When we organized the Best Wineries in the Finger Lakes page, we included a Gold List of the wineries that make the very best wines in the Finger Lakes. We are not going to do that for the breweries, cideries, and distilleries here. There is such a wide variety of these drinks, infused with their creator’s personal preferences at a particular moment of time, that it is almost impossible to define such a list. People like different tastes in these drinks, at different times of the year. But, we can tell you the best places to visit, and we’ve broken out list down into helpful categories for you. Enjoy!
BEST GATEWAY BREWERIES TO THE FINGER LAKES
When you first enter the Finger Lakes to begin your vacation, why not pause and gather your thoughts with a refreshing adult beverage? Here are four breweries to help you do just that, one for each mainline entry route into the Finger Lakes region.
BEST ABOVE THE LAKE VIEWS
You came here to see the lakes supposedly, so let’s do that. Here are the breweries with the best views over the Finger Lakes.
BEST OUTDOOR HANGOUT AREAS
Sometimes, you just need to get out of the house (or hotel) and get with friends and sit in the great outdoors, especially during the fun summer and glorious fall seasons. Here’s where you can go to do that well.
BEST INDOOR SEATING
There are other times when you might want to, or need to, be enjoying a cold beer inside. Here are the best breweries with a neat inside sitting area.
BEST IN A HISTORIC SETTING
Unlike most wineries, you really can put a brewery almost anywhere. Many brewers have made the wonderful choice to reclaim older, perhaps even historic buildings of the Finger Lakes for their brewing and tasting facilities. Here is a list of the best of them.
BEST WITH IN-HOUSE FOOD OPTIONS
Want to go to a great brewery for lunch or dinner? You can – at these places!
BEST OF THE LOCAL FAVORITES
Sometimes the locals have a favorite place to hang out…often with good reason. Here is a list of breweries enjoyed by area residents, for one great reason or another.
BEST BEER TASTING VENUES
These venues aren’t really brewing any beer on their own, but they are really fun places to go drink local beers. They often have an extensive list for you to try.
