Drive too fast down Route 5 in Glenville and you might just miss it. Keep your eyes peeled for the “Your Beer Brewed Here” sign and pull onto the gravel drive. From the moment you pull into the parking lot, to the second you finish your last sip of beer, there is something distinctly special about Wolf Hollow Brewing Company.
In the last year I’ve frequented this local spot many times, more recently becoming somewhat of a regular, visiting a record high 5 weekends in a row! While this small brewery doesn’t necessarily scream young twenty-something hot spot, it has the ambience, space, and atmosphere that anyone looking to drink good beer with good people would enjoy.
On nights with live music, bands perform surrounded by vats of brewing beer. On nights where the weather is nice, visitors finish their beers outdoors circled around a fire on the patio. Inside, visitors sit around round tables made of old whiskey barrels, enjoying flights or pints of beer, from pale ales and pilsners to porters, stouts, and cask specials. There are no televisions at Wolf Hollow. Not one. No distracting news tickers running across the screen, no big games playing in the background. In fact- there is almost no cell phone service at all, that is of course, until you discover the WiFi password. On any given night at Wolf Hollow you can find visitors filling up their growlers, hanging around the fire, or inside the taproom chatting with friends. Among the brewery goers you’ll often find the owners, mingling, sharing their stories, and talking with their customers.
You don’t go to Wolf Hollow to pound shots, and you certainly don’t go if you’re looking to stay out all night. Instead, you go to Wolf Hollow to enjoy a flight of locally brewed craft beer. Although I’ve tried almost the entire selection, favorites of mine include the blonde ale, Brunette’s Revenge, the District 6 IPA, and the Amber Ale. I wouldn’t call myself a beer expert, I’ve tried many and they taste good but that’s about all I can say. I certainly don’t know enough to properly review the beers, so you’ll just have to try them yourself.
A major downfall of the brewery in my opinion is their limited option when it comes to drinks. I know, I know, it’s a brewery, why would they need anything else? But the fact of the matter is, while I love beer, not all of my friends feel the same. I’m not saying they need a fully stocked bar, but having a hard cider or wine option could have a tremendous impact.
Where there is beer, there are hungry drinkers looking for a snack. That’s where Buzzards Bay BBQ comes in. The team at Buzzards Bay serve up the likes of pulled pork sandwiches and mac and cheese to hungry beer drinkers until they run out. Reasonably priced and tasty, Buzzards Bay is an excellent dinner option, pairing well with the craft brews. I’ve tried both the pulled pork and pulled chicken sandwiches, both good, but the pulled pork was better. Add a little coleslaw and tangy bbq sauce with a side of creamy macaroni and cheese, there’s nothing better.
One thing I can’t stand is a crowded bar, which is probably why I enjoy visiting Wolf Hollow so much. Don’t get me wrong, the place fills up, especially on nights with music, but it’s not the kind of place where you’ll find yourself stuffed like sardines with a bunch of random strangers. I wonder if by writing this blog I am jinxing myself, sharing my secret little brewery in Glenville with the world. But I will share it anyway because everyone should get the chance to enjoy an evening at Wolf Hollow.
Wolf Hollow has made a name for itself, winning awards and building a following around the Capital Region. If you haven’t been, you should go. Open Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, right off Route 5, between Scotia and Amsterdam, stop in for a beer, you won’t be disappointed.
I’m always looking to visit local breweries. What’s your favorite one? Let me know in the comments!
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