Eat Small in the Catskills | Our Favorite Small, Local Breweries, Farms, and Markets to Support this Holiday Season
Many local businesses have been hit hard during the pandemic - with restaurants closing and events on hold, our farms, markets, florists, and food vendors have lost a lot of business.
Our region has tons of fantastic breweries, wine shops, florists, and markets to frequent. Here are a few of our favorites to support this holiday season. Even if you’re celebrating in a smaller way, treat yourself to a gorgeous floral arrangement, delicious array of cheeses, or great bottle of wine, and support a hard-working local business while you’re at it!
Best Florists in the Catskills:
These talented local florists can create holiday wreaths and decor or even provide a beautiful centerpiece for your small, socially-distanced holiday gatherings.
ELM Garden Design: Eustacia and Paul are farmer-florists who design with flowers and foliage they grow, perennials and shrubs they maintain and bark, and berries and branches they forage from their woodland property. They’re currently offering Flower Punch Cards for gifts: like traditional Community Supported Agriculture or CSA models, FPCs bring money at the start of the growing season when we need it most to purchase seeds and supplies. FPCs are open ended and can be used whenever and however you’d like- weekly or all at once, at the market or for special orders.
Sugar Blossom Flowers is always on the hunt for the freshest, most beautiful flowers in bloom from the many talented local growers right here in the Catskills, responsible growers in the U.S. and Canada, and other locations around the world. Since starting their seasonal, CSA-style weekly bouquet program featuring locally grown flowers in 2011, Sugar Blossom Flowers has grown to become a trusted, year-round source for cut flowers, greens and plants.
Best Breweries, Distilleries, and Wine Shops in the Catskills:
Upstream Wine is a thoughtfully curated wine and spirits shop in Livingston Manor. They specialize in sustainable, organic, and biodynamic beverages that taste good. Their curated six packs make a great gift, and the staff are wine experts who are able to recommend the perfect bottle for your loved one.
Prohibition Distillery, located in Roscoe, is the ideal place to stock your bar for the holiday season. Their vodka, gin, and bourbon can’t be beat, and their Beaverkill Bourbon Cream is the ultimate holiday delight. Looking for a great gift? They even have candles on their site.
Upward Brewing has a gorgeous new space in Livingston Manor, and their beer is great, too. Born from the natural springs at the base of their 120 acre preserve called Beer Mountain®, we make crisp, clean highly-drinkable beers.
Roscoe Beer Company was brought into the world by a small group of folks with a passion for craft beer and a deep-rooted love for their hometown of Roscoe. The Roscoe Beer Co launched its flagship brew, Trout Town American Amber Ale in April 2013. Since then, the brewery has added on delicious new favorites such as the Brown Ale and the Rainbow Red Ale. Brewmaster Rich “The Beard” Rogers will brew seasonal beers such as The Bavarian or the Barley Bonfire throughout the year.
Catskill Brewery makes honest, hardworking beer from Catskill mountain water and all natural ingredients. You can order ahead for local pickup and enjoy their highly sought-after brews at your holiday dinners.
Southern Tier Brewing is one of the top craft beer producers in the US. Throughout the pandemic, they’ve donated PPE to more than 30,000 essential workers.
Best Winter Markets and CSAs in the Catskills:
Main Street Farm has a delicious market with delicious, locally-sourced goods for your holiday table.
The Delhi Farmer’s Market is open indoors through the winter on Wednesdays from 9am to 2 PM on Court Street in Delhi. It features some of our favorite local farms and vendors.
There are many CSAs in the Catskills region - Catskills Mountainkeeper has a great list of them broken down by county here. CSA stands for community supported agriculture. It allows consumers to buy local, seasonal food directly from farmers. Consumers purchase a “share” of a farmer’s crop early in the spring and then receive a collection of fresh produce and other products throughout the growing season. This mutually beneficial arrangement is good for both the farmer and the consumer.
The Beaverkill Valley Inn is dedicated to small, local farms, markets, and food/beverage vendors. Our restaurant, helmed by Chef Tommy Finch, prides itself on its farm-to-table food and sustainable practices. We encourage you to support these local farmers and businesses during this holiday season!