Poughkeepsie, NY
In three years of business, North River Hops and Brewing has crafted around 130 different types of beer. They’re known for having something new, seasonal, and fresh every time their customers visit. For those customers who like to stick to their favorites, they have a couple that never change. Brandin Stabell, co-owner with his wife Nikki, says they like to bring back what customers really enjoy while keeping their menu exciting by continuously rotating flavors and styles.
Like most who decide to make a living from brewing beer, it all begins with one home brew kit, or in Brandin’s case, maybe two. For nine years Brandin had been brewing at home before him and his family opened North River Brewery in Wappingers, NY. Brandin had been working in the audio/video business but it had become something he wasn’t so interested in anymore. His first time brewing at home was just for the fun of it. To his surprise, after brewing his first two kits, the beer turned out better than he’d imagined, and from there he kept it going. Almost every weekend from that point on Brandin was doing some kind of brewing from home.
Slowly, Brandin started to wonder if brewing was something he should get into more seriously. After thinking about how to get into the industry for some time, and talking over with his family how realistic his ideas were, the thought of owning his own brewery no longer seemed so far-fetched.
They incorporated in 2012, but had a pretty hard time finding the space they needed. At the time, Brandin and his family regularly stopped at Baddass Coffee in Wappingers on Route 9. They happened to drive around one day and noticed an empty space adjacent to Walgreens. Although the spot was a bit hidden behind the other businesses facing 9, it was the perfect stepping stone. This empty space became what customers now know today as North River Hops and Brewery. Being under 1,000 square feet, the brewery feels warm and homey. Customers can sit at the bar and practically touch where all the beer is processed.
North River Hops and Brewing generally has anywhere from six to ten beers on tap, from ambers to sessions, light table beers to imperials, big stouts or big porters, they like to keep a variety. Their goal is to always showcase something different for their customers. They currently have a set of tea aged IPAs that they release about every four months. After fermenting, they split out the beer and age it on tea from Harney & Sons. Each time they do a new version of these, they also bring back an old one.
Brandin finds processes like this one particularly interesting. He likes to have his customers try two beers side by side, explaining to them why the tastes change the way they have. In the case of the tea aged IPA’s, the two beers begin exactly the same, but end up tasting nothing alike after aging. It is one thing to explain to customers how brewing works, but this is how Brandin makes his customers a part of the process.
In the past the brewery has done this kind of taste testing with beers made by 100% local vs. 100% commercial ingredients. Customers got a true feeling for what the local flavors created in a beer. Right now, they are using a device that infuses a double IPA with pineapple and mango. Customers can try the beer with the infusion and without.
North River Hops and Brewing does orders to go, filling 32 oz. or 64 oz. growlers, as well as kegs, and every once in a while, they do bottles. Their beers are also sold on tap at a handful of local restaurants.
Brandin is truly passionate about identifying different flavors for his customers, allowing them to understand where they came from and how they became that way. It isn’t just about giving himself the ability to create whatever he wants, it is about showing his customers all the possibilities and educating them on how many exciting variations a beer can have. Creating crazy combinations is his passion and he loves to watch customers go out of their comfort zone when trying a beer, but at the end of the day it is about making beers that are drinkable. Brandin wants to show his customers that not all stouts are the same, not all sours are the same, and chances are, if you think you don’t like one of them, he’s got a version that is going to change your mind.
CONTACT
Phone: (845) 297 – 2190
Email: info@northriverbrews.com
Click Here to visit North River Hops and Brewing’s website
Location: 1571 Route 9 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 (behind Bad Ass Coffee)