A long drive into western and central and then northern New York saw me complete the loop of Lake Ontario over the weekend. We had a memorial service to attend and as I had done the 401 the weekend before, I was not eager to see the Big Apple four times in eight days. So, it was Lockport, Rochester, Oswego and Watertown for us today.
Three was a method in my madness as I wanted to see the new massive Beers of the World at Henrietta, south of Rochester. You will recall the old store was one of the biggest in the northeastern USA and that the news of expansion was a bit staggering. 
Was the expansion worth it? Well, lets put it this way. I dropped $250 bucks and did not look at the right hand half of the store. They bought an old Wegmans, for heaven's sake. So what did I get? I now have two bottles of Thornbridge Jaipur, that beer all the British bloggers go on about. My first Faro now lurks in the stash. A couple more 3 Fronteinen to hold off the inevitable and a 1997 Gale's Old Prize Ale to celebrate the past. I picked up plenty of Christmas beers for next summer, too, and lots of sour brews to keep for myself. Well worth it and a valuable addition to the eastern Great Lakes scene.
On the drive back, it was the turn for sad news as we passed the now dark location of King Arthur's Brew Pub in Oswego, NY, location of more than one excellent meal accompanied by good craft ale. CNY has taken a fair hit lately with the closings of Clark's Ale House, the Galeville Grocery and King Arthur's.
Comments
Natalie - January 10, 2011 12:12 AM
Wow! Too bad this is a 6 hour drive from us. Looks like we have a new beer-related road trip in the works! Thanks for the info.
Martyn Cornell - January 10, 2011 4:43 AM
I'd be interested in how the Prize Old Ale turns out - in my experience the final brews at Gale's own Horndean brewery were, to be frank, rubbish: flat, no condition and undeveloped. The Fuller's versions are vastly better.
Alan - January 10, 2011 8:01 AM
I bought the '97 to compare with a 2003 I have held on to for sometime and maybe a Fuller's era one if I ever find one. I was aware of your comments so wanted to perform the laboratory experimentations myself. As it was under nine bucks I thought it worth the risk.
Katie A - January 10, 2011 8:55 AM
My husband grew up in Spencerport, so for about five years when we traveled home for Christmas we would gather for a mini-reunion called "Beers of the World."
We would all pile in someone's car and, appropriately, travel to Beers of the World. Each person would pick out two or three (or five) different beers, and then we'd go back to someone's parent's house for a tasting.
Beers of the World was huge before; I can't even imagine the expansion.
Gary Gillman - January 10, 2011 12:40 PM
Happy New Year, Alan.
Good to hear this news - it's like the tallest skyscraper just got a whole lot taller. BOTW has been a stand-by for great beer choice for 20 years at least. I need get down there soon.
I am still hopeful that somewhere in those stacks of beer there lurks a case of Ballantine IPA!
My last remembrance of buying beer there was an Ardennes Saison from Pipaix when they used those heavy rounded green bottles. It was sitting in a bright area of the store and was 3 years old at least when I bought it. I was sure it would be skunked but far from it, it was one of the best beers I ever had. Trumped by the genius of Belgian brewing.
Gary
Craig - January 10, 2011 1:30 PM
Hey I used to go to BOW in college! Next time swingby the Great, Great House of Guitars in Irondequoit, too. It's not Beer, but Hendrix used to stop and rent guitars there. When he was traveling the NYS Thruway, he would swing into the HOG, grab an axe and then go jam with Son House.