Two Western New York breweries were announced in the top five finalists in the Taste NY Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge.
Southern Tier Brewing Company in Lakewood and Genesee Brewing Company in Rochester are two of five craft beer finalists after more than 42,000 votes cast online as part of the competition.
The brewing companies have been invited to attend the final blind tasting event in New York City on Wednesday, which coincides with American Craft Beer Week.
The event will be hosted and judged by Governor Cuomo and a panel of expert judges, including former Bills running back Thurman Thomas.
The five finalists in alphabetical order are:
- Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown, Otsego County
- Genesee Brewing Company - Rochester
- Prison City Pub and Brewery - Auburn, Cayuga County
- The Roscoe NY Beer Co. - Roscoe, Sullivan County
- Southern Tier Brewing Company - Lakewood, Chautauqua County
"New York's craft beverage industry is thriving, creating jobs and driving economic activity across the state, and the high participation in the Taste NY Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge is one more metric showing its success," Governor Cuomo said. "The Challenge is a great way to celebrate the industry's growth - more than 500 percent since 2011 - and the passion New workers feel for their local craft breweries. I look forward to joining my fellow judges in tasting some of the top beers in the state and connecting New York's world-class products to new consumers and new markets."
