Despite this roller coaster of a year, big things are happening at Arrowood Farms in Accord. Way back in 2018 (a zillion years ago), the Accord farm brewery earned one of the coveted Empire State Development grants for $360,000 to expand production, reduce product costs, and implement a marketing plan that would bring additional visitors and create more jobs.

In 2019, brewery co-founder and managing partner Blake Arrowood told Chronogram of the grant, “We found it very worthwhile to invest our time and energy in a fully developed plan that would resonate with our local economy and New York State. Arrowood is committed to sustainable growth that helps to cultivate and foster community and craft. We couldn’t be happier to have the opportunity to create and grow in the Hudson Valley.”

In the nearly three years since the grant winners were announced, Arrowwood’s operation—and following—has steadily grown. Last year, they inaugurated their outdoor stage with a summer concert series that brought big names like Guster, the Midnight Ramble Band, Real Estate, and Whitney, and debuted their plein-air pavilion with an outdoor bar.

But the real work started last fall. The farm brewery was closed through winter for renovations and expansion, including remodeling the kitchen and taproom and building out a new brewery and distillery that would allow them to increase their brewing capacity by 400 percent and launch their distilling operation. When COVID hit, construction went on pause and plans for their banner year entered a fog of unknowns.