CHATHAM, NEW YORK

Inside a spacious white shopping center-like corner pub, CHATHAM BREWING resides in the heart of Chatham’s Main Street. On top of crafting diversified local beers, Chatham’s also well-known for its ‘build your own burgers.’ Despite its inconspicuous blue collar rusticity, casual smalltown appeal and olden yellow wood paneling, the cement-floored, maroon-walled microbrewery operates a sizable backspace canning line, distributing throughout New York.

The left side main space features a 12-seat U-shaped bar where 24-plus draughts get tapped and 3 TV’s are situated. A few windowed front tables, a wood-benched atrium and a few booths add further seating. Exposed pipes hang from the black art deco ceiling and a few semi-private 4-seat wood tables reside in the rear.

I had quaffed a few Chatham brews in the can previously (all reviewed in Beer Index) before visiting March ’25 on a Friday at noon. Took home Blitzkriek Belgian Quadrupel for good luck.

Dry maize and corn-sugared starching fortified light lager, Local Hero, leaving a mild lemon spritz.

Lightly wood-smoked maple syruping glazed toasted amber graining of red ale, Maple Amber, a mildly spice-hopped moderation.

Smoky peat surfaced in the dewier Irish Red Ale, a richer grained, somewhat fruitier turnabout.

Zestful soft-toned Imperial IPA, Nectaron Of The Gods, placed peachy nectarine sweetness across lemony grapefruit bittering and dry pine resin.

Another tropical Imperial IPA, Mango Bombogenesis, retained salted mango resonance as mild yellow grapefruit bittering and floral perfumed spicing drifted above buttery pale malts.

Re-tasted Dry Irish Stout, in its draught (instead of canned) version. Its dry Black Patent malts left smoothly creamed coffee nuttiness upon its bittersweet dark chocolate frontage.

A bit dry for and Imperial Stout, Northern Comfort stayed bitter as dark-roast coffee, black cocoa powder and raw molasses coalesced.