The Woodstock-to-Saugerties Craft Beverage Trail: 10 Stops in One Loop

Route 28 cuts through the heart of Ulster County, and in the last decade it's become something else entirely: one of the densest stretches of craft beverages in the Hudson Valley. Breweries, distilleries, cideries, and meaderies are clustered along this single road from Woodstock all the way up to Saugerties. You could do the whole thing in a long afternoon — or stretch it over a full weekend and be grateful for every stop.

Woodstock and the Mountain Side

Woodstock Brewing (Woodstock) — A small-batch brewery known for English-style ales and German lagers served in their taproom on Mill Hill Road. The vibe is unhurried and the beer is honest.

Tinker College (Woodstock) — Woodstock Brewing's experimental sister brand, pushing into hazy IPAs and barrel-aged stouts. Often available at the main taproom or local events.

The Middle Stretch: Phoenicia to Kingston

Catskill Brewery (Kingston) — The county's flagship craft brewery, with a taproom in the Rondout District and a broad lineup that ranges from crisp pilsners to juicy IPAs. They also do collaboration beers with other Catskills breweries.

Arrowood Farms Brewery & Distillery (Accord) — A sustainably-minded farm brewery that grows its own malting barley and botanicals on-site. Their saison-style ales are farmhouse beers in the truest sense. Also produces small-batch spirits.

Bad Seed Cider Company (Highland) — A cidery making clean, dry craft ciders from Hudson Valley apples. Taproom is bright and family-friendly with food trucks on weekends.

Saugerties and the Hudson Side

Catskill Mountain Moonshine (Saugerties) — A small distillery making unaged whiskey, vodka, and flavored moonshines in traditional copper pot stills. Tasting room is casual and fun.

Catskill Distilling Company (Saugerties area) — Produces vodkas, gins, and whiskeys from locally-sourced ingredients. Worth the stop for a tasting flight.

The Detours Worth Taking

From Kingston, take a ten-minute drive to Catskill Wineries on the Hudson for lakefront tastings.

The Loop

Start in Woodstock with a tasting at Woodstock Brewing. Drive through Phoenicia to Arrowood Farms in Accord — stop for a pour of their saison and a walk around the farm. Head north to Kingston for lunch in the Rondout, then a flight at Catskill Brewery. Continue up the Hudson to Saugerties for the final three stops.

Total drive time: about 90 minutes without stops. Total day with stops: a great weekend afternoon.

Bring a designated driver. Or take the whole thing over two days and stay at one of the B&Bs along the way. Either way, you'll taste your way across Ulster County.