Finalists For Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge Include Ommegang

The final tasting event will crown a winner of the best craft beer in NY from a panel of celebrity judges.

On May 2, the first-ever Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge was launched, and invited New Yorkers to vote for their favorite NY craft brewery as a way to celebrate the amazing craft brewing industry that has grown right here in New York State.

The final tasting is set for Wednesday, May 17 at 5 p.m. in New York City during American Craft Beer Week.

The five finalists are:

• Brewery Ommegang - Cooperstown
• Genesee Brewing Company - Rochester
• Prison City Pub and Brewery - Auburn
• The Roscoe NY Beer Co. - Roscoe
• Southern Tier Brewing Company  - Lakewood

The panel of celebrity judges includes former Buffalo Bills running back Thurman Thomas, Celebrity Chef Mario Batali, and craft brewing industry writers, bloggers and brewers.

New York is now home to 321 microbreweries, farm breweries, and restaurant breweries, up from only 50 total breweries in 2011.

Cheers to all the finalists and of course all of the brewers of great New York State craft beer.

BONUS VIDEO