by David Flint
Jonathan Post, aka the Beer Diviner, presided at the grand opening of his Tap Room and Market Saturday in Stephentown. Post opened just last year what he calls a nano-brewery – that’s something smaller than a micro-brewery – up in Cherry Plain on Bly Hollow Road. The brewery remains up in the woods, but Post wanted a location closer to civilization where he could market his brews.
Governor Cuomo signed legislation last year that created a farm brewery license to promote the use of local ingredients. This permits Post to sell New York State labeled beer, wine and liquor at a retail outlet. To qualify for the license, his beer has to be made with at least 20% New York State hops and other ingredients. After five years the percentage of New York State ingredients increases.
The grand opening at the crossroads of Routes 22 and 43 attracted a large crowd – Post estimates between 300 and 400 people. Many of them were not locals, but all of the food, drink and music was local or at least regional. A local bluegrass band helped provide a festive atmosphere. Three area wineries, Amorici Vineyard from Valley Falls, the Adirondack Winery from Lake George and the Helderberg Meadworks were offering free tastings of their products. The Albany Distilling Company was there also with samples of their Ironweed bourbon and rye. Representatives of the Albany Beer Crafters club were on hand to advise any who might be interested in home brewing. The hamburgers were from the Black Queen Angus Farm in Berlin. The sausages came from Climbing Tree Farm in New Lebanon. “People really liked the lamb sausage,” Post said. And of course the beer and ale was from Cherry Plain. You could try the Original Pale Ale, the Ancient Gruit Ale, Very Brown Ale, Vanilla Bourbon Porter, Getya Honey (wheat), Ancestral Red Ale, Gruit Stout or Got Your Back Oatmeal Stout.
All of these products and other local fare will be available for sale at the Taproom and Market. Post will be looking around for sources of pickles, bread and cheese. He doesn’t plan to have a regular bar at the Stephentown location. The hours for now will be 1 to 6 pm Thursday to Sunday. People can sample the food as well as the beer and wine, but it won’t be like a sit down restaurant. It will be a place where people come and have a beer or two paired with some local food, play some darts or foosball and fill up a growler of ale to take home.
Post is also offering membership in what he is calling a Community Supported Brewery (CSB), akin to the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) groups that seem to be growing in popularity. As a CSB subscriber you get monthly deliveries of discounted beer or other products, you engage in a dialogue with the brewer about beer preferences, participate in home brewing competitions and attend Beer Diviner hosted events including a summer barbecue at the Brewery. Post sees the CSB not so much as a money-making venture but more as a way to get other people involved and providing ideas and feedback to help his brewing business grow.
The Stephentown Taproom may be just the beginning. His Farm Brewery license allows him to have up to five outlets. Since his brewing equipment is relatively small – “It’s on wheels,” he said – it can be moved around from place to place. With refrigeration set up in various locations he could brew a batch at one outlet and move on to the next. He has his eye now on a spot near Hudson for a second outlet. He does not plan to do any brewing in Stephentown, however, as it’s so close to the Bly Hollow Brewery.
