We'll toast to that

PINE ISLAND — Pine Island Brewing Company was one of 117 breweries to attend the TAP New York Craft Beer festival at Hunter Mountain on April 23 and 24.
The festival is dubbed as "New York State’s largest craft beer festival" on its website and features breweries from all over New York State.
One of the most anticipated aspects of the festival for the breweries in attendance is the announcement of the breweries that win TAP New York’s medals. Breweries submit the beer that festival goers will taste throughout the weekend and the beers are judged based on their style and location.

On Saturday, the first awards were given and Pine Island Brewery had its first success story of the weekend.
The Pine Island IPA, which can be found in many of the bars and restaurants around Orange County, won the Bronze medal in the Hudson Valley’s IPA division.
“We get a lot of great feedback on the IPA in the taphouse,” owner Michael Kraai said, “but to be recognized among all of the great breweries in the Hudson Valley in the very competitive ‘IPA division’ is a fantastic feeling.”
When the day two awards were announced, the brewery received three medals for its beer:
The Pine Island Big Brown, won the bronze in the Hudson Valley’s Brown Ale division; and
The Pine Island Scottish Ale took the silver in the Hudson Valley’s Strong Ale Division and the bronze in the Strong Ale Division for the entire state.
“I am truly blown away by the response from our beer by the craft beer community here,” said Kraai, “to win four medals in our first appearance at TAPny in only our 6th month of business is hard to describe, but it’s a great boost in confidence for our little brewery.”
Pine Island Brewing Company is prepped for its first summer, with a back deck area that overlooks a Black Dirt farm and mountains off in the distance.
For more information, contact Mike Kraai at 973-396-7217 or visit online at http://pineislandbeer.com.