Weekly Update August 12, 2026
Hello! My name is Bob, and I used to appear in plays (it would be a stretch to say I “acted”) in high school and college. As will become apparent below, those experiences with fictional dialogue qualify me to write this week’s Amory’s Tomb Newsletter!
First, a quick heads up that the 11th Spirit of Hudson Brew Fest will be held on the afternoon of Saturday, August 15th. The lineup this year is terrific, as it usually is. Many of the breweries you’d expect at a festival in Hudson will be pouring, but there will also be a few that you will be less familiar with, including some that are pretty much new to the industry.
As you might have guessed, Amory’s Tomb will be among the brewers pouring in Hudson on Saturday. My personal tip is to head over the AT table when you get “hopped out” from all the different, and admittedly terrific, IPA’s you can taste from the other brewers. One sample of whatever lager or farmhouse ale they are pouring will straighten your taste buds out!
I’ve been to the Spirit of Hudson festival a few times, and have always enjoyed it. One time I even saw Justin (pre-Amory’s Tomb days) dressed as a solo cup! He’ll be attending this year, and I wonder what he’ll look like this time. There’s only one way to find out! More information on the Spirit of Hudson fest can be found here:
Speaking of Justin, on to this week’s updates:
FEATURED EMPLOYEE
Let’s Learn More About Justin!
Justin Suarez joined Amory’s Tomb last summer as its first - and so far only - employee. It’d be hard to imagine a more perfect fit for Allen and Rick, and the whole Amory’s Tomb vibe in general, than Justin. He’s become such an integral part of Amory’s Tomb that it is difficult to remember what it was like before he was there!
Justin’s a great guy to talk to in general, but he’s also sometimes really busy behind the bar pouring beers, mixing cocktails and distributing Bergs and Tubes. So I thought I’d interview Justin for this newsletter to give everyone a more in-depth sense of what he’s like. Justin graciously agreed to be interviewed:
Me: Let’s start with what everyone is most curious about. How long have you had a beard?
Justin: Uh, since I was 19.
Me: Yeah, ok you stopped shaving then, but like, how long has your beard been this amazing huge thing?
Justin: I started to really grow it long over one winter when I was 26.
Me: I mean, it’s just huge. Have you measured how long it is?
Justin: Um, no, not really. Maybe a foot or so?
Me: If you shaved your beard off, how much do you think it would weigh? It’s got to be at least a pound, right?
Justin. Uh, I don’t know. I never really thought about it. Are we going to talk about my background?
Me: Oh yes, right. Sure, we’ll get to that. How do you maintain your beard? I mean, I don’t have any beard let along that one so I’ve always wondered - do you have to shampoo it like hair?
Justin: Yes.
Me: Do you have to comb it out every day to avoid tangles?
Justin: Not every day. Don’t you want to hear about how I got involved in craft beer?
Bob: I sure do. Do you use any product in your beard? Aren’t there, like, beard oils, and do you use a particular brand?
Justin: Can’t we talk about something else? Like how I met Allen and Rick?
Bob: Oh yeah, how did you meet Allen and Rick. I bet they came up to you to tell you how much they admired your beard. Was that it?
Justin: Well, no. Actually, I was working at…
Bob: Oooh! Sorry to interrupt, but have you ever gotten food stuck in your beard? It must be hard to avoid that.
Justin: Ugh.
Bob: Has a bird ever accidentally flown into your beard?
Justin: That’s it! I’m a man, not a beard! [STARTS TO STORM OFF.}
Bob: Can I touch it?
Justin: ARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!
OK, as you likely figured out, this interview didn’t really happen. Justin is genuinely a great guy, though, and I’d suggest you to get to know him better next time you are in the Taproom.
And his beard really is awesome. He recently mentioned to me that he’s even competed in beard competitions! I had no idea! Ask him about it. Just don’t touch it! And remember, he’s not just a beard. He’s a man!
Anyway, if you are in the Taproom and you see a bunch of people holding tiny bottles and glasses of foam in their hands, now you’ll know what they are up to. If you have never done one, I’d definitely recommend ordering a Berg and a Tube from Justin next time you are in the Taproom. It’s fun!
FEATURED DRAUGHT
Have You Forgotten About Maynard’s ESB?
I was looking at the draught list recently. All the AT beers on draught are great, of course, but as I looked at the list I realized there’s one beer that’s been overshadowed recently - Maynard’s Extra Special Bitter.
Now, as I have written before, the Extra Special Bitter is not usually my favorite style of beer. I usually find ESB’s pretty boring. The name itself is so misleading, since most ESB’s are not “special”, let alone “extra special”, and certainly are not bitter. I mean, it has to be the most misleading beer category name there is, with the possible exception of “Imperial India Pale Ale.” (Seriously, I don’t think any historical emperors were drinking IPAs, and the “India” story is likely a myth anyway.)
Maynard’s ESB is not like those other nothing-ESB’s you find out there. In keeping with the style, it is not at all bitter. But unlike most beers of this style that I have had, Maynard ESB has a ton of malty flavor. Personally, I get strong tastes of toffee and caramel.
Maynard ESB was a mainstay of both the old taproom and Beer Garden Only era, and it continues to be regularly available in the new Taproom. Plus, the Maynard ESB can is my favorite AT can. That’s good ol’ Amory (not sure his factory workers called him this) himself right there on the can!
If a approachable, flavorful malty beer sounds like a good idea to you, stop in for a draught of Maynard ESB or take a 4-pack home!
COMING ATTRACTIONS
Here’s what’s coming soon at Amory’s Tomb
Aug 15 Spirit of Hudson Fest - Hudson
Aug 19 Wheat & Water Crafted Doughz
Aug 22 An Evening of Dungeon Synth with Sombre Arcane, Greendeath and Mystic Realm.
See you at the Tomb!
