Southern Tier Brewing Company
TRP visited the Southern Tier Brewing Company in August of 2012 on our way out of New York. STBC located in the small town of Lakewood, NY, but is a big brewery doing big things. They have eight well crafted year round beers not to mention the and steady stream of big flavor limited edition and seasonal bombers. After several stages of expansion they are currently producing about 50,000 barrels of beer a year but are still growing. When we visited they were adding an new wing to the already sizable facility.
The Empty Pint, Southern Tier’s brew pub, is open Thursday thru Sunday and it a great place to relax and grab a beer. Maria and I showed up on a Saturday morning about 15 minutes before the brew pub opened at noon and there was already a line of people waiting to get in. It is quite a happening place as we observed a steady stream of beer patrons filling the ample indoor and outdoor seating areas. We posted up in our usual spot at the bar and were able to try quite a few of the 14 beer beers on tap before deciding on what pints to get. I ordered a delicious 2xIPA that had a wonderful earthy bitterness while Maria went with the Porter that I was a little jealous of with it’s deep roasted flavor notes. In addition to the stellar draft selection The Empty Pint boast a good bottles list with featured beer from other breweries, both foreign and domestic.
We grabbed a hickory smoked pulled pork sandwich from the small menu in the tasting room which also includes “soups, snacks, and non-alcoholic beverages”. The interior of the tasting room gives the feeling of modern log cabin with wood panels and a large vaulted ceiling. The outdoor patio is half paved and half lawn with a country side atmosphere, the perfect place to enjoy an beer on a sunny afternoon. A small stage is situated 10 feet from the paved patio for live music.
Tours were going as we were drinking but we decided not to partake this time around. Tours are only on Saturdays at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm. On our way out we loaded up on beer with a couple of mix and match six packs and some bombers (Pumking and JahVa Stout).
I wasn’t sure what to expect form Southern Tier on our way there but I left thoroughly impressed with the facility, brand, atmosphere, and definitely the beer.
