4 Best Sights in The Catskills, New York

In a newly built facility on the edge of the hamlet, this brewery's brilliant red building isn't just eye-catching, it's also eco-friendly, getting much of its power from solar panels. The zinc-topped bar is a great place to sample a little of each of the ales and lagers on tap, or to fill a growler to take home. The names of the brews couldn't be more evocative: some of our favorites include Floodwatch, Ball Lightning, and Devil's Path---named for the toughest trail through nearby Catskills State Park. Weekend events often include live music and high spirits.

In a modern building that follows the lines of the old-fashioned architecture of the surrounding area, the Catskill Distilling Company makes vodka, gin, bourbon, and other spirits right on the premises using water from local reservoirs and grains purchased from a nearby mill. The copper stills are visible through a glass wall from the tasting room, where you can sample the goods. (You can also try them at the Dancing Cat Saloon, an eatery owned by the same folks.) The Art Deco-style bar was made for the 1939 World's Fair in New York City. The shaded deck is a great place to kick back after a day of sightseeing.

In a beautifully restored 1929 building that was once home to the Roscoe Fire Department, this distillery still has the huge garage doors that used to house the fire trucks as well as state-of-the-art equipment for producing small batches of award-winning vodka, gin, and whisky. Head in past the oak barrels lining the entrance hall and you'll find a cozy tasting room where you can sample the distillery's claim to fame. Free tours are given whenever there's a crowd, and it's fun to see the gleaming chrome vats alongside the building's handsome wood stairway and tin ceilings.

Roscoe is nicknamed Trout Town, U.S.A., which accounts for the rainbow trout on the label of all the beers produced by the Roscoe Beer Company. It's a friendly place, with a tree-shaded spot out front where there are often concerts during the warmer months. Inside is a fireplace, cozy leather couches, and lots of beer on tap. You can stop by the shop for a growler of one of the limited-release beers, including the Rainbow Red Ale.