I headed over to Canton New York yesterday and popped in a few shops to make sure I have Baby Ruth Halloween bars and I was quite pleased to note an advance in beer availability in the North Country.
First, at the Alex Bay Mart on highway 12 near the main cross roads there were Ithaca and Magic Hat mixed packs and sixes, greater Sackets Harbor 1812 and Thousand Islands presence as well as Blue Moon pumpkin ale and even an organic pale ale from California called Stone Mill.
The real deal, however, was at Canton itself. I popped into Bessettes on highway 11 just heading out of town to the west and was confronted with a vastly improved craft beer selection. Flying Dog from California, Cooperstown and Middle Ages from New York, Harpoon from Boston, Brooklyn Beer from NY, Coopers from Australia, Magic Hat and Otter Creek from Vermont, Smuttynose from New Hampshire, Dogfish Head from Delaware, Victory from Pennsylvania and a bunch of others. All great craft beer buys when popping over for any SLU hockey games I catch this winter. I asked to take a photo but no one was sure who was able to say OK. So I took a sneeky one from the counter top like the Man from Uncle might. I met a couple of beer nerds in the shop - one from Virginia who knew of the writings of Lew Bryson - and we have a good old chat. Apparently the shop gets new craft stock once a month driven up from Syracuse by the distributor. I will try to find out the schedule of their arrivals and have them update regularly.
Certainly welcome additions to my favorite CNY shops C's in Oswego, the Galeville Grocery and Party Source in Syracuse and - of course - Finger Lake Beverages in Ithaca.
Comments
Lubiere - October 22, 2006 7:34 PM
Great news for us in Ottawa. Bessette is less than one hour from the NCR. Do check out CJ's next time your in the area. It's in Potsdam. They also have a nice beer bar, Maxfield's:
Cheers,
Luc aka Lubiere
Alan - October 22, 2006 8:57 PM
With it 112 km south of you, I'd be wondering why anyone in Ottawa would shop at the LCBO again. But call ahead to make sure the delivery truck isn't coming the next day: (315) 386-4464.<p><center><img src="http://www.genx40.com/images/2006g/ottcan.JPG" vspace="20"></center>
Lubiere - October 22, 2006 11:23 PM
Me and Todd (Capflu) have been going there for the last 2 years but the selection had dwindled due to lack of a regular distributor. But fear not, we shall give them the busines they now deserve! Thanks for the great news, Alan!
Alan - October 23, 2006 8:26 AM
Excellent! All a place like that would take is about 25 folk to give them good support for them to stick to it. They have given over about 35% of their shelf and floor space to the craft beers which speaks something to their determination.
Fukito - October 24, 2006 11:19 PM
Shite! Everytime I see pictures like this it makes my mouth water!! If only I could get half that selection...
Peter - October 28, 2006 12:07 AM
Alan, your post brings up excellent memories for this Alberta boy. I got married in Alberta in the summer of '87. We moved to Kingston so my wife could do her MA at Queen's. I worked at a bookstore and puzzled my way through the new reality: "The Beer Store", "The LCBO". Out of my mind one Sunday without beer or wine (Holier-than-thou Ontario eh?) I left my wife a note on the kitchen table: "Gone to USA". Drove east to the bridge (Alexandria?). Drove along the river back towards Kingston. Found a place that sold wine or something they called wine. Took the ferries via Wolfe Island back to Kingston. Of course, my wife was more than a little worried by the time I arrived, triumphantly, back at Sir John A MacDonald Ave! Northern NY seemed like a hardscrabble wasteland back then - glad to see you've found some good beer depots.
Alan - October 28, 2006 12:12 AM
Not a King at Princess bookstore by any chance?
Peter - October 30, 2006 11:49 PM
No, not the Princess Bookstore. Queen's Bookstore. An unfortunate introduction to bookselling actually as everyone I worked with hated books and "smart guys". Loved my one year in Kingston though - Pilot House was my local, with frequent stops at the Toucan, very occasionally the Duke (?). And saw the Hip at the Manor, a brush with greatness I mention now and again.