Westfield brewery credits Lincoln for its name
Steve Orbanek, Erie Times-News
Name of Westfield watering hole recalls the legend of Grace and Lincoln's beard.
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Erie Times-News
If you're familiar with Westfield, New York, you're likely familiar with Grace Bedell. As the story goes, Bedell was the reason that President Abraham Lincoln decided to grow a beard.

In 1860, while living in Westfield, Bedell wrote Lincoln, noting that for him to win the presidential election, he would need to grow a beard. Lincoln took the advice to heart and later visited Westfield where he got to meet Bedell in person.

A statue that commemorates the meeting sits in the center of the town. The story has now been further immortalized with the opening of Grace and Abe's, a new restaurant and brewery located at 14 N. Portage St. in Westfield.

"We want this to be a place that really plays off of Westfield's heritage," said owner Kevin Daughrity. "When I approached Westfield about the idea two years ago, I reassured them that this was a place where everybody is welcome. It's a place where you and your wife can go out. If some friends after work want to come in, just to relax and have some appetizers, it's perfect for that as well. If you come in with the family, you're going to feel perfectly at home here, too."

The brewery and restaurant, which opened Memorial Day weekend, sits inside a brick building and offers inviting, modern aesthetics on the inside. Square cherry-wood tables are positioned throughout. The brewery's equipment is right on display for patrons to view as they enjoy a wood-fired pizza with a cold craft beer.

That's part of the reason that Daughrity, who also owns 7 Sins Brewery and Quincy Cellars, wanted to open Grace and Abe's.

"With how we were doing it at 7 Sins, the customer really couldn't see the equipment, and they could not see what we were doing," Daughrity said. "So we said, 'Let's make this into a full brewhouse experience and expose all of the equipment,' and I'm naturally a foodie, so I thought 'Let's pair the food and beer to make an even better experience.'"

Previously, the beer for 7 Sins Brewery was brewed at Quincy Cellars and sold across the street at Sensory Winery. While beer will still be available at Sensory, 7 Sins' entire brewing operation has now been relocated to Grace and Abe's.

But Grace and Abe's will be brewing more than just 7 Sins' beer. As previously noted, Grace and Abe's plans to focus heavily on history, and so will the restaurant's new line of beers: Abe's Ales.

"We're just coming up with a brand-new label, and the premise behind it is that we're doing everything pre-prohibition as best as we can," Daughrity said. "We've been doing our research on the history of different beer styles and trying to find the same grains and same hops used back then."

So far, Grace and Abe's had debuted three beers as part of Abe's Ales: the 3XP (a pre-prohibition porter), a Kentucky ale and a California Gold Rush ale. Eventually, they will have a line of six different Abe's Ales and, between that and the 7 Sins offerings, Grace and Abe's should have as many as 20 different beers, brewed right in house, on tap.

Grace and Abe's is also developing a craft soda line for Grace.

While the restaurant and brewery is still in its infancy, the response thus far has been strong.

"It's been huge, and that's a tribute to this town and the support we're getting in the entire region," Daughrity said. "We have been nonstop swamped, and we just got our liquor license this week, so this was before we even had a liquor license. Every day, we are surpassing the numbers I am hoping for, and it's just been great." LEL

IF YOU GO

Grace and Abe's

14 N. Portage St.

Westfield, N.Y.

716-232-4056

facebook.com/ga.westfieldny/

https://graceandabes.com

Hours: Mondays through Wednesdays: 3 to 9 p.m.; Thursdays through Sundays: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

BEER AND WINE EVENTS FOR AUGUST

Yappy Hours

The Brewerie at Union Station

123 W. 14th St., Erie

Fridays, Aug. 2, Aug. 9 and Aug. 23, 5 to 8 p.m.

Bring your favorite furry friend to The Brewerie at Union Station as part of their summer Yappy Hour series. Dog-friendly happy hours are held in the trackside beer garden. A portion of the proceeds from the Aug. 2 event will benefit NWPA K9 SAR, a portion of the Aug. 9 event will benefit Therapy Dogs United, and a portion of the proceeds from the Aug. 23 event will benefit Hope for Erie Animal Wellness.

Music in the Vineyards Concert Series

Penn Shore Winery & Vineyards

10225 East Lake Road, North East

Saturdays in August, 5 to 9 p.m.

Penn Shore Winery & Vineyards will host its summer Music in the Vineyards concert series through August. The concerts are free, and chef Dameon DeLoatch will be on site each night, preparing special menu items in their new kitchen. The schedule is as follows:

Aug. 3: The Rooftop Project Band

Aug. 10: The Goats

Aug. 17: The Screaming Ducks

Aug. 24: Kevin Howard

Aug. 31: Duke Sherman Blues Band

Titusville Beer Festival

Orr's Brewing Co.

109 S. Franklin St., Titusville

Saturday, Aug. 10, 1 to 4 p.m. or 5 to 8 p.m.

Enjoy samplings from several area local breweries at the annual Titusville Beer Festival. Tickets cost $40 per person and can be purchased at Orr's Brewing Co. or at the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce.

Sunday Morning Vineyard Walks

Johnson Estate Winery

8419 W. Main Road (Route 20), Westfield, N.Y.

Sundays, Aug. 4 and Aug. 18, 9:30 to 11 a.m.

Enjoy a 2-mile morning walk in the gardens and vineyards with Fred Johnson, owner of Johnson Estate Winery, followed by a brief winery tour and wine pairings in the tasting room. $10. Tickets can be purchased at www.johnsonwinery.com.

Dine in the Vines

Liberty Vineyards & Winery

2861 Route 20, Sheridan, N.Y.

Saturday, Aug. 24, 6:30 p.m.

Join Liberty Vineyards & Winery for its annual prime rib dinner in the vineyards. Visit www.libertywinery.com for ticket information.