We recently wrote about the hidden gems of New York’s own wine country, but non-oenophiles have plenty of intoxicating venues to explore as well. As a nod to Albany County’s booming craft beverage scene, the Capital Craft Beverage Trail (CCBT) was created in 2015, uniting almost 50 producers from across the entire Capital Region. The Trail encompasses breweries, cideries, distilleries, meaderies, and yes, wineries, with special events such as Drink Albany and the CCBT Passport program. If you’re looking to indulge in specialty libations and scenic views this season, here’s what you need to know:
The Capital Craft Beverage Trail
This “drinking tour” promotes some of the region’s most popular craft- and farm-based beverage facilities, all of which source their ingredients locally and brew their quaffs in small batches to ensure they’re of the highest quality.
Some of the producers might be familiar names, such as the award-winningDruthers Brewing Company, and Brown’s Brewing, in Troy. Others, like Harvest Spirits Farm Distillery — which offers a “tree to bottle experience” via their vodka, gin, and applejack — are a little further off the beaten path. (But don’t let that diminish their draw; they were one of several New York distilleries featured in the New York Times in 2010.)
The CCBT offers several ways to enjoy what the region has to offer. Their website offers a handy map, so you can find a craft beverage producer nearby, or you can filter the results by the beverage of your choice. Alternatively, you can participate in the CCBT Passport Program, and simply select from the list any location you haven’t sampled from yet.
CCBT Passport Program
Launched each year in early April, the CCBT Passport is a reward program that combines love of craft beverages with the spirit of competition. Each passport — a printed paper booklet you can pick up at any participating producer location — has a map and a list of craft beverage producers by county.
As the website explains: “When you make a purchase at any producer named in the Passport, your passport will get two stamps — one on the Producer’s page, and one on a perforated tear-out sheet at the back. At designated intervals you will tear off and redeem the perforated sheets for terrific prizes!” All you need to do is upload a photo of your complete Passport page to this online form, and your prize will be mailed directly to you.
The prizes for 2025 are in three levels: Level I wins a CCBT limited edition sticker, Level II gets “CCBT Exclusive Swag,” and Level III wins admission to any one CCBT “Drink” Event.
Special Events
CCBT’s Drink Albany is a pop-up New York State craft beverage market and tasting event. Last year’s sold out event was held at the New York State Museum in November, and featured producers from all over the Trail. Details about Drink Albany 2025 will be posted on their social media pages (Facebook and Instagram).
In addition to their flagship celebration, the Capital Craft Beverage Trail participates in other events as well, like Drink Schenectady, which was held at the Museum of Innovation and Science last April.
 was created in 2015, uniting almost 50 producers from across the entire Capital Region.){kind=link}