New York is now home to 1,005 craft beverage manufacturers operating in 60 counties across the state. 

Since the first Beer, Wine Spirits and Cider Summit in 2012, the number of businesses producing craft beverages has more than doubled, while the number of farm-based manufacturers has increased by over 150 percent, state officials said. 

New York now ranks in the top five states in the U.S. for its number of craft beverage producers in every category. The state ranks first in U.S. for the number of hard cider producers, second in craft distillers, third in breweries, and fourth in the country for the total number of wineries officials said.

“The growth of New York’s craft beverage industry continues to boost local economies throughout the entire state,” Gov Andrew Cuomo said. “By working to remove barriers to expansion, we have helped foster new opportunities for small businesses and will continue to support breweries, wineries, cideries and distilleries as they develop their brands, create new jobs and drive tourism all over New York.”

Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness of Malta has acquired Cocozzo Physical Therapy PC of Malta.

Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness was established in August 2013 and opened a second branch in Queensbury in 2015. They currently staff six physical therapists.

The former owner of Cocozzo Physical Therapy, Amanda Cocozzo, PT, was hired as a full-time practicing clinician at the Malta branch of Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness. 

Fall class registration at the Academy for Lifelong Learning (A.L.L.) begins July 16. 

Classes start the week of Sept. 10 with the term ending Nov. 8. Fall term class registration and membership application brochures can be found in area libraries, the Academy office at 113 West Ave, Saratoga Springs, or at www.esc.edu/all. Registration forms are being accepted for open classes through the beginning of the term. Some classes will sell out. 

Call the Academy office for class availability at 587-2100, ext. 2415.

Thirty-one different non-credit classes are offered Monday through Friday during the day and cover a wide range of genre including: history, art, literature, current world issues, health, religion, writing, science, and economics. Volunteer-led classes typically meet for two hours once a week for eight weeks. 

By R.J. DeLuke

Shmaltz Brewing Co. has sold its Clifton Park brewery assets to Rich Buceta, owner of Queens-based SingleCut Beersmiths

Shmaltz owner Jeremy Cowan said the company will be in Clifton Park until the end of the year. He noted that the tasting room the company opened recently in Troy will also stay under his ownership and continue to offer beers that he  brews and brands.

He said he Capital District “has been a fantastic place to call home and will continue to be.”

Shmaltz has sold only the equipment and the facility but retains full ownership and control of all its brands under the Shmaltz Brewing and He’brew Beer lineup as well as its new upstate New York 518/838 Craft line, its recently acquired and redesigned Alphabet City brands, and its exclusive licensing agreement with CBS for the line of custom Star Trek-themed beers.

By Susan E. Campbell

The Capital District’s fastest-growing premium coffee roaster, Death Wish Coffee, has reached another milestone. This month, Death Wish Keurig Cups hit the shelves at 1,600 Walmart stores, bringing to more than 2,300 the number of retail locations where consumers can buy what is billed as “the world’s strongest coffee.”

“At the beginning of 2017, our coffee was in roughly 350 stores and our focus in 2018 is on increasing our retail partners,” said Mike Brown, owner and founder of the company.

Brown started Death Wish about four years into his coffee shop venture, Saratoga Coffee Traders, when he found himself “up to the neck in debt.”

By R.J. DeLuke

The Saratoga Performing Arts Center has hosted a renowned jazz festival since 1978, started by the legendary promoter George Wein. It runs on a weekend in June and brings in music legends and on-the-rise stars.

It has also brought in legions of tourists over the years that occupy hotels, eat in local restaurants and shop in downtown Broadway.

In May, at a press conference at Caffe Lena, SPAC, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce officials and others announced the addition of Friday night events in the city that will add to the enjoyment for both festival-goers and local people as well. It will involve the business community and help grow the buzz for the festival.

By Jill Nagy

A $20,000 planning grant will help the Village of Schuylerville develop plans to spruce up its downtown.

The funds, in the form of a New York Main Street technical assistance grant, will be used to “create a vision” for the village and create a proposal for a larger grant for public and private improvements, according to village Mayor Dan Carpenter.

Schuylerville, a small village with a small tax base, has no funds of its own for planning department, Carpenter noted. The money will be used to retain grant writing experts Flatley Read LLC to help identify appropriate projects. They will work with members of the business community, many of whom are already involved in the process, to learn what they need.