Cuomo Offers Libation to State Beer, Wine and Spirits Industry

Brooklyn Brewery’s logo (via Twitter)

Gov. Andrew Cuomo is ready to crack one open at his Beer, Wine and Spirits Summit today, when over 90 brewers and vintners will descend on Albany to offer the best libations the state produces. The liquid feast occurs two months after the governor’s successful Yogurt Summit and the idea of an event promoting the state’s alcohol production has been fermenting for several months. The governor has hinted that Greek yogurt is one of his favorite snacks, but his tastes in beer are less well known. Perhaps he likes the warming spice of Saranac’s Pumpkin Ale or the crisp bitterness of Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager. “I’m not going to bite on that,” Brooklyn Brewery founder Steve Hindy said. “But I hope it’s Brooklyn. I’m sure it’s a New York State brewed beer.” Hindy, who will be bringing a Belgian-style beer called Brooklyn Sorachi Ace to the summit, hopes the administration will change legislation to allow breweries to have multiple restaurants and bars instead of just one at their primary site. “We have opportunities to do brewery restaurants in numerous countries, and around the world, so why not in New York State?” Hindy said. “Maybe we could do a Brooklyn Brewery brew pub in Rochester, Syracuse, or Albany.” A Cuomo spokesman declined to comment when asked the governor’s favorite type of beer.