Seven Breweries to Visit in the Hudson Valley & Catskills
Lunch, a couple of beers and somewhere good to sit with friends, is there anything better?
The breweries around here are excellent, with open lawns for kids and dogs, fire pits for colder afternoons, and live music at weekends. There’s plenty of immensely good ones to choose from, but we’ve narrowed it down to just seven of our favourites.
Bring a pack of cards, order some food and settle in for a few hours.
Subversive Malting + Brewing, Catskill
96 West Bridge Street
Subversive’s beer garden is strung with fairy lights, giving it a cosy, intimate feel as the evening draws in. There’s a heated tent for colder days, burgers from the kitchen, and plenty happening through the year, from live music and sport to outdoor films. It’s a great spot to catch up with friends over food and a few beers. Well-behaved dogs are welcome outside and in the tent.
They take the brewing seriously, too. Subversive makes its own floor-malted grain, and all its beers use locally sourced grains, with local hops, fruit and herbs appearing in many of them. It’ll be your local if you’re staying at The Schoolhouse!
Suarez Family Brewery, Livingston
2278 US Route 9
Suarez is a quieter stop, with a simple taproom, an adjoining patio and a lawn. The beer is the draw here; unfiltered lagers, pale ales and mixed-fermentation beers.
You’ll need to check dates carefully though as opening hours differ. Its website will have the latest visiting information.
West Kill Brewing, West Kill and Kingston
2173 Spruceton Road, West Kill
602 Broadway, Unit 2, Kingston - entrance on Field Court
The original West Kill brewery sits five miles down a dead-end road in the Spruceton Valley, surrounded by the Catskill Mountains. Outside, there are picnic tables, fire pits and mountain views. After a day walking, it’s hard to ask for much more than a seat here and a cold beer.
West Kill Supply, its Midtown Kingston taproom, is handy if you’re spending the day in town. There’s indoor seating and an outdoor courtyard, with the brewery’s beers on tap. Check both locations’ calendars for food trucks and events.
Arrowood Farms, Accord
236 Lower Whitfield Road
Arrowood has plenty of space, picnic tables across the grounds, room for families and an outdoor stage. Concerts and festivals fill the farm during the warmer months, so it’s worth looking at the calendar before choosing a day.
The farm has a brewery and distillery, using ingredients from independent New York producers, with Eat Church running the kitchen. There are indoor tables for less reliable weather and wood fires when it gets cold.
Gardiner Brewing Company, Gardiner
699 State Route 208
In the old dairy barn behind Wright’s Farm, Gardiner Brewing Company brings together live music and beer made with homegrown barley and hops. It was founded by the fifth generation of the farming family, and the weekend afternoons feel like a local get-together.
For guests at The Blue House, it’s a good one to have nearby. It currently opens on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, with live music at weekends and leashed dogs welcome. Have a look at who’s playing before you go!
Lasting Joy Brewery, Tivoli
485 Lasher Road
Down a winding road outside Tivoli, its 31-acre property has open lawns, plenty of outdoor seating and fire pits for colder afternoons. There’s space for everyone else to spread out around a table.
The glass-walled tasting room is beautiful, with a timber roof and views across the grounds. The kitchen serves food year-round, and there are cocktails, wine, cider and alcohol-free options alongside the house beers. Dogs are welcome outside on leads, and there’s plenty of space for the kids to play.
Upper Depot Brewing Co., Hudson
708 State Street, Unit 1
Upper Depot is housed in a restored railway station on State Street, a short detour from an afternoon exploring Hudson. There’s a taproom inside and picnic tables outside, with families and dogs welcome throughout.
The calendar includes live music, trivia and seasonal events, while the taps rotate through IPAs, lagers, stouts and seasonal beers. Food is regularly available, but you’re welcome to bring your own too.
