Yard Owl Craft Brewery opened its enlarged brewery and tasting room last December at 19 Osprey Lane, off Steve’s Lane in Gardiner. Spring makes this spot an even more attractive stop off; to make the most of good weather, tables are set out back where customers can relax, enjoy a brew and something to eat. Since it’s just a short distance from the Rail Trail, runners and walkers can easily stop by for a quick pick- me-up, or just to catch their breath.
Inside is a large, spacious open room with high ceilings, a long tasting bar on the right and the brewery to the left. This has allowed the brewers to increase production from one 31 gallon barrel to two barrels at a time, with room for further increases.
The tasting bar has four taps, serving a rotating variety of Yard Owl’s beers, plus Kettleborough Cider. Growlers and 22 ounce bottles of Yard Owl beers are also available for sale.
Michelle Walsh, President, and one of the three founders and owners, along with Brewmasters James Walsh and Kristop Brown, explained, “We have no plans for bottling in 12 ounce bottles. Natural CO2 is formed as our beers are conditioned in the bottles. And that needs space you don’t have in 12 ounce bottles, where the CO2 is added mechanically.”
As a brewery with a tasting room, Yard Owl serves finger foods like cheese, seasonal fruit, crackers and charcuterie. Also available are sausages, hot dogs and hamburgers, sourced from the neighboring Full Moon Farm.
The same coffees and other beverages served at the Mudd Puddle in New Paltz will also be available at Yard Owl’s facility on Osprey Lane.
For information about tasting room hours, call 845 255-3436 or check out Yard Owl’s website, yardowlcraftbrewery.com which is the same on Facebook.