Two years ago, what might’ve otherwise been an unremarkable real estate transaction in Albany’s Center Square neighborhood tumbled into the New York Times’s estimable spotlight. That’s because the unassuming 19th century brownstone at issue was no ordinary home; rather — and far more notoriously — it was the final resting place of Prohibition Era Albany’s most notorious gangster.
New Scotland Spirits founder Jesse Sommer is a former U.S. Army paratrooper and officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. He was twice awarded the bronze star for combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. Responsible for the “feel” of his company’s brands, Jesse mines the Town of New Scotland’s history and culture for inspiration. At … Read more
New Scotland Spirits reinvigorates Albany’s cocktail culture By James A. Peterson Leave it to Jesse Sommer, the combatively loquacious founder of New Scotland Spirits, to turn his Tasting Room’s hours of operation into a political statement. “[We’re open] 11am to 11pm, every day of the week,” he says, hand balled into a fist with … Read more
Fine Craft Beer and History at its Best Even after all the years away from her family’s farm, the idea of a crumbling barn still bothered Brenda Schworm. The fourth-generation Duanesburg native left New York to join the United States Air Force, where she served 23 years working in communications and computers before retiring as … Read more
The clouds appeared in formation on a late spring afternoon at Allied Brewing Company in Altamont. They floated above the adjacent Orchard Creek Golf Course while neighboring groups of clouds cast shadows over the Helderberg Escarpment. Beer lovers sipped on cold pints of a variety of craft beers or hard ciders while taking in the … Read more
By James A. Peterson I’m at Albany’s New Scotland Spirits Tasting Room, which just celebrated its grand opening with a ribbon cutting a couple weeks ago. With me is Mark Brogna, the venue’s landlord and already its preeminent regular, along with his partner John McLeland and friend Julianne Burnham. Even though the Tasting Room is … Read more
With Memorial Day now upon us, and the 4th of July just around the corner, Capital Region residents are back to firing up the grill, cooking up their favorite summer dishes, and enjoying a cold beer by the barbecue. And while Price Chopper & Market 32 have been long known to have all a superior … Read more
Yes. True Brew is a “Craft Beer Lifestyle Magazine,” and we love craft beer. Yes, we are here to shed light on and support the emerging craft beer scene here in the Capital Region. And, YES, we do at times enjoy other non-beer drinks. I personally love a couple of fingers of whiskey after a … Read more
John Curtin and Jesse Sommer, owners of the Albany Distilling Company and New Scotland Spirits, respectively, are two aspiring “whiskey magnates” situated here in Albany County. Sommer claims his company wouldn’t exist without the encouragement and technical assistance Curtin has provided him, but Curtin insists he’s just paying forward the support he once received from … Read more
With Superbowl Sunday now upon us, and Springtime just around the corner, Capital Region residents are excited to be hosting parties and looking forward to the days where we can fire back up the grill. And while Price Chopper & Market 32 have been long known to have all a superior meat department, fresh, locally-grown … Read more