Buffalo
To experienced brewery travelers Buffalo may not be underrated. However, to brewery newbs Buffalo can sometimes fall to the side when planning a beer trip. NYC, Philly, DC are easy to get to. Just cruise up or down I95 and you are in brewery heaven. Even Pittsburgh is a quick shot across the state. Buffalo is tucked away in the western part of New York and isn't "on the way" to anywhere except Niagara Falls! For that reason I feel Buffalo gets forgotten.
But why is Buffalo a great brewery destination? They have just as many breweries (per capita) as any of the big cities...maybe more? This blue collar city boasts some high quality breweries such as Thin Man, Froth, Pressure Drop, and Belt Line. The famed Other Half even has a location! And those breweries are just the tip of the iceberg. Buffalo has countless breweries offering delicious beers in that authentic brewery setting we all love.
What else makes Buffalo a great beer destination? Most breweries are centrally located which allows for walking to each brewery. There's convenient downtown lodging and easily navigation around a city this size. Don't sleep on Buffalo!
Lancaster
As a local of Pennsylvania, Lancaster is not underrated. In fact we have enjoyed two separate brewery trips to Lancaster. This very small city has some big beer offerings. Over a dozen breweries fill out the map in Lancaster and even more just outside of town. Actually, the whole southeast corner of PA is a brewery lover's dream. That's a separate article though!
Lancaster is centrally located from Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and many other populated areas and being a small town is easy to get around. The downtown area has some great breweries all within walking distance like Our Town, Columbia Kettle Works, and the famed Lancaster Brewing. Spring House has a taproom there as well but I'd suggest heading a tad outside of town and visit the main brewery taproom as well as Cartel Brewing. Go to Lancaster...one of the original brewery destinations in the Mid Atlantic!
Rochester NY
Rochester NY is another under appreciated brewery destination that's often overlooked. Much like Buffalo, Rochester is out of the way unless you are actually going to Buffalo or Canada. The greater Rochester area has an impressive amount of breweries for its size. Visit the suburbs of this small town and you will discover even more.
Looking for some beer history? Head on over to the Genesee Brewery and read up on the brewing process and the rich past of brewing in the region. Genny is more than just that cream ale! Some other great must stops are Fifth Frame, Rochester, Swiftwater, and Rohrbach.....plus many more!
Rehoboth Beach Area
Not many beach towns can be considered brewery destinations but if you're looking to combine summer beach getaway and some breweries then you should head to the great Rehoboth Beach area. This is home to a brewery you may have heard of.....Dogfish. With a taproom in town and the main brewery a short drive away there's no reason to pass up this opportunity. Just south you will find one of our personal favorites Dewey Beer Co. You can either visit the original small brewpub or, like Dogfish, head just out of town for their brand new locale. Dewey Beer does every style to perfection (almost). And if you are like us you will want to stay in the more low key beach town of Dewey. Hate the beach but the kids don't? Walk to Dewey Beer Co while the family gets sunburn on the beach.
So are there any more breweries? Yes! Crooked Hammock and their beach themed brewery is a MUST go to for not only the atmosphere but the beer AND food. Big Oyster and Thompson Island are also some great choices.
Frederick MD
Frederick MD is much like Lancaster...a very small city vibe with BIG brewery fun. Frederick is home to the regional favorite Flying Dog, however, they have still yet to reopen their brewery since Covid.
So what? There's too many local breweries to eat up your time. This small town even has a few breweries along their Riverwalk. Stop by Idiom, Attaboy, Smoketown, and Steinhardt that are within a block or two on this Riverwalk.
Beer related but not really beer related is the restaurant scene in downtown Frederick. PLENTY of beer friendly restaurants are centrally located that offer local beers. You may not even have to visit a brewery to get all the beer. But where's the fun in that? But Brewer's Alley Brewing and Olde Mother Brewing are downtown too soft least stop there!
Baltimore
Baltimore sometimes gets a bad beer rep since they are between Philly and D.C. A few years ago I would have agreed with you. However, in recent years they have really stepped up their game. Unfortunately, the downtown area has only a few options like Oliver Brewing @ The Pratt Street Ale House. If you want great breweries then you are going to have to visit the individual neighborhoods of Baltimore. One of the newest and BEST breweries is Ministry of Brewing. They took over a massive cathedral in the Fells Point area. Diamondback, Checkerspot, Suspended and Mobtown are also some amazing choices. Go to the suburb of Columbia MD and visit Sapwood Cellars. With their AMAZING hazy ipas, stouts, and hand crafted traditional styles you won't be disappointed. Guinness even has a MASSIVE brewing complex outside of Baltimore!
Finger Lakes
For years the Finger Lakes region of NY has been associated with wine. No more! Beer has become king in the Finger Lakes. Every Finger Lake has great brewery options but Seneca and Cayuga Lakes take the cake. Do a loop around either and you won't be disappointed. One of our favorites breweries EVER (Tin Barn) has just opened up a second location on Seneca Lake.
Halfway between the Finger Lakes and Rochester is Other Half Brewing and Mortalis Brewing. So perhaps combine both these underrated areas into one trip?
Farm breweries are a major part of the Finger Lakes. Nowhere else will you find these views, rolling hills, and overall atmosphere. Want a laid back brewery trip? Then go to the Finger Lakes.
Harrisburg/Hershey Area
This central PA region has quite a few breweries. Hershey is home to the famous Troegs Brewery that has become a mecca for brewery lovers. Their massive taproom and brewery tour is a must see if visiting the area. But from Harrisburg to Philly the small local breweries are almost unending. A heavy concentration exists between Harrisburg and Hershey though. Downtown Harrisburg has some great stops like Boneshire, Appalachian, Zeroday, and the vegan brewery The Vegetable Hunter. Many MANY more exist just outside of town as well like Wolf, Hemauer, and Liquid Noise.
We are also fans of historic hotels and the Hotel Hershey with their art-deco 5 star hotel sit across the street from Troegs. That's a no brainer!
Not on this list is York PA that is just below Harrisburg. The small town of York boasts several small breweries as well as many on the way to York from Harrisburg.
With Lancaster being a short drive away and Philly not far from there you could spend a whole month in the Southeastern corner of PA.
The Hudson Valley Area
The last place on the list is the entirety of the Hudson Vally area. From Lake George to NYC breweries dot the landscape. Not just a few....MANY fill up the map. Not "meh" breweries either....great breweries. Albany, Poughkeepsie, Newburgh all have breweries worth visiting. Almost every town along the Hudson River has a great brewery. The water from the Hudson must have some magical brewing powers because the breweries are simply amazing.
I envision taking several WEEKS to see each brewery along the Hudson. So make sure to visit Hudson Valley Brewing, Rare Form, Fort Orange, Zeus, and Peekskill among many many many many others.
Hope you enjoyed this list of the most underrated brewery destinations in the Mid Atlantic region. Feel free to send us questions and comments!
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