Weedsport is not where you expect to find one of the Finger Lakes' best breweries. The village sits east of the lakes proper, closer to Syracuse than to any wine trail, on a stretch of Route 31 that is more farm country than tourist corridor. But Lunkenheimer Craft Brewing Co., operating out of a taproom at 8931 North Seneca Street, has quietly built the kind of reputation that earns you double Gold in 2025 — Best Beer Selection and Best Brewery — from people who actually drink in this region year-round.

The taproom is welcoming without being kitschy, the sort of place where the bartender can walk you through the rotating tap list and tell you exactly what went into each beer. Lunkenheimer's strength is range: they pour thoughtfully crafted ales, lagers, and seasonal releases rather than chasing trends with triple-hopped haze bombs. The lineup rewards curiosity — ask what is new, try the seasonal, and do not skip the lagers, which are harder to brew well and tell you a lot about a brewery's discipline. For anyone driving between Syracuse and the Finger Lakes, Lunkenheimer is the reason to take Route 31 instead of the Thruway. It is also the antidote to the winery fatigue that sets in after your third Riesling tasting — a pint of something cold and well-made in a room full of locals who are not wearing wine-trail lanyards.