“If a queen bee were crossed with a Friesian bull, would not the land flow with milk and honey?”
– Oliver St. John
The Bull and Bee Story
1860s
It all began in the 1860s when the building – which The Bull and Bee calls home – was first constructed. It was originally the Bulgaro restaurant but became more widely known as “Irish Bloodshed” for the countless fights that occurred within it. Then, in later years, there were rumors that promiscuous activities occurred regularly on the third floor.
1970s
In the 1970s, the building transformed into a tavern where Hudson River sailors would come to fight. The tavern was closed in the ‘80s, and as this chapter finished, another would later begin, but not for almost 50 more years.
2017
In 2017, the building was purchased by William Yager and Patrick Chiou, and over the course of three years, they refurbished it from the ground up. With a family history generations-old in mead making, Yager desired to introduce an artisanal meadery to the Capital Region, and thus, The Bull and Bee was born.
The goal of The Bull and Bee was simple, bring together the many talented makers in the region to create a hive of the best products New York has to offer.
Today
The Bull and Bee Meadery and Tasting Room occupies the first floor of the old Bulgaro building, offering a warm and inviting place for patrons to enjoy some of the finest local mead, craft beer, wine, ciders, and spirits for all over New York State. While we may have tamed the bull, the building is still buzzing with history.