Terry's Journey in Retirement
Chapter 615
4/30/2022
Craft Beer
grain, hops, yeast & water
Youtube video, one part of an excellent production series focusing on NY microbreweries.
The microbrewery revolution has exploded (more than 300% in the last decade) around the world as well as in NY and locally. In my lifetime there were scant to no facilities around. Now there are 17 oportunities within an easy drive from the house and growing.
Not only do you get more flavor and variety in the suds but it's a cultural phenomenon. Although there are basically 2 beer types lager and ale based on yeast listen if you can to the hour long description of over 100 beer styles. Every variable in the brew process that is tweaked can produce an infinite number of varieties. This has greatly spurred economic development and enhanced agricultural development because of recent changes in the laws. Listen to the brewers; they are all passionate about their craft and willing to share knowledge.
We went to Frog Alley Brewing in Schenectady last week. It's a two year old $43 million dollar project encompassing 17 business ventures on Broadway. In the background the Tommy V band is setting up for the evening performance. This year they have booked the big time act, Get the Led Out, who we saw at the Palace a couple years back. The brewery fermenters are just behind the band. Further back there was a wedding shower going on. The bar and dozens of beer taps are to our left. A balcony outside. To our right is Annabells Pizza. Awesome. We had the wood fired (new) roasted Broccoli artichoke veggie pizza that was fantastic. And some fried eggplant rings.
From the bar we tried a flight of beers. Settled on the 1903 NY (Vienna style) Lager (w/4pak for home) and a German Kirkker Pilsner.
Got a great old photo of the Schaefer Brewery in downtown Albany from this blogger. It's the oldest lager brewer in the U.S. starting in 1842. They still brew a small amount in Utica but they pretty much went extinct in the 70's 80's. Tore this plant down in mid 70's. I worked on the I-787 highway project there in 1968 from our construction trailer. We smelled the mash cooking and the fermentation tanks all the time. Albany used to be the second largest brew town in the country centuries ago.
Druthers will be opening what looks to be a fantastic venue right here in the heart of Clifton Park. I expect it to be a showcase spot for our Town. The three brothers (interviewed in the video above) have had enormous success starting with their facility in Saratoga Springs, then into Albany (not far from the old Schaefer Brewery) and into the new Schenectady Harbor complex next to the Casino. Yes, things pop when beer is brewed.
William S Newman started one of the first microbreweries in the State in 1981. Kathy and I met him at his Albany location about 1987 after he had pretty much closed his local brewery but Matts Brewery was bottling for him and we bought a six pack of Albany Amber Ale and a couple T shirts. Very hospitable, believe his wife was there and seemed like his other career was in accounting with NYS. He had program to teach others brewing skills. He taught Jim Koch the founder of the Boston Beer Company and the Sam Adams Brand. Also leased his equipment to same after folding in Albany. Upper Hudson Valley Beer book.
Last week I ventured down to the hole in the wall Fidens Brewery in Colonie. They are just 3 years old and not very prominent on the beer radar scene. However, they are only open a few days a week with a 12 can limit on what's available that week. They sell out. In my meager opinion I find their Safari Sunset to be comprable to the Julius that Tree House makes. These fit into the hugely trendy yellow Haze Craze hop forward Double India Pale Ale, DIPA, double the hops double the barley high alcohol New England IPAs. The grapefruity taste is not generally to my liking but some of these juicy ones are pleasant. Tree House is considered one of the top breweries in the Nation and the US leads the world now in quality microbreweries. My son and I travelled to the Tree House a few years ago to western Mass when it was just a small time barn operation. Now it's a major destination site in Springfield MA.
The Tree House growth has been phenomenal. This is their flagship but they have a few more locations now as well. It's an incredible thing happening. Just a few years back they were in a barn.
After a hard days work on the fire pit, I tried to relax with some Fidens when Schatzie felt it was play time.
Bought this bottle for $4 at an antique shop in Coxsaxie. It's an 1879 Hutchinson type beer/soda bottle. Labled R.P. Lewis & Sons Albany NY. Googled ab 1882 Albany Directory that listed the company address as 304 Hudson Avenue. So stopped by this old Dutch house for a photo op. Not too weird? Back then everyone was bottling drinks. The ginger beer was low alcohol but they gave to kids anyway. The top has a metal spring mechanism with a leather inner seal. The carbonation would keep it sealed, push down on the spring to open and drink. Hard to clean so the Hutch's went out of style.