Woodland: New York’s newest farm brewery opens near Utica [Video]

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Owners of the new Woodland Hop Farm and Fermentation brewery in Marcy, near Utica: Keith Redhead, Nick Natishak and A.J. Spado.

(Woodland Hop Farm and Brewery)

MARCY, NY — It started with three school teachers who discovered a common bond in their homebrewing hobby while talking during their lunch breaks.

It’s starting with a brew house and a tasting room offering pints and tasting flights. Soon, it will also have its own working hop farm. That will help qualify it for tax breaks and other incentives given by the state to breweries who pledge to use an increasing percentage of New York grown or produced ingredients in their beers.

Woodland is run by A.J. Spado and Nick Natishak, who teach at Rome Free Academy, and Keith Redhead, a former RFA teacher now in the Oriskany school district.

“We …