USA, NY: Syracuse’s newest brewery Talking Cursive already open

At the new Talking Cursive Brewing Co. in downtown Syracuse, they do more than brew the beer and pour it for customers, NewYorkUpstate.com reported on March 6.

They can talk the talk.

Members of the tasting room staff at Talking Cursive are taking the online beer server course offered through the national Certified Cicerone program. (A cicerone is the beer equivalent of a sommelier for wine). That means they’ll be able to talk about such topics as beer styles, proper serving temperatures and the right glassware, along with the perfect way to pour each glass.

“We’ve been to places where the beer might be good, but the servers can’t talk about it or describe it,” said Patty Brooks, a co-owner of Talking Cursive. “That’s frustrating, and we want to avoid that."

Talking Cursive has its grand opening starting 2:30 p.m. Thursday (March 7) at 301 Erie Blvd. W., next to Cafe Kubal and across from the Niagara Mohawk Building. It’s owned by Patty Brooks, her husband Andrew (the brewer) and their business partner, Susan Kimmel.

It will be the 10th craft brewery operating in the city of Syracuse - it would have been the 11th but Sahm Brewing closed its downtown location in January. There are another eight craft breweries outside the city in Onondaga County, plus the giant Anheuser-Busch plant near Baldwinsville.

Several more are in the works, including ONCO Fermentations, which is expected to open in Tully later this month.

At Talking Cursive, Andrew Brooks’ beer list ranges from traditional styles, like an Extra Special Bitter (ESB) and a Scottish Export Ale, to more experimental brews like Mojo Riesling (an ‘oenobeer’ made with grape juice). Other upcoming beers include a light pilsner and a Rye/Pineapple IPA.

Brooks also plans to start brewing beers that will need to be aged for at least several months in oak barrels.

The tasting room will start with 15 taps, serving both its own and “guest” beers from other New York brewers, plus other New York craft beverages. Guest brews during the opening include offerings from Anything But Beer in Syracuse, Abandon Brewing in Penn Yan; Swiftwater Brewing in Rochester and the historic Congress Lager from Willow Rock Brewing in Syracuse.

Beers are served in 4-ounce, 12-ounce and 16-ounce pours, and there are tasting flights.

The brewhouse will be capable of making 7-barrel batches -- that’s about the same size as the brewhouse in the Empire Brewing Co. brewpub in nearby Armory Square.

The small kitchen serves a limited food menu -- baked potatoes, ale-braised hot dogs and bratwurst, charcuterie plates etc.

There are seats at the bar and several tables. There is one TV, but it will likely be airing broadcasts only during Syracuse University games.

After Thursday’s grand opening, hours will be 2:30 to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday; 2:30 to 10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. It’s closed Mondays.

The name Talking Cursive can mean “speaking freely and easily,” Andrew Brooks said, or perhaps “talking while tipsy.”

“Hopefully, our beer and our food and our tasting room will do the talking,” he said.

10 March, 2019