New legislation will allow these students to sell their own craft beer in Binghamton

Riccardo Monico, Binghamton Press & Sun Bulletin
·2 min read

Those attending events at SUNY Broome's Culinary and Event Center in downtown Binghamton will now have the chance to order beer made by students of the university.

New legislation will allow the school to sell and serve craft beverages created by students. The school's Farm Brewery License also requires at least 60% of all ingredients involved in production be grown or produced in New York until the end of 2027.

According to State Senator Lea Webb, the legislation will serve to help SUNY Broome students and faculty, but also the Southern Tier community and farmers.

The bar will serve student-made brews in the near future
The bar will serve student-made brews in the near future

"This very pivotal piece of legislation continues the state's investment in agritourism, and investing in bringing together both the farming and craft beverage industries," said Webb. "This continues to grow here in the Southern Tier and also across the state. This legislation will really help to advance the great work that SUNY Broome is doing with its culinary program, and will have impacts on our community at large."

SUNY Broome beer: How it will work

According to Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo, the idea for the legislation came from a conversation with the school's associate dean of hospitality, Michael Stamets, who pointed out the restrictions preventing SUNY Broome from serving student-made beer at events held in the Culinary Center on Exchange Street.

With this legal change, SUNY Broome can transport beer made on their main campus on Upper Front Street to the downtown location, and can now serve and sell it. According to Stamets, this also furthers students' learning when it comes to beer.

The Culinary and Event Center features state of the art culinary classrooms
The Culinary and Event Center features state of the art culinary classrooms

Stamets said previously, students learned how to produce the beer, but then it would be disposed of. Now, students can also learn how to operate beer on tap, using the same beer created at SUNY Broome. Previously, learning those skills would have required the school to buy outside beer — only to end up pouring it down the drain — which Stamets said was not economically feasible.

Christine Martey-Ochola, interim dean of SUNY Broome's Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Division, said the legislation could inspire other groups and schools to pursue their own initiatives.

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"What we see with this type of legislation is it gives us an opportunity to not only support students, but also local entrepreneurs," said Martey-Ochola. "Farmers can become more competitive, but we can also create an environment which is a net draw to the Southern Tier."

Lupardo said the bill provides new and exciting opportunities for students, who will have access to a completely new learning experience.

"We're very excited that students are learning about the craft beverage industry by brewing their own beer and distilling their own spirits," said Lupardo. "Students who are excited about this new industry not only can see how it is made, but also how it is served."

This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: SUNY Broome beer: Find student-brewed pours in downtown Binghamton