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Growth in New York State's Brewing Industry Expected to Continue in 2018

WAER's Matt Mitchell

Recent changes in state law have brought incredible growth to New York State’s brewing industry, with even more brewery openings on tap in 2018.

Brewing veteran Pete Kirkgasser owns one local beneficiary of this brewing law overhaul. Priding itself as a neighborhood favorite centered around friendly conversation, his Eastwood Brewing Company celebrated its four-year anniversary on Saturday.

In Auburn, Prison City Pub & Brewery’s award-winning beer has translated into a swell of business. Since their 2014 opening, co-owner Marc Schulz has seen his brewpub’s reputation grow from being a popular Cayuga County restaurant to a nationally-renowned brewery.

Credit WAER's Matt Mitchell
The menu board at Prison City Pub and Brewery in Auburn.

By the end of next year, New York State is expected to surpass 500 breweries statewide, up from just 50 in 2011.  Much of the credit for this growth belongs to Governor Andrew Cuomo, whose repeal of Prohibition-era legal restrictions opened the floodgates for new craft breweries throughout the state, with the allowance of on premise pint sales by microbreweries particularly impactful. With off-premise distribution no longer a requirement for long-term success, this helped roll out the barrel for the state’s smallest-scale beer producers.

Even as a non-brewer, Tom Ierardi is also reaping the benefits of the state’s craft beer boom. The owner of Finger Lakes on Tap in Skaneateles, he’s made it his business to support and promote the best local breweries through his bar’s 62 taps, which serve beers from as many as 30 different New York breweries.

As new breweries continue to open every month, the craft beer industry’s success will rely on converting New York’s beer drinkers from macro brewery giants to local craft beers. And with craft beer still representing just a tiny fraction of total beer sales, they’ll all get their chance… one pint, mug, stein and growler at a time.