Raise a glass

FLORIDA — Glenmere Brewing Company owners Mike and Shanna Sandor brought home some hardware from the 2018 Taste NY Governor’s Cup Craft Beer Competition recently:
Two gold medals and one silver to be exact.
Glenmere Brewing took home the gold for both Wicked Witch in the Fruit and Spice Beer competition and for Box’d Smok’d Porter in the Porter (non-imperial) category.
Black Meadow Bog was awarded the silver in the Porter, Stout and Brown Ale beer category.
Overall, Glenmere Brewing Company has won four gold medals, two silver and one bronze in the two years of its existence.
New York State craft brewers are invited to bring their artistry, dedication, science and passion to the state competition to celebrate excellence in craft beer and vie for top positions within the 24 style categories.
This year’s competition saw 420 New York State breweries representing 642 beer entries, with a total of 72 medals awarded. Glenmere Brewing earned a spot in the top seven of the most medals won.
Keeping it localThe Sandors pride themselves on using locally grown ingredients in their beer.
“There is a real movement here in the Hudson Valley of local growers and producers … and we’re always thankful to be a part of it and to use ingredients in our beers that hail from our neighbors,” said Mike Sandor, co-owner and brew master. “Whether it’s a flagship, a limited release or a seasonal batch, you can count on most of the malt and hops we use to be grown right here in this fertile valley.”
In fact, Glenmere beers often use malts from Black Dirt Malt in Pine Island and hops from Pennings Farm in Warwick.
“Mike takes it beyond the expected customary ingredients used in brewing and has added honey from Warwick beekeepers’ Sweet Things Wild Thyme Honey and juniper berries found along the shores of our namesake, Glenmere Lake, right here in Florida,” said Shanna Sandor, co-owner and manager.
New offerings, nearby sourcesThe Sandors recently received a farm brewery license, allowing them to offer products by-the-glass made by other producers. These include hard ciders produced by Pennings Farm Cidery and wine by the glass from Christopher Jacobs Winery in Pine Bush.
In addition, Glenmere will now be serving spirits produced by licensed farm distilleries.
And, of course, there is the beer. Glenmere beers are available by the pint and in growlers-to-go.
Essentials There is musical entertainment on weekends, including the Sunday Bluegrass Sessions which go through the fall.
Glenmere Brewing Company is located at 55 Maple Ave., in the Village of Florida.
For more about Glenmere Brewing Company, including the lineup of live music, special events and festivals where Glenmere beer is available, go to glenmerebrewingco.com or find them on Facebook.