CLIFTON PARK, N.Y. — Over the past five years with its home base just 10 miles North of Albany’s Capital District, Shmaltz Brewing Company has cultivated strong alliances with the finest barley/hop farmers, local purveyors and craft breweries throughout the state. As a homage to eastern Upstate New York, Shmaltz Brewing has proudly brewed an array of specialty beers under its hyper-local brands 518 and 838 using regionally grown grains in all of its releases. Today, Shmaltz officially announces the opening of their new home for the 518/838 brands and award-winning portfolio of craft beers, 518 Craft located in the historic downtown of Troy, NY. A Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting Ceremony will take place on Thursday, July 26 (4 pm) with local dignitaries such as Troy Mayor Patrick Madden, Katie Hammon (Executive Director, Downtown Troy BID), and others joining Jeremy Cowan (Shmaltz Brewing, Founder/Owner). Jeremy Cowan is available for interviews upon request.
One of New York State’s burgeoning craft-centric regions, the town of Troy is booming with an onslaught of new creative restaurants and community public houses which has established it as a highly sought after travel destination for the entire country to enjoy. 518 Craft is the latest development in Troy’s craft scene boasting a beautiful tasting room and bottle shop now set to officially open on Monument Square on Thursday, July 26 (Ribbon Cutting Ceremony).
For “Troy Night Out” (Friday, July 27), the Grand Opening Party at 518 Craft is a bash you won’t want to miss with beers from the New York State Brewers Association, live music by the Closet Classics (Lori and Kenny of Super 400) and Bohm Dialogue, delicious foods from artisanal purveyors, and 518 Craft will feature a month-long art instillation by Becca Giel. Breweries to include Rare Form, Empire Brewing, Community Beer Works, Big Slide Brewery, and others.
518 Craft showcases the breadth of Shmaltz’s portfolio including its latest seasonals, annual favorites, and vintage beers from their private archive. 518 Craft also serves as a premier haven for select releases from New York State craft breweries and farm brewers as well as the state’s top producers of spirits, wines and ciders. An extensive list of craft products are available, for both onsite tastings and to-go purchases.
“Troy has quickly become a place for enthusiasts across the craft spectrum and when I saw a retail space open up on Monument Square, I knew this would be the perfect new home for our 518/838 brands and our whole catalogue of craft beers,” says Jeremy Cowan, Founder/ Owner of Shmaltz Brewing Company. “With a wide selection of the best New York State products, 518 Craft is a one-stop-shop for the exceptional handcrafted beers, spirits and ciders being brewed across New York State. In my new home village of the last many years, I’m extremely excited to open our new tasting room in the heart of Troy, NY.”
“Shmaltz is a welcomed addition to the downtown business community,” said Katie Hammon, Executive Director of the Downtown Troy BID. “We are thrilled to watch them thrive with such passion and excitement for their community, and breathe life into a prominent corner here in downtown Troy.”
518 Craft is located at 200 Broadway in downtown Troy, NY.
About Shmaltz Brewing Company
Founder and owner Jeremy Cowan established Shmaltz Brewing in San Francisco in 1996. The first 100 cases of He’brew Beer were hand-bottled and delivered throughout the Bay Area from the back of his Grandmother’s Volvo. Shmaltz Brewing now sells He’brew Beer across 30 states, through 40 wholesalers and in nearly 5,000 retailers.
After 17 years of being an outspoken cheerleader for contract brewing, Cowan and staff opened their own New York State production brewery in 2013 in Clifton Park, 10 minutes north of Albany. Shmaltz’s home boasts a 50-barrel brewhouse with 30,000 barrels of annual capacity and packages a diverse and tasty variety of core and seasonal favorites in 12 and 22-ounce bottles and kegs. The Shmaltz Tasting Room is open six days a week (Tues-Sun) and offers tours, barrel-aged previews, beer to- go, and special releases.
RateBeer.com ranked Shmaltz as one of the “Top 100 Brewers in the World” in 2013, and the brewery recently brought home 1 platinum, 10 gold and 6 silver medals from the World Beer Championships.
In the past several years, Shmaltz Brewing introduced its line of upstate New York focused farm beers under the 518/838 Craft brand name, acquired and rebranded the Alphabet City Brewing beers, and signed an exclusive licensing agreement with CBS for a series of Star Trek beers distributed through its sales network. In 2018, Shmaltz also signed a national sales and marketing partnership with Artisanal brands, who represents renowned brewers such as Bosteels (Triple Karmeliet), La Trappe, and American craft brewers Fulton (MN) and Whiner (IL).