x
Breaking News
More () »

Looking for craft brewers in New York? Here's the full, searchable list

Cuomo announced the number of farm-based craft beverage manufacturers in New York has grown by 150 percent since 2012
Credit: wgrz
New legislation could mean big savings for small brewers.

ALBANY -- The number of farm-based craft beverage manufacturers in New York continues to soar -- with 433 new ones all across the state since 2012.

The growth has been extraordinary: a 150 percent increase since 2012, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Thursday.

"New York's craft beverage industry is booming,” Cuomo said in a statement. “By cutting red tape to industry development, we have seen significant growth in the number of manufacturers supporting our local farms and spurring job creation across the Empire State.”

DATABASE: Check the local farm breweries in your area

There are now 715 farm wineries, distilleries, cideries and breweries in New York.

That includes 72 farm-based craft beverage manufactures in the Southern Tier, 106 in the Mid-Hudson Valley, and 149 in the Finger Lakes region.

New York now also has 42 farm cideries, 123 farm distilleries, 202 farm breweries and 348 farm wineries.

The industry, fueled by consumer interest in home-grown alcohol, has benefitted in New York from loosened regulations and new incentives.

New York ranks fourth in the nation for the number of wineries; third for the number of breweries; second for the number of craft distilleries and first in the U.S. for the number of hard-cider producers, the state said.

In 2012, a state law exempted small breweries from paying an annual state liquor authority fee.

Beer from Here: Growing beer industry leads to farming boom

READ: Booze in movie theaters? Lawmakers say no

Also, the creation of the farm brewery license allowed craft brewers that use products that are grown in New York to hold tastings, sell farm-produced beverages by the glass or bottle from their tasting rooms and open gift shops.

In 2016, changes to the state’s Alcoholic Beverage Control laws helped to ease other regulations, reduce the amount of paperwork for craft manufacturers and lower fees for craft beverage sales people.

The impact has led to a boom in farming, a report by the USA Today Network in New York found in August.

The state's Farm Brewery Law, which requires at least 20 percent of New York-grown ingredients to get state incentives, has fueled a surge in farm breweries themselves: from 45 in 2014 to 202 this year.

"It is incredible to see the explosion of craft beverage manufacturing across New York State,” said Richard Ball, state agriculture commissioner, in a statement.

“With every new brewery, winery, cidery and distillery, producers are supporting new jobs, tourism and growth in the agricultural sector.”

Before You Leave, Check This Out