Warwick is a town in Orange County, New York, about 50 miles northwest of New York City. The town, about an hour north of the Montclair area, is known for its abundance of outdoor pursuits and beautiful nature, and many visitors venture to the area for activities like biking, hiking, golfing, swimming, boating, and horseback riding. While there are so many fun and relaxing ways to spend time in Warwick, two spots are ideal for a summer day: Warwick Valley Winery + Distillery and the Warwick Drive-In Theater (with a pit stop at an ice cream shop in between). Read on to get the low-down on how to spend a day at the winery + drive-in theater in Warwick, New York.
The Winery + Distillery | 114 Little York Road
Warwick Valley Winery + Distillery, located at 114 Little York Road, opened in 1990 as an apple tree farm and a few years later started serving Doc’s Cider, making it the oldest cidery in New York State. The owners quickly developed a passion for making wines and ciders, which led to the opening of the first distillery in the Hudson Valley since Prohibition. They believed they could turn the fruits from the fertile Hudson Valley into the finest fruit brandies and liqueurs. In 2001, they established New York’s first fruit micro-distillery, creating a range of fruit brandies and liqueurs called American Fruits, designed to capture the pure essence of fruit at its best.
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Fast forward to 2012, and Black Dirt Distilling, LLC was formed. With the birth of Black Dirt Bourbon and Black Dirt Apple Jack at the Warwick Valley Winery + Distillery, they eventually moved to a 4,000-square-foot distillery equipped with a 60-foot column still. Nowadays, this well-known distillery churns out up to 50 barrels a week.
The winery spans 120 acres and has manicured grounds, gardens, and orchards open to guests. Its tasting room allows visitors to sample its selection of wines, ciders, brandies, and liqueurs, along with a tasting tent outdoors in the warmer months. The cafe uses locally sourced, farm-grown ingredients to cook delicious food like pizza, sandwiches, salads, and local cheese and meat boards. The connecting patio is a great place to enjoy some food and beverages while listening to live music on the weekends. There’s also apple picking in the fall months and a regular lineup of music festivals.
We recommend starting at the winery in the late afternoon on a summer day, as the live music kicks off at 2PM. Enjoy a tasting (or two), walk through the gardens and orchards, and grab an early dinner on the patio. We also suggest stocking up on any provisions at the shop to have some fancy snacks for the movie later.
The winery is open until 6PM, so there will be some time to kill before the drive-in opens at 7PM. For a sweet treat, head up the road to Bellvale Farms Creamery at 1390 NY-17A. The barn-style shop serves homemade ice cream, has been a Hudson Valley staple for over 200 years, and sits on top of a spectacular view of the surrounding area.
The Drive-In | 5 Warwick Turnpike
Drive-in movie theaters, a nostalgic pastime of our nation, are now rare, so there’s no experience quite like visiting the Warwick Drive-In, a long-standing drive-in of close to 75 years located at 5 Warwick Turnpike. With three screens playing double features every night during the summer, moviegoers have many options.
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On weekends, patrons are encouraged to buy tickets ahead of time and arrive at the drive-in early. While the first movie won’t start until close to 9PM, visitors can arrive as early as 7PM to secure their parking spot. The atmosphere is one of shared anticipation and excitement, with people setting up their viewing spots in their trunks, the back of pickups, or on chairs and blankets. Many come equipped with food, with a Shoprite steps away as another great snack haul option or a concession stand serving all of the typical movie fares. Visitors can opt in for just one movie or night owls can choose to stay for the double feature.
The Best Breweries in Montclair + Northern New Jersey
No matter the weather or the climate, beer lovers are always ready to enjoy a pint. Whether it be a shandy in the warmer months, a porter in the cooler months, or a lager for those seasons between, breweries have the beers of the seasons covered. Keep reading on for details on breweries to visit in Montclair + Essex County, New Jersey.
Anheuser-Busch Co | 200 US-1, Newark
This location of Anheuser-Busch Co. is the second oldest of its major breweries. This particular location brews core brands like Bud Light, Busch, Busch Light, and more. While this space is more of a brewing facility, it is the only one to call home in Essex County.
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Big Man's Brew | 37 North Fullerton Avenue, Montclair
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Big Man’s Brew is a tribute to Clarence Clemons, the saxophonist who was an iconic part of the E Street Band. This brewery specializes in brewing an IPA. This Hazy Groove IPA has citrus flavors + a refreshing taste. Center Stage Pale Ale is another + that provides beer lovers with a crisp taste on a warm day. While Big Man Brew’s base sits on North Fullerton Avenue, its beers are shipped and can be found in towns near the Montclair area like Fairfield, Bogota, and more.
Cricket Hill Brewery | 24 Kulick Road, Fairfield
Cricket Hill Brewery is located on Kulick Road and has been serving beer since 2001. The establishment serves beers like ales, lagers, porters, stouts, + more. The Montclair Girl suggests trying the Blonde Breakfast Ale, New Jersey Devil Red Ale, or American Spirit Pale Ale. Indoor seating is available, and outdoor space is open seasonally. Canned beers + growler options are also available.
Four City Brewing Company | 55 South Essex Avenue, Orange
Four City Brewing Company sits on South Essex Avenue and holds 4700+ square feet of brewery fun. Four City has plenty of space at the bar and tables + chairs for beer drinkers to sit and sip in its space. The brewery also holds events such as Jazz Jam, Trivia Night, Turntable Sessions, and more. Beer enthusiasts can try ordering the Four City Stout (brewed with golden promise, crystal 120L, chocolate malt, + a healthy dose of roasted barley) or the Brü Berry (sour ale brewed with blueberry and marshmallow).
Gaslight Brewery + Restaurant | 15 South Orange Avenue, South Orange
This brewery + restaurant is located in South Orange’s city center. The business is family-owned and operated, allowing diners to enjoy a pint + a slice all in one experience. Popular items to try are the Gaslight Burger (fresh ground beef, lightly seasoned and grilled to order, served with a pickle + fries) or the garlic shrimp (crock of tender shrimp, sautéed in a ridiculous amount of garlic with olive oil, bone dust seasoning and a touch of hot sauce) with grilled garlic focaccia. For pie options, try the Olde World Pie (roasted tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, garlic, basil, + parmigiano-reggiano) or the Gaslight Buffalo Chicken Pizza (with chicken, buffalo sauce, mozzarella, + crumbled blue cheese).
Magnify Brewing Company | 1275 Bloomfield Avenue Building 7 Unit 40C, Fairfield
Magnify Brewing Company is a reservation-free space pouring 9- and 14-oz brews for guests in a variety of options. If looking for something on the hoppier side, try Pillow Talk or It’s All Relative. Sour fans should try Glacier Freeze Flavorade (smoothie sour with vanilla ice cream and Glacier Freeze Gatorade). Magnify also has Barely Wine + hard seltzer options.
Montclair Brewery | 101 Walnut Street, Montclair
Montclair’s very own brewery is a great spot to visit near the town’s center to try new brews. Husband + wife duo Leo + Denise took Leo’s home-brewing passion and turned it into the Montclair Brewery business. Reservations can be made and are encouraged for outdoor seating (weather permitting) on the weekends. Some brews to try are Cherry Fresh (sour ale), Hava Guava IPA, MB Bourbon Vanilla Stout, + Spicy Pineapple Pilsner. Hard Seltzers are also available. Montclair Brewery also has a second location coming soon to East Orange.
Newark Local Beer | 538 Broad Street, Newark
New Local Beer is a brewery that provides a tap room for guests to taste in-house brewed beers, and on-site tours, and has beer-to-go options in growler + can form. The brewery welcomes customers to have food delivered to enjoy with their brews. Some beers on tap to try are Easy Rider IPA, Eleanor (German Pils), + Helles Gates (Helles lager).
Redd’s Biergarten | 220 Market Street + 37 Edison Place, Newark
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Redd’s Biergarten is located in the Newark Arts District near the Prudential Center. A great place to stop before or after seeing an event, Redd’s provides a biergarten experience with beer + food menus. For dinner, try having the Boulevard Tank 7 (farmhouse ale) with a traditional Bratwurst. Redd’s also has its brews like the Hofbrau available on its beer menu.
Varitage Brew Works | 58 Washington Street, Bloomfield
Varitage in Bloomfield is known for its own brews + seltzers and for being a soccer-themed brewery in Essex County. There is space inside the brewery at long + small tables, as well as in the bar area. Pop in to watch a favorite soccer team while enjoying a Watsessing Oatmeal Stout, a Varitage Premium Dark Lager, or a Lupo (American Pale Ale).
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Honorable Mention
Ghost Hawk Brewing | 321 River Road Unit 6, Clifton
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While Ghost Hawk isn’t technically Essex County, it lies close to the border. The Clifton-based brewery opened its doors in 2019 + brews beers on-site, like lagers, IPAs, Belgians, + more. The brewery also has events for guests, like dance parties + trivia nights, on its site calendar. If looking to try something on the draft list, consider the Ghost Hawk Lager, Misguided Retribution (Hazy Pale Ale), or Beira (Strong Scotch Ale).
