With their roots planted firmly in Lockport, a beer hall in Victor, and an Orlando destination right up the road from the home of Mickey Mouse, New York Beer Project have now turned their attention to the Southtowns, namely Orchard Park, for their fourth location. The NYBP Beer Lodge will be located in the Sterling Business Park, right off of Winward Road.

Inspired by Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, the NYBP Beer Lodge will feature lots of wood and logs, a green metal roof, and drive-through timber portico, as well as a gastropub with The Lodge Bar, the Brewer’s Club, which features four video walls, and bookable event space. There’s a full size Barn on the Hudson on Floor Two, which overlooks the brew floor, Four Season’s Ballroom, New York Botanical Garden room with an indoor chestnut tree, cultured stone walls, fountains, and candle walls. Each has their own walk out balcony.

“I always thought it was very interesting when you visited Disney World in Florida, that they had 3 huge resorts right next to one another, but you absolutely had to visit all three because they had three totally unique looks, feels and themes,” NYBP Owner Kelly Krupski says. “So we set out to do the same thing. You may be a Mug Club member at the OG location in Lockport, but you really need to put the OP Lodge in your weekly rotation, because of how magical it is, and all the different areas where you can relax and enjoy Head Brewer John Hyman’s unique treasures.”

Hyman, a longtime brewer at NYBP and head brewer in Lockport, will serve as the new head brewer of the NYBP Beer Lodge. He will be in charge of a 15bbl brewhouse, the same size as Lockport, with an assortment of 15, 30 and 60bbl fermenters. Along with Lockport, Orchard Park will serve as a production brewery, supplying beer for all three New York locations.

“One thing I am really looking forward to is brewing on the new custom designed brewhouse that we worked with UBS in Rochester to have built,” Hyman says. “Seeing my vision of the ideal brewery go from paper to reality has been exciting. I’m also looking forward to brewing more classic beer styles and expanding our lager program and continuing to brew “The One” series in Orchard Park, as well as many more IPAs. But what I’m most excited about is building the NYBP OP Beer Lodge wild and mixed fermentation program. Foeder Crafters of America crafted our oak Foeders and our Koelship at their shop in Missouri. We will have a large wood/barrel aging area which I can’t wait to start filling with barrels.”

The new location will perhaps be NYBP’s most unique location, due to its housing of the NYBP Koelschip, a broad, open-top, flat brewing vessel widely used throughout Europe. Koelschips cool wort quickly and to introduce wild yeasts from the surrounding air. NYBP Beer Lodge will also feature new white oak foeders. So, in addition to many of NYBP’s core and flagship beers, namely Destination IPA and New York Amber, NYBP Beer Lodge will be focusing on the production of wild ales and the like.

“I’m looking forward to sourcing local fruits when fresh and in season to use in the wild and mixed fermentation program down the road and selecting and blending our barrel stock for limited release bottle projects,” Hyman adds. “Look for special small releases of BBA imperial stouts and BA mixed fermentation projects in the future. These beers are unique and they can be kept for years and are perfect to open up on special occasions or celebrations. My goal is always to make the best beer I possibly can and I can’t wait to start brewing at The Lodge and being a little closer to home down in Orchard Park.”

Krupski says that it was actually their customers urging that made them decide to take their brewery to the Southtowns, Orchard Park especially.

“It was our guests who told us they love to visit NYBP in Lockport, but they can’t visit often because it’s too far (29 miles) to drive after enjoying one of our beers on tap,” she says. “Also, everyone knows the people in the Southtowns are amazing – fun, work hard – play hard, friendly, genuine folks, and we’re really stoked to be the gathering spot for such a truly wonderful community.”

While there is no firm timeline, Krupski says they hope to open NYBP Beer Lodge this summer.

Stay tuned to https://www.nybeerproject.com/ for more information.

***Photos courtesy of NYBP

Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).