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Southern Tier Life // ISSUE 06
Seneca Lake Brewery Tour on the Eastern side of Seneca Lake. Instead of the Chef picking my meal, I simply asked what beer I should sample at each stop. Marisa was by my side sampling her own picks as well. by Bob Thomas
The Finger Lakes is home to one of the best Wine Regions in the USA. Visiting the wineries is something my wife Marisa and I make time for at least once a month. We were missing another great reason to tour the Lakes, the breweries. This month’s edition of Chef’s Best is not about the food, it is about some of the best beer you can drink,
Prior to our adventure, we did the responsible thing. We found a driver. I can not stress this enough. Those 4 or 5 ounce beer samples add up. By our count, almost 100 ounces of beer was consumed in the research for this feature. Find a designated driver, or do what we did. We hired a driver to drive our car. Free plug to our friends at MainStreetDrivers.com. We have used their services a couple of times. The process is simple, log onto the website, click on the Make a Reservation link and fill out a form with your trip info. You will be contacted with availability and pricing. The driver shows up, drives your car and brings you back. You and your car are safe and sound at home when the trip is over. Now, back to the tour. We
decided to start at the farthest point from our home, and work our way back. Wagner Valley Brewing Company is a short 15 mile drive from Watkins Glen up the eastern side of Seneca Lake. The parking lot at Wagner seems to always be full, but don’t let that deter you from stopping. The tasting room features a dozen tap lines, and the first recommended beer for a tasting flight was the Trippelbock. Just two days before our visit this Bavarian-style lager was designated the “Best Strong Ale (Non-Belgian) in New York State at the New York State Craft Beer Competition.
The flight of four was rounded out with Wagner’s Dockside Vienna Lager, the Seneca Sol and their Sled Dog Doppleback. This selection really did have something for every-
