If you think Paradox Beer's Big New Tent is a sign that the New York craft beer biz is doing well, you are correct!  Paradox can barely keep making beer fast enough, and this year's thirsty summer crowds packing the German style beer hall tent are doing their fair share to make brewers Devon and JD, get a moments rest.

Nick Muscavage, from the Albany Bureau of LoHud, the Journal News,  reports hows New York State added 43 farm breweries in 2015 bringing the total to 106, as state laws have made it easier for them to open.

From Nic’s report:

"The increase is part of a burgeoning wine, beer and cider industry in New York in recent years.

Some of the new farm breweries include Swiftwater Brewing Company in Rochester; Rusty Nickel Brewing in West Seneca, Erie County and Yard Owl Craft Brewery in Gardiner, Ulster County.

Monroe County saw the creation of three farm breweries this year. There were 10 new ones on Long Island, as well as new farm breweries in Ulster, Cayuga, Schuyler, Seneca, Erie, Wyoming and Steuben counties.

Additionally, since 2011, New York has added 93 microbreweries, an increase over four years from 40 to 133 across the state.

“New York’s thriving craft beverage industry continues to grow, create jobs and bolster local economies in every corner of this state,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement.

Farm breweries grow the ingredients on their land and then make and sell the beer.

Cuomo has supported efforts to expand the craft beverage industry, which accounts about 6,500 jobs and $2.9 billion in annual revenue, the state said.

The Democratic governor has been praised by the industry for loosening regulatory hurdles. In 2012, the state passed the Farm Brewery Law, which created a new license for craft brewers that use ingredients grown in state and offered an exemption on brand label registration fees for small brewers.

The law allowed for the state Liquor Authority to approve 6,659 no fee brand labels, resulting in $1 million in savings for craft brewers, the state estimated.

In 2014, the Craft Act was passed that raised the annual production cap for farm breweries and microbreweries from 60,000 to 75,000 barrels.

In October, at the third and most recent Wine, Beer, Spirits and Cider Summit, Cuomo announced an investment of $5 million to the state’s craft beverage marketing and promotion industry and also committed $2 million to promote the industry through tourism.”