Weiss Ferments

It was a beautiful late summer Saturday when we arrived at Weiss Ferments in Gliboa, NY.

I like to google my local area for breweries now and then on the off chance a new spot has opened and I’ve missed it. And as many times as I’ve done this, Weiss Ferments has never popped up!! Thankfully a friend who also loves beer clued me in on what I was missing. He lives up on the mountain and is a frequent visitor to Weiss Ferments. 

When you arrive you’ll find yourself meandering down a path through the summer flowers. The signage along the way gave off total Lord of The Rings vibes.

That path leads to a lovely garden seating area with picnic tables and an assortment of other seating options. Feeling like a little competition? There are assorted lawn games like ladder ball available for play adjacent to the seating area.

There is also a tent with comfy seating adorned with fur throws if you wish to be out of the breeze. I imagine this is where everyone will want to be soon!

 We found a spot to settle in and took turns heading up to the ordering window. The first stop in line was the bread display, yep you heard right, house-made bread!

Weiss Ferments makes their bread on-site and it always sells out. I had been given a heads up about this so we had made a point of getting there when they opened. I’m definitely not one to miss out on freshly baked bread!! There were 3 choices the day we visited, a baguette, a rye, and a wheat. We took one of each (they were all delightfully tasty).

As we made our way to the window I was greeted by the lovely Erica, who took our drink order. Their menu is smaller than most but I tend to believe this can be a good thing, and today I was correct!

I ordered the ale bread with honey butter and spiced nuts to snack on along with a smoked Roggenbier called In a Word Intuitive. It poured a cloudy copper color with a nose of light smoke and bready spice. I’m pretty sure this was my first Roggenbier ever! Roggenbier is similar to a dunkelweizen but bolder. I was thoroughly impressed with its interesting flavor, smokey at first, then spicy rye, and a smooth finish. This beer did in fact add some happiness to my day. A great beer for any day of the year.

On my next visit to the window, I perused the handcrafted cocktail menu choices.

I decided on the A Salty Message cocktail. This was my first experience with Nocino, a vodka-based liqueur made from unripe walnuts. This drink was delicious, a perfect cocktail if ever there was one.  I love it when I’m given the opportunity to try something new and leave thinking I can’t believe I’ve missed out on this my whole life. Yes, it was that good!

When I made my way to the window one last time to order a second cocktail and some food I had a chance to speak with Erica one of the owners. She was just lovely and we had a fun little chat. The Ale Bread with honey butter was my choice of snack and it was beyond delicious. My companions ordered the spiced nuts and tandoori fried chicken which also received rave reviews.

Both Erica (the brewer) and her husband Brian (the baker) have extensive experience in the restaurant business, both having worked at high-end spots in NYC. That experience has led to nuanced creations of beer, cocktails, and bread served in a cozy relaxed setting. They like to call Weiss Ferments a place of restoration. I can attest to it being just that as I left with a full belly and a full heart. Is it possible to taste joy in food and drink?? I believe I experienced just that here at Weiss Ferments. Take that ride up the mountain, and do it soon, Weiss Ferments closes up shop around the end of November until spring.

A little Bit Extra

Making your way up to Gilboa takes a little extra time for most of us, so why not make the most of your trip up the mountain and stop at Rockland Cider Works.

Rockland Cider Works is only a short 15-minute ride away. You may be thinking Rockland sounds familiar. You are correct. It’s a county out on Long Island where the original Rockland Cider Works opened in 2019. Rockland Cider Works offers more than an amazing selection of hard ciders. They also have a fantastic lineup of bands and offer rooms for overnight trips. Just go to Rest Upstate – Gilboa, NY to find available bookings.

All their ciders are made from New York State Apples and the view while you’re drinking them is spectacular. They also offer an array of cocktails and local food trucks. Check their Instagram page for tons of cool coming-soon bands and activities.

Rockland Cider Works is a good reminder to look at other activities and establishments around your destination, you never know what gem you may stumble across!