Why the Finger Lakes for Beer
The Finger Lakes are a wine region first — more than 100 wineries line the lake shores. But over the past decade, a brewery scene has grown alongside the vineyards, driven in part by New York’s Farm Brewery Law, which passed in 2012 and gives licensing and distribution advantages to breweries that use New York-grown ingredients. The law requires farm breweries to source an increasing percentage of their hops and grains from New York State farms, and the result is beer that tastes like the region — not just brewed here, but grown here. Hop farms now line the ridgelines between the lakes, and local maltsters process barley grown in the surrounding counties.
There are now more than 30 breweries within the Finger Lakes region. This 3-day itinerary covers 15 of the best, organized geographically so you are not backtracking. The route moves from Ithaca (Day 1) through the Seneca Lake corridor (Day 2) to Keuka Lake and the western Finger Lakes (Day 3).
Practical Notes Before You Go
Designated Driver Strategy
This itinerary involves drinking beer at multiple locations each day. You need a sober driver. Rotate the designated driver role across 3 days if your group allows. Most breweries offer sodas, coffee, or NA beer for the driver. Alternatively, hire a tour service ($75 to $150 per person per day, not including beer) or stay within walking distance of brewery clusters in Ithaca or Watkins Glen.
Tasting Logistics
Most Finger Lakes breweries serve 4-ounce tasting flights of four to six beers for $8 to $15. If you are hitting four or five breweries in a day, flights beat pints. Eat before you start, eat between stops, and drink water. Every brewery on this list either serves food, hosts food trucks, or sits close to a restaurant.
Most drives between stops are 10 to 30 minutes. The longest single drive is about 45 minutes (Seneca Lake to Canandaigua on Day 3). Total daily drive time: roughly 60 to 90 minutes.
Day 1: Ithaca and the Southern Finger Lakes
Ithaca is a college town of about 32,000 people with a food and drink scene that punches above its weight. The brewery density here fills a full day without driving more than 10 minutes between stops.
Ithaca Beer Co.
606 Elmira Road, Ithaca. The flagship Finger Lakes brewery, distributing across New York State. A large taproom and production facility with a full-service kitchen, outdoor patio, and beer garden. Their Flower Power IPA — a West Coast-style IPA with citrus-and-pine hops — has been a regional benchmark since 2004. The Apricot Wheat is a sessionable, fruit-forward ale for summer afternoons. The taproom pours limited-release beers not available elsewhere. Kitchen serves burgers, sandwiches, and shareable plates. Open daily, typically 11 a.m. to 9 or 10 p.m.
Liquid State Brewing Co.
620 West Green Street, Ithaca (walkable from the Commons). A compact, industrial-chic taproom with concrete floors and rotating art. Focuses on small-batch rotating releases — hazy IPAs, sours, stouts, seasonal one-offs. The tap list changes frequently, rewarding repeat visits. Their hazy IPAs tend to be well-balanced, avoiding the cloying sweetness that lesser versions fall into. No kitchen; food trucks rotate outside, and downtown restaurants are a 5-minute walk. Open Wednesday through Sunday.
Bandwagon Brew Pub
114 North Cayuga Street, Ithaca (on the Commons). A two-story brewpub on the pedestrian mall with an upstairs bar overlooking the street. Brews a rotating lineup of accessible styles — cream ales, amber ales, IPAs, seasonal specialties. The beers are well-executed without chasing trends, making this a good stop for less adventurous drinkers who want something familiar done right. Full pub menu with pizza, sandwiches, and appetizers. Open daily.
Lucky Hare Brewing
7289 Route 414, Hector (between Seneca and Cayuga Lakes, 25 minutes north of Ithaca). A small farm brewery in a renovated red barn on the ridge between the two largest Finger Lakes. The taproom is rustic, with a patio facing farmland. Lucky Hare specializes in Belgian-inspired and farmhouse ales — saisons, tripels, barrel-aged sours. The yeast-driven flavors (clove, banana, pepper, funk) give these beers complexity that rewards slow drinking. They also brew solid lagers and pale ales for straightforward palates. Limited snacks; eat before you arrive. Open Thursday through Sunday in season.
Day 1 logistics: Start at Ithaca Beer Co. around noon. Walk between Liquid State and Bandwagon downtown (10 minutes apart on foot). End at Lucky Hare in Hector, then stay in Watkins Glen (20 minutes south). For more on Ithaca, see our guide on whether Ithaca is worth visiting.
Day 2: The Seneca Lake Corridor
The brewery scene along Seneca Lake’s shores has grown rapidly alongside the wine trail. This day runs south to north, from Watkins Glen to Geneva.
Two Goats Brewing
5027 Route 414, Hector (just north of Watkins Glen, east side). A casual, no-pretension brewery with a large outdoor area that feels like a friend’s backyard. Brews approachable, session-friendly ales — clean pale ales and ambers. No kitchen; food trucks on summer weekends. The village of Watkins Glen is a short drive south for restaurants. Open daily in season.
Rooster Fish Brewing
101-103 North Franklin Street, Watkins Glen (walkable from downtown lodging). A Main Street brewpub with a bar, dining area, and occasional live music. Straightforward ales and lagers: IPAs, stouts, brown ales, seasonals. The Tripple Play Tripel (Belgian-style strong ale) and rotating stouts are the standouts. Full pub menu — burgers, wings, sandwiches with generous portions. Open daily.
Grist Iron Brewing Company
4880 Route 414, Burdett (10 minutes north of Watkins Glen). A renovated barn on a working farm with a spacious taproom, outdoor seating, and views stretching south toward the lake. A farm brewery committed to New York-grown ingredients. The hop-forward ales use Finger Lakes hops and have a fresh, green character. The Overcast IPA — hazy, juicy, moderate ABV — is the standout. Full kitchen with wood-fired pizza, charcuterie, and seasonal plates that are better than you expect at a farm brewery. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Wagner Valley Brewing Company
9322 Route 414, Lodi (east side, shares the Wagner Vineyards property). A brewery within a winery complex — taproom alongside the wine tasting room, shared deck overlooking vineyards and lake. The Sled Dog Doppelbock is a malty, warming German-style lager that stands out in a region of ales. The co-location makes this ideal for mixed groups of wine and beer drinkers. The Ginny Lee Cafe on the property serves lunch with lake views. Open daily in season.
War Horse Brewing Company
6543 Route 14, Geneva (at the Three Brothers Wineries complex, south of Geneva). Part of a sprawling property that also includes three wineries and a cidery. War Horse brews malt-driven traditional styles — amber ales, ESBs, porters, seasonals. The Riesling Ale, brewed with Finger Lakes grape juice, is a novelty that actually works — a light, tart ale bridging wine and beer. Brick-oven pizza kitchen on-site. Open daily in season.
Day 2 logistics: Start in Watkins Glen with Two Goats and Rooster Fish (both walkable from lodging). Lunch at Grist Iron — the kitchen is strong enough to anchor the day’s meal. Continue to Wagner Valley, then finish at War Horse near Geneva. Total drive time: about 50 minutes. Dinner in Geneva — see where to eat in Geneva. For the broader area, see things to do in Watkins Glen.
Day 3: Keuka Lake and the Western Finger Lakes
Day 3 moves west from Seneca Lake to Keuka Lake and Canandaigua, finishing at the western edge of the Finger Lakes.
Steuben Brewing Company
8164 Pleasant Valley Road, Hammondsport (southern tip of Keuka Lake). A small-scale brewery with a compact, friendly taproom that feels like a neighborhood bar. Focuses on clean, traditional styles — pilsners, amber ales, brown ales. The Hammondsport Lager is the flagship: crisp, clean, unpretentious. Hammondsport restaurants are within walking distance. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Climbing Bines Hop Farm and Craft Ale Company
511 Lerch Road, Penn Yan (20 minutes north of Hammondsport). A working hop farm with a taproom in a renovated barn. The hop yard is visible from the patio — in late summer, the bines climb 18-foot trellises, and you can see the crop that goes into your beer. This is the closest you get to a true farm-to-glass experience in the Finger Lakes. Climbing Bines grows multiple hop varieties on-site and brews with them fresh (wet-hop ales in harvest season) and dried. The IPAs have an herbal, earthy freshness that commercial hops do not deliver. The Climb On IPA and seasonal wet-hop ales are the standouts. Flights about $8. Limited snacks. Open Friday through Sunday.
Abandon Brewing Company
2994 Merritt Hill Road, Penn Yan (10 minutes from Climbing Bines). A hilltop farm brewery with a timber-frame taproom and panoramic countryside views. Fire pits for cool evenings. Brews a diverse range — IPAs, stouts, sours, farmhouse ales — with a commitment to New York-grown ingredients. The Kolsch-style ale is a clean, sessionable option between heavier pours. Barrel-aged releases show ambition when available. Food trucks on weekends. Open Thursday through Sunday.
Naked Dove Brewing Company
4048 Route 5 and 20, Canandaigua (35 minutes west of Penn Yan). A production brewery with a taproom in a commercial building — industrial-functional, not scenic, but the beer is the point. Brewing since 2010 with a reputation for consistency. The Hopularity Contest IPA is the flagship — balanced, not too bitter, enough hop character to satisfy without alienating newcomers. The Exposed Blond Ale is lighter. Seasonal pumpkin ales and winter warmers fill out the calendar. No kitchen. Open Wednesday through Saturday.
Young Lion Brewing Company
21 North Main Street, Canandaigua (downtown, a block from the lake and Kershaw Park). A downtown brewpub with a full bar, dining room, and patio. Location on Main Street puts you at the center of Canandaigua’s walkable village. Brews a broad range — IPAs, lagers, wheat ales, stouts — with a kitchen that takes food as seriously as beer. The Sentry IPA is a solid New England hazy, and the rotating lagers show craftsmanship. Food menu includes burgers, tacos, and shareables. A strong final stop where dinner and a last beer close out the 3 days. Open daily.
Day 3 logistics: Start in Hammondsport at Steuben. Drive north to Climbing Bines and Abandon near Penn Yan (10 minutes apart). Drive 35 minutes west to Canandaigua for Naked Dove, then walk to Young Lion for the final stop and dinner. Total drive time: about 75 minutes. Canandaigua is 30 minutes from Rochester, 90 from Syracuse — well-positioned for heading home.
The New York Farm Brewery Law
Several breweries on this itinerary — Climbing Bines, Grist Iron, Abandon, Lucky Hare — operate under the Farm Brewery license. The law requires sourcing a graduated percentage of hops and grains from New York farms, with the threshold increasing over time. In exchange, farm breweries get expanded privileges: on-site pint and growler sales, taproom operation without restaurant requirements, and farmers market sales.
The practical effect for visitors: beer with identifiably local ingredients. Finger Lakes hops taste earthier and more herbal than Pacific Northwest varieties, and the malt character reflects New York barley. Whether you notice the distinction on your first flight is an open question, but after a few tastings, the regional profile starts to emerge.
For more breweries beyond these 15, our best Finger Lakes breweries guide covers the full landscape. For wine drinkers in your group, the Seneca Lake Wine Trail route planner maps the wineries alongside the beer stops.
