Over the last several years, craft beer has burst on the scene in Upstate New York, and now there are more than enough Syracuse breweries to keep you busy for a long time, including some of the best Finger Lakes breweries that you’ll find in the region.
Having had a chance to scratch the surface of the city’s beer scene, I came away impressed with the few spots I was able to check out and anxious to come back and experience even more on my next visit to Syracuse.
Here are 10 incredible breweries in Syracuse and Onondaga County, that I’ve had a chance to try so far.
Buried Acorn Brewing Company
Buried Acorn Brewing Company is located on the northern side of Syracuse, not far from Destiny USA and Onondaga Lake. While it would be easy to drive right past their small tasting room, this is definitely a spot that those looking for the best Syracuse breweries won’t want to miss.
Buried Acorn is best known for its barrel-aged sour beers and farmhouse ales, though they have a nice variety of styles that should tempt everyone’s pallet. In fact, even as someone who doesn’t particularly enjoy sour beers, I quite enjoyed the beers I had a chance to sample here.
That being said, I can appreciate a good sour beer in moderation, which was perfect with the sampler I got at Buried Acorn. So, even if you don’t think you like sours, make sure to try a small taster while visiting.
Heritage Hill Brewhouse
Heritage Hill Brewhouse is located in a rural part of the southeastern suburbs of Syracuse. Because they are atop a hillside, there are great views of downtown Syracuse from both their outdoor area as well as from inside their taproom.
Heritage Hill is known for both their delicious beers as well as its great food. During my visits, I’ve had a chance to try four different beers, all of which were very solid, including great IPAs, stouts, and hefeweizens.
For those with kids, there’s even a nice play space in the outdoor area, making this a great spot for parents to grab a beer and bite to eat.
However, even if you don’t have kids, this spot is definitely worth the 20-minute drive from downtown Syracuse to visit, especially since it’s right around the corner from the beautiful Pratts Falls.
Red Hawk Brewing
Take a short drive southwest of downtown Syracuse and you’ll find Red Hawk Brewing. Set along a quiet rural road and located within a red barn-type structure, this is definitely among the most unique breweries in Onondaga County.
Red Hawk Brewing is unique among the region’s breweries because they focus on Old World and Belgian-style Ales, all of which are aged for at least six months. This means that you’ll find some very unique flavors here that are different from all of the other breweries near Syracuse.
All four of the beers that I had here were a bit on the tart side, but they were all quite delicious. Standouts for me were the Maple Bouchon and the Bavarian Dobbelbock.
If you want to try something different and delicious, this brewery is definitely worth a short drive out of the city to experience.
Willow Rock Brewing Company
Located a short drive from downtown Syracuse is Willow Rock Brewing Company. Opened in 2015, Willow Rock offers some incredibly delicious beers, as well as one of the most popular beer brands in the city’s history: Congress Beer.
Their tasting room is located in an industrial area just south of Syracuse University’s Skytop campus. Inside, there is a small tasting room that’s sectioned off, but most of the rest of the building is split between the brewing equipment and a large open room filled with picnic tables and ping pong tables.
Willow Rock features some incredibly inventive beers (though most are can-only), as well as a steady lineup of flagship and limited-release beers on draft. During my visit, I was able to try four different beers, including a few great options like the Kakaw Fruit Beer and the New North New England IPA.
Willow Rock is also responsible for bringing back one of the most iconic Syracuse breweries: Congress Beer. While this is a lighter beer that reminded me of Yuengling, lovers of that style will be sure to enjoy it.
Talking Cursive Brewing Company
Talking Cursive Brewing Company is located in the heart of downtown Syracuse, just across the street from the iconic Niagara Mohawk Building and near the popular Onondaga Creekwalk.
Talking Cursive features a small, but stylish tasting room that opened in early 2019. Despite being new during my visit, Talking Cursive features some fantastic beers, both with solid standard beers and some unique brews.
Probably my favorite beer was the Majo Riesling Pale Ale, an Italian grape ale that was both delicious and incredibly unique.
Skaneateles Brewery
Located just outside of the charming town of Skaneateles, you’ll find Skaneateles Brewery.
During my visit, I had a chance to try several of the nearly one dozen beers and ciders on draft. My favorites were Tiger by the Tail Pale Ale (which was brewed with prickly pear) and Anchors Away Imperial IPA.
I also loved the great amount of outdoor seating here, which was perfect for the nice summer day that I visited.
It’s worth noting that Skaneateles Brewery shares a space with Last Shot Distillery, which I unfortunately didn’t have a chance to try during my visit. However, for those in your party who like cocktails and liquor, this is a great combination.
Middle Ages Brewing
Middle Ages Brewing is one of the oldest breweries in New York, having opened its doors in 1995 at the start of the craft beer revolution.
Their tasting room, which opened in 2017, draws inspiration from their name with a bit of a castle and Medival feel. While the Medival touches aren’t overwhelming, they add a unique touch to the brewery that gives it, in my opinion, a fun feel.
As for the beers, Middle Ages Brewing has a ton of different brews on tap (nearly 20 when I visited). This ensures that you will almost certainly be able to find a beer that you enjoy.
During my visit, the Pineapple Milkshake IPA and the Strawberry Milkshake IPA were the standouts of the ones I was able to sample.
Stout Beard Brewing Company
Stout Beard Brewing Company is located in Liverpool, just north of downtown Syracuse and along the shores of Onondaga Lake. They offer a nice selection of beers. with over a dozen different beers on draft when I visited.
Despite the brewery’s name, Stout Beard doesn’t have an abundance of stouts. In fact, when I visited, there was just one on draft. Instead, they have a really nice selection of beers, including some very tasty IPAs. However, the stout that I was able to try, the Maurice Triple Chocolate Stout, was very tasty.
Stout Beard also features “The Original Pickle Beer,” called the Bill Pickle Ale. Brewed with pickling spices, this ale is definitely one of the most unique beers I’ve tried in all of New York.
Eastwood Brewing Company
Eastwood Brewing Company, the second oldest brewery in Syracuse, might have the smallest tasting room of any brewery in Syracuse with just a few small tables. However, they definitely offer some tasty craft beers that are worth trying.
During my visit, they had eight beers on draft, of which I had a chance to try five. The clear favorites for me were the Robust Porter and the GTPM Wheat (which was brewed with green tea, peach, and mango).
The setting of this brewery is unique because it’s a bit hidden in a warehouse and has a very garage-like feel, with a lot of Syracuse orange throughout the space. As stated above, the seating area is quite limited here, which is something to keep in mind if you are visiting on a busy day.
Hot House Brewing
I’ve visited some pretty unique settings over the years in the pursuit of great craft beer, but Hot House Brewing is the only one I’ve ever visited that was located in a greenhouse.
That’s right, Hot House Brewing can be found inside Barone Gardens in Cicero, NY. Here, you’ll have a chance to try some craft beer while being surrounded by beautiful plants and home decor. This is definitely a uniquely beautiful spot to drink beer, and you’ll want to save some time to explore this fun store.
During my visit, I had a chance to try four different beers on draft. The highlights for me were the Samsquash Spiced Ale (brewed with buttermilk squash, which I usually don’t like) and the Neepah Creek New England IPA.
For food, I got a delicious Turkey Club Panini. Make sure to upgrade to the tots as they are very good.
Do you have a favorite Syracuse brewery we should try on our next visit? Let us know in the comments below.
Looking for more things to do nearby? Check out the best breweries in nearby Cooperstown, the Erie Canal Museum, Skaneateles Lake Sightseeing Cruises, and the world’s only green-over-red stoplight.
There are also many great breweries in Lake Placid and Rochester, NY breweries to check out if you love craft beer.
Eastwood in Brewery in East Syracuse is another good one. A great pumpkin beer in the fall.
Bullfinch! It’s won several awards for its unique beers.