ROSCOE - Lt. Governor Kathy Hochul toured the Roscoe Beer Company Tuesday afternoon with brewmaster Josh Hughes, in a visit that was prompted by the brewery earning a tie for the top prize at the Taste New York Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge held in May. New York is now home to approximately 321 microbreweries, farm breweries, and restaurant breweries, up from only 50 total breweries in 2011, according to Governor Cuomo.

Hughes, who is also head of operations, told Hochul about how the business launched in 2013 when it was splitting its building with an electronics company before it later occupied the entire space.

“We are very much a seasonal, tourist-type town with many second homeowners but our weekends are always busy (beyond summer months),” Hughes said, noting that this is a year-round destination. He added that they recently added its beer garden to accommodate overflow crowds (The brewery also this year opened an outpost at Liberty's Downtown Barn).

“People that come in want to come back,” Hughes told Hochul. “We want to create a quality experience for people because it's not just about experiencing us it's about experiencing the area.” He also credited year-round locals for their patronage and support of the business.

Hughes showed the Lieutenant Governor the high tech machines in explaining the brewing and distribution process. Near the end of the process he said its bottling line machine can fill “1,800 to 2,000 bottles an hour.”

When asked by Hochul about distribution, Hughes said they distribute to 14 counties throughout the state.

“We found that shifting local (after initially distributing outside New York) helped us to strengthen. Our customer base is primarily local.. so we tailored our sales network much closer to home. He said the brewery's products are now old at about 750 locations, which clearly impressed Hochul. “We play a good game for a small brewery,” Hughes said. “It's exciting to know we are making waves in the industry. “

Sullivan County Manager Joshua Potesek, who attended the tour, said: “They (Roscoe Beer Company) have done a great job in Roscoe. I couldn't be happier for them.”

Asked how the county helps small businesses like Roscoe Beer, Potosek said: “We got the big fish in the casino but our day to day jobs are helping businesses like this with revolving loans or helping them apply for grant funds.” He pointed that the County's Planning Department, Industrial Development Agency, the Partnership for Economic Development and the Chamber of Commerce along with local business associations all play a role in helping small businesses across the county.

Town of Rockland Supervisor Robert Eggleton, also on hand, said people are increasingly realizing that the Sullivan County Catskills are a great destination regardless of a resort/casino coming in March 2018. Part of the appeal of Roscoe, he said, is that people can easily walk to the various attractions and to its business district.

On her tour of the Roscoe Beer Company, Lieutenant Governor Hochul said, “Governor Cuomo has made it a top priority to make it easier than ever for breweries and wineries to sell and promote their products across the state, and that has allowed some of our smaller upstate cities and towns to flourish. The Roscoe Beer Company, a Taste NY favorite, is a great example of this success.”