During March break my family spent some time in the Village of Ellicottville in New York. We have been there many times before just for a day of skiing, but had never stayed long enough to check out the town. What we found is that this picturesque place has much to offer in the way of food, beer and wine!
Inn at Holiday ValleyInn at Holiday Valley
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
The Inn at Holiday Valley was the perfect Ski-in, Ski-out base for us with many amenities including an indoor-outdoor heated pool and outdoor hot tub - perfect for après-ski. After our first day of skiing we met Steve, the inn bartender who will make you a “healthy” Bloody Mary with any of over 23 ingredients he has on hand. These include various herbs and spices such as cardamom, reported to reduce heartburn and help digest grains, and fennel which aids in digestion. Another intriguing choice is apple cider vinegar, considered by some a health tonic, it is also supposed to help with heartburn and indigestion.
Holiday Valley Winter Carnival SnobarHoliday Valley Winter Carnival Snobar
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
Winter Carnival weekend at Holiday Valley is always great fun with a Mardi Gras parade in Downtown Ellicottville and events throughout the Holiday Valley Resort. Among them is a scavenger hunt, balloon race, snow bowling, face painting, costume parade, cookouts, and their infamous Snobar at the base of Yodeler where you can grab a beer and catch a real crowd pleaser - the Dummy Downhill. Entrants construct dummies out of various materials inspired by a myriad of themes for a hilarious race including a jump down this ski run which is judged by the applause of onlookers. This year’s winner was R2-D2.
Winery of EllicottvilleWinery of Ellicottville
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
Throughout the week we found several good restaurants to dine at in town, a brewery, winery, and wine store. E-Ville Spirits offers a selection of wines from around the world and has a newly created vintage wine room containing highly rated wines. Located on the same block is the Winery of Ellicottville where we met Sam, one of their winemakers who walked us through a terrific tasting sampling some of their award winning wines which are all produced on site from locally grown grapes. Wines include Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, Traminette, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Lemberger, Syrah, and Noiret (pronounced nwahr-ay). Noiret is a hybrid red grape variety developed by Cornell University in 2006. Typical aromas are raspberry, mint, and pepper, and you will find fine tannins in wine produced with this grape. We greatly enjoyed their 2010 Syrah and yet to be released 2012 Noiret which is being aged in French Oak.
Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC)Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC)
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
The Ellicottville Brewing Company (EBC) not only produces a wide array of beer including ales, lagers, and stouts, but also has an awesome menu offering many meat items that they smoke right on premise in their Friedrick Rotisserie Smoker. We ordered their Jambalaya and Black Jack Oatmeal Stout: 5.4 ABV | 44 IBU, made with English malts & hops, they describe it as "dark, rich, smooth, silky, with a complex flavor and body, reminiscent of espresso and cocoa. Served on Nitro,” and Ale Braised Lamb Shank along with their Stainless Steel Obsession (which I highly recommend): 7.0 ABV | 77 IBU, "Combining a traditional pale malt bill with a modern and aggressive hop profile, this new age American IPA is carrying EBC into the future." The EBC makes all their beer at the Ellicottville location and they offer brewery tours on the weekends.
Dina's RestaurantDina's Restaurant
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
A friend recommended Dina’s Restaurant to us and we are so glad she did. Located in a historic building on the main street in town, our dinner in their cozy dining room downstairs was fantastic. We enjoyed fresh salads, a gourmet pizza by the name of Joe D. with Italian sausage, pepperoni, hot peppers and mozzarella with red sauce, and their Cowgirl Ribs which are dry-rubbed, slow roasted, then finished with their honey-chipotle sauce. They also have an excellent wine list. One night we went to the Gin Mill for beer (they have the largest selection of draught beer in Ellicottville) and live entertainment by Two Guys Drinkin’ Beer - good fun and there is no cover charge.
Two Guys Drinkin' Beer at the Gin MillTwo Guys Drinkin' Beer at the Gin Mill
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
Back at the resort we frequented John Harvard’s Brewery & Ale House located in the Tamarack Club which offers an impressive view of the valley. At John Harvard’s we ordered beer flights which are served on a miniature wooden ski holding five 4 ounce glasses of your choice. We chose the featured beers produced by the brewery: Foxfire Amber (my favourite) made with roasted Belgian crystal malts and grapefruit American hops, Tamarack Pale Ale, and Black Diamond Stout, and a couple EBC beers: Nut Brown and Blueberry Wheat which was adorned with blueberries, delicious!
John Harvard's Brewery & Ale HouseJohn Harvard's Brewery & Ale House
Photo credit: © C. Silversides
Needless to say I have found Ellicottville to be a wonderful place to visit and stay a while. Their 11th Annual Beer and Wine Festival is being held later this year on November 8th.
So there you have it: Ellicottville, Beer and Wine