NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. (May 26, 2016) — The Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC) announced today that five craft beer and cider companies have joined the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. The new members include Westtown Brew Works, Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, Gravity Ciders, Clemson Bros. Brewery and Broken Bow Brewery.
The Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance brings together a growing base of food and beverage related businesses with a diverse membership, including business owners, farmers, manufacturers and distributors with notable experience in the food and beverage market. As a cluster initiative of HVEDC, the Food & Beverage Alliance was developed to provide a means of connecting area businesses with economic guidance and marketing resources.
“The craft beverage industry is booming in the Hudson Valley, and HVEDC is providing the accelerant for its rapid growth through networking, training, marketing and advocacy activities,” said Laurence P. Gottlieb, president and CEO of HVEDC. “These new Alliance members represent the next generation of regional entrepreneurs that are stimulating local economies with direct investment, invigorating downtown areas and collectively adding an impressive number of new jobs to the area.”
Operating as a true farm brewery, Westtown Brew Works handcrafts small batches of beer using its own naturally grown and hand-harvested hops as well as other ingredients from neighboring farms. It uses the best local ingredients to craft each beer’s style, and has developed the Farmhand Ale, Wit Tail Wheat Ale, Three Hives Brown Ale, Five Farms Seasonal Ale and the Bad Archaeology, a blend of pale and roasted malts, wheat and spices. Their “barn bar” and tasting room is open weekends with food trucks visiting regularly. Westtown also has a contract grower program designed for breweries, brew shops or brew clubs.
Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider, located in Staatsburg, produces a line of farm-based ciders that draw from the classic European cider making techniques. The company’s cidery is based at two area farms — Breezy Hill Orchard near Rhinebeck and Stone Ridge Orchard near New Paltz — where more than 100 varieties of apples are grown, including apples specifically intended for cider making. Visitors are invited to check out the tasting room or for “U-pick” in Stone Ridge. Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider is available at farmers markets, farm-to-table bars and restaurants across the Hudson Valley and in New York City.
Gravity Ciders, based in Sidney, produces the Awestruck brand of premium apple ciders. The company keeps it local by using a variety of fresh pressed New York state apples in its craft ciders, which feature new and unique flavors. Awestruck Ciders are available at select retailers in New York and New Jersey.
Middletown-based Clemson Bros. Brewery is a family-owned business whose owners have followed in the footsteps of their predecessors. Clemson’s brewers are dedicated to creating passion in very sip. They have a variety of beer ranging from the Hochmeister Brown Stout, Foundation American Pale Ale, Lola’s Blonde and Raspberry Blonde Ale, Untitled IPA, Lionheart Imperial IPA and the Jack of All Trades Cherry Wheat. They opened their tap room and full kitchen in October 2015 and recently hosted the grand opening of their beer garden in May 2016. With eight draft lines housed in their 7,500 square-foot beer garden, the brewery is expecting to premier two to three new beers by summer’s end.
Located in Tuckahoe, Broken Bow Brewery is a family-owned and operated business that specializes in craft beers to be enjoyed with family and friends. Its craft beer lineup includes a series of mainstay, seasonal and specialty beers. Favorites include the Broken Auger Lager, Broken Heart Stout, Marbledale APA, Red Ale and Barley Wine aged in rye whiskey barrels. Visitors are invited to bring in their own food, join a free tour on Saturdays at 4 p.m. or have a pint in the outdoor beer garden. Broken Bow is within walking distance from the Metro-North train station and close proximity to the Bronx River bike trail. Visit their website to search for the nearest “Broken Bow Brew…it’s not close enough.”
More information about Westtown Brew Works (westtownbrewworks.com), Breezy Hill Orchard & Cider Mill (hudsonvalleyfarmhousecider.com/), Gravity Ciders (gravityciders.com), Clemson Bros. Brewery (clemsonbrewing.com) and Broken Bow Brewery (brokenbowbrewery.com) can be found by visiting the companies’ respective websites.
Richard Coleman, hop farmer and head brewer at Westtown Brew Works: “Becoming a member of the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance will allow us the opportunity to partner with other food and beverage businesses in the region. We’re excited to be able to collaborate and pool resources to market our craft beers together with the other members of the Alliance, expanding our industry within the community and growing the economy.”
Elizabeth Seton Ryan, producer of Hudson Valley Farmhouse Cider: “We’re very excited to join the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. I think it’s a very visionary organization. They recognize that we are one of the top regions emerging as a food-craft beverage hub in the United States.”
Patti Wilcox, co-founder of Gravity Ciders: “It’s an exciting time for crafted beverages because clearly the region and the nation are embracing it. We’re excited to see what collaboration with other like-minded entrepreneurs through the Alliance will bring!”
Richard Clemson, founder of Clemson Bros. Brewery: “There is an old saying that when there are 3 generations in a family business they go from shirt sleeves, to coat and vest, and then back to shirt sleeves. In our case, we never got out of shirt sleeves. We kept right on working – my grandfather, my father, and myself. I feel there are many Hudson Valley families that are similar to ours and they’re part of what makes our communities so great.”
Kristen Stone, founding partner and head of marketing at Broken Bow Brewery: “When we were choosing a location, it was important to us to pick a place that had a small town atmosphere; a place that you could slow down, relax and enjoy a brew, even when you are close to the big city. Tuckahoe was an easy decision, but what became clear once our doors opened in 2013 – because of organizations and alliances such as this one – so was Westchester County.”
About the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance
The Hudson Valley region boasts the most vibrant and growing base of food and beverage-related businesses in the nation. Alongside many well-known industry names and successful and growing industry players, the Food & Beverage Alliance brings organizations within the food and beverage industries together, helping area businesses forge strong partnerships. The alliance provides access to economic guidance and marketing resources to businesses throughout the region.
About Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation (HVEDC)
HVEDC is the leading economic development agency for the seven-county region of Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties. The public-private partnership markets the region as a prime business location to corporate executives, site selection consultants and real estate brokers. HVEDC helped start the organizational, branding and promotional effort for NY BioHud Valley, Hudson Valley 3D Printing, Hudson Valley EDs & MEDs, Hudson Valley PLAY and the Hudson Valley Food & Beverage Alliance. To learn more, call 845-220-2244 or visit hvedc.com.
