Central New York brewers, distillers, publicans and vintners offer the state’s best craft beverages on par with any of the United States’ finest pints.
American connoisseurs support thousands of breweries coast to coast, the most since the 1870s. You’re invited to experience the craft renaissance brewing in Central New York, a place where the stories, traditions and tastes behind craft beer, hard cider, wine and spirits collide like nowhere else in the country.
Whether tipping a farm-to-glass beer at a brewpub, sampling some moonshine or enjoying a sip of hard cider or wine, you’ll be a part of something special in Brew Central, an initiative from the Central New York Travel Region.
Just over 125 years ago, Central New York growers made the 12-county region the hop capital of the country. The fertile soils of Brew Central produced 90 percent of the nation’s hops in the late 1800s and the state was the No. 1 beer producer in the U.S. for decades.
The resurgence of that agricultural production and cultural tradition now increasingly contributes to New York state’s booming craft beer scene. Many of the new class of cultivators raise crops in Brew Central, making a Central New York beverage tour an experience from the ground up.
Brew Central is a place where you can tour one of the country’s oldest breweries where they’ve been making suds since 1853, then stop next door for a drink on the site where they drew the water to make it more than 150 years ago in urban Utica.
Visit Syracuse, where originators of the New York state craft movement, festivals and eclectic pubs combine to give it a fast-growing reputation as a great beer city. Binghamton’s locally sourced and world-class beers make this Central New York city a brew destination in its own right. Great pints and good times punctuate the miles and miles picturesque countryside here that include charming villages and towns like Cazenovia and Cooperstown.
Whatever beverages make your mouth water, America’s Craft Brew Destination has got you covered. Brew Central also proudly hosts some of the best vineyards in a state well known for premium wines.
Enjoy exploring Brew Central’s ever-growing constellation of unique breweries, craft-centric pubs, cideries, distilleries and wineries and planning your trip on this site.
Trace a beverage trail using our Brewfinder and craft your own brew road trip. When you travel to America’s Craft Brew Destination, you can touch the ingredients, taste the finished product and even talk to the artisans who make it happen.
