bratwurst.
Next up is the Vienna Lager. Think of a really good Oktoberfest but a little lighter on the malty flavor. Overall, a really good beer and one taste instantly transports you to your favorite Biergarten. You’ve got your lederhosen on, a stein in your hand and life is gut. The Vienna Lager was my favorite that I tried at Council Rock, it’s really well made and the flavors are perfect for the style in my opinion.
We’re going to stay in Germany while we give the Wings of Darkness a try. This one is another German style called the schwarzbier which is similar to a porter but not quite as thick. There is less of a chocolate/coffee flavor and more a black tea taste which is what separates the flavor of a schwarzbier for me. Credit to Council Rock too because schwarzbier is another style that I think is cruelly under utilized and they nailed it!
Council Rock Brewery has made one of the better brown ales I’ve tried as well! The Leatherstocking Brown Ale sticks with the bold malty flavors that you’d expect when drinking a brown ale but it avoids the bitter, liquor-like aftertaste that you can get in some other versions. I’m not the only one that likes it either, the Leatherstocking Brown Ale was the winner of a silver medal at Tap NY in 2017. A must try for sure, especially if you want to spread your horizons beyond the endless pale ales and IPA’s. The Leatherstocking Brown Ale is different and the flavors are great.
Our last beer at Council Rock Brewery is their Sunken Island Scotch. With and alcohol percentage of a whopping 11.2 this is Council Rock’s attempt to drop you to the floor and I love it. They had to cross the original ABV of 10% to jack it up a bit to 11.2 because you know, why not? The Sunken Island Scotch bites like a cold Scottish winter and as expected you can taste that alcohol. However its paired with an amazing malty raisin flavor that reminds me of a warm loaf of raisin bread. This one isn’t for everyone but I personally really enjoyed it and I’m sure that if you were in the middle of a windy Scottish winter then a glass of the Sunken Island Scotch would warm you up in no time!
Today’s “View from Your Beer” features something more beautiful than the rainbow of fall leaves, the peaceful views and sounds of a rolling river, or the most expertly constructed piece of art. Of course I’m talking about the unrivaled beauty of FRIED PICKLES. Seriously though, the food is what separates Council Rock Brewery from the rest. It’s their own flavor if you will.
Several people that have told me to visit Council Rock did so solely because of the food, not because of the beer. Not only does the interior of Council Rock look like Grandma’s kitchen but it tastes like it too. Don’t get me wrong, the beer is good here but the food is what draws everyone in. Council Rock was packed and everyone was eating, drinking and having a great time while exploring Cooperstown. The menu includes a wide variety of salads, sandwiches etc but one item was the unanimous favorite. I wasn’t able to try them but they serve garlic pesto fries which are the reason some people go to Council Rock. They drive to the brewery solely for garlic pesto fries so I imagine they’re incredible. Realistically The Brewery Boy would eat anything covered in garlic and pesto so I’ll be back for those any day now.
Council Rock Brewery is certainly different from any of the other nine breweries I’ve visited so far. There is a real Grandma’s kitchen look which makes Council Rock feel familiar and cozy. It tastes like grandma’s kitchen too if your Grandma had a kettle of bier brewing in the closet. It’s interesting to see the individual style and strengths that every brewery puts on show and it just so happens that their food is one of Council Rock’s strengths. The beer is great and I love the German influence but the food really seems to be the real star here. I’f you’re on the beverage trail and need a lunch break this is the place to be. Or if you’re like me and nothing sounds better than a craft beer with a side of fried pickles then this place is also for you. Overall Council Rock Brewery is a wonderful place to be so you should definitely stop in, no matter what you like!
If you would like to get your hands on some good beer and garlic pesto fries you can find Council Rock Brewery at 4862 State Highway 68 in Cooperstown or at councilrockbrewery.com! That is the end of our visit to Council Rock and brewery #10, here is to 10 more!
Cheers!
The Brewery Boy.