By David Diehl
Well, it’s a New Year. And, you know what hasn’t changed, the beer drinker likes a good IPA. What can make it exciting is when a great brewer adds their own flair to this popular style.
Steuben Brewing sits on a hill. It’s a great hill. Possibly a mountain, on the west side of Keuka Lake, and that is where you can get the Danko Rye IPA.
“Rye IPAs are unique, especially if brewers use a Polish variety called Danko. Danko rye has a distinct mellow spice character that gives the beer a slight ginger, nutmeg, and dried fruit flavor and aroma, which brings complexity to the pallet,” explains Chad Zimar, Owner and Head Brewer of Steuben Brewing. “When you combine juicy New York State hops with Danko rye, you get a refreshing yet complex beer with both fruity and baking spice character. Other rye varieties can be a bit rigid and edgy; Danko rye is more round and soft in flavor and aroma.”
With the past year being as unpredictable and unique as it was—with rules literally changing every day, it is refreshing that the Finger Lakes beer culture has remained steadfast and supported. For the majority of the last decade, Steuben has been a pillar in this group. And it is with consistency and care that they have produced some of the best beer in the region. The Danko Rye IPA only strengthens this notion.
“We want our customers to understand that beer is an important agricultural product that supports a local supply chain of farmers, maltsters, hop growers, and brewers,” says Zimar.
All of Steuben’s beer is available at the brewery in Hammondsport, where you can enjoy any of Zimar’s creations safely overlooking Keuka Lake.
Steuben Brewing Company 10286 Judson Road, Hammondsport.
It was always a goal for David Diehl to return to the Finger Lakes and make an imprint on the beer culture of the region. A Hobart & William Smith Colleges graduate, Diehl spent over a decade in Brooklyn and is excited to be back and taking on Finger Lakes craft beer reviews and commentaries for EdibleFingerLakes.com. He has also been published in Inked Magazine, YRB Magazine, Nerve.com, and The Finger Lakes Times. You can follow his work at FLXWORDS.com.
