If you’ve somehow missed hearing about Peekskill’s Factoria at Charles Point (maybe your WiFi’s been out for a really, really long time?), here’s what you need to know: John Sharp of Birsdall House and Gleason’s, Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.’s Scott Vaccaro, and Louis Lanza, who seems to own half the restaurants in Peekskill (specifically, Taco Dive Bar, The Hudson Room, Eagle Saloon, and Buns-N-Bourbon) teamed up two years ago to build an impressive, new entertainment complex fronting the Hudson River. There’s an excellent seafood restaurant, Fin & Brew; 40,000 sq ft of aerial ropes courses, laser tag, and arcade games at Spins Hudson; and a private event space. As of Saturday, it will also be home to the county’s newest craft brewery.
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Justin Sturges (pictured right), previously experimental brewer at Captain Lawrence, is the head brewer at River Outpost Brewing Co. “Captain Lawrence creates well-balanced, moderate, subtle beers, and I’m going to take that spirit with me,” says Sturges. “Variety is what keeps me excited, so expect to see a lot of flux among the eight beers on tap. I love IPAs, classic European styles, fresh sour beers, and beers using local fruits, herbs, spices, hops, and grains.”
True to his ‘experimental’ roots, Sturges plans to team up with Fin & Brew to create some unique summer sours. “We’re sourcing green strawberries for the kitchen to pickle,” says Sturges, who will then brew them into a unique sour. “It should be herbaceous, tart, and light — a great early summer beer to sip by the river.” For now, River Outpost beers will be available for growler fills and, of course, to drink at the onsite taproom and at Fin & Brew. (Bottles or cans will likely be available in the future, though the timeframe hasn’t been determined yet.)
Check out the opening lineup below:
Sharkee
A crisp, dry-hopped pilsner, it’s River Outpost’s American take on the European style.
Nurse Batchie
Full-bodied but easy to drink, this porter has mellow chocolate, coffee, and fruity notes.
​Fram Boy
This blonde ale with peachy, herbal, tannic notes, gets its pink hue from being aged on hibiscus flowers.
Goat Path
Coming in at 11% ABV, this sweet imperial stout is aged on freshly roasted Guatemalan coffee beans from Big Bang Coffee Roasters in Peekskill.
​Dougbot
A full-bodied Helles lager, Dougbot showcases “the honey and bready flavors of German-kilned malts,” says Sturges.
​Skillbilly
Sturges’ take on the cloudy New England IPAs that are everywhere is this straw-colored beer hopped with Motueka and Citra.
Cool Hand
A light lager, it’s crisp, smooth, and goes down easy.
Mani-Two
Freshly tapped for the opening, this juicy Imperial IPA has notes of pine and berry.
