At roughly 13,000 residents, the City of Beacon isn’t exactly a sprawling metropolis. But as the early poster child for Hudson Valley revitalization (and later gentrification) it makes sense that Beacon would have its fair share of craft breweries. Three to be exact. Get into summer mode with these three taprooms offering craft brews and an outdoor space to sip and take in the mountainous beauty.
Two Way Brewing
Hudson Valley resident and founder of Two Way Brewing Michael O’Herron wanted his brewery to be a place where nature lovers could enjoy a craft beer with a scenic view of the mountains and river. He accomplishes this with Two-Way’s outdoor patio in front of the taproom, which is an ideal spot to hang out under a red umbrella or out in the sun with a pint, flight, or can of beer. The full service taproom, open Thursday to Sunday, is a cozy and rustic space recalling the outdoors with wood signs on tree poles that read “Trail to the Patio” and “Trail to the Bar.” Some beers on tap right now are the Two Way Climb High-PA, their flagship IPA recipe with some additions for a rounded taste, and the Two Way Devils Head Red, is a red ale brewed with roast barley for a toasted and mellow flavor. They also have a Hesperides Hard Cider made with Empire, Fuji, and Gala apples sourced from O'Herron’s family farm. All of their beers are brewed in-house in the facility right next to the taproom.
Industrial Arts Brewing
Located a bit outside downtown Beacon, Industrial Arts Brewing is housed in a large, once-abandoned factory building. It’s worth the trek, though, for the views alone. OUtside the taproom, a deck offers panoramas of the Hudson Highlands. Industrial Arts specializes in all things hoppy. In addition to their selection of limited releases and seasonal options, the brewing company has seven core beers that are always available in creatively designed and colorful cans: the Wrench Northeast IPA, Pocket Wrench Northeast pale ale, Metric Pilsner, Tools of the Trade extra pale ale, Torque Wrench double IPA, Power Tools IPA, and the Impact Wrench triple IPA. Their Farm and Philanthropy lines are created in support of causes, such as the Spring Landscape Helles Bock: a light lager with hints of honey, citrus, and mint for which 100 percent of profits go towards the Rockland Farm Alliance to connect local communities to organic food. The Yes Farms, Yes Beer is a 100-percent New York farm IPA with pineapple and lemon meringue flavors promoting local agriculture. Their State of the Art Series has small-batch experimental beers such as the Coffee Porter––brewed with Sumatra Coffee from Beacon-based Trax Coffee Roasters, and a Raspberry Lemon Lager with tart citrus notes ideal for a hot summer day. The brewery is currently under construction, and is taking to-go orders on Thursday to Sunday.
Hudson Valley Brewing
Hudson Valley Brewing’s 10,000-square-foot brewing space in downtown Beacon specializes in barrel-aged sour beers and tropical-fruit flavored IPAs, sometimes combining the two for specialty sour IPAs. Inside the brewery, one wall is stacked with barrels used for aging the beer, while more modern looking silver vats and brewing equipment dominate the area behind the bar. Bluegrass and American music plays over the loudspeakers and there is often food available from pop-up kitchens on site. Outside of the cinder block taproom, an outdoor patio with string lights offers a perfect spot to try their beers Fridays through Sundays. Some of their brews currently on offer are the Demiurge––a tiki-style sour DIPA with raw wheat, flaked and malted oat, milk sugar, blackstrap molasses, pineapple, lime puree, and almonds, and hopped with Mosaic and Azacca at $22 for a four-pack of 16-ounce cans; and the Curtains VII, a sour DIPA produced in collaboration with Veil Brewing Company and made with raw wheat, flaked and malted oat, milk sugar, pineapple, blueberry and Pinot Noir grapes, and hopped with Citra and Mosaic for $22 a four-pack. Hudson Valley Brewery is offering online-ordering with in-person pick-up Friday-Sunday, 12-5pm, and the patio is open Friday 3-10pm, Saturday 12-10pm; and Sunday 12-8pm.