Subversive Malting & Brewing is a malthouse & brewery located on an old apple farm in New York State’s Hudson Valley. Subversive focuses on raw materials. While thy source yeasts from a variety of labs, they purchase grain and hops exclusively from their farming neighbors in New York State, and they malt those grains themselves. In fact, Subversive has been in business for sometime operating exclusively as a malting house, selling to other brewers in the region.
The malting house is located in Columbia county, and is currently not open to the public.
The company was founded by Zane Coffey and Max Henry Oceano, who were both raised in the Upper Hudson Valley, and immediately envisioned it as the home for Subversive when the initial business concept was formed. Zane had found a passion for home brewing while living in the Pacific Northwest, and brought that passion and some rudimentary equipment back East in the Fall of 2013. A hobby quickly turned into an obsession, and the Subversive boys entered the Ithaca College Business Plan Competition in April 2015. While they took the win (And $25,000 in prize money!), it took another 4 years of gaining industry experience, buying and building equipment, and scrimping and saving to open the doors!
Recently, though, Subversive opened a tasting room on Main Street, in Catskill, NY. The Beer Cafe is located at 414 Main Street, where they feature a rotating offering of our own beers, and a small menu of finger-foods, including rustic toast by the local Catskill Baking Company. Outside food is always allowed.
Zane tends to be the guy who stays are the production facility overseeing operations. Max tends to be the man behind the bar, and running the cafe, though both do their share of grunt work.
A map showing where they get all their ingredients from. Very cool.
Head Brewer Max, and friend Mariquita Reese (brewer at Captain Lawrence Brewing)
I love Subversive. One of the new wave of farm brewers making LOCAL beer from local ingredients. And because they started off as a malting house. Great beers Enjoyed several of their drafts. Catskill is growing as a destination. If you are making Catskill a stop on your agenda, then you cant say you've been there unless you stop at Subversive.