The dignitaries were in place, the shovels were in the ground, the firkin was tapped — and after years of planning, discussions and municipal approvals, construction has begun on Empire Brewing Company’s farmstead brewery on Rippleton Road.
The official groundbreaking ceremony occurred on a warm, sunny, summer-like morning last Friday, May 8, at the Empire Farmstead Brewery Site at 33 Rippleton Road. A temporary tent with seating had been set up, and one end of the structure held a podium and the traditional firkin cask of beer, both held up on bales of straw. Behind the tent, a charcoal grill was going to cook the free bratwurst that was served after the event.
At least 50 people attended the event — local residents and guests, Empire Brewing Company employees and local, regional and state officials.
In front of the tent, acres of green, grassy, dandelion-covered farmland sat empty, waiting for construction to begin.
“This is a very happy day for me and my family,” said David Katleski, founder and president of Empire Brewing Company, as he choked up with emotion. His two sons, Aiden and Lincoln, were on hand with their father to mark the occasion.
Katleski, a Cazenovia resident as well as founder and president of the New York State Brewers Association, gave a brief history of the growth of the craft brewing industry in New York state, and said that during the past 10 years, the number of craft breweries in New York has grown from 38 to 207.
“Oddly, we thought Empire would be the first farm brewery in New York state, but we’re the 68th,” he said.
Katleski’s and Empire’s road to Friday’s groundbreaking has been an arduous one. Plans for the facility were announced to the public in 2012; after multiple public hearings, some resident opposition and numerous municipal meetings, the site plan was approved by the village planning board in September 2013.
Since then, Katleski and his crew have been working hard to begin construction as soon as possible, and along the way have received multiple regional, state and federal grants to help with the project financing. Last summer, Empire made the official beer for the New York State Fair.
Once it is completed, the Empire Farmstead Brewery will boast a 60-barrel brewing system and a 28,000-square-foot facility. The property will grow hops, lavender, vegetables, herbs and fruits for use in the brewing process and to support the needs of Empire Brewing Company, which also has a restaurant in Armory Square in Syracuse. An apiary is being developed on the west end of the property to produce hop and lavender honey, which will also be used in the brewing process.
The facility, in addition to beer production, will also be used for educational purposes. Empire has partnered with SUNY Morrisville, whose students will work directly with Empire through the college’s new Brewing Studies program to help manage the facility and receive first-hand practical business experience in production brewing.
Situated on 22 acres of farm land, Empire will be the largest New York State Farmstead Brewery of its kind.
Officials from Empire State Development, START-UP NY, CenterState CEO and SUNY Morrisville all were present at the dedication ceremony, where they lauded New York state in general and Katleski in particular for bringing to fruition Cazenovia’s new farmstead brewery.
“David, congratulations,” said Howard Zemsky, president, CEO and commissioner for Empire State Development. “You were the champion of the farm brewing bill that made this possible. This is the culmination.”
Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO, said he was excited by Empire’s achievement, and called Katleski “among the most creative, energetic, honest and decent business leaders I know.”
Cazenovia Mayor Kurt Wheeler said the Empire Farmstead Brewery was a “very collaborative effort” by community leaders and stakeholders. He said the project was “the epitome of smart growth” that will capitalize on the Buy Local movement in Cazenovia.
“Thank you, David, for your vision,” Wheeler said. “We welcome Empire Farmstead Brewery with open arms. … It can’ get open soon enough.”
During his comments at the event, Katleski reminded the crowd that he lives in Cazenovia, and said he was proud to be a resident of this region and this state, and Empire believes as a business philosophy to keep its business as local as possible.
He also said that as his plans to create this farm brewery were underway, he was offered million-dollar deals from officials in the states of both Virginia and North Carolina to move his business there.
“I wouldn’t do it,” he said. “I am a New Yorker; I believe in New York.”
After the speeches were completed, Tim Butler, Empire’s brewmaster, tapped the firkin – the small cask filled with Empire Ale – to officially dedicate the event. Everyone in attendance was then invited to have some Empire beer and eat a brat cooked by Empire chefs.
With the ground now officially broken, Katleski said heavy machinery is scheduled to arrive on site the week of May 11 to begin the actual work. By the end of the year, he said, the farmstead brewery will be “up and operational and in business.”
For more information about Empire Brewing Company in general and the farmstead brewery in particular, visit empirebrew.com.
Jason Emerson is editor of the Cazenovia Republican. He can be reached at [email protected].
