Weiss Ferments: The Catskills' Best Hidden Brewery
Weiss Ferments is arguably the best brewery experience in the Catskills. I'm not here to pit their beers against Suarez or West Kill, but if you're seeking the secret garden of biergartens, an idyllic, off-the-beaten-path spot with a lush snack menu served alongside beers that capture the wild-herb freshness of the mountain air and pour it into a glass, then Weiss Ferments ought to be on your radar.
Weiss Ferments is located deep in the backroads of Gilboa. What's that near? Good question. It's definitely not near a cell tower! Seriously, you might want to write out directions or print out a map. Finding it is part of the adventure.
Once you get to its parking lot (parking field?) you must follow the path cut through some tall grass and wildflowers, over the trickle of a tiny creek, past a verdant garden, and toward the overflowing raised flowerbeds and the canvas canopies affixed to tall branches that are covered in trumpet vines. You'll find a stone fire pit, a fully enclosed glamping tent for cold or rainy days, colorful lawn games, and perhaps some vibey Latin jazz piped through unseen speakers.
The Weisses, who live on-site, are a husband-and-wife team. She brews the beer and he bakes the bread. Poured Out, a golden witbier laced with chamomile, tastes like the last days of summer, a fresh, delicate thing that you wish you could bottle. Somehow, they did.
Their artisan loaves, which we discovered at our beloved Heather Ridge Farm, are the beau ideal of bread baked in harmony with its setting. Order the ale bread and honey-butter with your drinks, and good luck deciding which type of loaf (or loaves) to take home. (The good news: You can't go wrong.)
Their cocktail list and spirit-free beverages, along with their food offerings, seem just as carefully curated as their bread and beer. At present, a rum drink channels autumn with cardamom, cinnamon, orgeat, walnut, and lime. They've swapped out their summertime spicy-crunchy-juicy fried chicken for pot pie biscuits.
Bring your friends, leashed dogs, babies, and polite children, but don’t bring any outside food or drink. (It won’t be as good as what they’re serving anyway.) Weiss Ferments is far enough away from the bigger towns that I hope it’ll always feel like a well-kept secret.
Weiss Ferments is located at 240 Bohlen Road, Gilboa, NY. Parking is off Martha Rock Rd, in a lot adjacent to the brewery. Follow them on Instagram @weissferments for updates. At post-time, they are generally open Friday 3pm-7pm, Saturday 12pm-7pm, and Sunday 12pm-5pm.
