Day 72 of our 2025 RVing Adventure with Historical & Musical Interludes

It's Saturday July 12th, day 72 of our 2025 summer adventure. My morning walk was cut short by Mother Nature and her rain. But, the sky was beautiful before she decided to rain on my parade, well... at least my full walk!

There are many reasons to visit the area surrounding Canandaigua Lake. There are gorgeous lakes, over 20 craft breweries, wineries, culinary highlights, and exceptional hiking and biking are just a few. We decided to make a run to a few breweries today. 

On our way to our first stop, we passed the Bristol Ski Slopes. They have been open since 1964. Their philosophy is to provide a fun, family environment for a memorable experience for all ages and many generations to come.

They have a 1200’ vertical rise that makes Bristol Mountain the highest vertical between the Adirondack/Laurentian Mountains of the east and the Rocky Mountains of the west. There are 138 acres of total skiable terrain, including Nordic trails. Views from the summit and the 39 slopes and trails are breathtaking and provide a variety of inclines for every skier and snowboarder from beginner to expert. In the winter, to provide the best possible snow conditions, Bristol Mountain has a state-of-the-art snowmaking system which covers 100% of the terrain.

 

Our first brewery was Noble Shepherd Craft Brewery. The most unique feature of Noble Shepard, was the Giraffe coming out of the top of the tasting room! I have to say, it is a distinct feature to their brand! It is owned and operated by husband and wife; Tony and Jessica Moringello. Tony is the Head brewer. His has previously as an executive chef, which has been his inspiration for beer recipes. Growing up in an Italian house, Tony’s parents also educated him in influential ingredients and cooking techniques which started his ability to be creative with flavor in many dishes at an early age.

Tony has been home-brewing since 2012, the idea to start Noble Shepherd Craft Brewery, came to him after a cooking competition fundraiser.  Tony was asked to create a dish representing ingredients from France. Using that as a guideline Tony created a champagne-infused beer to pair with his dish. The beer ended up being the hit of the competition and people were coming up asking where they could buy it. With a demand for his beer and his gift to create drinks with unique flavors the idea to open Noble Shepherd began.

  

The drinkers enjoyed a variety of IPA, Ales, and ciders. The girls had Peach Tea Hefeweizen. It is a wheat beer brewed with malt from Murmuration Malts in Bloomfield NY, and cascade and willamette hops from Drumlin Hop Farm in Bristol, NY. Conditioned on white peaches, yellow peaches & earl gray tea from Good Life Tea in Canandaigua. Dawn had a Pistachio Pudding Sour. It is kettle sour conditioned on pineapple, tangerine, orange zest, toasted coconut, pistachios, vanilla beans and rainbow marshmallows. Karen had a Blue Haze cider that really was more green than blue!

Everyone enjoyed sitting outside in the shade!

Birdhouse Brewing Company, located in Honeoye, NY, was founded in 2018 by childhood friends Scott Gillen and Greg Searles. They purchased a 1850s building with the initial plan to renovate specific areas, but ultimately undertook extensive renovations to revitalize the entire structure. The brewery opened with a one-barrel brewing system, producing small batches of craft beer, and has since expanded to include a separate brewhouse and a three-barrel system.

Over time, the brewery has steadily evolved from a small craft brewery into a beloved community hub and regional destination. The brewery, known for its welcoming atmosphere, eclectic beers, and strong ties to local culture, has become a cherished institution in the Finger Lakes. 

As Birdhouse Brewing has grown, it has undergone significant changes in its facilities, offerings, and community involvement, further solidifying its place as a cornerstone of the community. And Gillen and Searles are not done. They’re really pushing to connect all of Main Street to the neighboring lakefront.

We enjoyed a grill night dinner and of course, a fire.

It was great to have my brother camp with us for the weekend and get a little bit of a respite. 

Stay tuned for more Two Lane Adventures.