NewYork

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has granted farm brewery license for 14 local craft breweries that have opened since January 2013.

The farm brewery license allows craft brewers to operate just like the state’s farm wineries.

Under the license, brewers can serve beer, cider by the glass, and can have tasting rooms, retail shops, restaurants and five branch offices, where they can sell their products and other New York State labelled beer, wine and liquor.

The 14 licensed brewers are Good Nature Brewing, The Beer Diviner, Rooster Fish Brewing, Climbing Bines Hop Farm, Hopshire Farm and Brewery, Fairport Brewing, Brown’s Brewing, Abandon Brewing, Hamburg Brewing, Erie Canal Brewing, Henneberg Brewing, Long Ireland Beer and Honey Hollow Brewery.

The state has reported 100% increase in microbreweries in the last two years, up from 51 in first quarter of 2011 to 93 now.

Cuomo said with the opening of 14 farm breweries since January and a nearly 100% increase in their microbreweries, it is clear that New York’s craft beer industry is booming – and this is just the beginning.

"The State is committed to promoting New York’s exceptional food and beverage producers through our Taste NY initiative and investments in research and development to further grow the industry," Cuomo added.

New York Farm Bureau president Dean Norton said the opportunity created by the new farm category of licenses – winery, distilleries, cideries or breweries – has created new possibilities for growth.

New York State Brewers Association executive director Paul Leone said with more hops and malted barley being planted every year, more and more breweries will have the opportunity to qualify for a farm brewery license and take advantage of this legislation signed by Governor Cuomo.

Image: The farm brewery license will allow craft brewers to serve beer by the glass. Photo courtesy of SilkTork/John White.