Ellicottville Brewing Company - Ellicottville Bock

Pouring a bright golden-copper hue with good clarity and a persistent cap of foam, this lager beckons with aromas of light toast and mild caramel and a floral and citrusy hop overtone. The first thing we noticed in the flavor department was the very fragrant and expressive hop character with citric, floral, herbal, woody, and even tea-like notes welling up to take a prominent seat on stage. Ellicottville has brewed this beer more as a Maibock or Helles (light/pale) Bock, as opposed to a darker and toastier standard Bock, resulting in a more crackery and pale bready profile that allows the Slovenian Celeia hops to shine – a hop that's related to Styrian Golding but with a bit more of an orange-ish character. For food pairings, how can we not think German? Soft & doughy pretzels, grilled bratwurst with potato salad, and schnitzel come to mind. Or, try something with a bit of breadiness, a bit of spice, and a bit of sweetness, like a Hawaiian pizza. Prost!

Ellicottville Brewing Company was started by Allen and Walter Yahn and Peter Kreinheder out of a desire to open a family business. The inspiration struck while on a ski trip to Vail, CO, where craft brewing got an early foothold. There was the realization that Ellicottville, sometimes referred to as the “Aspen of the East,” would be the perfect location for a craft brewery and grill. Their instincts were proven right, and over 20 years later EBC is a thriving craft brewery with a devoted following in Ellicottville and throughout western New York.

The original brewpub location in Ellicottville was expanded in 2013 and now boasts a German-style beer garden along with a restaurant and brewhouse. Additionally, EBC has three other locations in western New York state: EBC West in Fredonia, near Lake Erie; their Bemus Point location, which opened in 2016 along the shores of Chautauqua Lake; and a brand new location in Little Valley which is due to open to the public this year. This latter location will offer an outdoor concert venue, a beer garden for the summertime, and winter activities perfect for snowmobilers riding the Pat McGee Trail. Just as cool, in our opinion, will be their all-ages Craft Brewing Science Center, with exhibits delving into the four main components of beer – malts, hops, water, and yeast – along with brewing equipment and more.

For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, check them out at ellicottvillebrewing.com.