Farming Man Fest, in Altamont, NY, organized by Indian Ladder Farms Cidery & Brewery (ILFCB), is marking its 10th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, the event is expanding into a full weekend of festivities.
The festival will include more than 25 breweries, including ILF’s own beer and hard cider, two distilleries, five bands, and over a dozen vendors on Saturday, July 20 from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday, July 21 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., respectively.
This year’s festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of New York’s vibrant brewing
industry, offering enthusiasts and newcomers alike an opportunity to immerse themselves in the
rich flavors and innovative craftsmanship that define the state’s beer scene.
Beginning in 2014, the Farming Man Fest was originally just for brewers, under the name “Bottle Share.” It was more of a networking event for maltsters, brewers, and hop growers.
When the festival first went public in 2018, attendance started at around 150. Just the next year, the attendance more than doubled. After a short hiatus in 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic, Farming Man Fest came back strong in 2022 and continues to grow.
This milestone 10th-anniversary edition will feature exclusive brews, collaborative creations, and limited-edition releases that showcase the diversity and ingenuity of New York’s brewing community. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet the masterminds behind their favorite beers and enjoy live music and local food vendors in a beautiful farm setting.
Also new this year, Farming Man Fest will be held in ILFCB’s Pizza Garden and event space, The Clear Mountain Room, overlooking a breathtaking view of the Helderberg Escarpment.
“We are so excited for our annual commemorative beer, Farming Man: The Beer 2024,” said
Scott Veltman, ILFCB Head Brewer. “In all honesty, the taste is just wow. Such a delicious beer.
It’s a hoppy, wheated pilsner made with NYS malt and hopped with NYS Vista, and another hop
variety referred to as HRC-003. It’s a refreshing yet hoppy lager with notes of peach, mango,
melon and green tea. It’s the perfect easy-drinking beer to taste while socializing in
summer—and therefore perfect for Farming Man Fest.”
Musical guests include TV Doctors, Sydney Worthley, The Sugar Hold, Super 400 and Wild
Adriatic. Ian “Ritz” Carlton will be the event’s emcee and introduce the bands. Jeff Mo’rad from
WEQX will broadcast his Jam ‘n Toast radio show live from the Pizza Garden on Saturday from
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Breweries who have already signed on to be at the festival include Artisanal Beer Works, Bolton Landing Brewing, Bound By Fate Brewery, Ommegang, Brooklyn Cider House, Brown’s Brewing, Chatham Brewing, Common Roots, Community Beer Works, Druthers Brewing, Fidens, Gentle Giant Brewing Co, Great Flats Brewing, Paradox Brewery, Real McCoy, Rip Van Winkle Brewery, Seven Points Brewery, SingleCut Beersmiths, The Brewery at the CIA, The Warbler, Unified Beerworks, Upper Depot, Wayward Lane, Whitman Brewing, and Wolf Hollow Brewing. Albany Distilling Company and Cooperstown Distillery will also be on site. A sampling of the vendors expected for the event are Beverwyck Cheesecake, Sweet Treat Cotton Candy, The Ornate Fox and Meadowdale Winery.
Food will be available from DeFazio’s Pizza in the Pizza Garden, who will also bring a food
truck serving an array of delicious eats. The Tasting Room and Farm Store will be open for normal
hours so patrons can grab a taste of those famous cider doughnuts.
Indian Ladder Farms will also host their aptly named Farming Moon Hike (usually referred to as
their Full Moon Hike). Check-in for the hike will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday in the Pizza
Garden. The hike will begin at 7:30 p.m. and explore the Buck Moon, named by the Farmer’s
Almanac because July is the time when the antlers of male deer (bucks) are in full growth mode. The hike will return to the Pizza Garden at 9:00 p.m. Tickets for the hike are available here.
Overnight camping will also be available. There are 20 camping passes offered on a first-come,
first-serve basis, with a limit of 4 people per car. Passes are $30 each and are available here. Camping is available on Saturday night only.
A change from years past is that admission is free, with tasting passes available for $25,
which provides patrons with (8) 4 ounce samples from the various breweries on site. Each food
vendor will charge separately for their goods.
Families are invited to attend as well. There will be areas for water play in “Water World” and
plenty of space for lawn games and picnicking.
For more information about Indian Ladder Farms Cidery and Brewery, visit here.
The post Farming Man Fest at Indian Ladder Farms Grows into a Weekend-Long Event appeared first on NYS Music.
