Genesee County's craft beverage scene offers plenty of reasons to linger, whether you're exploring Batavia, taking a drive through the countryside or looking for something different to bring home.

Start in Downtown Batavia at Eli Fish Brewing Company: In the heart of downtown Batavia, Eli Fish Brewing Company brings craft beer into a historic setting. Located in a former department store, the brewery combines its own beer with a restaurant incubator, dining, live music and a rotating selection of local ciders. The brewery features 24 drafts, including ales, lagers, stouts, seltzers and sours, with tours and tastings available by reservation.

It's an easy addition to a day exploring downtown Batavia and a good reminder that a craft beverage stop doesn't have to be tucked away in the countryside.

Take a Countryside Drive to Autumn Moon Winery: In Bergen, Autumn Moon Winery offers a tasting room featuring specialty wine blends and a gift area. The winery is identified in the source material as Genesee County's first winery and also creates personalized wine labels for special occasions.

It's the kind of stop that pairs naturally with a scenic drive through the Genesee Valley.

Try Something Unexpected at Circle B Winery: At Circle B Winery in Elba, the wine list takes a decidedly creative turn. Its fruit wines include apricot, peach, peach and honey, pear, pumpkin and spice, blueberry, spiced apple…and even tomato wine. Private tastings are available for groups of four or more by appointment. If you're the person who likes to try something you've never had before, this is one to add to the itinerary.

Look for Black Creek Cidery: For cider lovers, Black Creek Cidery in Byron takes a traditional approach. Its hard cider is made from a blend of locally sourced apples, with the apples pressed and processed within the region. The family-operated cidery describes its approach as a “tree to glass” experience, rooted in a family recipe and a slow, cold-aged wood-barrel process.

There isn't a tasting room on site, but Black Creek cider can be found at several Genesee County locations, including Harrington's Produce, The YNGodess Shop and Angotti Beverage, as well as area restaurants.

Wyoming County's breweries are especially good at turning a drink into an afternoon or even a full day!

Follow the Train to Beer Justice Brewing Co.: Planning a ride on the Arcade & Attica Railroad? Add Beer Justice Brewing Co. in Arcade to the itinerary. This farm and micro-brewery offers 12 or more taps, along with hard cider and flavored seltzers. Visitors can order a flight or pint, grab cans to take home and settle into the indoor seating, outdoor space or beer garden.

There’s also plenty to do between sips, including cornhole and Kan Jam. Pizza, pretzels, paninis, charcuterie and gourmet popcorn round out the menu. It's an easy pairing with a train ride: explore Arcade, climb aboard the railroad, then find a seat and stay awhile.

Discover a favorite local brewpub, Amber Lantern Brewing Company in Warsaw: Located on Main Street in downtown Warsaw, Amber Lantern Brewing Company combines craft beer with casual pub dining. The rotating beer selection pairs with burgers, wraps, quesadillas, salads and homemade macaroni and cheese. There's also an outdoor patio in warmer weather, along with takeout, catering and accommodations for larger groups. It's a straightforward small-town stop: grab a meal, try something from the tap and enjoy a little time on Main Street.

Make Silver Lake Brewing Project Part of a day in Perry: Just off Main Street in Perry, Silver Lake Brewing Project occupies a reclaimed former printing factory. The brewery focuses on Belgian and American style beers, including farmhouse creations and experimental selections. Visitors can sample rotating beers, order flights or individual pours, take beer to go and enjoy local cheeses and snacks in the public taproom. Its location makes it particularly easy to build into a Wyoming County day. Perry is approximately three miles from the Perry entrance to Letchworth State Park and about one mile from Silver Lake.

Explore Letchworth, spend some time around Silver Lake, wander Perry, then settle in with a local beer… That's the kind of itinerary Fresh Air Adventures is all about!

Head Down Route 20A to Windy Brew: Along Route 20A in Strykersville, Windy Brew is a family-run brewery and taproom that grew from a home-brewing hobby into a local destination. The rotating beer selection includes IPAs, pale ales, pilsners, sours, wheat beers, stouts and seasonal creations. Visitors can order flights, pints or half-pours, with cans and growlers available when offered. Live music, brewery bingo and other events give visitors another reason to linger, while private space is available for smaller gatherings.

Stop at Farmcraft Brewery: Also in Strykersville, Farmcraft Brewery brings together brewing, flowers and a fourth-generation family farm. The centerpiece is a two-story, 10,000-square-foot barn-style facility with a taproom, outdoor patio and fire pit. The property also hosts farmers' markets, live music, workshops and other community events. It’s a good example of how a craft beverage destination can become part of the community around it not simply somewhere to grab a drink.

Don't Miss Buried Barrel Hard Cider: Just one mile from the west entrance to Letchworth State Park, Buried Barrel Hard Cider offers a seasonal stop built around apples grown on the Pankow family farm. The cidery's small-batch hard ciders are available in a seasonal taproom, with food trucks, cider releases, tap talks, guided hikes and live music adding to the experience throughout the season. It's an especially natural pairing with a day at Letchworth: hike, explore, then slow down with a glass of cider.

Visit Three Falls Cider: A few minutes from Letchworth, Three Falls Cider is part of a fourth-generation agricultural business with roots stretching back more than 90 years. The historic property includes a former lumber mill, flour mill and creamery that became a working cider mill in the 1930s. Visitors can see cider being pressed in season, enjoy the tasting room and relax on a deck overlooking Wolf Creek. If you're hungry, the property is also known for its fresh fry cakes; another reason to make this more than a quick beverage stop.

Orleans County brings another layer to the regional craft beverage story, with wineries tucked into the countryside around Albion and Kent.

Explore Salamaca Estate Winery: At Salamaca Estate Winery in Albion, visitors can enjoy wines produced with an emphasis on careful winemaking and the character of each vintage. The tasting room is open Thursday through Sunday, with afternoon hours. It's an easy addition to a countryside drive through the Albion area—and a good excuse to slow the pace down for an afternoon.

Visit Schwenk Wine Cellars: In Kent, Schwenk Wine Cellars brings a family history of winemaking to Western New York. The winery's story traces back to recipes passed down from Paul Schwenk's great-grandfather, a winemaker from Germany. Today, the family-owned vineyard and winery produces wines ranging from semi-dry to sweet, with tastings offered in a relaxed setting. For visitors who enjoy the story behind what they're drinking, this is a stop where the family connection is part of the experience.

Allegany County's craft beverage stops fit naturally into the county's rural landscape, where a brewery visit can be part of a scenic drive or small-town adventure.

Find Kent Beer Company: At the family-owned farm of master brewer Ed Kent in Andover, Kent Beer Company grew from decades of home brewing into a brewery focused on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. Its beers include the signature Pruner's Pale Ale, made with spruce tips grown on the farm, and Cows Are Out Oatmeal Stout. It's the sort of destination that makes you appreciate the connection between the land around you and what's in your glass.

Stop in at Wellsville Brewing Company: On historic Main Street in Wellsville, Wellsville Brewing Company operates from a renovated downtown brewery. The farm brewery opened in 2018 and offers another opportunity to work a locally crafted beverage into a day spent exploring Wellsville and Allegany County.