[itinerary | lodging] August is the peak of upstate New York summers and quite arguably one of the best months of the year. It’s that side of the summer season that’s hot, but not humid or rainy — clear blue skies and puffy white clouds all day, every day. The nights drop to a welcome sub-70-degree temperature. Whiffs of fall are in the air, but it’s still at least two months away before the leaves turn and the nights grow longer.

And Conesus Lake ushers in a new season, not just of climate but of people. The louder, more flamboyant tourists packed up after the last firework in July. A calmer, more dedicated crowd moves in at this time of year. Lakeville is alive with their ilk on a gorgeous Friday night. You take advantage of this alignment of schedules, weather, and mood to pound the pavement of Big Tree Road for a mini-tour of local libations.

Solitude Brewing Company

You tasted your first craft beer made by Solitude Brewing Company, a crisp, refreshing Kolsch, the last time you visited Livonia Autumn in the Village. A new brewery would be coming to Conesus Lake, founded by one of Livonia’s native sons — the one working the stand and pouring your beer. You had complimented him on his Kolsch and the new business, which you would be eager to try.

Solitude opened its brewery right on Big Tree Road later that year — just as your little companion burst onto the scene — and today you finally have the chance to enjoy it. You had noticed a few developments of the brewery just in its first year. The owners expanded the backyard grounds, etching a stone path leading around to an overflow lot. They added a rooftop patio facing the lake, made more comfortable by big red umbrellas and a “GO BILLS” flag. They established a routine of live acoustic acts to boost the ambiance out back. But most importantly, they built up their menu and craft beer selection.

^{Fermenters at Solitude Brewing Company in Lakeville, NY}

You pull into Solitude, and before going inside you duck upstairs to scope out the new roof. You help little companion climb one step before carrying her the rest of the way. She’ll get to practice her walking more safely out in the backyard anyway. Having left work a little early, you find the roof empty and use the opportunity to snap a few shots of the Lake and adjoining cottages. It’s a view you don’t often see from this angle, a welcome reminder to take on a different perspective once in a while.

You collect the family and head back downstairs and into Solitude’s main entrance, where the dining room and bar are starting to fill up with other workers playing hooky on a Friday afternoon. The main room of the brewery features an industrial look tempered with wooden accents. The brewery itself stands proudly behind the dining room’s half wall, dominated by rows of sleek fermentation vessels, and you detect the faint smell of boiling hops. The vibe is calm but upbeat. You approach the bar, ready to order. You go for your original taste, the one that got you hooked, the Kolsch. For entrees, your travel companion orders the smashburger while you pivot toward a pulled pork sandwich. You’re excited to dine al fresco in Lakeville tonight.

^{Scenes from the rooftop patio, dining room, and bar of Solitude; cameo by travel companion}

Solitude’s backyard is a testament to its name: plenty of room in which to roam or to find a shady private corner, with numerous picnic tables, deck chairs, lounges, and high-tops scattered throughout. There are spaces for cornball and dart tournaments, plus a covered wooden stage where presently a man with a guitar is setting up for the evening. Beyond the fence of the yard is nothing but lush green forest. You drop anchor at a picnic table in the center of the yard, kitty-corner from a group of beer enthusiasts and two polite labradors.

The little one squeals with delight at all the soft, grassy space. She can walk around relatively freely, which you allow her to do. She’s working on the transition between surfaces: asphalt to grass, grass to wood chips, wood chips to gravel. Stepping down is a lot like climbing down from the sofa — she has to take it slowly. Good advice for life in general, as you’ve been learning. If your little girl has the patience to slow down and think carefully about her next step, so do you. You’ve learned to pay attention to the signs the universe is sending you.

^{Scenes from the backyard at Solitude; cameo by little companion}

As the little companion wanders around, she stumbles into the sphere of the labrador party nearby. They smile and ask you if she wants to pet the dogs. You hesitate at first — these are larger dogs than she’s ever encountered — but know it’s important for her to develop her relationship with animals.

“If she feeds them a treat,” the owner adds, “they’ll really like her.”

You stroll over to help little companion with the exchange. You give her the treats, making sure she doesn’t try to eat them herself, and gently coax her over by the pup. You show her how to pet the dog on its nose and pat its head. She holds out her hand with the treats, but they fall to the ground. It might be a bit advanced for her at this age, or maybe she’s shy to the situation. Either way the dogs are warm and friendly, and you’re happy she’s had a good experience. You thank the owners just as your pager goes off. It’s time to grab dinner from inside the brewery.

There’s nothing quite like sipping a cold beer on a picnic bench on a beautiful sunny day. Multiply that feeling twenty times when accompanied by a juicy burger, tangy moist pulled pork, and crispy hot fries. Your companion’s smashburger packs a wallop of flavor, topped with gooey American cheese and special sauce, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, on a toasted brioche bun. An outdoor barbecue classic. Meanwhile, the pulled pork excites your taste buds with warm, spicy barbecue sauce and cool, crunchy Cole slaw. You hold the little one in your lap and feed her bits of French fry in between bites of pork. She’s entered a phase where she likes to wipe food on your shirt, which you’ve learned to let go in this new world of being a dad. Everyone’s a little bit messy for a few years. But your plate is clean, and you wash it all down with a golden swig of local Kolsch.

^{Pulled pork sandwich; Lakeview Kolsch and whole milk; Smashburger with fries}

There is a lull in the backyard after dinner. You bask in the quiet solitude of the yard, surrounded by people yet at peace with the space around you and your traveling family. By now the after-work crowd is shuffling in, so you prepare to disembark for your next libation destination.

At the edge of the footbridge to the brewery, you stop by a pole covered from head to foot in old-fashioned wooden directional signs. “Mount Rainier, Washington – 2,400 miles.” “Grant Teton, Wyoming – 1,800 miles.” “K2, Pakistan – 7,000 miles.” Why, these are all famously tall mountains. The edges of the Earth where no man or woman ever goes. Is it really worth traveling 7,000 miles for a bit of peace and quiet? Maybe that’s what Solitude is trying to communicate — that if pure solitude is too elusive, why not discover the relative solitude of Conesus Lake. After all, it is here that you’ve healed and become whole.

^{Follow the signs to solitude}

You proceed to walk down Big Tree Road the way you’ve seen others do a million times now. It’s a happening corridor — the Bourbon Street of Conesus Lake. You count the businesses you’ve frequented: T & G’s, the pharmacy, Solitude, can redemption center, Galene, Lakeville diner, little Lakes Brewing, the post office, the hardware store, Quicklee’s. Everything you need is just minutes from your door, and most of it locally owned and operated. And there’s still more Lakeville you haven’t discovered yet. You can’t wait to find out what’s next.

OSB Ciderworks

A 5-minute walk later, you arrive at your final destination for the night: OSB Ciderworks. It’s been on your list to visit OSB for a long time, extra motivated by your recent tastings of OSB ciders in Rochester and Webster. The owners and staff seem like chill people, based on their marketing aesthetic. The signs were always telling you to stop by, but maybe you — like little travel companion and the labrador — were shy to go inside. You don’t rock out like you used to.

^{Opened up my eyes and saw the sign: OSB Ciderworks in Lakeville, NY}

Stepping into OSB Ciderworks feels like stumbling down the steps of your favorite St. Marks Place dive back in grad school — or the Roc City Skate Park. There’s band stickers all over the back door, the handle of which is a skateboard axel, and there’s ’90s grunge and pop punk on the radio. The inside features an interesting wrap-around bar facing a small stage, where a band is setting up for the evening’s entertainment. Caged construction lights adorn the bar, and behind you are orange metal high-tops next to a wall of merch. You particularly like the American-themed Finger Lakes flag. Whatever’s going on in the world today, you will always pledge allegiance to the flag of the Finger Lakes region of New York. It even has 11 stripes for all the Lakes.

^{Sticker shock; sound check; pledging allegiance to the FLX}

You explain that it’s your first time in, and the friendly bartender welcomes you. You’re interested in the Dragon Freaking Lychee cider you saw on Instagram earlier, while your travel companion orders a Rochester staple: FIZ soda. Her ginger ale’s got a spicy kick to it, and your cider hits the spot after a hot walk down Big Tree Road. You sit the little travel companion in your lap so she can take in the scene. There’s tons of cider taps on the left wall, and in front of you there’s a mug club. The bar area has a healthy crowd chatting as they wait for the show. A couple of regulars post guard a few seats down from you.

Little one is antsy, so you let her walk around the bar area. You notice another toddler hanging out with his parents, and you’re reminded of how grateful you are that breweries allow children. The atmosphere is therapeutic for you as a parent. Besides, the little companion is routinely calm and collected on your outings. She can hang.

^{Cider taps and the mug club board; Dragon Freaking Lychee cider; FIZ ginger ale}

By now your travel companion has noticed the glass box sitting on the bar in front of her. It’s a toy box dispensing machine, but it faces the bartender and not the customers. There’s a sign on the back. “FIVE DOLLA and twenty five cents MAKE YOU HOLLA…” You realize you’re reading either a poem or a riddle about the contents of the toy boxes — and chances are, it’s a novelty toy you’re more likely to find at Spencer’s Gifts than at Toys ‘R’ Us. You ask the bartender about it.

“I’ve got a quarter if you’ve got five dollars,” the bartender offers. You take the deal and roll the dice. She spins the dispensing wheel and out pops a tiny clear-plastic box. You reveal the contents to the captive audience. What will it be — a free drink, perhaps?

^{Mystery box ramble; can you guess the prize?}

No, definitely not that. You’ve never been lucky with games of chance. But you order another drink anyway, the Grape Lakes cider, which tastes exactly as you think it would, with a smooth, velvety texture.

“Guess you did get lucky, if you think about it,” your companion jokes.

“Does that mean this is the key to your…” You stop yourself before you can finish. There are children around. Sleepy ones, at that.

As the night winds down, you pick up the tab and your little one and head back down Big Tree Road. You’ll definitely be back to OSB now that you’ve popped that cherry, so to speak. And you can’t shake the mystery box ramble out of your mind. The sign said you could win a free drink, so you’re getting a free drink.

Glancing back at the ciderworks from Big Tree Road, you narrow your eyes. I’ll get you next time, mystery box, you think to yourself a lá Dr. Claw in Inspector Gadget, next time.

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