Good Nature Brewing in Hamilton has announced a series of concerts Saturday afternoons starting June 14 and running through September 6. We spoke with General Manager, Alicia McGinness about this awesome news.
315 Music: What has changed at GNB since you began and what is your vision for events, brews and the menu?
Alicia McGiness: The space is amazing, and the stage already exists, it’s a shame to waste that. I thought it may be a little too much with everything else we are changing and undertaking, however, we had so many inquiries about music for the summer, that it seemed like we should do at least one a month for the warmer months this year. We can grow from this point, but this is a good launch point.
315 Music: What is your favorite thing about running a business in Hamilton?
AM: We are working towards turning the Brewery and the Restaurant into a destination spot with the goal of bringing tourism to Hamilton. Our brewer, Billie Smith, is diligent as well as creative. He cares deeply about what he is producing and therefore focuses on quality as well as flavors. We plan to keep the staples that Good Nature was founded on, and layer on top of that a few specialty beers at a time that will rotate with the season. His newest is a triple berry sour, it’s a phenomenal beer!
In the events arena, we have a few things on the docket:
We host a pairing dinner every month (except May) featuring five courses specifically made to pair with our beers. We offer cocktail and mocktail pairings for people who do not drink beer. In June, we are doing something a little different. We are bringing in Hudson Whiskey for the pairing dinner, they are sending someone from the distillery to answer questions for the evening. Beers are of course available as well.
The music lineup you already have for summer.
We are planning the 4th of July at Good Nature with a pig roast and seafood boil with two bands that day! The pigs have been raised in Cooperstown specifically for this event and have been fed on the spent grain from the beer we make. We kick things off right around the time the parade ends in town and will wrap up in time to get people on their way for fireworks.
Also in the works is a wing challenge. We are planning to get about seven other vendors to come and cook wings. The plan is to set up judges to evaluate and present an award with prizes for best sweet, best spicy, and best overall wings. Additionally, we will have a contest for the public (must sign up in advance) for a spicy wing eating contest. Both the 4th of July and The Wing Day will be an entrance fee for all you can eat for the duration of the event. Drinks are not included.
When cold weather comes back around, we plan to have music, a solo or duo at least once a month on a Thursday, potentially coupled with some kind of event, like paint with fire. We hosted a paint with fire coupled with Shaun Kinney and it was a wonderful time for everyone.
The restaurant is its own entity. Josh White runs the kitchen with precision and care for each dish on the menu. Wild game and seafood are his strengths, which at first glance can seem an odd juxtaposition for a brewery. However, some fresh oysters paired with a crisp pilsner on a hot day can’t be beat. Also, with the goal of becoming a destination, we aim to offer menu items that one cannot get anywhere else. We keep a rotation of unique wild game on the menu in addition to some of the freshest seafood in the area. We work with Folly Fish out of Boston and get our seafood overnighted to us fresh from the fish market there.
Hamilton holds a special place for me personally in part because my dad worked for the town for many years and retired from here. Side note, he was a musician himself always playing in multiple bands. Personal things aside, I like Hamilton for the community itself. I enjoy the people here. This community can really come together to support one another, and I love to see that. I hope Good Nature can resurface in its new iteration as a community staple.
315 Music: Why is live music an important part of your summer plans and what does live music mean to you?
AM: Music brings people together in the way food and beverages do. It has been, for the length of human history, an integral part of togetherness. The mead hall in Beowulf has music, storytelling, food and beer. What is a restaurant if not a place to gather and be a community? It almost demands music. I look forward to seeing the yard full of people dancing and enjoying quality food and beer in the sunshine. I grew up around music, my dad started a children’s music band when I was a little as a way to connect with me.
315 Music: Are there any more events folks can expect in the near future?
AM: I touched a little on this in the question above, but to bullet point upcoming events:
- June Pairing Dinner with Hudson Whiskey Thursday June 12, 6pm
- Fourth of July Celebration Friday, July 4, 1:00-9:00pm
- July Pairing dinner date TBD
- Chicken Wing Challenge September 6, 12-3:00pm
- Dinner and a Movie night partnering with Hamilton Movie theatre date TBD
- Rotating art installations every six weeks featuring local artists, we hope to couple these with meet the artist nights as well.
