Wayward Lane Brewing: Tradition and Innovation In Sync
By Pat Ellis
This story starts when Andrew Rowles, Adam Rosenthal, Kyle Bergen, and Abbie Hanson became friends while attending Colorado University Boulder. Among their shared interests was a passion for home-brewing beer.
Andrew headed to the Schoharie Valley after graduation to explore farming on the 65-acre family farm he’d inherited. Fast forward to 2021, Wayward Lane Brewing was established on that land and the four friends reunited as integral participants and co-founders.
Wayward describes itself as “a true farm brewery and taproom, occupying a restored 1800s hop house. Brewing everything from aromatic IPAs to crisp lagers, coolship rested wild ales, and oak-aged strong ales.” An orchard and apiary are part of the land. The fruit and honey they produce occasionally find their way into the creative impulse of Adam, Wayward Lane’s head beer maker.
In its first three years, Wayward Lane Brewing has been rewarded for its innovative brewing and commitment to quality. They were selected as 2023’s Brewery of the Year at the New York State Brewers Conference. This competition has become the largest state-level event in the country. Wayward Lane’s brews, Cultivar, a hazy pale ale and Xylem, an English-style Wheatwine, were awarded gold medals. Their Cloud Generator, a hazy double IPA and Prizm, a cold IPA, received silver from the craft beer community.
In addition to Brewery of the Year, Wayward also received the SEEC 2023 Toast of the Town ASPIRE Award. This award recognizes those who have ascended in their industry through best-practice efforts and innovation. This recognition validates Wayward’s own words: “The quality of the final product, paired with our curiosity to experiment is paramount and drives our pursuit of the craft.”
You can visit Wayward Lane Brewery’s Taproom and enjoy a variety of rotating beers on draft. Their website, waywardlanebrewing.com, is filled with details about the farm, their beers, and a calendar of events.
And you can join us at HWFC’s Cider Pressing Party on September 30th, from 4:30 until 6 pm, and sample some of Wayward Lane’s award-winning brews!
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