E-Malt.com News article: USA, NY: Erie Canal Brewing Co. is waiting for a license from the New York state to be able to open

The Erie Canal Brewing Company is soon to be opened in Canastota, The Oneida Daily Dispatch reported on August, 16.

The brewery will be farm-based, meaning that at some point, 100 percent of the ingredients used to make the brew will be sourced locally.

One of the owners, Sam Lanzafame, spoke at a dedication ceremony on Canal Street for new murals along the Erie Canal Trail. In addition to Canastota being the home of the best sausage, the best doughnuts and the best candles, Canastota will soon be home to the best beer, said Lanzafame.

The owners Sam Lanzafame and Jason Tedford, who is also the brewmaster, said the brewery is simply waiting on a license from New York state, but could not speculate on when it would come.

Ideally, they would like to be open within the next few weeks.

Once open, the brewery will concentrate on producing a pale ale.

Recently, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo encouraged New Yorkers to “Taste NY” as a great way to experience the craft beers of over 100 breweries that make up the ever growing craft beer industry in New York. The New York State Brewers Association provides a user-friendly brewers map of New York and a list of breweries as well as a calendar of craft beer events. USA Today recently ranked New York 8th on its “Top Ten Best Craft Brew States in America” list.

Locally, breweries such as Good Nature Brewing in Hamilton produces a line of specialty ales bottled locally and brewed with locally grown ingredients.

Just over a century ago, greater Binghamton, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Otsego and Schoharie counties represented the hop capital of the country. Brew Central puts the region back on the map with a growing constellation of more than 30 breweries, pubs, cideries, distilleries and wineries.


21 August, 2013