NY Ranked Top Ten On List Of Best Craft Brewing States

USA Today recently ranked New York State 8th overall on its list of "Top Ten Best Craft Brew States in America."

Today Governor Cuomo is encouraging New Yorkers to "Taste NY" as a great way to experience the craft beers of over 100 craft breweries that make up the growing craft beer industry in New York State.

Some of the Unique craft breweries in Central New York include the Empire brewing Company in Syracuse, that focuses on fresh locally sourced ingredients in its brews like Empire Cream Ale, Empire Amber Ale and Empire IPA (India Pale Ale).

In Cooperstown, Brewery Ommegang brews award-winning specialized Belgian style ales that are distributed in 45 states and Sweden. Brewery Ommegang is getting special attention this year with its new Iron Throne Ale, licensed in partnership with HBO's Game of Thrones.

In Ithaca, the Ithaca Beer Company is introducing a new Outdoor Harvest Ale that will use fresh hops from the vine to create an intensely flavorful American Pale Ale this summer.

And of course there's Utica's own F.X. Matt Brewing Company, Makers of the Saranac and Utica Club brands. F.X. Matt is the nation's 8th largest craft brewery and the largest in New York State. Some of the Matt brewery's new creations include Blueberry Blonde Ale and White IPA.

Just over a century ago New York State was known as the hop growing capitol of the country. Now with the resurgence of craft brewing the Central New York region invites craft beer enthusiasts across the country to find out "What's on Tap" in a new tourism initiative launched today. The six-county Brew Central brings together tastes, traditions, and stories behind craft beer, hard cider and spirits in Central New York Visitors can begin their Central New York craft brewing journey Here.

The New York State Brewer's Association also provides a Brewer's map of New York as well as a calendar of craft beer events across NY State.