Located in the Finger Lakes Region of New York, and the Southern tip of Cayuga Lake is the town of Ithaca and the home of today’s “Travel Brews”. While not right in downtown, Ithaca Beer Company is just outside of the downtown area and is home to some really great beer.
The Beer
Going into this I had a little prior experience with Ithaca beer. Flower Power, after all was what launched my obsession for the India pale ale style of beer. If you are a fan of hops, you will be sure to find something you like here. Going into this, I was still pretty in love with Flower Power, but after tasting “Amarillo By Morning”, I felt like my love affair with IPA had been reinvented. here is just a small sampling of the beers that Ithaca has to offer.
- Flower Power – This beer started my whole obsession for craft brewed IPA’s. Before this beer touched my taste buds, I had a strong dislike for all things hoppy, But thanks to this beer, my palette expanded immensely.
- Excelsior! Anniversary Sixteen – This felt very much like a dry red wine to me, it had very much a “damp” taste to it, very reminiscent of a wine cellar.
- Cascazilla – This American Red Ale was pretty standard fair as darker beers are concerned. It was a pretty delicious brew, but one thing I found intriguing was that it smelled like new carpet, actually quite like a carpet warehouse, not thats a bad thing. I think new carpet smells good.
- Amarillo By Morning – This was the winner of the day for me. It started off with a beautiful hoppy nose, then a beautiful mix of hops and citrus that delighted my taste buds. Before this, Flower Power was my favorite Ithaca brew, but that… Well that’s all changed now. I have found love anew.
- Shamrock Stout – If IPA’s are my new and exciting lover, then stouts must be my wife. Always there for me, good to me, rarely letting me down. This stout is no exception. Beautiful chocolate notes with a hint of smokey flavor. Like a leprechaun dancing on my taste buds.
The Atmosphere
Upon entering, you were immediately greeted by the presence of beer. Cases could be seen neatly stacked in one area, and beyond that, you could steal a glimpse of the immense brewery floor, so much magic happens there, wonderful hoppy magic. The first thing that struck me was the smell of the place, a beautiful mash-up of delicious food, and all the ingredients of a good brew. Emalee and I sat down at the bar and began to pour over the draft list before us. So many choices for beer, and a simple small selection of food on the flip side. I immediately spied “BBQ pulled pork sandwich”. Sold! Everything in the tasting room had a very modern and industrial feel to it. It felt very clean too, which can never be a bad thing in a place that serves food and brews beer.
The staff was young and friendly, and seemed to have a passion for beer about them. They were quick to chat us up about their favorite beers, and weren’t afraid to make a recommendation which I alway find interesting to listen to and see where other beer drinkers tastes fall compared to mine. It is so much more of an enjoyable adventure when you are drinking beer that is new to you, in the company of people who enjoy beer beyond the major brand names like you would find in a typical barroom.
The Verdict
While the Ithaca Beer Company tasting room itself is certainly worthy of a visit, the fun little town of Ithaca, and all of the surrounding Finger Lakes region has to offer makes for a great weekend trip. We made a few hour side trip into town and walked along its streets and visited several little shops along the way. It made for a great low key Sunday adventure.
The beer was great, the food excellent, and the people pleasant making Ithaca Beer Company a definite stop for any hop-loving beer enthusiast. Cheers!
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