Freight Yard Brewing
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Freight Yard Brewing a NYS licensed Farm Brewery since 2017.
This two story 7,000 sq ft building was built as a feed mill in 1921 and catered to the needs of area farmers until the mid 1980’s. The railroad would bring the mail, grain, feed, coal and 50 pound bags of pancake mix to serve growing farm families in Clay and Onondaga area.
The property was also the original site of the Cigarville Railroad Station. A NYS historic marker at the south edge of the property on Route 31 marks the stations original location. The station was moved and can be seen from the freight yard across the tracks at the Clay Historical Park.
The original freight yard had two sidings for the mill and the train station and one siding for the milk house (abandoned) and the Weller Canning sauerkraut factory (where CNY Wood Products is currently located). That factory unfortunately burned in 1930s. Before the sauerkraut factory, a cigar making factory stood on the same land, which is how the “Cigarville Station” was named.
We proudly display the original blueprints and drawing of the different configurations of the Clay Freight Yard. The old Freight Yard is now converted into Farmers Market green space, bordered by hops, a main ingredient in beer! The last of the tracks were removed in the late 70’s and eventually the mill property hosted a small engine repair shop, a veterinarian clinic and was greatly underutilized for decades. Today, the building is being revitalized and re-invented as a New York State Farm Brewery with a strong continued history of supporting New York State farms. This building is part of Historic Olde Clay Hamlet which contains Immanuel Lutheran Church (the oldest church in Clay) and Clay Historical Park with the Cigarville Station, Weller Barn, Log cabin and Welcome Center.
The 1,717 sq ft taproom is built with reclaimed materials. The tables and chairs were all hand crafted from either spent craft beverage barrels or reclaimed hardwood barn pieces. Original elements include the massive hot water radiators and the scales. The exterior scale was used to weigh trucks filled with grain, feed or coal. The interior mill scale used for mixing feed specially prepared for each customer. The taproom windows are all original and have been facing Route 31 since 1921. Building is true to original design but has been modernized for comfort, inspired by historical elements. Old sliding doors, hand carts and original nail bins from the old mill now contain Freight Yard Brewing store merchandise. The unique bar stools are made from freight car rocker springs. The same loading docks are back in use, and even an old rail from the siding is used as bar foot rest.
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