When you think of Orange County, New York, what springs to mind?
You probably didn’t know that it is home to the oldest continuously operating distillery in the state, the nation’s oldest winery, and some of the most critically acclaimed breweries in the U.S. If you haven’t hit any of the many craft beverage spots in OCNY, there’s no time like the fall to set your GPS for the county to experience its little-known secrets.
Just 50 minutes away from Manhattan, OCNY offers an array of reel-worthy things to do between craft beverage tastings. Hit a bike trail, museum, farmers market, historic site, or dine at any of its farm-to-table restaurants—there’s plenty to discover. Did you know that the first section of the Appalachian Trail was created at Bear Mountain, or that the oldest tree in the U.S. thrives in America’s Smallest Forest in Newburgh?
Pull up a stool, grab a glass, and read on for fun facts about OCNY’s craft beverage scene that will keep you coming back for more.
10. OCNY’s Ag Roots Run Deep
Drinks culture has been part of the agricultural and cultural landscape here for centuries. Thirsty history buffs will want to head to Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery, the first licensed fruit distiller in the state since Prohibition, where they have been bottling up award-winning spirits since they opened in 1993. Stroll the orchard, pick apples in season, and sample farm-grown wine, cider, and spirits. At Brotherhood, America’s Oldest Winery, founded in 1839, a tour of the oldest underground wine cellar in the country is a don’t-miss. Follow it up in the tasting room with a flight of wine from their extensive selection.
9. OCNY Ferments (Local) Apples
In Orange County, cideries know that the best apples are grown locally. Get a taste of the bounty at the world-famous Angry Orchard Cider House and take a self-guided tour of the Innovation Cider House for a behind-the-scenes look at the process of growing and producing local cider. Family-owned Pennings Farm Cidery is equally committed to crafting terroir-driven ciders and sharing a generational, down-home farm experience. Walk the fields and orchard to catch glimpses of their ingredients in situ, then sample the fermented fruits of their labor (and other farm goodness) at the cidery or one of the on-site eateries.
8. OCNY Is Home to Critically Acclaimed Darlings
Orange County has become world-renowned for the quality of its sips. Newburgh Brewing Co. has won numerous awards, including voted best taproom in New York by the country’s most seasoned experts—the public (via RateBeer). Equilibrium Brewery in Middletown has also proved its bona fides with awards for its Pale Ales, Hazy IPAs, as well as for the brewery itself.
7. OCNY Offers Sustainable Sips
Eating and drinking local products is inherently sustainable—it helps preserve local farmland and reduces the carbon footprint of your consumption by decreasing the fossil fuel and greenhouse emissions that occur when food and beverages are shipped across the globe. Orange County’s craft producers generally take steps to ensure that they are growing and producing their products as responsibly as possible. Take the fifth-generation owned and operated Orange County Distillery, where all of the spirits are mashed, fermented, distilled, aged, and bottle on-site in Goshen. They even grow, harvest and malt their own grains!
6. OCNY Brews Up Female Leadership
Women are creating exciting changes at craft beverage houses across the country. Sip the diversity at Rushing Duck Brewing Co. in Chester where its female co-owner keeps the business running behind the scenes. And, you’ll want to sample the inventive farm brews crafted by Tin Barn Brewing’s female brewmaster, including their celebrated juicy IPAs.
5. OCNY Serves Up Innovation
Many producers here use imaginative ingredients and processes to craft beverages that make drinking them a journey in itself. Head over to Long Lot Farm Brewery to sample locally grown hops, grains, and yeast expressed in flavorful brews like Spicy Stout. Then make your way to Orchard Hill Cider Mill in New Hampton, where the team launched a series of experimental ciders, aptly dubbed “Kaizen.” These ciders explore different techniques and ingredients and are limited releases.
4. OCNY Has a Kids’ Table
For parents with kids, an obvious day out may include a visit to a cidery with a U-pick orchard. But wineries and children? This unexpected pairing works in Orange County. At City Winery Hudson Valley in Montgomery, the vineyard, winery, restaurant and event space offers live music, comedy, and events—plus kid-friendly snacks. At Christopher Jacobs Winery at Penning Vineyard in Pine Bush, there are U-pick grapes, live music, a relaxed outdoor tasting room with stellar vineyard views and plenty of space on the lawn to carve out a niche for your clan.
3. OCNY Doesn’t Want Your Dog To Stay (At Home)
Traveling with your pup is easy in Orange County. As long as he/she is on-leash and a very good boy (or girl), dogs are welcome most anywhere. Océane Vineyards and Winery in Chester welcomes well-trained dogs in and around the vineyard and orchard. Leashed dogs are also welcome at Apple Dave’s Orchard and Distillery, where you’ll both love listening to live music and walking the trails and orchards.
2. OCNY Is Open Late Night
While farm-centric craft operations often close when the cows bed down, there is a contingent that prefers to keep the party going into the wee(ish) hours. At Apex Brewery in Monroe, you can rock out until 9 pm (except Sunday, when they close at 6 pm) with live music, trivia, and food truck nights. At Big Dogs Brewery in Walden there is a rotating roster of events with live music on weekends and great beer and food trucks until 10 pm.
1. OCNY Is Your H.Q. for Craft
If you’re ready to set your GPS for OCNY, but you don’t know where to start, (and you’d also like to score discounts), make sure to download the Craft Beverage Trail Passport. (No app required!) You’ll receive special deals and earn free prizes by checking in at different locations. Get the full details here.
Go out, drink your research and report back on the Top 10 reasons you love OCNY.
Photos: Orange County Tourism
