More Reasons to Love New York
One of the things I enjoy about craft beer writing is traveling around in search of a new experience. Sometimes I’m able to travel far, and other times I don’t have to leave Onondaga County. However, there’s the whole rest of the state, which has some fantastic breweries sure to guarantee a great experience worth the trip.
If that’s not possible, the next best thing is to attend a beer fest where you can meet the brewers, owners and other representatives. It’s not always easy to meet them at the same time in the same place! Luckily for us, the New York State Brewers Association is holding their annual Brewers Fest on November 19 at the Landmark Theater. To learn more, I recently talked with Paul Leone, Executive Director of the New York State Brewers Association to find out what it’s all about and what makes it so special.
Paul, what exactly is the NYSBA?
The New York State Brewers Association is the brewing industry trade association whose sole mission is to protect, educate, and promote the brewing industry in New York State.
How and when did it begin?
We were founded in 2003 after a very small group of NYS brewers got into a heated argument about market share. It was then that they decided that they had bigger fights to fight rather than fighting with each other, and the NYSBA was born. Interesting side note, the very first New York State Brewers Association was actually founded in 1888 in New York City, and died out around prohibition.
What’s your role?
I am the Executive Director of the NYSBA. My role is to run the day-to-day operation of the association, and I report to nine regional Board of Directors, who are all brewers and brewery owners. I am the only full time employee currently, but with the incredible growth of the industry, I can see us growing by a few more people.
What do you want New Yorkers to know about the NYSBA?
If New Yorkers like craft beer, job growth, solid businesses in their communities, and tourism dollars flowing into their towns, then they should know more. As the state’s trade association for craft beer, it’s our job to ensure the laws of the state continue to encourage steady and responsible growth throughout the state. The craft beer industry in NYS is a $4 billion per year economic engine and growing.
What accomplishments has the NYSBA had?
When we were founded in 2003, the main focus was to change outdated laws in the alcohol industry in a way that would encourage growth. The NYSBA has been able to do that very effectively, and by doing so, the number of breweries has increased from 40 breweries in 2003 to over 280 today. We are one of the most craft beer friendly states in the country, and the NYSBA is largely responsible for making that happen.
Tell me more about the event on November 19th. What sets this beer fest apart from others in the area?
Our New York Craft Brewers Festival in Syracuse is unique on several levels. First and foremost, it’s a showcase of all NYS breweries. Secondly, the brewers, owners or direct brewery reps pour the beer, never volunteers. That’s a big one. Early on we used to have bands at our festivals, but as it turned out, that was our number one complaint because people wanted to talk with the brewers and learn about the beer, and the loud music got in the way of that. When you go, you’ll hear people talking as much as sampling, which makes it a great night for everyone.
How many years has this event been going on?
We are in our fourth year in Syracuse and plan to stay here for the foreseeable future.
What can festival goers expect?
For this event, we chose the Landmark Theatre, which as an amazing space to say the least. We take over both floors and the stage, with over 50 NYS breweries pouring. We’ve also added a local food element where local restaurants and food vendors offer samples of their food at no extra charge, so this event is special to the Syracuse area, and now sells out ever year. VIP admission is limited to 300 tickets and VIP ticket holders will get early access and VIP beer specially elected by the brewers; this sells out quickly every year and never disappoints.
What do you like most about it?
I really love the list of breweries that attend. Every year we’ve managed to pull in breweries from every region of the state, which makes it even more special for attendees who get access to beer they can’t get in their immediate area. On top of that, the brewers bring very special beer to show off, so that makes it even more unique.
The New York Craft Brewers Festival in Syracuse is Saturday, November 19th from 5pm-8pm with VIP admission starting at 4pm. Tickets can be found online at www.newyorkcraftbeer.com or locally in Syracuse at Empire Brewing Company, the Blue Tusk, and Middle Ages Brewing Company. Cheers!
