The finger lakes region of central New York is known for its wineries, but one brewery has managed to sneak a foothold next to a sister winery.

Let me introduce you to the Wagner Valley Brewing Company.

It’s nestled on the central eastern coast of Seneca Lake — a 37-mile long oasis for boaters and watersports fans, and the index finger of the handful of finger lakes. While somewhat out of the way, the drive up there certainly makes a sitriking impression; lots of long vistas of lakeside fun.

Beerwise, Wagner Valley is hit and miss. Their lighter fare (pilsner, amber ale and wheat) were somewhat weak, and the heavier beers (stout, IPA and dopplebock) were worthy of a full pint.

The $1 “tasting” consisted of standing near their z-shaped bar and trying 1 ounce tastes of seven beers. With the Seneca wine festival happening this weekend, it felt like our tasting was moderated by a brewery intern who regaled us with dubious stories of significant events in beer history and questionable translations of German brewing
terminology. If anything, the tasting served as a way to figure put which pint you want to buy.

Here, Darcy is holding a pilsner and keeping watch over my IPA.

Darcy and I have and made the trek to Elmira, NY to see her family, eat and drink furious amounts, and hang out by the pool.

Persuant to the drinking furiously part, we rolled into Wegman’s for a 12-pack of local treats. Southern Tier Brewing Co., out of Lakewood, NY, has a mixed pack that has a some spunky offerings. These two here are our first beers of the trip.

The Extraordinary Ale is a pleasantly hoppy pale that seems to hail from the Pacific northwest (centennial hops?). Flavorful, but not so heavy that you can’t enjoy it by the pool. The Hop Sun summer wheat is also treating us well. For a wheat ale, it doesn’t taste all that different than the other ale, which is not an unpleasant thing. It’s a bit lighter bodied, but strongly hopped, and equally drinkable.

Pardon me while I get a refill!

Darcy and I are meeting her siblings at The Albert for dinner tonight, and I’m torn about my beer order. The draft list is un-inspi(red) — 420 is their most interesting tap handle — so what’s a man to do?

I’m following my shirt’s advice and drinking cheap. 24 ounces of fizzy yellow street cred for $4.

Thank you Pabst for being there when I need you.

Big Mark and I were at the Brick Store last night, trying one of the offerings for the “11 Days of Kegs” here.

The offering: Sweetwater’s “Road Trip”, served dry-hopped and un-filtered.

Yeah.

Looking at it, this beer resembles a mimosa served in the wrong glass more than a beer. To smell it, you’d swear that someone was mowing a lawn nearby (wet, grassy and vegetal). To drink it, you’d have to like burning astringency.

Mark didn’t care for it either. Had it not been called out as a commercial beer, it struck me as a problematic homebrew.

As much as I like the gang at Sweetwater, and have enjoyed their experimetal brews, this one probably should never have left the brewery.

Narita airport. NWA Lounge. Sapporo from the magic beer machine. Flight home to Atlanta in 60 minutes.

It’s all good, and only getting better.

Sayonara from Tokyo!