ARGYLE BREWING COMPANY

United States Brewpubs,

Enjoying their brews track-side. - Picture of Argyle Brewing Company, Cambridge - Tripadvisor

CAMBRIDGE, NEW YORK

A red brick railroad depot houses ARGYLE BREWING COMPANY in the village of Cambridge at the southeast edge of the Adirondacks. A New York farm brewery utilizing locally sourced ingredients, Argyle opened its nearby Greenwich location three years before embarking on this second taproom pub in May 2017.

A distinct 2,000 square-foot, gavel roofed main space with uniquely spiraled panel wood walls, hardwood floors and gorgeous chandelier give the railway tavern a cavernous Cathedral-like setting. A covered wood-column beer garden with community benches doubles the capacity of the friendly residential neighborhood watering hole.

The slate-topped bar serves a few proprietary draughts. A lanterned couch area adds a homey feel and the small backstage suits musical entertainment. Heritage-bound photos and pix line the walls.

On a snowy afternoon in January ’23, my wife and I enjoyed two pints while grabbing a few cans for the road to Cooperstown (reviewed in Beer Index).

Mild lemon-spiced Cute Little Blonde picked up salty Williamette-hopped herbage and wispy florality to buttress its spritzy summery sessionability (mix with lemonade to make a mellow shandy).

Bittersweetly tart raspberry-pureed dark cocoa richness commanded Argyle Raspberry Porter, leaving a maple walnut glaze upon its tertiary blackberry, boysenberry and strawberry snips.

ROOTS BREWING COMPANY

United States Brewpubs,

Roots Brewing Company in Oneonta - Restaurant reviewsONEONTA, NEW YORK

Cozily quaint cafe-styled brewpub lets its ‘family-friendly atmosphere reflect the relaxed, convivial attitude’ of downtown Oneonta. Though ROOTS BREWING COMPANY only crafts a few homebrews on-site, their eighty-plus bottle and can lineup and handful of guest draughts will please varied thirsts.

A neat li’l homey red brick brewhouse with elongated left side bar, community tables, a few pews, olden wood chairs and five rear brew tanks, Root’s stylishly eclectic antiquity gets reinforced by its lavender-hued columns and scattered abstract paintings. Snacks, pizza and tacos are available alongside snazzy cocktail specials.

There’s only one homebrew on my January ’23 sojourn, but it’s a true delight.

Retaining a rummy dried fruit spicing and dewy fungi musk, Roots Inconceivable Tripel let its mild caramel creaming sweeten its raisin-plum-date conflux, subtle butternut squash nuttiness and wispy floral perfuming as oaken vanilla tannins surfaced latently.

NORTHERN BARRELL

BEER PUB,

Northern Barrell - Home

VOORHEESVILLE, NEW YORK

In the small suburban village of Voorheesville just outside of Albany, NORTHERN BARRELL was established in 2021.  A family-owned, family-friendly restaurant specializing in craft beer and cider, the amiable yellow vinyl-sided warehouse pub is situated right inside a residential neighborhood.

Northern Barrell’s bulbed front deck features rocking chairs plus general seating and its white overhead doors lead to the high ceiling interior where the right side concrete-topped 10-stool bar with plank wood siding offers twelve draughts and a rear stone hearth provides warmth. Several wood tables fill the left side and a small mezzanine sported an olden bicycle, milk jugs and antique chair. There are four TV’s above the bar for sports fans. A casual-to-upscale food menu betters most brewpub fare.

My wife and I spent an hour at Northern Barrell in January ’23 to consume three previously untried brews including Torch & Crown Tenant Pilsner, Modist Forbidden Canyons Imperial IPA and Prairie Seasick Crocoldile Sour (reviewed in Beer Index).

FOUNDERS CBS IMPERIAL STOUT (2019)

Beers A-Z,

On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, lusciously rich Canadian breakfast stout (2019 version) aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels for three years reaches steadfastly rich mocha resonance. Maple syruping drapes dark chocolate, caramel latte, cappuccino and milk-sugared coffee pleasantries as subtle bourbon vanilla sweetness erupts. Velvety ‘imperialized Breakfast Stout’ perfect for luscious nightcap.

Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS) (2019) - Founders Brewing Co. - Untappd

FIRESTONE WALKER XXVI ANNIVERSARY ALE

Beers A-Z,

On tap at Kitchen & Beer Bar, sumptuous 26th anniversary strong ale combines fudgy milk chocolatey caramel molasses saucing with plentiful vanilla creaming and silken bourbon-cognac sedation. Milk-sugared coffee tones enrich the backload alongside toasted coconut, black cherry, blackberry, dried fig and currant illusions. Leathery oaken tannins provide mild dryness against resonating caramelized chocolate sweetness. Recommended for fireplace nightcap.

Firestone 26 (XXVI) Anniversary Ale - Firestone Walker Brewing Company - Untappd