During a recent visit to NYC, we got beyond Central Park in fall and headed upstate. Westchester County might be one of the richest regions in the US, but don’t let the GDP discourage you. There’s plenty of low-budget, beer-heavy fun to be had here.
Fall colors and a Sound of Music-esque landscape at Bear Mountain
First, Apples
We started the day off with a visit to Thompson’s Cider Mill in Croton-on-Hudson. The place is family owned – it’s actually in the family’s backyard and their dog runs up to greet approaching cars. The place is storybook cute, and it had a bottle of wine, batches of cider and apples out for sampling. It is pricey however; this is New York. A ½ gallon of cider and a half dozen apples set me back $10.
335 Blinn Road
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Take a hike
Next, was Anthony’s Nose. The peak, which confusingly shared a name with the friend who was showing us around, overlooks Bear Mountain and east side of the Hudson River. There’s no parking lot, so we, like a dozen other cars, parked alongside the busy road. See the website for directions. After scrambling up the steep, half mile trail to the summit, we were treated to a goregous — if windy – view of the fall foliage.
Oktoberfest
After breaking a sweat on the hike, I needed a beer. Fortunately, we were only a five minute ride away from Bear Mountain Inn and its annual Oktoberfest. The German celebration spans the entire month of October. Admission was free, but parking cost $7. Perched in the mountain and in the background of sweeping fields, the complex had an epic, Sound of Music feel to it. I would have been tempted to break into song had the whole place not been swarming with what New Yorkers call Bridge and Tunnel people.
This was no place for a snob, however. The main entertainment was a cheesy Polka band. Vendors lined the walkway selling stuffed animals, plastic jewelry, used laserdiscs and amazingly, $2 bottles of spices. The line for food wound through half the complex. We skipped that and headed straight for the beer. It was a decent – if a bit watery – brew. A 12oz cup – choose between the three classic German styles, lager, oktoberfest and hefeweizen, cost $5. Mental note: next time bring giant beer stein for $7 refills.
Bear Mountain Inn
Bear Mountain, New York 10911
Peekskill Brewing is a popular Westchester gastropub
And more beer
The Oktoberfest ended at 6pm. Even though the kegs were tapped and the band packed up, we weren’t ready to head back to the city yet. Our final stop was Peekskill Brewery. Having just gotten a write up in the New York Times the restaurant was jammed and a third of the beers had sold out. We sat at the bar – the wait for a table in the diningroom topped an hour — and had pints of their brew. I particularly enjoyed the “Hop Common” and my friend like “Yeah! Peaches.” However, the malty “Wee Heavy,” was too, well, heavy for my tastes.
55 Hudson Ave
Peekskill, NY 10566-2025
(914) 734-2337
Apples and Oktoberfests in Westchester County
During a recent visit to NYC, we got beyond Central Park in fall and headed upstate. Westchester County might be one of the richest regions in the US, but don’t let the GDP discourage you. There’s plenty of low-budget, beer-heavy fun to be had here.
Fall colors and a Sound of Music-esque landscape at Bear Mountain
First, Apples
We started the day off with a visit to Thompson’s Cider Mill in Croton-on-Hudson. The place is family owned – it’s actually in the family’s backyard and their dog runs up to greet approaching cars. The place is storybook cute, and it had a bottle of wine, batches of cider and apples out for sampling. It is pricey however; this is New York. A ½ gallon of cider and a half dozen apples set me back $10.
335 Blinn Road
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520
Take a hike
Next, was Anthony’s Nose. The peak, which confusingly shared a name with the friend who was showing us around, overlooks Bear Mountain and east side of the Hudson River. There’s no parking lot, so we, like a dozen other cars, parked alongside the busy road. See the website for directions. After scrambling up the steep, half mile trail to the summit, we were treated to a goregous — if windy – view of the fall foliage.
Oktoberfest
After breaking a sweat on the hike, I needed a beer. Fortunately, we were only a five minute ride away from Bear Mountain Inn and its annual Oktoberfest. The German celebration spans the entire month of October. Admission was free, but parking cost $7. Perched in the mountain and in the background of sweeping fields, the complex had an epic, Sound of Music feel to it. I would have been tempted to break into song had the whole place not been swarming with what New Yorkers call Bridge and Tunnel people.
This was no place for a snob, however. The main entertainment was a cheesy Polka band. Vendors lined the walkway selling stuffed animals, plastic jewelry, used laserdiscs and amazingly, $2 bottles of spices. The line for food wound through half the complex. We skipped that and headed straight for the beer. It was a decent – if a bit watery – brew. A 12oz cup – choose between the three classic German styles, lager, oktoberfest and hefeweizen, cost $5. Mental note: next time bring giant beer stein for $7 refills.
Bear Mountain Inn
Bear Mountain, New York 10911
Peekskill Brewing is a popular Westchester gastropub
And more beer
The Oktoberfest ended at 6pm. Even though the kegs were tapped and the band packed up, we weren’t ready to head back to the city yet. Our final stop was Peekskill Brewery. Having just gotten a write up in the New York Times the restaurant was jammed and a third of the beers had sold out. We sat at the bar – the wait for a table in the diningroom topped an hour — and had pints of their brew. I particularly enjoyed the “Hop Common” and my friend like “Yeah! Peaches.” However, the malty “Wee Heavy,” was too, well, heavy for my tastes.
55 Hudson Ave
Peekskill, NY 10566-2025
(914) 734-2337
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