Located at 4 Battle Street in Dansville, New York, Battle Street Brewery occupies a historic train depot that was transformed into a modern brewery in 2017.
In 1870, the Dansville and Mount Morris Railroad began operation, a 15-mile standard-gauge short-line that ran independently until it was sold in 1985. After that, the depot sat unused. Long in need of restoration, the depot underwent extensive renovation to re-emerge as Battle Street Brewery. The renovation preserved many original features, creating a unique blend of history and craftsmanship that renews the glories of the past and kindles new friendships.
GET TO KNOW: THE ACOMBS
Tell us your story and what motivated you to start a brewery in Livingston County.
The goal of creating Battle Street Brewery was to return the depot to a Dansville landmark. Heavy construction started in 2016, when the original structure was stabilized to prevent it from collapsing. Artifacts from the original structure were re-purposed: creating tables out of the original depot doors, using old steel rails for the bar area footrest, utilizing salvaged semi-truck trailer flooring for wall paneling, and creating the bar out of donated Dansville vintage suitcases. The Hart family's photo albums line the walls while providing a pictorial history to visitors.
The brewery offers 12 craft beers on tap, along with local wines, ciders, and spirits. Guests can enjoy indoor and outdoor seating, including a bandstand for live events.
What’s your favorite thing on the menu right now? Any go-to food/beer pairings?
Our menu features a lot of great food. The smoked chicken wings and pizza are some of the best around. We have specials throughout the week that pair well with any beer, wine, cider, or non-alcoholic options.
What sets your beer apart from others?
Battle Street Brewery (BSB) beers are intentionally brewed with as many local ingredients as possible. Our cream ales, especially, feature local fruits in season. We've also attempted to name our beers after local features such as the Castle Brick Red, Stony Brook Cream Ales, and of course our own Crooked Roof DIPA. The roof is crooked and we can't do anything about it. We have a couple guest taps and some domestic beers to suit anyone's taste.
What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned as entrepreneurs? What advice would you give to someone?
The most important lesson we have learned is that there will always be challenges to deal with. Nothing will ever run smooth all the time. Persevere and listen to your clientele, they know what they want and chances are, their likes will make your decisions easier.
What’s the best thing about being in Livingston County?
The best thing for us is the incredible support of LivCo. It seems something is always out there. Being a lifelong resident of this County, I've seen and experienced the great hometown feel. The people around here are unmatched and have helped us with their support through a lot. Being a small business owner is tough enough, but with the support we get from this County and its people, we'll make it.
What’s coming up for Battle Street this Fall & Winter?
The second Saturday in October is our Oktoberfest celebration day. We have lots of local vendors setting up at our facility with their specialties like cider donuts, flowers, pumpkins, tastings, and hopefully, the Happy Wanderers will show up again with some good ol’ German songs. We are also planning another destination/pairing meal with our partners at the Canaseraga Soup Company. Stay tuned for event details!
Grab friends, come down, and experience these brews
- Nitro Stout: O’Shay’s Oatmeal Stout is now served carbonated with nitrogen, which gives an even creamier texture and thick head. Made with flaked oats and crystal malt for a bit of sweetness and coffee notes.
- Castle Brick Red Ale: This Irish Red Ale tastes of toffee, roasted grain and caramel. This is a light-bodied beer has a clean, medium dry finish.
- Tren Loco Mexican Style Lager: This light-bodied Mexican style lager is flavored with grapefruit peel, lime peel, and agave nectar, similar to a Paloma, the national drink of Mexico. Made with 2-row malt, Carahell malt and flaked corn. Hopped with Azacca hops.
- Hoppy Conductor NEIPA: Double Dry Hopped, giving it a blast of grapefruit and lemon upfront, followed by tropical and floral notes with a silky and smooth finish.
- Crooked Roof DIPA: This hazy DIPA is made with a blend of two - row wheat and crystal malt - for color, body, and flavor. Generously hopped with a blend of nine hop varieties and has an herbal aroma with bright floral and citrus notes.