cooperstown – The Brewery Boy

November 1, 2019

#10 Council Rock Brewery (Come for the Food, Stay for the Beer)

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!

FestBier, Vienna Lager, Wings of Darkness, Leatherstocking Brown Ale, and Sunken Island Scotch.

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!

“View from your Beer”. YESSS HAVE YOU EVER SEEN SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL?!

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.

October 17, 2019October 17, 2019

#8 Cooperstown Brewing Co (You don’t like baseball and beer? That’s just un American)

Falls is in full swing and I couldn’t help traveling back up into Cooperstown to see the leaves and of course to see another brewery!!! With the arrival of fall and post season Baseball (Go Yankees) I figured there was no better place to be than at Cooperstown Brewing Co in Milford NY. The Cooperstown Brewing facility was originally a milk plant responsible for producing cheese but now they’re pumping out brews and good times instead. Your trip to Milford will be well worth the journey as Cooperstown Brewing Co offers a wide array of drinks that are sure to please everybody. Everything from your standard pale ales and IPA’s to ciders and shandy’s. If you’re trying to complete the Cooperstown beverage trail and this is just one of your many stops, Cooperstown Brewing Co has a unique tasting system that lets you choose how many you want to try. Have you already had five shots at the Cooperstown Distillery, five beers at Ommegang, and five glasses of wine at Bear Pond Winery by noon and aren’t sure if you’re even in NY still? Try one or two! Maybe you have a blog where you need/want to try them all? Go for it! Your flight can be as big or as small as you want because each beer is a dollar. No matter how many you choose to try I’m sure you will find one you like. Like I said earlier Cooperstown Brewing Co makes a wide variety of beers some that are more of a home run than others but there are no foul balls here.

My attempt to summon more beer. I didn’t work.

If you do happen to be on the beverage trail then chances are you’ll be stopping at Cooperstown Brewing Co right after Brewery Ommegang which I think gives Cooperstown Brewing Co a boost. Ommegang beers are strong, and a little out of the norm but Cooperstown Brewing Co makes down to earth beer that people are going to be more familiar with. They’re good too so lets dive right in!

Bambino, Nine Man, Pride of Milford, Pumpkin Ale.

If you haven’t guessed by now, Cooperstown Brewing Co is ALL about the baseball so you will be seeing some references both in their beer and in the brewery itself. The first beer I tried; The Bambino, is actually named after Babe Ruth himself. Bambino is a traditional American ale very much like a yuengling or a Budweiser. Much like baseball itself this beer is as American as it gets, its familiar, smooth and easy to put down.

Now I’m a soccer guy myself so I’ll admit I had to google this but guess how many players are on the field for a baseball team? Nine, who would have known! Nine Man beer at Cooperstown Brewing Co takes a quick trip over the pond from the American lager Bambino. Nine Man is a traditional English pub ale which is very similar to the Bambino but with a little more of a floral IPA taste. Nine Man is still refreshing and sure to please all of the players on your team no matter how many there are.

Our third beer at Cooperstown Brewing Co is the Pride of Milford which is old English ale. Personally I love old English ales and I think they’re cruelly scarce from many breweries. They’re thick, malty and usually pretty generous with the alcohol content, plus they tend to put a really great image in my head. You know when you hear stories about pirates, knights, fairy creatures like hobbits and dwarves, Robin Hood etc having a pint at the tavern? I instantly think there is a beer very much like the Pride of Milford in those glasses. The Pride of Milford tastes like the beer you would drink before an adventure! Think about that the next time you have an english ale. If it’s good enough for Bilbo Baggins and King Arthur then its surely good enough for you! In all seriousness though the Pride of Milford is great and I would recommend this beer over any other at Cooperstown Brewing Co.

Once again ITS FALL FINALLY so how could I resist their Pumpkin Ale? Disclaimer before we dive into this one, I am not a fan of pumpkin beers. Honestly its an ingredient that I have never liked and wouldn’t be too upset if brewers just gave up on it all together. However I actually enjoyed the Pumpkin Ale here at Cooperstown Brewing Co. It’s not as “in your face” as other pumpkin ales that tend to taste like liquid pie. The pumpkin flavor is defiantly there but it doesn’t overpower the overall flavor of the beer. It’s subtle and I think it will please a lot of people. Also they put honey and cinnamon sugar on the rim which actually works pretty well with the beer. The honey rim doesn’t work well with a beard though, I swear I was covered in honey the rest of the day.

That is all of the beer I was able to try at Cooperstown Brewing Co but they do offer a wider variety including some IPA’s, darker brews, soft drinks and some guest beers. One of which is a killer Raspberry Shandy that I would recommend to anyone especially somebody that isn’t to excited about beer.

Play Ball!!! Or Cornhole I guess. For this weeks “View from Your Beer” I wanted to show you guys the back room of Cooperstown Brewing Co which is all decked out in baseball style. They’ve put in a lot of work since the last time I was here, granted the last time I was here I was in the process of being crushed by the Cooperstown Beverage Trail so my memory was close to non existent. I can imagine this is the perfect place to hang out and watch your favorite baseball team. They even offer post season drink specials!

Cooperstown Brewing Co has been around for some time now and they’re well established in the area for making great down to earth beers with an always expanding variety. If you’re in the Cooperstown area whether its for the beverage trail or the baseball history this is a brewery that is well worth the stop. Swing by and hit a tasting, its sure to be a home run here at Cooperstown Brewing Co!

You can find the Cooperstown Brewing Co at 110 River St in Milford NY or on their website at CooperstownBrewing.com!

Brewery #8 is in the books! I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am so far. As always thank you for reading and I’ll see you at the next one!

Cheers,

The Brewery Boy.

July 25, 2019

#3 Red Shed Brewing (I Don’t Think We’re in Belgium Anymore.)

Welcome back everyone! We are back in the hills of Cooperstown, NY at Red Shed Brewery which is actually right down the road from Brewery Ommegang. So close that you could probably walk between the two depending on how many Abbey Ales you put down.

Much like Brewery Ommegang which is based off of a traditional belgian brewery, Red Shed also has a theme and its a little closer to home. As soon as you pull into the driveway you are transported to a beautiful farm; red barn included, but instead of livestock and vegetables Red Shed Brewery gives you beer and burgers. Doesn’t sound too bad right?

Spot The Brewery Boy running to the car like an idiot against a majestic backdrop.

Inside the red barn is where the bar is located as well as a stage where Red Shed hosts a variety of entertainment. The night we were there happened to be trivia night and it was PACKED. It was an absolute circus; the good kind of course, one that is light on the clowns and animal abuse but heavy on the acrobats and Hugh Jackman musical numbers. The trivia host was wearing his best red suit, running around the room yelling questions. Really quite a scene!

If a crazy, high stakes night of trivia isn’t your thing then you can totally head outside the barn which is really where I think Red Shed Brewery shines. Imagine your ideal beer garden and that is essentially what you get here. You’ve got your big wooden picnic tables, adirondack chairs, beautiful plant life, and food truck which is all covered by strands of dull glowing lights that dot the sky like stars. There was even a cute dog, what else could you want?! Not to derail the conversation too much but while we’re talking about dogs why haven’t I seen a dog themed brewery yet kind of like the cat cafes you hear about in Japan? They could brew things like “golden retriever pale ale,” “german shepard kolsch,”wiener dog witte,” or “puppy porter.” Feel free to steal this idea because I would love to see it, anyway…

Lets get back on track here, Red Shed Brewery really is a beautiful place to spend some time with friends and family. Just look at some of the photos, it is crazy and I could have stayed there forever. Enough of that, it’s time to talk beer.

Today’s flight featuring XO Sour, Jessica’s Red Ale, I don’t Know My Own Strength, Farmers Tan Session IPA, and Henry’s Hefeweizen.

Bear with me today everyone, my friends and I spent quite some time at Red Shed Brewery so my memory of the beer is a little hazy. I guess thats good news though right? It means the beer was so good I had to keep getting more. The first beer I tried was the XO Sour which has an ABV of 4.5% so it is a little on the light side but it is very tasty. I like XO Sour for the same reason I like the Pale Sour at Ommegang, its fruity, a little tangy and super refreshing. If anything I think the XO Sour does all of that better than the Pale Sour. Also before we move on notice the logo on Red Shed’s flight paddles. They’re all made by the Cooperstown Bat Co. which is a wicked cool nod to where you are and the baseball history of the Cooperstown area.

Next up we have Red Shed’s award winning Jessica’s Red Ale which won silver at the 2019 NYSBA in the amber beer category. This one has an ABV of 5.8% and is brewed with citrus hops, caramel malts and rye which combine to give Jessica’s Red Ale a nice strong flavor but it remains refreshing like almost all of the beers I had at Red Shed Brewery. I say “almost all” because of the next beer on todays flight but Jessica’s Red Ale is award winning and very nice so you should definitely add it to your flight.

“I don’t Know my own Strength” Spoiler its superman strong.

Coming in third on todays flight is the “I don’t Know my own Strength” but if we want to get specific, its strength is a whopping ABV of 9.5% and it lets you know that as soon as you taste it. The first flavor you get is that 9.5% alcohol and it can be a little overwhelming but that almost instantly disappears and you then get a really strong guava and strawberry taste. “I don’t Know my own Strength” is a really crazy beer which is one of the things I’m looking for when I go to new breweries. Now I don’t want to scare anyone away from this one because I did actually enjoy it, but the initial alcohol taste might just be too much for some people. The payoff from the fruity flavors after that are awesome though and turn this beer around for me, so if you’re feeling adventurous totally give it a try.

Next up we’re chilling out a little bit with the Farmers Tan Session IPA which has an ABV of 4.5% and is brewed with 100% NY state hops. Like most of the beers here at Red Shed Brewery Farms Tan Session IPA is good, easy drinking. It doesn’t need anything fancy; it has good ingredients, its made well, its served cold and it is perfect for hanging out in the beer garden. Farmers Tan Session IPA isn’t as strong as a lot of IPA’s lately so if you or somebody you’re with is on the fence about them this might be a good one to try.

The final beer on todays flight is part of a special collaboration with Clausen Farm that Red Shed Brewery is working on. The H. Clausen & Son Brewing Company was the 9th largest brewery in the United States before prohibition and the historic Clausen farm in nearby Sharon Springs is being restored. As a partnership with the Clausen Farm, Red Shed Brewing is reviving some of their old recipes for small batch production and Henry’s Hefeweizen is their newest example of that. Henry’s Hefeweizen like the Farmers Tan Session IPA is beautiful and simple. Nothing too crazy, its a good hefeweizen and its worth a try for the history alone.

Finally the last beer I had at Red Shed Brewery and probably my favorite, the Cloudy Girl IPA! This new england style IPA comes in with an ABV of 6.3% which is closer to what you usually expect in most IPA’s. Sticking to the Red Shed Brewery standard the Cloudy Girl IPA is ridiculous refreshing and juicy like any good new england IPA should be. This was the perfect beer to enjoy while talking and joking with friends as the sun set over the brewery. Cloudy Girl IPA was without a doubt my favorite at Red Shed Brewery and I’m sure I’ll have it again.

“view from your beer” We get it, Cooperstown is nice to look at.

Red Shed Brewery is such a cool, relaxing place to have a beer and its stunning to look at so it was a struggle to figure out what would be this weeks “view from your beer,” but then the sun started to set and that was it for me. I know I’m not the best photographer in the world, I usually just get lost in the experience and forget to take pictures but If you get the chance to watch the sunset at Red Shed Brewery then DO IT. What I nice end to any day that would be right? Just you, your friends and family, a beer and that view. Not bad at all.

Red Shed Brewery is a tremendously fun place to go and its hard to leave, believe me. My friends and I spent over four hours at Red Shed before we all realized we had to work in the morning. It was so easy to get lost in the beer and conversation while the sun set behind the hills. I honestly had one of the best nights I’ve had in a while at Red Shed Brewery and I’m sure I’ll be back for more. If you’re in the neighborhood it is a must see, so come on down, grab a beer (or six) and make the day great.

Thats one more brewery down and we are on to the next one! Like I said Red Shed Brewery was tons of fun and you should check it out if you haven’t already. You can visit them at 709 Co HWY 33 in Cooperstown, NY or at http://www.redshedbrewing.com. They also have a location in Cherry Valley NY which I plan on visiting and giving a quick blog write up as well but as for now thanks for reading and I’ll see you at the next stop!

Cheers!

Austin Davis

The Brewery Boy!