Sipping Beer in the Finger Lakes Region: There's More in Rochester, New York Than Just Wine

Rochester New York's "Finger Lakes" region is quite popular for its wine. In fact, wine tasting in the Finger Lakes is -- I have learned - an age-old, mega-popular activity for anyone who knows wine or wants to act like they do: and in the Finger Lakes region it's one that sees hundreds of local residents hop from one winery to the next, sampling the local Bordeaux and probably getting more and more tipsy in the process.

But the Finger Lakes region is also about BEER and the micro-breweries that produce it. Beer doesn't have to be wine's bastard cousin. The Finger Lakes region boasts several micro-breweries and they are worth visiting. I know -- because I've checked them out during my stay!

A few words for un-initiated: we all know that breweries make beer. Goodbeer.com explains that a microbrewery is a relatively small brewery which produces up to 15,000 U.S. barrels, or 465,000 gallons, per year. If there is a restaurant component the operation would be called a brewpub, not a microbrewery. Regional breweries are larger in size and produce from 15,001 to 1,000,000 barrels.

Just so you know, Ales and lagers - the product of the typical micro brewery differ ONLY by the yeast strain (or family) used to ferment the beer. Both ales and lagers can be pale or black. Furthermore, either can be light or strong, hoppy or not, flat or highly-carbonated, warm or ice-cold. Goodbeer.com explains that ale brewers employ Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast and the beer ferments quickly (in about a week), while lager brewers use Saccharomyces uvarum yeast. Lagers take longer to ferment (about four weeks) and require cooler temperatures to do so. Trust me - this will be important information to know when you are stumbling around trying to act like you know what you're talking about. And if you can pronounce either "Saccharomyces cerevisiae" or "Saccharomyces uvarum" after five or six lagers, than you are a better man than me.

But back to the tour: for starters, how about Custom Brewcrafters' Taphouse (93 Paper Mill Street, Honeoye, NY, tel: (585) 624-4386, www.custombrewcrafters.com). Located in the picturesque village of Honeoye Falls, just 20 minutes south of Rochester off Route 65, Custom BrewCrafters offers a little something for everyone You can take a free tour on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, and you can hunker down in their "tasting room" also. I recommend trying the Double Dark Cream Porter: lots of malt sweetness with a hint of mocha. Free tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 PM. Private tours are available on weekdays by appointment.

Next up is the Wagner Brewing Company (9322 Route 414 [on the Eastern shore of Cayuga Lake], Lodi, NY, tel: (607) 582-6450, www.wagnerbrewing.com). The WBC sometimes gets overshadowed by Wagner's vineyards and winery's, but trust me -- check out this brewery and enjoy Wagner's India Pale Ale, Sled Dog Dopplebrock and Dockside Amber Lager -- all staples of the region (and can be purchased directly from the brewery). According to the website, Wagner Brewing Company is unique by adhering to the "Reinheitsgebot of 1516", a German Purity Law that states: "...Only the finest Malt, Hops, Yeast and Water can be used in the production of beer...".

The Wagner Brewing Company also hosts a pub night every Friday evening. Food, beer and music in an outdoor setting. Heck, it's almost enough to keep me from going back to Italy (but not quite).

As long as your down on Cayuga Lake, you might as well check out the Ithaca Brewing Company (606 Elmira Rd, Ithaca, NY, tel: (607) 273-0766, www.ithacabeer.com). It is one of the "new kids in town" having opened in 1998. The IBC's most famous brew may well be the CascaZilla - a brew that is heavy on the hops and with a strong taste. Everyone who visits the brewery on Frdiays gets a "Growler Club" card.

Check out www.beerblog.com for more information on these and other Rochester breweries.

My personal recommendation is also one that has to do with safety. If you want to enjoy a brewery hop then take an organized tour and leave the driving to someone else. Check out fingerlakeswinetours.com, fingerlakes.org and fingerlakescentral.com for some good links on tours and bus service.