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The craft beer revolution is alive and well in New York. There are now more than 300 breweries statewide, and the industry is only growing.
Governor Cuomo chalks the success of beer in the state up to his administration's moves to reduce regulations and remove barriers to growth (how nice of him!). In fact, he loves a glass of New York suds so damn much that he's launched a contest to find out which one is the best.
This week, Cuomo's office announced the inaugural Taste NY Craft Beer Challenge, which will determine which brewery stands above the rest. The contest begins with of a period of online voting that runs through May 17. At that point, the top five vote-getters will be reviewed by a panel of "all-star judges" who will select a winner. The finalists will be invited to a tasting event that will be held during American Craft Beer Week, which takes place from May 15-21.
A total of 67 breweries are participating in the challenge, including NYC favorites like Brooklyn Brewery and Transmitter Brewing. The number of participants is just a fraction of the total number of breweries in the state, but more than the 50 that existed just six years ago.
Were New Yorkers begging for a contest that pitted brewers against one another? Probably not. Are we all happy that craft beer is booming in the state? Sure. Would it be great to see what Cuomo is like after knocking back a few too many pilsners? Absolutely.