NY Craft Breweries Participate In Statewide Competition

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New Yorkers can raise a glass to their favorite craft brewery in a statewide competition this week.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo urges people to cast their votes online at taste.ny.gov. The five breweries with the most votes will be invited to the Inaugural Craft Beer Challenge event in New York City on May 17.

A panel of judges will decide the winner.

Seventy breweries are participating in the competition, which is being held during American Craft Beer Week starting May 15.

New York's craft brewing industry has been expanded through a series of legislative and economic incentives including the creation of the Farm Brewery License in 2012.

There are now 321 craft breweries in New York, up from 50 in 2011.