Summer in the Sullivan Catskills

Written by TroutTown

PASSPORT
June 19, 2022

One of the most unique and fun experiences is visiting the Sullivan Catskills Dove Trail.

New York’s Sullivan Catskills is long on fun so put it on your short list of summer getaways. You can explore the lush countryside (on foot, wheels, or water), kick back in luxury accommodations, sip on craft beverages, and indulge in inventive cuisine.

This legendary vacationland—once home to hundreds of summer resorts— is a two-hour drive from Manhattan. Today, contemporary full-service resorts, charming inns, and a multi-million-dollar arts center at the site of the 1969 Woodstock Music and Art Fair makes the Sullivan Catskills the country escape of choice for city-dwellers to unwind and recharge…

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6 Things We Love About Roscoe, New York

Written by TroutTown

Wakin’ Up with CJ and Jess, The Wolf
February 22, 2022

Sullivan County, the spotlight is on you this week! Our new Hometown of the Week is Roscoe, New York. For a small Sullivan County hamlet, there sure is a lot to love about Roscoe.

For all the anglers out there this may come as no surprise, but Roscoe is home to some of the best trout fishing in the United States. Roscoe is known as Trout Town USA and according to the Town of Roscoe’s website:

“Roscoe has been known internationally for decades as Trout Town, USA. Conveniently located about two hours from New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Roscoe is home to five of America’s top trout streams as well as numerous pristine lakes and plentiful reservoirs, making this an angler’s paradise.”

I don’t know if it’s just my family, but the Roscoe Diner is always a topic of conversation on road trips upstate and a must visit on the way……

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Check Out This 12-Pack of Great Upstate New York Cideries

Written by TroutTown

Big Chuck, CNY News
February 1st, 2022

Have you noticed that in the last 5 years all of a sudden there is a craft beer brewery around every corner in Upstate New York?  Well, now it is time for the hard cider gang to make their move.  Cideries are the fastest growing agri-business in Upstate New York.  The ciderhouse tap rooms are attractive and comfortable (and many serve awesome food) and the hard cider varieties are seemingly endless.  Here is a list of 12 of the best cideries in the region.  Enjoy!

Check Out This 12-Pack of Great Upstate New York Cideries
On the heels of the craft beer explosion in Upstate New York, here come the cideries! Hard cider venues are the fastest growing small agri-business in the region. For those who like a sweeter experience than craft beer, we have offered up a list of a dozen great cideries to get your taste buds buzzing in the spring and summer…

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Oktoberfest may be canceled in Munich but toned down celebrations are still on

Written by TroutTown

Morgan Hines, USA TODAY
September 24th, 2020

Beer lovers and Germanophiles have know since April that there would be no Oktoberfest in Munich this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But now that it actually is Oktoberfest season, the lack of crowded tents filled with festival-goers decked in dirndls and lederhosen shouting “prost!” is especially depressing.

The loss of Oktoberfest, which had been scheduled to run from Sept. 19 through Oct. 4, is a huge hit for the Bavarian city, which saw 6.3 million guests flood in last year for the festival’s 186th year. They were served 7.3 million liters (about 15.5 million pints) of beer over 16 days and consumed 124 oxen, among other traditional foods.

While no one is able to attend Oktoberfest in Munich, that doesn’t mean its spirit isn’t alive and thriving in other parts of the country – and world, including the United States.

Tour guides, breweries and beer halls, among others, are coming up with creative ways to fill the void.

And Roscoe Brewing in Roscoe, New York, is hosting its own Oktoberfest celebration on Friday, featuring a hay maze, pumpkin painting, live music and more…

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Stay active, upbeat during virus lockdown via virtual events

Written by TroutTown

A Benefit Beer

Roscoe Beer Co. has announced updated hours and a new beer release.

Located at 145 Rockland Road in Roscoe, the company will be open from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Mon.-Wed., for beer pickup only; 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs., for food and beer pickup; and 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Fri.-Sat., for food and beer pickup. Closed Sunday.

The new Quarantine & Chill 4-pack of beer is now available for shipping throughout the country. $5 from each 4-pack sold will be donated to First Responders in Roscoe.

For more information, go to roscoebeercompany.com or call (607) 290-5002.

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Near or far, here are 5 amazing ski slopes worth the schlep

Written by TroutTown

By Brandon Presser February 3, 2020

With the holidays now over, we gleefully enter into that sweet spot of the winter season when the rush of vacationers subsides; prices lower and pistes become less crowded.

For those with a ski trip on the brain — whether that means playing hooky upstate, or hurling yourself out of an aircraft while chasing perfect pow — our shortlist of early 2020 picks promises to fulfill everyone’s downhill-ing dreams.

Easy drive: Monticello, NY
Located less than 100 miles from Manhattan, Holiday Mountain‘s biggest asset is its convenience; in two hours’ time you’re slaloming in the Catskills. The slopes may only be of the bunny variety — a great place to learn your “pizza and french fries” — but the après ski options are varsity league.

Put a fresh twist on the pub crawl and go brewery-to-brewery through the neighboring townships trying the latest draughts from Roscoe Beer Co, Catskill Brewery and Shrewd Fox.

And while Holiday Mountain’s proximity makes day-tripping a viable option, the DeBruce, only 30 minutes away, is primed to snag ski bums for a night or two. Rates at the 14-room manse include a generous breakfast and a legendary multi-course dinner involving flash cards, board games, innovative wine pairings and farm-to-table fare boasting the best of each season’s harvest.

Read more here.

Two festivals help shake the January blues

Written by TroutTown

By Rita Ross
Posted Jan 23, 2020 at 5:16 PM

Chicken wings and beer. To many folks, they’re the perfect combo – and no doubt already on many football fans’ minds in the countdown to Super Bowl Sunday next week.

But there’s no need to wait: Two upcoming festivals will present tasty samples of both. They’ll also offer a fun atmosphere for adults and kids alike – plus, they’re a good opportunity to get out of the house, socialize, and help shake off the mid-winter blues:

winterfest pic

WINTERFEST AT ROSCOE BEER CO.

Jan. 25 | 11 a.m.-8 p.m., free admission | Roscoe Beer Co., 145 Rockland Rd., Roscoe | 607-290-5002; roscoebeercompany.com, or on Facebook

“This is our fifth Winterfest, and it’s gotten bigger each year,” says Shannon Feeney, marketing and events director at Roscoe Beer Co., a former Sullivan County firehouse that’s been transformed into a brewery. “For many people, it’s almost more like a ‘cabin fever’ festival,” she laughs.

The main event takes part outdoors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winterfest features family-friendly activities, including on-site ice carving demos by the Stump Devils, music from Hillbilly Parade starting at about noon, along with horse-drawn carriage rides and snowshoeing (weather permitting).

A bonfire and hot cocoa will help keep participants toasty in the great outdoors. “There’s also a heated tent and other indoor areas where people can warm up,” Feeney says.

And while adults savor craft beer and snacks, youngsters can indulge in the brewery’s homemade root beer. Other big draws for children: games and a craft-making area, plus live alpacas from nearby Buck Brook Alpacas farm.

The party moves indoors around 4 p.m., featuring food, beverages, and entertainment by musicians John Steffens and Albi Beluli, along with other special guests.

Winterfest takes place regardless of weather, unless severe conditions occur. Check their website, Facebook page, or phone the Roscoe Beer Co. for last-minute weather information.

Read More Here.

For a simple, relaxing honeymoon, head to the Catskills

Written by TroutTown

By Rebecca SantiagoOctober 28, 2019

How do newlyweds blast straight off from their receptions into food tours in India or skydiving in New Zealand? After our September wedding, my husband and I needed stillness — plus deep couches to burrow into, bottles of red wine, blazing fires and bad cellphone service…

If that all sounds a bit wholesome, there’s also this option: bop around breweries and distilleries. Roscoe Beer Company was one of our favorites, with its hunting-lodge vibes, selection of local brews and — thrillingly — a grilled cheese menu. Another good one, Catskill Brewery in Livingston Manor, has a small but social bar in the corner of its brewing facilities, and free popcorn if the IPAs leave you feeling snacky.

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Go to the Catskills for Gorgeous Fall Foliage — and Stay for the Wine, Beer, and Spirits

Written by TroutTown

Go to the Catskills for Gorgeous Fall Foliage — and Stay for the Wine, Beer, and Spirits
BY CAITLIN RAUX GUNTHER OCTOBER 09, 2019

Roscoe Beer Co.
Roscoe, NY

It doesn’t get more local than this brewery in the heart of Roscoe, a premier fly-fishing destination dubbed “Trout Town USA.” Owned and operated by longtime residents, Roscoe Beer Co. offers a dozen or so craft beers, including their award-winning Trout Town Brown Ale. Visitors to the taproom can sidle up at the bar, fill up at the self-serve tap wall or lounge on fire-side leather couches. The only thing cozier is the menu, comprised of classic comfort foods like wings, chili and a whole section just for fries.

Read more here.

Visit Sullivan County Catskills for a Delightful Excursion

Written by TroutTown

Posted on August 12, 2019 by Marina P. Kennedy in Living Around

Summer is winding down a bit but it’s still a great time to plan a getaway or get ready for a fascinating fall excursion. Woman Around Town readers will like to know about the Sullivan County Catskills located only 90 miles from Manhattan. The region is rich in culture, dining experiences, outdoor adventures, fine lodging choices, and much more. It is also the home of the original, iconic Woodstock music festival that is now celebrating its golden anniversary. Exploring the area is delightful. Here are just some of the places you can enjoy with family and friends…

…Roscoe Beer Company – Located in Roscoe, the Company has been voted #1 Craft Brewery in New York. There is an on site brewery, beer garden, live music, food and more.

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A day at the (drag) races

Written by TroutTown

Posted Wednesday, August 7, 2019 10:35 am
By JONATHAN CHARLES FOX

… the Reel Harmony Songwriter Festival is this Saturday at the Roscoe Beer Co. celebrating (uh huh) Woodstock 50. On your mark, get set…

Read More Here.

10 Places To Visit In The Catskills For A Woodstock Weekend Getaway

Written by TroutTown

AUG.1.2019
STEPHANIE VERMILLION

…9. Drink A Collector’s Edition Brew

Craft beer abounds, not just throughout the Catskills, but right in the heart of Sullivan County. Roscoe Beer Company, a dog-friendly brewery and taproom, is serving a commemorative Peace, Love, and Ale brew with subtle malt notes and a hop finish. Peace, Love, and Ale collector cans are for sale at the brewery and at the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts, according to the SCVA.
Read Here.

THE 3RD ANNUAL REEL HARMONY SONGWRITER & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Written by TroutTown

ROBYN TAYLOR
June 28, 2019

What better way is there to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the historic Woodstock Concert than with an outdoor music festival in Sullivan County? I don’t think there is a better way, so mark your calendars now for Aug. 10 and make plans to head to Roscoe.

It’s the Third Annual Reel Harmony Songwriter and Music Festival at Roscoe Beer Company at 145 Rockland Road Saturday, Aug. 10. The festival kicks off and noon and runs all the way through 8 pm. And it’s not just for songwriters. It’s for all music lovers. The festival, in true Woodstock spirit, will feature multiple artists singing on various stages, vendors, food, arts and crafts, games and activities, some great craft beer and fireworks to cap off the night. Fun for the whole family.

Make sure to bring your blankets and lawn chairs. For more information about the The Third Annual Reel Harmony Songwriter & Music Festival, check out the event facebook page.

Visit SULLIVAN COUNTY CATSKILLS for Adventures in Food, Drink, Entertainment, and Nature

Written by TroutTown

by Marina Kennedy May. 13, 2019

The Sullivan County Catskills are just a car ride away with more to offer than you ever imagined. Whether it’s a long weekend, summer vacation planning or a relaxing day trip, it is an outstanding destination for singles, couples, families, and corporate outings. Enjoy wonderful accommodations, gourmet meals, top entertainment, shopping, tours, and the great outdoors. The region is easy to get to by car from parts of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Massachusetts and it’s only about 90-minutes drive time from New York City. All year long, venues in the area will be celebrating the golden anniversary of Woodstock with special events galore for people of all ages. Spend this “Summer of Love” in Upstate New York at the Sullivan Catskills. Check out some of the great spots you can visit and the fine businesses that support area tourism.

Roscoe Beer Company – Located in Roscoe, they have been voted #1 Craft Brewery in New York. Roscoe Beer Company has a brewery, beer garden, live music, food and more. Visit: https://roscoebeercompany.com/.

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Support a Vet with Roscoe’s Nighty Night New England Black IPA

Written by TroutTown

Roscoe, NY (2/5/2019): As the first brewery in New York, Roscoe Beer Co. is excited to announce its latest partnership with the Black Ale Project, a craft beer initiative to raise money and awareness on behalf of U.S. war veterans. Roscoe Beer Co. has decided to release its Nighty Night New England, a black IPA, in support of the project and will hold a beer release party on Saturday, Feb. 9th from 11am – 9pm. For every can sold $1 will be donated to the B.A.T.S for Veterans right here in Sullivan County.

Dave Pappas, of the Black Ale Project, is partnering with breweries across the country to support his craft beer initiative to raise money and awareness on behalf of U.S. war veterans. As a former active duty Marine and non-combat veteran of the Persian Gulf War, supporting our war veterans is a cause that means a lot to Dave. The Black Ale Project itself isn’t a charity organization, the breweries themselves choose the charity that will receive the proceeds from the beer sale. The Black Ale Project has raised over $100,000 for more than forty different veteran charities and continues to raise money every week through the sale of beers by participating breweries. Each Black Ale Project beer is brewed by a different craft brewery, with no two beers being exactly the same.

The proceeds raised by the sale of the Nighty Night New England IPA will benefit B.A.T.S for Veterans, an all male veterans transitional home right here in Sullivan Country, NY. This is a local organization providing transitional housing and supportive services for homeless veterans. The main goals are to help each veteran achieve greater self-determination, improve residential stability and increased income and/or job skills. For every can sold $1 will be donated to the cause.

It’s simple: buy a beer, help a veteran! Join us this Saturday, Feb. 9th from 11am – 9pm for our very special Nighty Night New England Beer Release party and support a vet.

Roscoe Beer Company Celebrates The Season

Written by TroutTown

Feb 1, 2019
By Matt Shortall – editor

Taking a break from the cold, many folks enjoyed the warm ambience, food and drink from inside the former firehouse turned brewery.
The air was cold but the sun was shining last Saturday, huge crowds of people turned out at the Roscoe Beer Company for their 4th annual Winterfest celebration.
Attendees enjoyed Roscoe Beer Company’s award winning brews while listening to live music by Hillbilly Parade. There was a live ice carving demonstration by Stump Devils, as well as games and horse-drawn carriage rides.
“It was a great day and we had a great time with everyone,” said Director of Marketing and Events Shannon Feeney “We were thrilled to have so many people come out on such a cold day, the weather didn’t seem to stop anyone from enjoying themselves. We had over 2,000 people attend this year and can not wait to make next years Winterfest bigger and better!”
Roscoe Beer Co., which launched in 2013 with its famous Trout Town American Amber Ale, announced last year that they were expanding their distribution territory to the northern part of the state. Now New Yorkers from Long Island to the Canadian border can enjoy this locally crafted brew.
2018 was a banner year for Roscoe Beer Co., winning two gold medals for their Trout Town Brown Ale, one in the brown ale category and the other in the New York State beer category — which celebrates beers that use at least 20 percent state-grown ingredients.
Roscoe Beer Co. hopes to continue that winning tradition into 2019 and beyond.
“The best part for us is bringing so many people into our town and working with our fellow businesses for the day, we have great neighbors and friends in our little town. Everyone can mark their calendars for next year – Winterfest returns every year the last Saturday in January,” said Feeney

I got your #hashtag right here!

Written by TroutTown

If you don’t know what a hashtag is, don’t feel bad, you are not alone. “A hashtag is a type of metadata tag used on social networks such as Twitter and other microblogging services, allowing users to apply dynamic, user-generated tagging which makes it possible for others to easily find messages with a specific theme or content,” according to Wikipedia. Excuse me? My online dictionary breaks it down more simply by defining the hashtag as: “A word or phrase preceded by a hash sign (#) used on social media websites to identify messages on a specific topic.”

It’s all still relatively new, in the grand scheme of things. Remember Myspace? I thought the grandfather of social media sites was long defunct, but according to www.lifewire.com is still limping along, looking for a way to “get back on top” to where it all started in 2005, when the site was “reportedly responsible for nearly 80 percent of all traffic related to social networking sites,” and a hashtag (#) still symbolized the word pound. Nowadays, we’re inundated with newfangled words and phrases associated with social media, whether we’re online or not, and I interact with Facebook and Twitter like a pro, but I hadn’t yet ventured to the Insta-world when The River Reporter’s graphic designer Amanda Reed told me I had to get an Instagram account. “I mean, you know, IMHO,” she said with a wink. “Facebook is for kids, and let’s face it,” she continued, “you’re not a kid anymore!” Reluctantly, I agreed, and three days in, I’m seeing the hashtag, (which according to www.hashtags.org, I kid you not, first made an appearance in 2007) everywhere.

“Join us for our fourth #Winterfest,” I read online last week, “a great way to get out and enjoy winter in the #Catskills,” the online flyer read. “We’ll have our ice carvers from #Stumpdevils back plus live music featuring #hillbillyparade and #sunseteastmusic after 4 p.m.” Promising family fun and a #bonfire, Winterfest would include activities, live entertainment, food and hot cocoa, along with plenty of (duh) beer. I had a great time last year at #roscoebeercompany and asked a pal to come with. “I don’t drink beer at all,” I told her, “and had a blast regardless—let’s go!” Clicking the new Instagram app on my phone, I noted the hashtags for #RoscoeNY, #TroutTown and #Catskills, of course, and “checked in,” informing the world at large that #Dharmathewonderdog would be making an appearance at #Winterfest.

Read more here.

How to drink your way through the fishing day: Classic Catskills

Written by TroutTown
Your guide to the best beer, spirits and food on the famed waters of the Catskills region

….We’re itching to get on the water, but Frank likes the Eagle IPA and so we make our way to the Roscoe Brewing Company. Between the three of us we’ve sampled most of the tap list and so we ask brewer Rich Rogers for a suggestion of something special to enjoy on the river and he points us to Darwin’s Theory, a beer Rich is particularly fond thanks to its constantly evolving recipe. Rich fills us a few growlers that we take with us to the Beaverkill where we discover sporadic small Blue Winged Olives and a smattering of Isonychias. ….

Read More Here.

Upstate NY Oktoberfests in 2018

Written by TroutTown

By Chuck D’Imperio | Contributing writer | Posted September 27, 2018

Roscoe Oktoberfest (Sept. 29)
This Sullivan County village is known as “Trout Town USA” because of its fertile rivers and stream. This festival is a full-on family autumn extravaganza for all ages. The Roscoe Beer Company will be brewing up a special Oktoberfest brew. There will be food offerings that range from homemade cider donuts and pies all the way up to hearty German favorites. Kids can paint their own pumpkin, take a hayride and enjoy other games throughout the day.

ROSCOE BREWERY SWITCHES TO CANS

Written by TroutTown

By Denise Richardson Staff Writer Sep 14, 2018

Roscoe Beer Co. has announced that it will end bottle distribution and transition to selling beer in cans, a media release said.

The change is being made to help create a more environmentally friendly form of distribution, as well as meet consumer demands, according to officials, who said cans also will better preserve the integrity of craft brews.

Roscoe Beer Co. has chosen American Beer Equipment for its initiative, the release said, and the brewers will distribute products in 16-ounce cans in four packs and six packs.

Customers may buy cans at the Roscoe Brewery on Rockland Road in Roscoe this month. After competing in the second annual New York State Craft Beer Competition, the brewery took home two gold medals for best brown ale and best New York state farm brewery beer, the release said.

SONGWRITER FESTIVAL IN ROSCOE IS NOT JUST FOR SONGWRITERS

Written by TroutTown

ROBYN TAYLORAugust 16, 2018

There is a very cool festival coming to Roscoe this Saturday, Aug. 18. It’s the Second Annual Reel Harmony Songwriter Festival at Roscoe Beer Company at 145 Rockland Road. The festival kicks off and noon and runs all the way through 9 pm. And it’s not just for songwriters. It’s for all music lovers.

The festival will be a celebration of live, original music, and will feature 19 artists singing on multiple stages, several vendors, food, games, activities and some great craft beer. And one of the best parts about the festival, is that it raises money for a great cause.

Proceeds from the Reel Harmony Songwriter festival help support the E3: Engage-Experience-Explore Arts Program by Bethel Woods Center for the Arts. The E3 program is a school-based program that brings high caliber performance art educational groups to schools and the community.

To find out more information about this Saturday’s festival in Roscoe, and to check out the list of performing songwriters, check out their facebook page.

Local brewers among winners in state craft beer competition

Written by TroutTown

ALBANY – Three area brewers are among winners in the second state craft beer competition.

With four medals, Peekskill Brewing in Peekskill won the most – one gold, two silver and one bronze. Big Ditch Brewster in Buffalo tied for first place.

Peekskill Brewing won the gold for Hidden track in the Fruit and Spice Beer category. It locked up the silver medal for Skills Pils in the Bohemian Pilsner category and for Aussie Slang in the Pale Ale category. The bronze, also in the Pale Ale category, went to Peekskill for its Paramount Pale Ale.

Glenmere Brewing in the Village of Florida won two gold medals – Wicked With, in the Fruit and Spice Beer category, for Box’d Smok’d Porter in the Porter (No Imperial) category. Glenmere won one silver medal in the Stout (Non Imperial) category for its Black Meadow Bog.

Roscoe Beer Company in Roscoe took two gold medals in the Brown Ale (American, British) category for its Trout Town Brown Ale, and Trout Town Brown Ale in the New York State Beer category.

SMALL HUDSON VALLEY BREWERY WINS TWO GOLD MEDALS

Written by TroutTown

BORIS | August 3, 2018

A small, local brewery won big at this year’s New York State Craft Beer Competition.

The second annual beer competition featured 642 beverages from across New York State. Beers were judged in 24 categories, including popular styles of like IPAs and lagers, as well as more unique styles like sours and spiced beers.

Hudson Valley’s own Glemnmere Brewing Company in Florida picked up one silver and two gold medals for their beers. The brewery’s Wicked With spiced beer took top honors along with their porter called Box’d Smok’d Porter. Glenmere’s Black Meadow Bog also grabbed the silver medal in the stout category.

Other local breweries also picked up some medals at the competition, including Roscoe Beer Company who earned two gold medals for their Trout Brown Ale which earned best brown ale and best New York State beer. Peekskill Brewery’s Hidden Track also won best fruit and spice beer 6.0 abv or lower.

The winning beers will be featured at the New York State Fair later this month.

Local breweries win gold in NY’s craft beer competition

Written by TroutTown

By Judy Rife
Times Herald-Record
Posted Aug 2, 2018 at 11:09 AM

ALBANY – Craft breweries in Orange and Sullivan counties won gold medals in the state’s second annual competition.

The Glenmere Brewing Company in Florida, in Orange County, won golds in the fruit and spice category with its Wicked Witch and in the porter category with its Box’d Smok’d Porter. It also won a silver for its Black Meadow Bog in the stout category.

The Roscoe Beer Company in Roscoe won two golds with its Trout Town Brown Ale, one in the brown ale category and the other in the New York State beer category. The latter was restricted to beers that contained at least 20 percent state-grown ingredients.

A full list of the 70 medals awarded to 45 breweries from 642 entries in 24 categories is posted at www.newyorkcraftbeer.com/2018-competition

Rochester breweries fare well at state’s biggest craft beer competition

Written by TroutTown

Will Cleveland
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
Published 10:33 a.m. ET Aug. 1, 2018

 

The second annual New York State Craft Beer Competition highlighted the depth and strength of beers produced here.

A brewery from Brooklyn, one in Buffalo, and another from the Hudson Valley were the competition’s biggest winners. For the second consecutive year, Brooklyn’s Threes Brewing was awarded the Governor’s Excelsior Cup for the best craft beer in the state.

The winners — 45 medal-winning breweries — were announced Wednesday morning. (Full list belo.) Medals were presented in 22 different beer categories.
….

Brown ale (American and British) (23 entries): 1. Roscoe Beer Trout Town Brown; 2. Community Beer Works The Whale; 3. Galaxy Brewing Bingtown Brown;
….
NYS beer (264 qualified): 1. Roscoe Beer Trout Town Brown Ale; 2. Great Flats Raspberry IPA; 3. (tie) Fifth Frame Sundae IPA and Oval Craft Summer Fling.

Read More.

A Stress-Free Summer Weekend in the Catskills

Written by TroutTown

For a long country weekend packed with outdoor pursuits, great food and beer and no snootiness, follow our 3-day guide to New York’s western Catskills. IF YOU’VE HEARD of Sullivan County, it’s probably for its “Borscht Belt” days: the post-World War II decades immortalized in the film “Dirty Dancing,” when sprawling, country club-style resorts carpeted the lonely western foothills of New York’s Catskill mountain range. Read more…

Blues Brews & BBQ

Written by TroutTown

Wed, 05/23/2018 – 12:54pm

HANCOCK, NY — Hancock will celebrate its official kickoff to summer this year with a Blues Brews & BBQ Festival at the Town Square on Memorial Day Weekend, May 26 and 27. The event hosts two full days of live blues with five incredible bands: The Parlor Cats, Friar’s Point Band and Dave Keyes Band on Saturday. Shane Scarazzini and Eight Fingers rock the block Saturday night, and Slam Allen brings it home on Sunday afternoon.

More than 30 vendors will participate in the two-day event, with everything from homegrown produce, honey and New York Maple Syrup to handmade pottery, jewelry, fiber arts, home decor and food. All day Saturday and Sunday, you’ll have your choice of chicken spiedies, sausage and peppers, hamburgers and hotdogs, walking tacos, strawberry shortcake, ice cream sandwiches and baked goods galore. On Saturday night, the Misfit Pit serves up a barbeque with slow-smoked brisket, pulled pork and more. Roscoe Beer Company will be there Saturday night with some amazing local craft beers. And on Sunday, picnic on The Square with chicken barbeque.

This event is made possible through the generosity of the O’Connor Foundation, Tompkins Bluestone and Millennium Pipeline and with the support of the Hancock Gateway Tourism Council. Visit destinationhancock.com/events/ for a full schedule of activities, performance times, and full list of vendors.

Roscoe Beer Co. Adds Distribution in New York

Written by TroutTown

May. 11, 2018 at 11:00 AM

ROSCOE, N.Y. — Roscoe Beer Company makes its way North with their Trout Town brews! Hitting the shelves in March 2018, Trout Town beers are now available in northern counties of the beautiful Empire State. Brought into the world by a small group of folks with a passion for craft beer and a deep-rooted love for their hometown of Roscoe, Roscoe Beer Co. launched its flagship brew, Trout Town American Amber Ale in April of 2013. Since then, the brewery has added on delicious new favorites such as Trout Town Brown Ale and Trout Town Rainbow Red Ale. Five years later, they are announcing the expansion of their territory, making craft brews available from Roscoe, NY all the way to Canada, including the capital region and the Adirondacks.

Roscoe Beer Co. decided to partner with Saratoga Eagle after a long search for a distribution partner in the region.

“We believe our brand resonates and communicates well with the north country,” said Josh ‘The Kid’ Hughes, Brew Master at Roscoe Beer Co.

Saratoga Eagle will be carrying three of Trout Town’s staple packaged products: Trout Town Amber Ale, Trout Town Whitetail Pale Ale and Trout Town Brown Ale. In addition to the packaged products, they will be carrying all three of these on draft, as well as Trout Town’s award winning Two Headed Stout and their ever changing Beer of the Month.

  • Trout Town American Amber Ale pours a beautiful light copper amber color with a nice white foamy head. This beer has a light body that is full of nice toasted notes and a subtle citrus hop finish that is not overly bitter.
  • Whitetail Pale Ale is a very light pale ale that has very light toasted flavors and an ever so gentle hop finish. This beer is session-able coming in at 4.8%
  • Trout Town Brown Ale is a robust brown ale with rich chocolate and pronounced coffee flavors that pull through in the very end. This beer is dark in color but light in body, with just enough bitterness to balance out the beer.
  • Two Headed Stout is extremely robust with extreme notes of roasted barley and dark chocolates. Don’t be scared, this stout is as smooth and creamy as it is dark.

The decision to further distribution with Saratoga Eagle comes on the heel of a recent addition to the Roscoe Beer Co. team. Mike Santamaria has been hired as the new sales representative to help with the ever growing demand and with distribution into other regions within the Northeast.

“We are truly excited to bring him on board to further our growth and customer service across the region,” Phil Vallone, co-owner & founder commented on the recent hire.

To find out more about Roscoe Beer Company visit them at www.roscoebeercompany.com or stop in at the brewery at 145 Rockland Road, Roscoe, NY.

Craft beer lovers try brews from around the area at Binghamton on Tap

Written by TroutTown

Posted: Feb 25, 2018 11:36 AM EST

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. – Craft beer lovers crammed a jam packed DoubleTree Hotel banquet room to try out brews from around our area and across the nation.

Binghamton on Tap was held Saturday at the Hotel located at 225 Water Street in Binghamton.

It featured over 100 craft beers from local breweries like Galaxy, Binghamton Brewing Company and Beer Tree Brew Co, as well as beer makers from outside the area like Upstate Brewing in Syracuse, Lake Placid and Roscoe brewing companies.

People came prepared with pretzel necklaces to clear their palate after a tasting.

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Grocery chains embracing local small brewers

Written by TroutTown

By Leonard Sparks
Times Herald-Record

Posted Feb 24, 2018 at 6:37 PM

….

The Roscoe Beer Co. has five packaged brands: American Amber Ale, Brown Ale, Eagle IPA, Rainbow Red Ale, and Whitetail Pale Ale, said Josh Hughes, the company’s brew master. Price Chopper and ShopRite are among its customers.

While those chains account for a “decent amount” of sales, they offer another benefit to small brewers, Hughes said.

“What is most important is the increased visibility of the product, as these are highly trafficked locations,” he said. “Grocery chains do not typically make up our better sales accounts, but they do increase our visibility and awareness.

Read More Here

Trout Town WinterFest: Roscoe, NY is the hot place to be!

Written by TroutTown
Wed, 01/31/2018 – 1:37pm

For the third year in a row, the folks at the Roscoe Beer Company have thrown a party of epic proportions, proving once again that Trout Town is (IMHO) the place to be. Reminding me that the event was “dog friendly,” Dharma pawed at the door, anxious to get her groove on with scores of other canines and join the huge crowd of enthusiasts out for a day (and night) of bonfires, kids activities, live music, ice carving demonstrations, sleigh rides and of course, beer, beer, beer! Calling themselves “folks that enjoy the great outdoors,” the entire staff is proud to proclaim that they “embrace their community and value all of the great things our great country has to offer. We are business owners,” their Facebook page declares “mothers, fathers, fishermen, hunters, educators, horsemen and hikers.” Reflecting that sentiment are the Beer Company’s patrons, who share the feelings expressed by the business owners when they say, “We work hard, play hard and absolutely enjoy a great beer when the time is right!”

Roscoe, NY, also known as Trout Town USA, is internationally recognized as one of the best outdoors towns in the world. It has received awards and honors including World Fishing Networks’ “Ultimate Fishing Town” in 2011. As folks wandered in and out of the Roscoe Beer Company, live music provided by Peter Florence & The New Kings (with Albi Beluli) in the dance tent followed by Jason Casterlin & The Hillbilly Parade filled the air as the “Ice Crew” from the Stump Devils Wood Carvers wowed the crowd with frosty creations carved on the spot. Spectators gathered by the bonfire outdoors to play Giant Jenga and sip hot cocoa adjacent to the Beer Garden throughout the day; then festivities moved indoors to keep the party going at the Rockland House. For more photos of Trout Town WinterFest, visit www.Facebook.com/theriverreporter.

From Moose Safaris to Ski Camp, Here’s Your Winter Travel Primer

Written by TroutTown

The six December sojourns every New Yorker needs

By Shari Gab

05 December 2017

Busy isn’t a temporary state in December — it’s a way of life.

And only one thing can give you a brief, fleeting reprieve from it all: jetting outta town for a long weekend.

Which is why we’ve rounded up six nearby destinations for attending to the “play hard” part of your ethos, from a Catskills ice-fishing derby with an open vodka bar to an adult sleepaway camp with ski tours and snow bunnies.

Prefer some fun in the sun? There’s a golf-and-wine sojourn in there that’ll warm you right up.

Book now. Something to look forward to will make the 9-to-5 fly right by.

For “Nightlife”: Waterville, NH

Where to stay: Waterville Valley Resort
What to do: A few times a year, the resort holds a not-to-be-missed affair: Starry Nights, a powder-shredding, grub-loving whale of a time. Halfway down the mountain, you’ll stop at the Sunnyside Timberlodge for a full feast. The evening kicks off with a wine-and-cheese hour, proceeds to a sit-down spread (oft times complete with live music and opera a capella) and ends with a Torchlight Parade back down the mountain. That means everyone gets a torch and you all jet down the mountain under cover of stars and darkness.
Where to grub: If you didn’t get your fill at Starry Night, check yourself. But the next day, hit up Coyote Grill for chalet vibes and perfect sirloins.

For Adventure: Catskills, NY

Where to stay: The Arnold House
What to do: Snowshoeing, snowmobiles and a lil’ something called the Ice Fishing Derby. Taking place from February 23-25, the Ice Fishing Derby package includes a private lesson and an afternoon on Shandelee Lake with an open oyster and vodka bar. Packages start at $799+ for the weekend.
Where to grub (and drink): Try Prohibition Distillery and Roscoe Beer Company in Roscoe. And if you venture just 10 minutes down the road (via designated driver), you’ll find Catskill Brewery in Livingston Manor.

 

Read more…

3 Craft Beer Styles Set to Go Mainstream in 2018

Written by TroutTown

Brewing experts say some styles that have gained a foothold among the craft cognoscenti are poised to break out in 2018 among the wider beer-drinking public.

By: Markham Heid

January 10, 2018
Food & Wine

Hoppy, aromatic, emphatically bitter pale ales have long dominated the craft scene. But now that craft has locked down a sizeable share of the marketplace, its focus has shifted to new and experimental styles.

Craft beer has progressed so quickly and with so much fervor that we’ve done a lot of exploring in a very short period of time,” says Matt Simpson, an Atlanta-based certified beer judge, educator, and owner of the Beer Sommelier craft-brewing consultancy.

As a result of all the recent exploration and experimentation, Simpson says he doesn’t expect to see a lot that’s strictly new this year. But he and other brewing experts say some styles that have gained a foothold among the craft cognoscenti are poised to break out in 2018 among the wider beer-drinking public. Here are those styles, and a few delicious examples to try.

Lagers

Light, refreshing, easy drinking lagers dominated the American beer scene for a century. But for years, most craft brewers disdained them—in part because lager, despite its uncomplicated profile, is often trickier and more-expensive to brew than ale. But these crowd-pleasers are poised for a craft-style makeover.

“I think people are yearning for some good, well-made lagers that are clear and clean and drinkable, but that still have flavor,” Simpson says. Others agree.

“Craft breweries are betting big on this segment coming back, and I expect that this year might be the year for it,” says Philip Breen, assistant manager at Philadelphia’s Frankford Hall beer garden. Brewers themselves say the same.

“Lagers will be a major showcase style for many breweries in the coming year,” says Josh Hughes, brewmaster at New York’s Roscoe Beer Co.

 

Read more here…

Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul takes tour of Roscoe Beer Company

Written by TroutTown

Oct 20, 2017

By Rich Klein – reporter/photographer

By: Rich Klein | DemocratLt. Governor Kathy Hochul at Roscoe Beer Company on Wednesday

ROSCOE – Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul toured the Roscoe Beer Company Tuesday afternoon with brewmaster Josh Hughes, in a visit that was prompted by the brewery earning a tie for the top prize at the Taste New York Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge held in May. New York is now home to approximately 321 microbreweries, farm breweries, and restaurant breweries, up from only 50 total breweries in 2011, according to Governor Cuomo.
Hughes, who is also head of operations, told Hochul about how the business launched in 2013 when it was splitting its building with an electronics company before it later occupied the entire space.
“We are very much a seasonal, tourist-type town with many second homeowners but our weekends are always busy (beyond summer months),” Hughes said, noting that this is a year-round destination. He added that they recently added its beer garden to accommodate overflow crowds (The brewery also this year opened an outpost at Liberty’s Downtown Barn).


“People that come in want to come back,” Hughes told Hochul. “We want to create a quality experience for people because it’s not just about experiencing us it’s about experiencing the area.” He also credited year-round locals for their patronage and support of the business.
Hughes showed the Lieutenant Governor the high tech machines in explaining the brewing and distribution process. Near the end of the process he said its bottling line machine can fill “1,800 to 2,000 bottles an hour.”
When asked by Hochul about distribution, Hughes said they distribute to 14 counties throughout the state.
“We found that shifting local (after initially distributing outside New York) helped us to strengthen. Our customer base is primarily local.. so we tailored our sales network much closer to home. He said the brewery’s products are now old at about 750 locations, which clearly impressed Hochul. “We play a good game for a small brewery,” Hughes said. “It’s exciting to know we are making waves in the industry. “
Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potesek, who attended the tour, said: “They (Roscoe Beer Company) have done a great job in Roscoe. I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Asked how the county helps small businesses like Roscoe Beer, Potosek said: “We got the big fish in the casino but our day to day jobs are helping businesses like this with revolving loans or helping them apply for grant funds.” He pointed that the County’s Planning Department, Industrial Development Agency, the Partnership for Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce along with local business associations all play a role in helping small businesses across the county.
Town of Rockland Supervisor Robert Eggleton, also on hand, said people are increasingly realizing that the Sullivan County Catskills are a great destination regardless of a resort/casino coming in March 2018. Part of the appeal of Roscoe, he said, is that people can easily walk to the various attractions and to its business district.
On her tour of the Roscoe Beer Company, Lieutenant Governor Hochul said, “Governor Cuomo has made it a top priority to make it easier than ever for breweries and wineries to sell and promote their products across the state, and that has allowed some of our smaller upstate cities and towns to flourish. The Roscoe Beer Company, a Taste NY favorite, is a great example of this success.” 

The best eating and drinking in the Catskills

Written by TroutTown

Great food and drink is easy to find in the Catskills, if you know where to look. We shed some light on our favorite diners, cider, upscale dining and more.

Time Out in association with Visit the Catskills Posted: Friday August 25 2017
Natalie Chitwood

Yeah, you can get any cuisine you want in the city—but if you crave your food just-picked fresh, it’s worth driving the two or three hours to where it’s grown. The Catskills have long been known for family farms, roadside farmstands and loads of classic diners. Now inventive new restaurants showcase homestyle tastes too. In the past few years, chefs have opened notable spots featuring the Catskills’ seasonal fare such as squash in the fall and maple syrup in early spring. The drink scene is expanding as well, branching out to include more and more craft beers and distinctly New York takes on beverages like cider, gin and absinthe. Whether you find yourself perched in a booth, at a banquette or on a barstool, you’ll definitely be satisfied with the Catskill fare.

7

Roscoe Beer Co.

This new 1,600-square-foot timber-frame brewery and tasting room has a rough-and-tumble mountain feel, with fish and game mounted on the walls. Roscoe Beer Co. brews like Trout Town Logger, a Bohemian-style lager, evoke the great outdoors, too.

Victoria’s Secrets: Rocking out at Bethel Woods

Written by TroutTown

By Victoria Schneps / vschneps@queenscourier.com / Sunday, August 6, 2017 / 9:00 AM

After visiting day at Tyler Hill Camp with my grandchildren, I spent the weekend with my friend Linda DeSabato at her getaway in the Catskills near the camp and to see the concerts at Bethel Woods. It was a weekend with a perfect combination of love and friendship.

Waiting for me at the Tyler Hill gates was my dear friend Linda, who has a home perched on Lake Wanaksink in Rock Hill. She had dropped me off for visiting day and in between, we were off with our friend Marge McGowan to Bethel Woods for concerts Friday and Saturday nights.

Linda’s family has roots in the area, a bus company, Big V Entertainment and an interest in the Roscoe NY Beer Co., producing craft beers in what is considered Trout Town because of the many streams and lakes that has turned the town into a mecca for fishermen.

The beer is sold on the East Coast and is worth looking for at your local beer distributor. Linda’s sister-in-law created Creekside Cabins along a pristine stream on their hundreds of acres of lush property for a getaway for fishermen and hunters.

Read more, click here

New York Craft Beer Competition and Governor’s Excelsior Cup Results

Written by TroutTown

Contact Email : paul@newyorkcraftbeer.com | Paul Leone

In its 1st year, the 2017 New York State Craft Beer competition awarded 63 medals to some of the best craft beers in New York State, plus awarded the 1st ever Governor’s Excelsior Cup to the brewery who was voted to have the best beer in the State.

Overview: New York State Craft Beer Competition

The competition took place in Rochester NY on Saturday, July 29th where gold, silver and bronze medals were awarded to winning breweries in 20 beer categories covering 40 different beer styles (including all subcategories), establishing the best examples of each style in the state. Gold medals were not awarded in 2 categories, and multiple medals were awarded in categories where there was a statistical tie.

Winners were chosen from 707 competition entries from 143 breweries making this the largest beer competition in New York State and the second largest state competition in the country (behind California).

The competition drew a panel of 40 professional beer judges and beer experts from across the state judging all 707 entries. 243 passed the qualification rounds and were judged in the scoring rounds to produce the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners. The 19 Gold medal winners went into the championship round, and after 2 elimination rounds the top 5 went head to head for the Governor’s Excelsior Cup and best beer in New York State.

Overall Competition Highlights

Governor’s Excelsior Cup was awarded to Threes Brewing (Brooklyn) for their Vliet Pilsner
Most medals won:
Three (3) medals were won by War Horse Brewing, Geneva NY (1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze)
Two (2) medals were won by 16 breweries
Style Categories

In its first year, the most-entered category was American-Style India Pale Ale (IPA), which saw 88 entries. The top five entered categories were:

Fruit and Spice Beer (66 entries)
Porter, Stout, Brown Ale (62 entries)
American Style Double India Pale Ale (51 entries)
Golden/Blonde Ale (48 entries)
Wheat Beer – American, Wit Hefe (39 entries)
Summary: 2017 New York Craft Brewers Competition and Governor’s Excelsior Cup

1st year
354 Breweries in New York State
707 beers entered
45 medal-winning breweries
63 total medals awarded
20 style categories judged, plus Governor’s Excelsior Cup
40 judges from across NYS
Category with highest number of entries: American-Style India Pale Ale: 88

Find the list of all winners here – Click here.

Local Brewery is a Centerpiece of State’s Craft-Beer Boom

Written by TroutTown

By Daniel Axelrod | Business Reporter | Times Herald-Record
daxelrod@th-record.com

Posted Jun 19, 2017 at 6:07 PM
Updated Jun 20, 2017 at 4:18 PM

ROSCOE – The Vallone and the Fettig families founded the Roscoe Beer Company in 2012 to honor a hallowed trout-fishing hamlet where time and troubles drift like dry flies cast among cold creek bubbles.

Five years later, the brewery is celebrating its recent first-place tie out of the 170-plus New York breweries that competed in Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s inaugural Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge.

That honor, shared with Cooperstown’s Brewery Ommegang, makes Roscoe a taste leader amid a boom that’s grown New York’s craft brewery total 542 percent, to 321 from 50 just since Cuomo’s 2011 inauguration.

The governor has successfully championed grants, new laws and tax breaks to incentivize and deregulate craft alcohol manufacturing and sales, while growing the number of breweries, distilleries and cideries to more than 900 and creating thousands of jobs.

New York’s 321 craft breweries are now the fourth most among the 50 states, as other forms of craft alcohol manufacturing – particularly farm-to-bottle or farm- based alcohol makers – have benefited.

Since 2011, the totals have dramatically increased for hard cideries (to 24 from five, plus another 34 on farms), farm distilleries (to 114 from 10), micro-distillers (to 49 from 12) and wineries (to 419 from 247).

New York’s breweries have led the way, and their increase also reflects a national trend. As consumers have sought more flavor and variety, America’s brewery total has risen to more than 5,300 today from 82 in 1981.

“We got to a point in America where 98 percent of what was produced was yellow beer,” said Fred Matt, president of the New York State Brewers Association and leader of the family company behind Saranac Brewery.

“That’s not to take anything away from big guys, because they’re very good brewers to make beer that thin and consistent day in and day out.”

“But it just got to the point that beer wasn’t very flavorful. I’d have to give the nod to Gov. Cuomo, because he’s made New York very business-friendly when it comes to brewing.”

New York’s craft beer sales exceeded $500 million in 2015, with 11,366 full-time employees and a $4 billion statewide economic impact, according to the state brewing association’s most recent data.

Top suds

Cuomo’s new beer-tasting contest is helping to promote all the new local breweries.

After the Roscoe Beer Co.’s win, “It’s been another level of pride” in the hamlet, said Phil Vallone, 57, who co-owns the brewery with his wife, Donna, his sister Linda DeSabato and other family.

“We have a saying around town, ‘We’re Trout-Town proud,’ and this is another feather in the cap.”

In the fly fishing masterpiece “A River Runs Through It,” Norman Maclean wrote that good things like trout, “came by grace; and grace comes by art; and art does not come easy.”

Roscoe Beer Co. head brewer Josh “Kid” Hughes’ artfully crafted two-headed stout, a name which plays on a local legend about a two-headed trout, also didn’t come easily.

Beginning with a 2009 home-brew recipe, Hughes, 29, spent six years tweaking brewing temperatures and the fermentation process, from tank time to oxygen, yeast and carbonation levels.

With all its heavily roasted barley, the 8 percent alcohol brew could have been too strong and bitter. Instead, the competition’s judges loved the stout’s oat and barley balance, which provides a creamy, dark chocolate and coffee-like character.

After a screening round with more than 42,000 online voters in the recent statewide beer contest, the Roscoe Beer Co. reached the tasting round alongside Rochester’s Genesee Brewing Company, Auburn’s Prison City Pub and Brewery and Lakewood’s Southern Tier Brewing Company.

Each finalist presented one signature beer to a judging panel, including celebrity chef Mario Batali, former NFL star Thurman Thomas and beer experts.

“We decided we were either going to go bold or go home, so we selected our biggest, boldest beer, and we submitted it because it’s been an in-house favorite for awhile now,” Hughes said.

Besides creative beers, visitors to Roscoe and New York’s craft breweries come for fun atmospheres and events celebrating everything from collectible cars to singer-songwriters.

Inside Roscoe Beer Co.’s hunting lodge-themed tasting room, there’s a trout tank, an automatic beer-dispensing tap wall and a friendly bartender.

Outside, there’s a beer garden and Sullivan County legislator Mark McCarthy’s Hog Heaven BBQ stand, with his “Griller” dish – chicken or pork, Monterey Jack and cheddar cheeses, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts and tomatoes baked atop a thin, crispy burrito shell.

On a recent afternoon in Trout Town, B.J. and Tina Lowther of Galeton were devouring a Griller near the brewery’s bar and sipping a hoppy ale called “Darwin’s Theory.”
They’ve made the Roscoe Beer Co. a regular stop whenever they come here to fish.

B.J. has a tattoo of a brook trout on the underside of his left forearm and one of a mayfly on his wrist with the words: “Do it while you can.”

“We can’t live anywhere there isn’t trout,” Tina said.

“Beer always tastes better after a long day of fishing,” B.J. added.

Statewide impact

With its beer, food and festivals, the brewery is an economic driver that gives back to the community through charitable acts, creating jobs and attracting visitors, said Vallone, who’s also known for owning the Rolling V passenger bus company.

That’s exactly what Cuomo hoped would happen with local breweries and other craft alcohol makers when he reduced restrictions on them by pushing the 2012 Farm Brewery Law and the 2014 Craft New York Act, said State Liquor Authority Chairman Vincent Bradley.

The laws have turned craft alcohol makers into tourist attractions by letting them host tastings and sell by the bottle or glass.

A new license for farm brewers bolstered a whole new business category.

Craft alcohol manufacturers can find followers by selling at festivals and farmers’ markets. They can release new brands without label fees. And Cuomo has offered funds to help the companies with marketing.

“The governor recognized from the beginning the value that craft producers have in this state, not just for the alcohol industry but for tourism,” Bradley said.

“Breweries are consistently opening across the state. It’s not just a New York City impact, it’s not a Buffalo impact.”

Taste New York Craft Beer Challenge: The Winners Are…

Written by TroutTown

NEW YORK CITY — A first-of-its-kind contest to name New York state’s best brewery ended Wednesday in a tie.
The Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge awarded its top prize to both Brewery Ommegang of Cooperstown and Roscoe Beer Co. (Trout Town) of Roscoe.

Five finalists had been chosen to enter today’s judging through an online poll conducted in the first two weeks of May. The finalists were invited to bring one beer each — a signature brew — to the tasting held near Battery Park in Manhattan.

Ommegang brought its Three Philosophers Quadrupel, a strong and dark Belgian ale that is blended witk a Belgian cherry beer called kriek. Roscoe’s entry was its Two Headed Stout, a strong (8 percent alcohol) and dark, robust stout.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo initiated the Craft Beer Challenge, through the state’s Taste NY program, to call attention to the booming craft beer industry in New York. New York state now has more than 300 breweries, up from about 100 five years ago.

The other three finalists in the challenge were Genesee Brewing Co. of Rochester, Southern Tier Brewing Co. of Lakewood (near Jamestown) and Prison City Pub & Brewery of Auburn.

“The Taste NY challenge was a great way to shine a light on the incredible craft beer industry in NYS,” Paul Leone, executive director of the New York State Brewers Association said in a text message from the judging. “Congratulations to Roscoe and Ommegang for winning this inaugural event, a huge thank you to Governor Cuomo for his continued support by creating this annual event.”

Judges for the final contest included celebrity chef Mario Batali, former Buffalo Bills star Thurman Thomas and several beer writers and other authorities.

By Don Cazentre | dcazentre@nyup.com | www.newyorkupstate.com
on May 17, 2017 at 6:43 PM, updated May 17, 2017 at 6:51 PM

Where the Beers Are: A Regional Guide to U.S. Craft Brews

Written by TroutTown

Offerings from smaller breweries are so vast and varied it’s hard to know where to begin. A guide to 21 top beers that deliver an intriguing taste of place

By William Bostwick
Dec. 22, 2016 11:38 a.m. ET
ON ALBUQUERQUE’S industrial northern fringe, down a side street flanked by auto-parts stores, I found the wellspring of American beer. I’d been traveling; I was parched. What I discovered rewrote my understanding of American beer.

The brewery was La Cumbre, the beer was a Scotch ale. A traditional Scottish beer, served on cask, 5,000 miles from Edinburgh? It was a taste of how deliciously unpredictable…Read More Here.

Roscoe Beer Company’s latest brew is the perfect match for this Hunting Season

Written by TroutTown

A True Everyday Drinking Beer for the Great Outdoors

The Roscoe NY Beer Co, home of the Trout Town™ hand-craft beers in Roscoe, NY, is releasing its newest beer, the Trout Town Whitetail Pale Ale. This sessionable beer coming in at only 4.7% ABV, is the fifth beer in the Trout Town™ line-up available in bottles in stores. With the opening of hunting season, the Trout Town Whitetail Pale Ale makes for the perfect match for those long nights on the look-out and times by the camp fire.

Whitetail Pale Ale differentiates itself from the other Trout Town™ beers with its ever so lightly toasted flavor and gentle hop finish which makes it an easy, smooth everyday drinking beer. This beer uses an ultra clean fermenting ale yeast allowing the high quality ingredients to shine. Brew master Josh Hughes is using a light pale ale malt coupled with a variety of lighter kilned malts enhancing the flavor with nice clean notes of toast, but still allowing the beer to be extremely light in both – body and color. The delicate balance of hops consists of both american and european hops, giving the beer a clean smooth flavor.
 
“We’re excited about our new brew,” explains Josh Hughes, brew master for Roscoe NY Beer Co. and maker of Trout Town™ craft beers. “Craft beer is my passion and from the beginning it’s been our mission at The Roscoe NY Beer Co. to create brews that are unique and something we can believe in. We feel this beer is perfect for all beer lovers. It’s a true ‘everyone’s beer’.”

To honor the bond of the great outdoors and the Roscoe Beer Co, the Whitetail Pale Ale bottle features the story of Sonny’s Buck. Vince “Sonny” Romano from Brooklyn, NY hunted with family and friends in Roscoe, NY through the 1970’s and 80’s.  While unsuccessful in the woods for many years, he justified the time spent by connecting with the great outdoors and being part of a tight knit group at camp. After he overheard a story about a beautiful whitetail buck, roaming  near their hunting camp in Roscoe, his mind was set on meeting up with this creature.  “Sonny’s Buck” completed the journey in 1980 and the rest of the story is part of family lore. So next time you hit the Catskills visit us at the brewery, enjoy an ice-cold Trout Town hand-crafted beer and ask about Sonny’s hunt for the buck that has become legendary. Roscoe Beer Company: NO TALL TALES – JUST GREAT BEER!!!

With an aggressive plan in place, Trout Town™ Whitetail Pale Ale’s distribution will go far beyond its hometown point of sale. Whitetail Pale Ale is available now for a limited time on draft and in 12 oz. six-packs in stores. With the release of the pale ale, our brew will be widely distributed throughout Sullivan, Delaware & Orange Counties, Long Island, the five boroughs of New York City, and the Binghamton area. A partnership with the supermarket chain ShopRite will serve to bring our Trout Town™ Whitetail Pale Ale to all of its Hudson Valley stores. To get the most up-to-date information about The Roscoe NY Beer Company, and please check out their website http://www.RoscoeBeerCompany.com

Beer Release Party – Barrel Aged Two Headed Stout

Written by TroutTown

Wednesday, Nov. 23rd @ 11am
Two bottles per person

Limited Bottles Available – 400 all signed by our brew master Josh Hughes.

This limited release of our Two Headed Stout is extremely robust with strong notes of roasted barley and dark chocolate that are further enhanced by the unique and pleasant characters of Prohibition Distillery’s bourbon barrels. Don’t be scared, this stout is aged with Madagascar vanilla beans making it as smooth and creamy as it is dark, coming in around 10% ABV.

Aged in Prohibition Distillery Bourbon Barrels. Proudly Made in Roscoe, NY.

The Land That Time Forgot

Written by TroutTown

Roscoe, NY is a small town that has at least some significance to most of my family. For my grandfather it was the town where he was born and the town where he is now buried. For my Mother’s generation the Roscoe Diner was where you stopped to eat on the way to or from New York City.

For Mrs. Usedhair and I it was this mysterious land that time forgot. As we would drive past Roscoe cell phone signal was non existent and if you put the radio on seek mode it would run around and around searching for about 10 minutes as you cruised down the road before it could manage to find anything at all.

On our vacation in the Southern Tier of New York we decided to drive out to Long Island for a few days. On the way there we noticed that Roscoe had cell phone signal, radio stations galore, and… A brewery!

Now this is something I had to see. On the trip back we made a point of stopping in. I assumed the sign visible from the highway meant that the brewery would be right by the road as well. So we pulled into downtown Roscoe looking to find it without bothering with the help of a map. What we found there had me quite worried.

To Read More Click Here.

Plenty of good spirits at Spring Fling Festival in Roscoe

Written by TroutTown

ROSCOE — It was a Spring Fling Festival, on a day that didn’t feel much like spring, following a winter that didn’t feel much like winter. But on Sunday, hundreds of people came out for a celebration hosted by the Roscoe NY Beer Company because, hey, every day feels like a good day for a beer. The brewery, which started up in Roscoe just three years ago, already hosts several seasonal festivals annually, but this was the first year for the Spring Fling, said Shannon Feeney, director of marketing and events for the beer-maker. Feeney estimated as many as 500 people had passed through by mid-day, a remarkable turnout given Sunday’s cold, damp weather, she said.
Twenty-five vendors were set up under tents, selling everything from farm market items and produce, to artwork and photography, to jewelry and handcrafted goods, to food and wine. Also on hand were Nicole Guite, Sullivan County region manager for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, and puppy raiser Barbara Ward-Blank. The two brought along Otter, a 6-month-old female black Lab; and Fuchsia, an 11-month-old female German shepherd, to help persuade folks to sign up to become puppy raisers for the visually impaired.  Continue reading “Plenty of good spirits at Spring Fling Festival in Roscoe”

WHAT’S IN A NAME? Boulders continue to feature “Captain Lawrence” beer at House that St. Lawrence Built

Written by TroutTown

The Rockland Boulders baseball team has featured craft beers with Boulders-inspired recipes at home games in Pomona the past three seasons, including ones brewed by “Captain Lawrence.”

It is not clear whether the man who loves to see his name everywhere, Ramapo Supervisor Christopher St. Lawrence, is involved with the team’s decision to partner with Captain Lawrence, but the name similarity is at least ironic. St. Lawrence was, after all, the ‘captain’ of the project that brought the Pomona ballpark into being, even allegedly going so far as to risk the town’s financial health and his own freedom to do so.

The Boulders confirmed in a press release this week that Captain Lawrence remains a featured brewery on the menu despite the possible negative name association due to the recent arrest of the local real Captain (St.) Lawrence.

And for the third out of four seasons, the Rockland Boulders will add a new specialty beer at the annual “Beers Around the Bases” Craft Beer Festival. That event is taking place Saturday, May 14 from 2:30 – 5:30 p.m. at the Pomona ballpark, now known as Palisades Credit Union Park.

Krankee Yankee, a brew produced via Roscoe NY Beer Co with a 5.5 percent alcohol level, will be added to the menu, the third craft beer the Boulders have created, and the first IPA. In 2013, the Boulders debuted Bottom 9 Brew in conjunction with Captain Lawrence and they followed that up in 2014 with a joint effort with Long Ireland Brewery in the form of 2nd Base Blonde.

Boulders owner Ken Lehner has profited off the House that St. Lawrence Built in Pomona, while Ramapo taxpayers have lost tens of millions. Could it be that the Boulders’ alliance with “Captain Lawrence” breweries is meant as a nod to the man who manifested the Boulders ballpark?
Boulders owner Ken Lehner has profited off the House that St. Lawrence Built in Pomona, while Ramapo taxpayers have lost tens of millions.
“For the past two seasons, our fans have proven that they appreciate the Boulders Beers that we have had the pleasure of producing in conjunction with local breweries and Dana Distributors as both limited releases of Bottom 9 Brew and 2nd Base Blonde have sold out,” said Ken Lehner, Boulders Team President. “We are always listening to our fans and it was evident that they wanted an IPA added to the lineup in 2016 and we have delivered with Krankee Yankee.”

Tickets for the Beer Fest are $35 in advance, $40 on the day of. Those who wish to be designated drivers can get admission for $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Following the Festival, the Rockland Boulders baseball team will face off against NYPD’s Finest in their fourth annual exhibition game starting at 6:30 p.m.