Cream, red and pale. The gentlemen behind Stump City Brewing Co. will tell you just make beer.
It’s a philosophy as humble as their surroundings: a barn-like structure located behind co-founder Matt Sherman’s house. Along with his brother, Nicholas, father Jerry, and close friend Casey Oare, Matt built Stump City from the ground up with their own hands and those of many neighbors, friends and family willing to help.
Reclaimed wood floors, ceilings covered in scrap metal and the built-from-scratch bar provide the shelter for an intimate taproom that springs to life on the weekends when they are open.
They don’t just make beer here, though. Stump City is much bigger than its homebrew-grade one-barrel system or its space. They build a community here.
It’s a community that’s not necessarily a craft-focused crowd. They come – typically by word of mouth – for the connections that occur while the pints are flowing. There are plenty of conversation pieces strewn throughout – and a story behind nearly every one of them.
One patron chiseled the brewery’s logo into a wood disc sliced from a stump, appropriate enough. Another dropped off an original carving. Still another crafted some swag in the form of buttons. The place is filled with artifacts from Gloversville’s glory days courtesy of the Fulton County Museum.
Those items chronicle a past that revolved around leather, namely gloves. Stump City was a small portion of town not too far from the present-day brewery where timber was harvested for tanning to a drastic extent.
The Shermans chose the name as a nod to the past, but carry out a business plan that ultimately revives local pride. The idea here is that it’s only proper to drink beer from your own community.
The hops come from down the road and the malt comes fresh from less than 90 minutes away. Stump City spins the ingredients into simple ales as they receive them.
It’s substance over style here. The core cream, red and pale ales are fresh and always on tap. It’s intended for a blue-collar crowd, but it’s just as enjoyable for the connoisseur.
It’s just good beer crafted for a great community.
