ELDRED, NY — One thing you might not think of when thinking about making beer (or staring into your beer glass, pondering its flavor and froth), is that beer is mostly water. So the water used to make it, one would think, is of utmost importance. When Bill Lenczuk and his wife Cindy started Shrewd Fox Brewery in Eldred, he knew the importance of water in brewing beer. The brewery is located in the old post office, and Lenczuk said, “The well water is well suited for making beer.” Bingo.

That was one year ago; he opened Shrewd Fox Brewery on July 4th weekend in 2015. Going into his second year, Lenczuk, a Navy veteran and World Trade Center 9/11 recovery and restoration worker, says this past year has been a success, and he looks forward to the year ahead being even bigger and better. The brewery offers eight to nine beers on tap and two ciders. “We have a broad range of beer from summer German wheat beers, to porters, Irish ale and seasonal beers.” Their upcoming seasonal beer is a pumpkin beer perfect for fall (find out more in Autumn, the guide to the Upper Delaware inserted in this issue). All the brews are named after local lakes and towns, such as the Yulan Honey Wheat (Hefeweizen), Highland Steam Lager and the Mohican Bourbon Oak Cask Ukrainian Porter.

Local is a big word for Lenczuk. All the ingredients are U.S. grown, many from New York State and about 25% from the area (including that clean, local water). In addition to local ingredients, the brewery also gives back to the local economy and ecology. Lenczuk explains they give spent grain to farmers. “Nothing goes to the waste room.”

All the beer is brewed on site. Lenczuk has been brewing for 15 years and he wanted to open something locally. He has had a summer home in the area since 1975. He and his wife moved here, to Glen Spey, full-time in 2007. “More people are coming to the area,” Lenczuk noted. “It’s a destination.”