It has become part of our traditions, since age 23, that my best friend and I flock to the Finger Lakes of New York, at least once a year. Our first visit, which we tagged along with her experienced parents, concluded with a laughable crock of stories, and a fine case plus more of fine wines that I cannot typically find in my local state shops.
Last year, however, we planned two trips, because I suppose it seems that age 25 has just been a hard one, and we get giddy sharing our trips to upstate New York with new wine trail trekkers. Back in November, we packed up our traveling boots and invited my cousins to a mid-week excursion, with the first-stop of the whole journey being at Ithaca Beer Company in Ithaca, New York.
While it seems that the Finger Lakes continue to add more and more microbreweries to their handcrafted scene, I was long overdue in my beer-obsessed ways to wonder into Ithaca's tasting room. And honestly, after being in the car for four plus hours, a stop at any brew hub is appropriately in order.
A fanatic over IBC's Groundbreak and other mid-year seasonals, I knew that a winter trip would allow me to try, at the least, a few new concoctions. Like many new female beer drinkers, back when I was diving head first into the world of hopped sensations, I flocked toward fruity brews, including the Apricot Wheat. Of course, my drinking sessions have since become more and more complex, but I believe I will always be fond of that Ithaca beer.
Ithaca Beer Company was indeed an alluring adventure to jumpstart our girls' trip, and if you have yet to swing by their HQ, plan your trek, ASAP. More information on the brewery may be found at ithacabeer.com.
