ny state farm brewery. – The Brewery Boy

Hello again and welcome back to another brewery! This time we’re taking another short drive up the hill to Crazy Williez Brewery in Ilion NY. Crazy Williez has been around for two years now and it is a real hidden gem that I’m excited to share with you guys. It’s another small farm brewery that is big on ideas and hospitality. Here at Crazy Williez they put their heart and soul into making genuinely great beers and getting them to you in a friendly fashion. Visiting this brewery is like going to your best friend’s house if your best friend made killer beer. It is that killer beer that made Crazy Williez stand out to me so lets pour a glass and dive right in.

Our flight today that includes the Cucumber Cream Ale, Not Just and Otter Ale, Udder Delight Milk Stout, and the Blueberilicious Blueberry Saison.

My first taste of Crazy Williez beer was their Cucumber Cream Ale and surprisingly it is outstanding. Cucumber is one of those ingredients that I would probably never put into anything other than a salad but I’ve had a few Cucumber beers now and they really work. If this sounds a little too crazy and you’re on the fence about it then trust me. Give it a try and you won’t regret it. The cucumber adds a crisp, cool and refreshing aspect that sets these beers apart and the version here at Crazy Williez Brewery is the best one I’ve tried. A must try for sure.

Next up is their Not Just an Otter Ale which is a beer that I’m having a really hard time describing so bear with me. The Not just an Otter Ale tastes like a hybrid that is somewhere in between an IPA and a Pilsner? Basically if a New England IPA and Pilsner had a baby. When you take a sip the juicy and hoppy flavors of an IPA are there but instead of the bitter floral finish there is more of a crispy bread like taste that you usually have in a Pilsner. Bit of a strange one but it is still a good beer regardless.

Udder Delight Milk Stout (hehe, get it? They’re crazy here)

It’s all uphill from here in my opinion, the next three beers are getting close to the best I’ve had on this journey so far. The beer that you see above is their Udder Delight Milk Stout that comes in with an ABV of 6% and it packs all the delight of a stout without the drawbacks. The Udder Delight Milk Stout is thick, creamy and when you drink it the chocolate and coffee flavors are really easy to find. I’m not going to lie Crazy Williez Brewery makes one of the best stouts I’ve had. The flavors in that mason jar are perfect for a cold fall night, as a side to a hearty winter stew, or to enjoy while writing a beer blog. Like a lot of the brews on offer here this one is a must try.

Crazy Williez Brewery definitely thinks outside the box and the Blueberilicuous Saison came from outside the box for sure. Everybody that you bring to Crazy Williez is going to like this one. It has a great fruity flavor that is going to bring your wine and cider drinkers on board but enough of that classic saison flavor to keep your beer drinkers from jumping ship. Also a fun fact that I learned from my bartender, a traditional saison is brewed with white sugar but to keep their ingredients local Crazy Williez uses 15 pounds of local honey instead. Overall the Blueberilicous Saison has the perfect blend of sweet, sour, and hoppy that is sure to make anybody happy here.

I’ve saved their flagship beer for last because no visit to Crazy Williez Brewery would be complete without a taste of the Spoony. Before I can talk about the beer itself I think the strange name needs to be addressed so buckle of for a quick story!

The little white spoon that you see in the picture frame is named Spoony and it has gone on quite a journey. Spoony was used by one of the brewers to stir the original batch of Spoony Beer but by a strange turn of events it was dropped and left in the batch throughout the whole brewing process. Spoony survived the journey and to celebrate it’s adventures the folks here at Crazy Williez name the beer after Spoony and gave it it’s own spot right here at the bar. A legend that rivals the likes of The Hobbit, The Iliad, Robing Hood and Harry Potter.

Spoony the beer is as good as the legend. It is described as a Pilsner but it’s not like any Pilsner I’ve had before. Yes, you can recognize that classic Pilsner taste but the Spoony also has the tang that you would expect from a sour. Interesting in a good way and not a brew that you’re going to find at another brewery.

On this week’s addition of “View From Your Beer” I have a little bit of History to show you guys. A lot of breweries are like a mirror of the people that build them and the locations and communities they’re located in and Crazy Williez Brewery is a good example of that. These tall, wide timbers that you see on the right wall there are actually repurposed from an old sugar shack that was located on the property. Personally I think it would be really cool if they made a tribute beer to that history by incorporating some maple syrup into a recipe. That would be sweet! (So so sorry for that one).

There is one last thing that I would like to add before moving on. I was never aware of this until the bartender told me about it and I figured I would spread it in case this is something anyone would be interested in. Crazy Williez Brewery participates in an organization called Harvest Hosts which are attractions like wineries, breweries, museums, etc that allow people to park their RV’s overnight at no additional cost. Crazy Williez has had people all the way from Oregon stay at the brewery this summer and its a great way of giving these RV campers a place to stay while also spreading local business. If you want to know more you can go to www.harvesthosts.com.

Some breweries like Saranac and Ommegang seem inescapable, their adds and images are everywhere you go. Smaller breweries like Crazy Williez can fall through the cracks and that is a borderline crime in my mind. The beers that they make here are top notch and if you are a beer lover Crazy Williez Brewery should be on your list of must visit breweries. Like I said earlier its like visiting your best friend’s house but with amazing beer. The atmosphere, the people and of course the drinks make Crazy Williez a perfect place to pour a glass, sit back and have an incredible day.

If you would like to pay them a visit you can stop by Crazy Williez Brewery at 546 Silver St in Ilion NY or on Facebook of course to keep up with everything they do.

That is all from our visit to Crazy Williez Brewery so I will see you guys again at brewery #8. As always thank you so much for reading! If you want to keep up with everything the Brewery Boy is doing follow me on Facebook and Instagram @Thebreweryboy.

Cheers!

The Brewery Boy.

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.

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.

Tag: ny state farm brewery.

#7 Crazy Williez Brewery (We’re all Crazy here, I’m Crazy, you’re Crazy, Willie is Crazy)

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