Features
Local business spotlight: Beer Here
By Ben Fields ’15
May 1, 2015
Not too long ago, if Hamilton students wanted to find a good selection of beer, they would have to travel out to Marcy. But that is not the case anymore. In December 2014, Brett Levitt opened his new store Beer Here in the Crossroads Plaza in New Hartford. Levitt says that his store is there to provide excellent beer for both the expert and the novice. “This is all for the love of beer,” Levitt says.
The store itself features beers from around the world, but places a special emphasis on local craft beers. When you walk into the store, you are met with shelves of different beers sorted by location. Most beers come from New York, though, with a great deal from within 100 miles. Here you can find not only the traditional Saranac from Utica, but also Middle Ages Brewery from Syracuse or Southern Tier from Lakewood, NY.
The interesting thing about Levitt’s store comes from his own passion for beer. This is not just a place to buy beer, but it’s a place to experience the joy that beer can bring. Levitt and his team of self-described aficionados want to help their customers find new and exciting beers to try. He says, “To me and the team, this is one fun form of exploration.” Instead of going to Hannaford and perusing their beer aisle, this is an opportunity to learn, explore and have a conversation about beer. “It’s about offering your favorite brews next to that microbrewery craft lager you had that weekend out of town but can’t find anywhere around here. Therefore, ‘beer here’,” says Levitt.