Memorial Day weekend is when New York comes alive, backyard grills fired up from Brooklyn to Tonawanda, rooftop coolers sweating in the May heat, and the unofficial start of summer demanding something better than a big box of beer. Enter New York's staggering craft beer scene, and your long weekend just got a whole lot more interesting. Now you can order your beer online and have it delivered to your door.
Why New York Craft Beer?
With over 400 craft breweries scattered across the state, from the Hudson Valley to the shores of Lake Erie and Ontario. New York has quietly become one of the most exciting beer states in the country. And Memorial Day is the perfect moment to celebrate it.
New York's "Farm Brewery" law, passed in 2013, changed everything. It allowed brewers to operate taprooms and sell direct, transforming small farms into beer destinations. Today, you'll find pilsners brewed with Finger Lakes barley, IPAs packed with Cascade hops grown an hour north of the city, and farmhouse ales fermented with wild New York yeast. More recently, New York beers can be ordered online and shipped directly to your home.
Memorial Day isn't just a long weekend. It's an invitation to slow down, fill your glass with something made right here in New York, and raise it to the people who made that freedom possible.
6 New York Beers to Open This Weekend
Forget the 30-pack. Here are six New York brewed beers worth seeking out at your local bottle shop or taproom visit before the holiday weekend hits.
NE Hazy IPA
Spectral Mass-Underground Beer Lab
Syracuse, NY
A lush, New England Hazy IPA that's become a New York favorite. Hopped with Mosaic, Citra and Strata. Made for a backyard afternoon with family and friends.
7.0%
Czech Pilsner
Crispy Girls - Talking Cursive
Syracuse, NY
Brewed by the women of Talking Cursive, this Czech Pilsner is brewed with traditionally rustic malt base and 100% NYS Saaz hops make for a smooth, crisp beer meant for enjoying no matter the situation or season.
Blonde
Belgium Blonde Ale- Brewery Ardennes
Finger Lakes, NY
With yeasty aromas of freshly-baked bread, this easy-drinking ale has gentle flavors of white pepper and clove from traditional Belgian yeast. The golden color and medium body make this a classic ale to enjoy year-round both with food and as a stand-alone sipper. It is well paired with rich cheeses, creamy sauces and grilled meats.
5.0%
Lager
Pontoon Party- Big Alice Brewing Company
Finger Lakes, NY
This is exactly what it sounds like - a boat beer. A beer brewed with the intention to be enjoyed with good company on a warm day either out on the lake, on a beach, in the park, at a cookout, or wherever you prefer to make your favorite summer memories. The Mexican lager style is usually a lower abv lager brewed with some amount of flaked corn. It's brewed to be crisp, clean, and highly drinkable. Think Corona, Pacifico, or a favorite, Modelo. The style is great served with a wedge of lime, so we added lime puree during the brew process to give it that refreshing hint we love so much. I'm looking forward to drinking a lot of these with all of you this Summer. This one's pretty straight forward as far as sensory.
4.5%
Stout
Chasing Moonlight- Eli Fish
Batavia, NY
Smooth, velvety, and wonderfully sessionable, Chasing the Moonlight is a dessert-leaning stout that never overdoes it. Costa Rican coffee from Glen Edith Coffee Roasters brings bold layers of cacao and roast, while real Ceylon cinnamon adds a warm, subtle spice. A touch of lactose. rounds it out with a creamy sweetness, balanced by a rich base of chocolate barley and chocolate wheat from New York Craft Malt. Deep, flavorful, and perfectly balanced, it’s a stout built for both seasoned dark beer fans and curious newcomers alike.
5.9%
Sour
Rhubarb Raspberry Pie-Talking Cursive
Syracuse, NY
We took Grandma Sue’s NYS Fair Blue Ribbon winning Rhubarb Raspberry Pie recipe and turned it into a beer, graham cracker crust and all!
4.2%
Raise a Glass With Purpose
Memorial Day isn't just the kickoff to summer cookout season, it's a day of genuine remembrance. Before your first sip, take a moment to honor family and friends that have lost loved ones to military service.
Perfect Pairings for the Grill
New York craft beer isn't just for drinking straight, it transforms Memorial Day food into something worth talking about. A few matchups that work every time:
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Hazy IPA + Burgers- The tropical fruitiness cuts through beef fat beautifully. 's hazies were practically born for this moment.
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Kölsch or Pilsner + Grilled Corn & Shrimp- Crisp, clean lagers amplify delicate smoky sweetness without drowning it out.
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Ales + Smoked Brisket- Farmhouse ales have the spice and effervescence to dance alongside complex smoke.
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Stout + S'mores or Dark Chocolate- End the night right. A big stout and a bonfire are all you need.
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Sour + Potato Salad & Coleslaw- Bright, citrusy wheats are the unsung heroes of the picnic table.
Where to Find It
At your local brewery or order it online at Drink Craft New York (DCNY)
Can't make the drive? Many of these breweries ship within New York State through https://drinknycraft.com/
order a mixed case by Friday and you're set.
One Last Pour
New York's craft beer scene is one of the state's great unsung achievements, a patchwork of small, independent makers who've turned hops, grain, and water into something genuinely worth celebrating. This Memorial Day, skip the generic domestic and go local. Your taste buds will thank you. And somewhere, a New York farmer growing those Cascade hops will too.
Cheers! and thank you to all who have served.
