Despite being the most incredible beer city in the country, every once in a while a brief change in scenery can be nice. Walking the streets of Philadelphia in the fall is always great, but you can’t really beat a beautiful fall weekend in Upstate New York. It may not be able to compete on a beer level, but the Cooperstown area of Upstate New York definitely has plenty to offer and a gorgeous country atmosphere to go with it. Just imagine sitting outside on the edge of a lake, an abundance of trees alive with a vast array of autumn colors, birds chirping, no sounds of traffic or over population, and the best part cooler filled with cans of Butternuts Pork Slap Pale Ale. That is what a beer weekend in Upstate New York is like. Having spent a majority of my childhood growing up in the Cooperstown area, I know a good bit on the happenings of the area and can attest to the beauty of the town. This is a beer travel article though, so enough about the landscape and onto the best part of the area; the breweries. Within twenty minutes of downtown Cooperstown there are three unique and completely different breweries. This area is the hometown to the legendary Brewery Ommegang, one of the original craft canners in Butternuts Brewery, and a local favorite, Cooperstown Brewing Company. Not bad for an area where the cow to human population ratio favors the cows. You really can’t find three brewers that are so different either. So no matter what kind of fellow beer lover accompanies you on your trip, there is bound to be a beer to keep them happy.
Known for brewing some of the best Belgian styled ales in the country, Ommegang has definitely reached legendary status in the American craft beer scene. They are also located in the middle of nowhere, on a back road hidden in a big field which leaves little distractions to the brewing process. They however, are not the most hidden of the breweries. In order to reach Butternuts Brewery, you are going to have to endure a true trip through the country. You will definitely realize that you are no longer in Philadelphia as you drive down one of the many dirt roads necessary to reach your destination. That destination is a big white barn which owner Chuck Williamson converted from an old dairy farm to become home to his new brewery. Found in a much more central location, Cooperstown Brewing Company is a simple, classic style brewery that focuses more on the session style beers. They also are only available in New York and a little of Massachusetts, so a trip Upstate is almost necessary if you want to give their baseball themed brews a try.
Aside from the lush scenery and great local breweries, Cooperstown is also home to the Baseball Hall of Fame, as well as a number of other historical museums. Located on the main road to Cooperstown is also a local winery, Beer Pond Wines. Being that unfortunately we can’t just drink beer for all our meals, the area is also home to some quality places to eat. Brooks House of BBQ is known worldwide for its BBQ chicken. It’s been featured multiple times on Food Network and is a favorite amongst the locals and tourists. The line will probably be out the door, but it goes quick and is well worth the wait. Undercover Eggplant, a true local favorite, is probably the best spot for lunch in the state, let alone the Cooperstown area. Serving up a variety of hearty sandwiches on homemade bread, I never make a trip Upstate without stopping by for a muffaleta. As far as lodging goes, thanks to the Hall of Fame and the many baseball camps, the area is loaded with hotels now, but for a true feel of Upstate living, there are lots of locals who rent out little cottages that make the stay all the more genuine.
Good beer, good country living, and good food: you really can’t go wrong with a weekend stay in the hills of Upstate New York. Come October and November, pack up your fishing poles and a few heavy sweatshirts and take the short four-hour trip to Cooperstown. It’s the perfect time to go, the tourist rush is over and the leaves are turning. Start the day with a Muffaleta and end it with a bottle of Ommegang’s Three Philosophers under the stars, it’s a trip you’ll definitely take again.
