microbrewery – The Brewery Boy

October 3, 2019

#6 Heelpath Brewing Co. (All Paths Lead to Beer)

All paths lead to beer but this one specifically leads to Heelpath Brewing Co

Sorry about the hiatus but we are finally back at a brand new brewery right in my back yard! The Heelpath Brewing Co. just recently opened to the public in the Frankfort Marina which is only about a five minute drive from my house. One of the things that is most exciting about the craft brewery revolution thats occurring in this area is the diversity of the communities where all of these breweries are sprouting up. You would never visit Frankfort NY and pin it as a craft beer destination yet here we are! Heelpath Brewing Co was not founded for the artsy hipster generation that is usually associated with the craft beer scene. Instead Heelpath was started by and for the blue collar working class people in this community. I’ve visited the brewery twice and both times it was full of teachers, police officers, board members, etc. from this community. For me its really encouraging to see the variety of breweries expand to reach more people and I think Heelpath Brewing Co is an excellent new addition.

Belgian Ale, Chinook IPA, Rye Porter, Oatmeal Stout.

Alright lets talk beer! We’re going to be super comprehensive today too because I was able to try every beer that is currently available at Heelpath Brewing Co so no mysteries here. The first brew I was able to try was their Belgian Ale so lets talk about it!

Heelpath Brewing Co’s Belgian Ale comes in with an ABV of 6% which is the highest of the beers brewed here at Heelpath. Its a little low for a Belgian Ale but I don’t think that hurts it at all, I actually really liked this one. There is a really great fruity, candy flavor to it that makes it really refreshing. This is a bit weird but smell your glass after you’re done too because I swear it smelled exactly like dark chocolate. I’m talking about that rich 99% cocoa dark chocolate too (Which is The Brewery Boy’s favorite believe it or not). The Belgian Ale was probably my second favorite beer at Heelpath Brewing Co. so I would try it for sure when you visit.

Next up is the Chinook IPA which is a something I wasn’t familiar with so I did a little bit of research. Get ready for a beer lesson, we’re learning together here on this brewery journey. Chinook is actually a type of hop that is often used in IPA’s (imagine that) and is responsible for the beer’s bitterness and flower-like aroma. The chinook hop tends to give a beer a pine and grapefruit flavor which you definitely notice in Heelpath’s version. A lot of breweries tend to go a little crazy with their hop varieties when brewing IPA’s so I actually appreciate that they tried to focus on the flavor of a specific variety.

We’re getting darker and we all know how I feel about that. Especially as the weather starts getting darker and colder so does my choice in beers. The third beer on my trip down the Heelpath was their Rye Porter which is a good, smoky, easy to drink porter. Nothing extravagant, just simple and tasty.

The last beer on the flight was the Oatmeal Stout. As we’ve established I am crazy for stouts, the darker the beer is the better. My friend who I took with me to Heelpath Brewing Co is the same way and this one caused a lot of debate for us. Neither of us were personally a big fan, we decided the alcohol content and the flavors were a little weaker that we would expect from a stout. However after talking to a few other people at the bar I came to the conclusion that this just isn’t a stout that was made for dark beer lovers like me. Several people we talked to said “this is the first stout I’ve ever liked” which made me think this is simply a really good gateway stout and if they can get more people into dark beer then thats fine with me. I’ll take that as a win!

Beer number six for me here at Heelpath Brewing Co was their IPA. With a slightly higher ABV and I think a wider variety of hops than the Chinook IPA, Heelpaths IPA is very well done. Its exactly what you would expect, its served up cold and refreshing with the crisp, bitter taste you want in an IPA.

Finally, beer number 7! This wasn’t on purpose but I’m pretty sure I saved the best for last. The brew above is Heelpath’s American Session Ale and If I were to recommend any beer at this brewery it would be this one. Are you guys ready for another beer lesson? Good, because this blog post is brought to you by google. I was curious why they would name it the American Session Ale? Apparently the term “session” when you’re talking about beer is used to describe a beer with a low alcohol content. The idea is you can drink more of these beers in a session and not get drunk, okay we’re done with fun facts today I promise.

“Thanks for listening class!”- Brewery Boy MD (More Drinks?)

Anyway the American Session Ale has the slight aroma and taste of nuts and honey. Its like a pint glass full of liquid honey roasted peanuts and I loved it. Both myself and my brewery partner agreed this was the definite winner at Heelpath Brewing Co so if you stop by I totally recommend the American Session Ale.

If beer isn’t your thing you can also order a few different varieties of cider from 1911 which is always a good choice or one of the many wines from Rustic Ridge that is available at the brewery. Both are companies in the upstate NY area that make incredible wines and ciders that you should try even if you’re there for the beer.

“View from your beer” not too bad at all.

This weeks “View from your Beer” is a great one. The folks over at Heelpath Brewing Co have puts tons of work into their property which includes a nice outdoor space with this view. The location in the Frankfort Marina is perfect, in the picture above you can actually see where the Mohawk River meets the canal. Do you want beer with a side of wildlife? You got it! I guarantee if you spend just five minutes out on the Heelpath patio you’ll see a fish or two jump from the water, hear the birds sing, maybe even see something a little more rare like a blue heron.

Seeing the heart that people put into these breweries is the driving force behind this journey for me and its very clear to me that the people here at Heelpath Brewing Co have put in a lot of work to bring this brewery to their community. I’ve now had every beer they make and its obvious to me that the brewers have put in the work too and really know what they’re doing. I would say though I think they could afford to be a little bolder. Heelpath has an incredible facility and impressive brewing chops but in my opinion they could use a beer with a higher ABV and a little more creativity to separate them from the rest of the pack. I couldn’t form my thoughts at first until I had somebody describe their beers as “safe,” and I think that is spot on. As a whole though Heelpath Brewing Co is a great addition to Frankfort and the New York brewing scene and I have no doubt they will grow and succeed!

If you’re in the area stop by Heelpath Brewing Co at 122 Marina Park Dr in Frankfort NY or on Facebook of course. They are actually have their grand opening this weekend as well on October 5th from noon to 10pm. There will be live music, giveaways, the best grilled cheese ever served up by Southern Girl Food Truck and of course BEER. What more could you want?! Who knows maybe The Brewery Boy will be there!

Well that is brewery number 6 in the books! See you at the next one but until then, Cheers!

The Brewery Boy.

July 29, 2019

#4 Copper City Brewing Co. (When in Rome NY do as the romans do?)

Welcome back!!! We are in the Utica/Rome area once again at Copper City Brewing Co. which has been recommended to me by several people so thanks for that! Much like Woodland Farm, Copper City is a micro brewery so the whole brewing process is super personal here which is something I get wicked excited about. As I’m writing this and enjoying my beer the brewing floor is literally five feet away from me. For me this whole project is about experiencing the passion and creativity of these brewers through their beer and micro breweries like Copper City Brewing Co. are where that is easiest to see. A lot of these businesses were started by men and woman who have a real desire to make beer so they pour everything they have into their brewery and eventually into your glass. Of course that statement stands true here!

This is how close we’re talking. I am sitting at the bar when I took this photo. The brewers were actually working as I was there!

Alright we’ve all gathered that I’m a sucker for a theme at this point. I don’t care how cheesy it is either, I’m the type of guy that even gets a kick out of lazy nautical themed seafood restaurant. Give me bad pirate jokes and walls covered in mounted fish and I’m sold. Whether we’re talking about the Belgian roots at Ommegang or the good old American farm at Red Shed and Copper City is no exception. Sometimes it can be really simple and Copper City Brewing Co. has really committed to the “copper” in their name. Everything in this place has a dark brown industrial feel to it. There are old copper pipes on their flight paddles, beer taps and you can rest your feet on them at the bar. If you walked into this brewery and were told you were in the basement of an old 1920’s industrial factory it wouldn’t be hard to believe. Overall just a really nice looking place to hang out.

Todays flight with Woods Valley Witte, Bloody Good Porter, Belgian Redhead, and Delta Double IPA.

We’re on to the beer and it is GOOD at Copper City; I’m talking really good, and we’re going to start with my favorite which was the Woods Valley Witte. Copper City’s version of the witte has an ABV of 4.5% and is brewed with orange peel and coriander. I’ll just go ahead and say it, the Woods Valley Witte is my favorite witte I’ve had so far and its no wonder that it is the most popular beer at Copper City. It’s similar to the witte at Brewery Ommegang except it’s missing the sort of abrasive bite that Ommegang’s has which I think is a huge plus. You can really taste the orange peel and the spice from the coriander in the Woods Valley Witte and it goes down easy while being super refreshing.

Bloody Good Porter as advertised is bloody good.

Next up is the Bloody Good Porter which has an ABV of 5.1% and is your pretty standard english porter. Its creamy, not too bitter and you can definitely taste the chocolate flavors that make porters enjoyable in my opinion. If you’re a dark beer lover this one is for you, its a simple porter done right.

We’re back into the world of belgian beers with Copper City’s Belgian Redhead which packs the expected licorice and spice punch from a standard belgian red. Belgian Redhead manages to incorporate those powerful flavors without overwhelming you and I would totally recommend trying this one during your next stop at Copper City Brewing Co.

Delta Double IPA (Double the delta double the fun!)

We’re going to end it on another great one from Copper City. The Delta Double IPA has a high alcohol percentage of 8.5% with a very hoppy start and a melon finish. This one is strong and really bitter when you first take a sip but that is immediately replaced by a powerful floral and melon taste which is something you don’t get often in an IPA. It is strong but if you’re somebody who normally likes IPA’s this is one you need to try. I loved it and if the Woods Valley Witte wasn’t SO GOOD then the Delta Double would have been my favorite beer at Copper City Brewing Co.

Todays “view from your beer,” the micro brewery magic.

This week’s “View from your Beer” is a simple one but I can’t emphasize enough how much I enjoy this aspect of microbreweries. That is my glass at the bar and its just a few feet away from where the beer was made in the first place. Theres just something really unique and interesting about the whole brewing process to me so naturally I love seeing it in action. Woodland Farm had a very similar setup to this as well and I know that when I walk into a view like this its going to be a good day.

If beer isn’t your thing Copper City also has some local ciders and wines available. Some of the cider is from Critz Farm Brewing & Cider Co. in Cazenovia. Critza Farm is a great place if you’re visiting the beautiful Cazenovia area. I spent New York Maple Syrup day there last year and I will be making another stop in the future for sure so stay tuned for that one.

“Never startle a brewer in their natural habitat it could be dangerous.”- probably not Steve Irwin

I did visit Copper City Brewing Co. on a Wednesday afternoon so it was a little dead other than myself and a few families headed to and from the Adirondacks but I can imagine once work gets out this is quite the place to be. The bar is huge (I’m guessing close to 50ft), the beer is some of the best I’ve had so far, and the staff is incredible. My bartender was super friendly, asking everyone where they were from, what they were doing and she even explained the brewing process to one curious guest. Copper City Brewing Co. is a wonderful place to visit, the people are friendly and the beer is really really good. I mean it, its all good, and the creativity and skill of the brewers is clear.

If you find yourself in the Utica/Rome area you can catch Copper City Brewing Co. at 1111 Oneida Street in Rome, NY or visit them online at http://www.coppercitybrewing.com!

That is it for todays visit! As always thank you for reading and feel free to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to make sure you never miss a post. See you at brewery #5!

Cheers!

Austin Davis

The Brewery Boy!

July 22, 2019October 6, 2019

#2. Woodland Farm Brewery (Beers, beets, battlestar galactica.)

Welcome back everyone! The next stop on our brewery journey is at Woodland Farm Brewery just outside of Utica, NY. Unlike the bigger breweries in the area like Ommegang and Saranac, Woodland Farm is a very small micro brewery but it is tons of fun. I’ve been to Woodland Farm twice now and both times my friends were just looking for a place to meet up and Woodland Farm immediately came to mind. This brewery is a really great place to just hang out, have a couple beers and enjoy each others company. Today for example my friend and I needed a place to plan an upcoming trip and Woodland Farm is where we landed. They have plenty of activities to keep you occupied such as a summer corn hole league, trivia nights, and local music filling their calendar. There is also a really cool pay ahead system here where if you know somebody that frequents the brewery you can pay for their next drink. The bartender will write their name behind the bar and then write who bought their next round. All of these things make Woodland Farms such a relaxing and friendly place to visit. Relaxing and friendly until I join the corn hole game of course, then it becomes a war zone.

Fun home improvement tip from The Brewery Boy and Woodland Farm; just add used grain bags to your ceiling to add depth and character to any room. This will also let everyone know that you live for brewing.

Of course visiting well established breweries like Ommegang or Saranac are kind of the pinnacle of what this process is all about but micro breweries like Woodland Farms have a quality that make them special in my opinion. Woodland Farm is roughly the size of your local Mcdonalds and they manage to fit a bar, kitchen, seating (inside and out), bathrooms, brewery merchandise and their whole brewing process in that space. Naturally that means their brewing process is right in your face. Here at Woodland farm that is especially true; the entire brewing floor is just to the left of the bar and is lined with windows. Whatever beer you decide to get at the bar was made less than twenty feet away and that just brings an extra element of familiarity to your visit.

Todays flight, “The Old Main”, “Alexander the Great”, “Pioneer 10”, and “Sagey.”

Alright its time we got to the beer which is really why we’re here right? Todays flight included four of Woodland Farms beers including “The Old Main”, “Alexander the Great”, “Pioneer 10” , and “Sagey.” Okay lets dive right into it with beer number one!

The Old Main is Woodland Farms staple beer and its made with 100% NY ingredients. Its nothing too crazy, The Old Main is a good, refreshing, simple beer that goes down easy. Perfect for anybody including people that might be on the fence about beer.

Second on the list is Alexander the Great which is a farmhouse ale that they ferment twice which gives it a slightly stronger and fruitier flavor than The Old Main. Its kind of close to a sour beer like the Pale Sour Ale that we had at Ommegang. Overall like The Old Main this one is easy to drink and worth a try for sure.

Coming in third on todays flight is Pioneer 10 which was my favorite I’ve had so far at Woodland Farm Brewery. By now you’re probably seeing a correlation between how much I enjoy a beer and how dark it is. Pioneer 10 is a porter thats brewed with NY hops, english malts, alongside cherry and peach malts that are supplied by a local restaurant called Nail Creek Pub. Its those cherry and peach malts that really make this one for me. They give this smokey porter a subtle sweet taste that reminds me of barbecue. I can definitely imagine putting a few of these down while enjoying some pulled pork and corn bread. Pioneer 10 is one I would 100% add to your flight at Woodland Farms.

The last beer I had today at Woodland Farms was their Sagey ale which i’ve had a couple times and man is it interesting. That isn’t necessarily a bad thing either, I honestly haven’t made up my mind yet. It is a farmhouse ale that is brewed with actual sage and you can really taste and smell that sage. Sagey tastes like the inside of a Rainbow Zen or crystal store; something for the witch or wizard in your life would enjoy. The first time I had it about a month ago I really liked it and this time I wasn’t quite sure but its certainly interesting which I think warrants a try. Its truly something I haven’t had anywhere else and I would be intrigued to know what you guys thought!

Thats all of the beer I had to try but if you happen to visit Woodland Farm with somebody who absolutely doesn’t want beer then they could order a wine from the Thousand Island Winery or a spirit from Black Button Distillery. I’ve actually visited the Black Button Distillery and if you get the chance to try their Bourbon Cream it is incredible. I had a discussion with the bartender while we were waiting for our flights about what recipes you could use it in. I suggested putting some in your french toast and she said they make bourbon cream whipped cream for their weekend brunch. There is also a full food menu to choose from and every item is themed after The Office such as “The Dwight” which is a salad with roasted red peppers, carrots and beets of course. Another whimsical touch that makes Woodland Farms Brewery such a great place to hang out.

Before we conclude our stop at Woodland Farm Brewing I want to share todays “view from your beer.” One of the things that draw me to breweries is the passion and creativity these brewers are putting into everything they do. Brewing is becoming and art and sometimes that creativity spreads outside of just the brewing process and thats evident with their menu here at Woodland Farms. I’m not sure if this is chalk or marker but whoever they have drawing their menu items is incredible and they work fast. I was here at Woodland about a week earlier and I swear they had three or four new beers that had this amount of detail put into their sign. So kudos to the artist behind these because it really adds to the good times that are had at Woodland Farm Brewery.

Alright, that is the end of our trip to Woodland Farm Brewery! If you’re in the area and looking for a good drink and good times then Woodland Farm Brewery is always a good idea.

You can check them out for yourself at 6002 Trenton rd, Utica, NY 13502 or at woodlandbeer.com. Thank you once again for reading and I’ll see you at the next stop!

Cheers,

Austin Davis

The Brewery Boy.