Distance:
2 miles, from the Uptown Stockade District to the Midtown Arts District
Highlights:
On this 2-mile stretch we’re going to hit three breweries:
- Keegan Ales — Home of what The New York Times has called one of the best stouts in North America
- West Kill Supply — The Kingston outpost of the Catskills’ West Kill Brewing
- Kingston Standard — Because nothing goes with beer, or running, like unshucked oysters
Starting Line:
Rough Draft Bar & Books isn’t exactly a brewery, but it does have an extensive local beer selection for sipping while you browse their shelves. Additionally, it’s only a couple blocks away from one of Kingston’s municipal parking lots at 3 North Front Street. There’s also an Ulster County Area Transit bus stop nearby at the intersection of Wall Street and North Front Street.
The bookstore is notable, too, for being on an intersection known as the “four corners.” Considered the oldest intersection in the United States, all four stone houses on each corner were built prior to the Revolutionary War. Across the street from Rough Draft, the free Persen House Museum is also worth a visit.
Route
Kingston was the first capital city of New York, and the Uptown Stockade District has some of the oldest buildings in the state, even beyond the four corners. Head east on John Street. You should see The Mohican sign on your left—a remnant from a chain of markets in the 1800s. (Now, it’s owned by Gerald Celente; but that’s another rabbit hole.)
Wall Street is the next intersection. If you take a short detour to your right, the Old Dutch Church will be on your left. Its plot is where the Dutch Colonial village of Wiltwyck originally stood in the 1600s, and the first iteration of the church was built in 1660.
In another block, the Senate House State Historic Site will be on your left at the intersection with Fair Street. It’s been a museum since the 1800s, having been used in the 1700s by New York’s first Senate.
At the next intersection, make a right on Clinton Avenue. In four blocks, make a left on St. James Street. Keegan Ales will be on your right. Order their award-winning Mother’s Milk and finish digesting the history lessons of the Uptown Stockade District; we’ve transitioned to Midtown, or the Arts District.
Not only home to craft beer and food trucks, Keegan Ales is also the site of several O+ Festival murals. Pronounced “O Positive,” the annual festival creates large-scale murals each October all around the city. Printed maps of the pieces can be picked up at the brewery, and “Up is Down” by ENZ is right out front painted on a retired brewery fermenter.
Make a right out of Keegan Ales and then another right onto Broadway. In about half a mile, West Kill Supply will be on your left just off of Field Court.
It’s highly recommended, though, to make a pit stop at Tortillería y Cafetería Guatemalteca Har-Sinaí before you get there. It’ll be on your right at the intersection with Van Buren Street. They serve the most incredible homemade tortillas to-order.
Half a mile past West Kill Supply on Broadway, Zaborski Emporium will be hard to miss on your right. An “architectural salvage store,” the warehouse contains 40,000 square feet of treasure hunting. If you have time to sort through four floors of antiques mixed with ephemera, their prices will be worth it.
Finish Line:
Back on Broadway, in three blocks, turn left on Foxhall Avenue. Then, make a right on Jansen Avenue. Kingston Standard is on the left. Partially owned by the founder of Oyster Party, their seafood offerings are particularly excellent for a brewery. If it’s available, the smoked Rauchbier lager is a favorite can to-go.
To get back to North Front Street, there’s another Ulster County Area Transit bus stop around the corner at Broadway and East Chester Street.
Not Tired Yet?
From Kingston Standard, connect to the Kingston Point Rail Trail portion of the Empire State Trail. The trail continues on to Kingston’s third district, the waterfront area known as Downtown or Rondout. This route is part of the Empire State Trail: Downtown Kingston, NY map.
