E-Malt.com News article: USA, NY: Amber Lantern Brewing Company becomes the first craft brew pub in Warsaw

Tommy Streamer is the owner of Amber Lantern Brewing Company located at 44 N. Main St., Warsaw. When Streamer was thinking about buying the then named Amber Lantern, he began thinking about making it a brew pub, Wyoming County Free Press reported on June 3.

“They’re delicious,” Streamer said. “Craft beer has allowed people to explore new beer and styles. I have an extensive home-brewing system at home; brewing has been my passion for about 10 years,” said Streamer.

Streamer is going to be using an all-grain brewing process. There is an extract that can be used, but the pub owner doesn’t want to go that route. Instead, ALBC is going to be using 95 percent local products from area farms to craft their beer.

“The only thing that didn’t come from New York was the yeast and couple ounces of hops,” Streamer said. “The grains come from Ted and Patty Hawley, Batavia. Most of our hops came from Fillmore and Kendell. It’s going to have a WNY flavour. The malt that Ted is making right now is brilliant; it has a nice nutty sweetness to it.”

“It’s exciting,” said former Amber Lantern owner Ron (Smitty) Smith. “I can't remember when there was craft brew in Warsaw. Glad it's a first in this town.”

Smith owned the pub for 25 years.

“I can't believe he did this,” Kristi Streamer said. “It's such a big undertaking. To brew a craft beer and at a commercial level.”

“It’s a big relief,” said ALBC owner Tommy Streamer. “There is still a lot of work to do. Now, I really have to buckle down and get it going.”

“It’s a thrill because it's been a passion of mine for so long,” Streamer said. “And to now do this on a commercial level....”

Amber Lantern Brewing Company (ALBC), formerly known as the Amber Lantern, became a brewing company this year. Streamer bought the place in 2011. While the Amber Lantern has been at the North Main Street location, Warsaw, since the late 1940s, early ‘50s, it was once known as the 44 Club and was then only a bar/restaurant. Today, the establishment is known as a brew pub.

Streamer said that nobody wants to talk about the water or the yeast, but they are an important part of the process. It’s not just about the barley and the hops. There are other nuances to the process, but by and large changing the yeast will change the taste.

“Crafting beer is more of an art form because there are so many variables,” Streamer said. “The flavour changes from year to year because of the changes in the ingredients. Subtle changes in the soil or weather will change the flavour from year to year.


05 June, 2015