This month, we're excited to spotlight Underground Beer Lab (UBL), a standout in New York's craft beer scene. They opened their doors in East Syracuse, NY in 2021, and since then, UBL has quickly garnered attention for its experimental brewing techniques and award-winning beers.
Their History: From Basement Brewing to Award-Winning Beers
UBL's journey began in 2017 when friends Brian Berry and Kevin Taylor, both passionate homebrewers, sought to create the beers they loved but couldn't find locally in Central NY. After attending a Craft Brewers Retreat, the two rented a commercial space and got to work on experimenting and refining their craft.
Their venture took an exciting turn when they were introduced by a mutual friend to Keith Lindner, a professional brewer with years of commercial brewing experience. This powerful collaboration led to the trio teaming up to officially launch Underground Beer Lab in 2021.
Read the Full UBL Story
Award-Winning Beers: Recognized Excellence
Since launching in 2021, UBL has been quick to earn award-winning beer status. Six months after their official launch, they took home top honors at the New York State Craft Beer Competition for their hazy IPAs and pale ales, and earned statewide recognition.
Every year since, UBL has impressively shown up on the winners list of this annual competition which highlights and promotes the best of the best in New York State. See their extensive list of award-winning beers since opening:
2025 New York State Craft Beer Competition
- Gold Medal: Mild Return in the Brown Ale category
- Gold Medal: Particle in the Hazy Pale Ale category
- Silver Medal: Vast Expanse in the Hazy Pale Ale category
2024 New York State Craft Beer Competition
- Gold Medal: Variable in the Hazy IPA category
- Silver Medal: Spectral Mass in the Hazy IPA category
- Bronze Medal: Particle in the Hazy Pale Ale category
2023 New York State Craft Beer Competition
- Bronze Medal: Defies Logic in the Hazy Pale Ale category
- Bronze Medal: Topology in the Hazy DIPA category
2022 New York State Craft Beer Competition
- Bronze Medal: Sublime Abstractions in the Light Lagers - Modern & Contemporary category
2021 New York State Craft Beer Competition
- Silver Medal: Defies Logic in the Hazy Pale Ale category
- Bronze Medal: Collectivity I Farmhouse IPA in the American IPA Variations category
Where to Find UBL Beers
- You can visit Underground Beer Lab at 7000 Airways Park Drive, Suite D, East Syracuse, NY 13057.
They are open to the public on Thursday from 4-7pm, Friday from 3-7pm and Saturday from 12-7pm. They also offer trivia 6-8pm on the first Thursday of every month.
- Outside of their brewery, they have a small network of distribution partners in and around Syracuse, NY. See the full list of places you can find UBL
- Drink NY Craft is also proud to ship Underground Beer Lab directly to your door.
“Our focus has always been on brewing the freshest Hazy IPAs and Pale Ales in Central New York. Drink NY Craft handles the logistics and customer experience of our online sales, getting our beer delivered fresh to fans across New York — so we can stay in the lab working on our next experiment.”
- Brian Berry, Founding Partner, Underground Beer Lab
What's Next for UBL
UBL has plans to expand soon, with a new location tripling its brewing capacity and offering an expanded taproom experience.
Keep an eye on their socials for the latest info! They can on Thursdays/Fridays and release fresh beer every week.
Try UBL Now
- Shop UBL beer now and get it delivered right to your door!
- Purchase the limited-release UBL beer bundle featuring some of their award-winning beers.
Cheers to this incredible brewery making waves in the NY craft beer scene!
