New York state has formed the first-ever NY
Craft Brewer Workgroup, which will put forth
recommendations on ways to continue spurring
the rapid expansion of the state’s craft beer sector.
The work group, which is a direct result of the
second Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit,
will consist of representatives from the craft
beverage industry, higher education and research
institutions, the agricultural sector and state
government.
“New York’s craft beer industry has seen tremendous
growth in the past four years – and we
plan to keep the momentum going,” Gov. Andrew
Cuomo said.
“By bringing together leaders from
industry, academia and the public sector, we can
make sure that the Empire State becomes an even
better place to brew and promote world-class
beverages. That’s what I’ve charged this work
group with doing, and I am confident that they
will play a large role in continuing to cultivate a
vibrant environment for the craft beer industry.”
The group will help coordinate and improve
communication between all segments of the craft
brew industry and state government. Members
will also work together to identify emerging
needs, including research on new varieties of hops
and barley, production methods and consumer
trends; as well as making sure that the state
has the infrastructure in place for this growing
industry, said the governor.
The work group will also continue where the
summit left off by reviewing areas of potential
regulatory reform and guiding the continued
development of Empire State Development’s
One Stop Shop, which is designed to provide New
York’s beverage producers with a single point
of government contact for assistance regarding
regulations, licensing, state incentives, and any
other questions or issues facing the industry,
officials said.
Members will assist in the development and/or
direction of promotional and marketing programs
such as Taste NY, Pride of New York and Trails to
promote New York agriculture, while exploring
grant opportunities potentially beneficial to the
industry.
Members of the group, which will be led by
the Commissioner of the State Department of
Agriculture and Markets, include:
• Gary C. Bergstrom, Ph.D., professor, Department
of Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
at Cornell University
• Jimmy Carbone, host, Beer Sessions Radio
• Larry Fisher, president, Northeast Hop Alliance
• Steve Hindy, co-founder, Brooklyn Brewery
• David Katleski, founder of Empire Brewing Company and president of the NYS Brewers Association
• Paul Leone, executive director, NYS Brewers
Association
• Natalie Mattrazzo, co-owner, the FarmHouse
Brewery
• Steven Miller, Cornell hop specialist
• June Russell, manager of farm inspections
and strategic development at Greenmarket,
GrowNYC
• Gregg Stacy, vice president, director of marketing
and sales at Brown’s Brewing Co.
• Bill Verbeten, regional extension agronomist,
Cornell Cooperative Extension
• Justin Whipple, owner of Whipple Brothers
Farms
Representatives from the State Liquor Authority
and Empire State Development will also
participate.
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A.
Ball said, the “farm-based beverage summits
laid the groundwork for unprecedented growth
within the industry, and this workgroup will take
this one step further. Gov. Cuomo has brought
together some of the best and brightest minds
within the industry to examine challenges and
develop working solutions. It’s an exciting time to
be part of New York agriculture and the boom in
the craft brewing industry is a major reason why.”
In July 2012, Cuomo signed legislation creating
a farm brewery license to promote the use of local
ingredients in craft beers. Since that law took
effect in January 2013, 48 new farm breweries
have opened up across the state. Like farm wineries,
farm breweries craft “New York” beer with
specific levels of locally grown ingredients, gradually
increasing from 20 percent to 90 percent by
2024. Farm breweries enjoy similar privileges to
farm wineries, including the ability to operate
up to five off-site retail outlets, open restaurants,
conduct tastings and sell related products that
may include souvenirs, food to complement beer
tastings and equipment and supplies.
State officials said New York microbreweries
continue to experience unprecedented growth.
The Empire State is now home to 100 microbreweries,
a 150 percent increase from 2011.
Additionally, the number of restaurant brewers
has increased from 10 in 2011 to 26 today, which
amounts to a 160 percent increase.
Currently there are approximately 225 acres
of hops planted in New York State, of which 150
acres will be harvested this year–amounting to
over 100,000 pounds of hops.
For more information about New York’s growing
beer, wine, spirits and cider industries, visit
the One Stop Shop and www.taste.ny.gov.