Wednesday Night Means Pizza, Parmies, Pints, and Open Mic at RMV Cellars

Wednesday nights just got a whole lot better in the Hudson Valley.

If you have ever needed a reason to break out of the mid-week slump, Great Life Brewing in West Park has one for you. Actually, they have several: wood-fired pizza, an oversized Chicken Parmy, cold pints, and an open mic that welcomes musicians, poets, comedians, and anyone else brave enough to grab the microphone. Wednesday nights launched this June, and already they are giving people something to look forward to in the middle of the week.

I sat down with head brewer Cody Lynch, or as he likes to say, the head of "Hop"erations, to find out what inspired the mid-week expansion and, honestly, to learn what exactly a Chicken Parmie is.

According to Lynch, it started with a simple idea: bring something fun to break up the week. They wanted good food, live performance energy, and a reason for people to show up on a Tuesday-adjacent night and actually stay a while.

The Chicken Parmie became the anchor of the menu because it is the kind of dish people talk about long after they leave. And they will. It is an oversized butterflied and pounded chicken cutlet, sauced, cheesed, and fired in a blazing hot oven for about two minutes. It comes out crisp and melty, served over sourdough bread instead of pasta. Think open-faced chicken parmigiana, built for sharing, though no one is going to judge you if you claim the whole thing yourself.

The rest of the Wednesday menu holds its own: Caesar salad, wood-fired pizzas, corn lasagna, and marinated olives. I tried both the Parmie and the Caesar, and they are absolutely worth a return trip on their own.

Photo: Courtesy Max Evanega

The open mic runs from 6 to 8 p.m., with sign-ups starting around 5 so performers can grab a drink, settle in, and warm up before taking the stage. Great Life is looking primarily for solo musicians or duos to keep the vibe intimate. Cody also frames the evening as a loose open audition, a low-pressure way to discover future regular performers without the formality of a tryout. The mic is not limited to music either. Poetry, comedy, storytelling, anyone with something to share and a few minutes of courage is welcome.

Of course, there is plenty to drink. Great Life offers beer on tap, wine, spirits, and thoughtful non-alcoholic options that go well beyond the usual. Two standouts: a sap soda made from maple sap harvested from their own trees and blended with fruit purees, and a non-alcoholic grape soda that feels like a grown-up treat. Both are worth ordering.

Photo: Courtesy of Max Evanega

Great Life Brewing sits on the property of RMV Cellars, the sister location of the highly regarded Red Maple Vineyard, known for its full-service weddings, events, and catering. The brewery opened just over two years ago and has quickly become a local favorite. The beers are award-winning, courtesy of Cody Lynch. The wines are award-winning, courtesy of Madi Marshall. The food is seasonally and globally inspired, courtesy of Sara Gonzalez. And the outdoor sculpture garden, curated by local artists, gives the whole property a character you do not find just anywhere.

If you have not been to Great Life yet, Wednesday nights are a great place to start, but there is plenty going on over the weekends too.

Great Life Brewing sits on the property of RMV Cellars, the sister location of the highly regarded Red Maple Vineyard, known for its full-service weddings, events, and catering. The brewery opened just over two years ago and has quickly become a local favorite. The beers are award-winning, courtesy of Lynch. The wines are award-winning, courtesy of Madi Marshall. The food is seasonally and globally inspired, courtesy of Sara Gonzalez, who pulls from the 143-acre former dairy farm whenever possible.

Weekends bring live music, a full food menu, and the complete bar program. There is also a rotating calendar of events: trivia nights, bingo, block parties, and more. 

Inside, the brewery is large and warm, with plenty of natural wood, good light, and comfortable places to settle in. Outside, a family-friendly beer garden offers lawn games, cornhole, a sculpture garden with rotating exhibitions by local artists, and enough open space that you never feel rushed or crowded. The staff is genuinely hospitable and very efficient.

Photo: Courtesy of Max Evanega

The beer list is extensive. My personal favorite is the Juicy Joy, a hazy New England-style IPA brewed with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops that delivers a tropical, citrusy punch without being aggressive about it. But the beer that put Great Life on the map is the Sap Sucker, a farmhouse saison brewed entirely with maple sap harvested from the property, no water. It started years ago as a one-time collaboration between the brewery and Red Maple Vineyard, and the response was so strong that production doubled, then tripled, until Lynch eventually had to brew it at Keegan Ales in Kingston just to keep up with demand. It is the beer, Lynch says, that helped lay the foundation for everything Great Life has become. One sip and you understand why.

If you have not been yet, Wednesday night is a good place to start. I suggest following them on Facebook and Instagram to keep up with what is coming. They have quite a following, and the place is always buzzing. And once you go, you will find your own reasons to come back.

Great Life Brewing at RMV Cellars 112 Burroughs Drive West Park, NY 12493