Meet NY Beer Blogger Sarah Calandra

Our journey today takes us north to New York’s third largest city, Rochester. With a 95-foot waterfall in the center of downtown, great museums and historic sites, a long string of pubs and eats, it’s no wonder this is a memorable city to visit. If you are lucky, you can also find beer and lifestyle blogger Sarah Calandra taste testing her way around the city.

Beer blogger Sarah Calandra enjoying a flight of beers at her local Rochester brewery.
Sarah Calandra enjoying the last days of summer at @mortalisbrewing in Avon NY. 

@IPA: What inspired you to create an Instagram account to share your beer happenings?

Sarah: It really started as a way to share the fun things my husband, friends and I were doing in Rochester, NY…we just happened to be going to breweries most of the time! I’m lucky to live in a city that has a ton of brewery options.

@IPA: What do you take your pictures with? iPhone or what type of camera?

Sarah: iPhone! Just amped my game up and got the 11

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@IPA: What do you do when you are not posting on Instagram?

Sarah: I have a full-time job as a graphic designer. I also try to go to the gym as much as possible and love to cook!


IPAs on Cinco De Mayo at Other Half Brewing Rochester

@IPA: What are few of your favorite things to do in New York?

Sarah: Besides breweries, our Finger Lakes Wine Region was rated the best in the country (beat out Napa). There’s so much to do and see here. Living in a state that has all 4 seasons allows you to experience everything from boating and hiking in the summer months, pumpkin patches and crisp fall mornings in the autumn months, as well as snowshoeing and skiing in the winter!

@IPA: Top 3 craft beer spots in New York (or your area) that you would recommend?

You have to go to the Genesee Brew House and Rohrbach if you’re in town. As far as microbrews…Mortalis, Other Half, and Three Heads are some of the best around.

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@IPA: What is one bucketlist brewery that you want to visit?

Sarah: Treehouse brewery for sure…it’s not super far away! Just have to get a weekend trip to visit and explore.

Medusa | Dragon Fruit and Passion Fruit isn’t too sour, and at 4 ABV it’s definitely crushable.

@IPA: Favorite beer at the moment?

Sarah: I fluctuate with the seasons. Summer is IPA time for me…so seeing as were in winter, I’ve been digging spicy warmers. The best one I’ve had so far has to be Kacey’s Kristmas Ale from Rohrbach.

@IPA: Favorite style of IPA? (If you like IPAs)

Sarah: Probably DIPAS (Double IPAs) from my beer post history. I love them hazy and citrusy with a high enough ABV to avoid overindulging.

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@IPA: Favorite nature spot or best view in New York ?

Sarah: Anywhere in the Adirondacks is going to give you some amazing views of the mountains. Going in the fall is the perfect time to see the leaves changing and you won’t be sweating your butt off on your hikes.

Enjoying an IPA at Lock 32 Brewing Company which is situated right on the Erie Canal in historic Pittsford New York, you can enjoy your beer and gaze at the beautiful scenery.

@IPA: What album or playlist have you been listening to?

Sarah: I am really into NF right now. I think it just depends on the mood I’m in!

NF’s latest album “The Search”

@IPA: What can we expect to see in 2020?

I’m hoping to be able to balance posting more beer content with the upstate NY exploration posts. I’ve partnered with a local Inn that will hopefully expand into more finger lakes food and bev partnerships! Stay tuned!!