The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Chatham Brewing Named Best Craft Beer Brewery In The Hudson Valley

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On April 28, Chatham Brewing LLC won the 2012 Matthew Vassar Brewers’ Cup for the Best Craft Beer Brewery in the Hudson Valley at TAP New York, the state’s largest craft beer festival and competition that is held every year at Hunter Mountain in the Catskills. Chatham Brewing LLC is located in Chatham and is the only brewery in Columbia County.
The highly coveted award recognizes the Hudson Valley’s craft beer brewery with the best overall mix of beer styles.  Over 50 breweries across the state entered the competition.  Like Chatham Brewing, all of them hand make their beer in small batches using high quality malts and hops to achieve a unique and flavorful beer that elicits a “craft brewed” status.  This careful process is preferred over the more mass produced route that uses adjuncts and fillers like corn and rice to get beer on the shelf as quickly as possible.
Jake Cunningham and Tom Crowell have been making Chatham Brew since 2007.  Like most craft brewers, they started out brewing to soothe their own palate and enjoy the camaraderie of brewing quality beer.  As they’ve grown they have developed a dedicated following.  “We are thrilled to receive this award. Chatham Brewing has a very supportive following in Columbia County, the Hudson Valley, NYC and beyond,” said Jake Cunningham, co-owner of the brewery.
The brewery, on Main Street in Chatham, is one of the most popular stops along the Hudson Berkshire Beverage Trail. The brewery offers a range of seasonal and ongoing favorites including Amber Ale, 8 Barrel Ale, Golden, IPA, Scotch Ale, OC Blonde Ale, Porter and Maple Amber. The beer is brewed fresh daily and can be purchased on Saturdays from 11 am to 5 pm in kegs ranging in size from 3 to 15.5 gallons and 64 ounce (1/2 gallon) growlers.  Later this summer, they will begin bottling some of their premium styles – a Bourbon Barrel aged Brown Ale and the Belgian Tripel in 22 ounce bottles.  Chatham Brewing will also be at many of the area’s farmers markets this summer.
For more information on Chatham Brewing, or if you have a beer emergency, call 518-697-0202.