Factory by Beer Tree Brewery, Johnson City NY

I was at Beer Tree’s Farm location on Day 1 of the trip, so stopping at their Factory location on Day 28 made a nice bookend, and it was a worthy addition to my list of brewpubs.

Beer Tree has taken over the end of a shopping mall and created a large, two-level indoor space plus a large outdoor area. Not being sure quite where I was or where to go, I entered through the lower level which was not currently being used, although there was a full bar setup there along with plenty of brewing equipment. The upstairs area is largely table-and-stool seating (not totally comfortable, but serviceable) with plexiglass dividers splitting the 8-seat tables into 4-seat sections.

Both the Factory and Farm locations have their own draws, but overall, I preferred the Factory because of the much larger beer selection and the table service.

They don’t have flight boards, but instead will sell you any number of taster sizes; that’s an option I really appreciate because you aren’t restricted to a set number of beers to taste, but as things went, I’d decided on just four to try anyway! From left to right, they are:

Crisp Trees Pilsner, 4.5% – I rather liked this one – it had a delightful balance of flavors, and I’d already decided it was my favorite of the four until I tasted the next one.

Boat Launch Lager, 5% – I never know what to expect when I order an “American Lager,” but this was perhaps my favorite of everything I’ve ever had in this category! It just ticked all the right boxes and was one I wouldn’t mind drinking all day.

Slightly Fuzzy Dragonfruit, Mango, Lime, 4.5% – Yes, that’s the real name of this Sour Berliner Weisse! It was really well-balanced, just the right amounts of sweet and sour together in a really tasty beer.

Photosphere New England Pale Ale, 5.4% – with my pizza, this was great! On a different day, I’d have loved to just sip this one by itself, but that Boat Launch Lager had really spoiled my taste buds.

Beer Tree’s Factory makes a big deal of their pizzas, but they don’t offer a “build your own” option which I found strange. After debating whether to get the Margherita, I chose the “’Roni” with pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone, and pecorino romano on it. Although the crust wasn’t crispy (which I prefer), the taste was excellent and I had no problem finishing the whole 12″ pie.

Once the flight had run out, I considered whether to get a pint of the Boat Launch or take a chance on something else. Thinking back to the conversation I’d had with the bartender at Badger Hill, I decided to go for the Command Z, a Triple New England IPA at 10%, served in a 10oz tulip glass:

So smooth and so good!!! If I didn’t have 3.5 hours of driving yet to go, I’d have happily ordered another, but that had to be it for the day.

Overall, I was at 29 venues in the 28 days of this trip – mostly brewpubs – and enjoyed 145 different beers (mostly in flights). Somehow, I don’t think I can top this one – but I might try!

Cheers 🙂