If you are making your way to the Adirondacks and searching for a place to enjoy a local craft beverage, you’re in luck. We have got you covered. After all, nothing feels better than enjoying a cold beer after spending all day on the slopes or a long, tiresome hike.
Regardless of where you are staying or which trails you are hiking on, one of the breweries on this list will be within reach.
Best Breweries in the Adirondacks
1. Adirondacks Pub and Brewery
33 Canada Street
Lake George, NY 12845
Adirondacks Pub and Brewery was founded by John Carr, who went on a trip after college and backpacked across Europe. When he returned to his hometown, he realized that he had been exposed to some high-quality beers that were unlike any of the ones he had tasted here on his trip.
Soon, John decided to share his experience with the locals. He started brewing his own beer, and after ten long years of experimenting and brewing beers for family members and friends, he established the Adirondacks Pub and Brewery and found a location in the heart of Lake George Village.
Here, all the lagers and hand-crafted ales are made from locally-available ingredients and are brewed on-site. Each time you visit the brewery, you will find different beers on tap. We recommend trying the Chops, Roll Pub Truck, and Hops!
2. Ausable Brewing Company
765 Mace Chasm Road
Keesevillem, NY 12944
This is a nano brewery based on a farm founded by the Badger brothers. Commonly known as ABC, this brewery can be found 140 acres ease from the Adirondacks High Peaks in the Champlain Valley.
You will only find top-notch house sodas, lagers, and ales at ABC. The Badger brothers have decided against wholesaling their beer to restaurants and bars, so their craft is more exclusive. If you want to try their fun creations, you will have to pay Ausable Brewing Company a quick visit. However, we promise you the drive through Adirondacks Park’s beautiful farmland to reach ABC alone will make your visit worthwhile.
Working out of a renovated 1880s barn, the brothers can be seen brewing their beer on Fridays from 2 to 6 pm and Saturdays from 12 to 4. When the season gets warmer, you can enjoy a chilled beverage in the beer garden.
3. Battle Hill Brewing Company
4 Charles Street
Fort Ann, NY 12827
Battle Hill Brewing Company is one of the newer breweries in the area. This brewery was established in 2014 in an aesthetic 19th-century building located in the magical neighborhood of Forn Ann. The brewery owners were initially home brewers who decided to dream big and make their beers available to a larger population.
This brewery only uses the best and freshest local ingredients as they create seven ales at one time. The owners love that their brewery is a part of the long agricultural history of Washington Country. In fact, they hope that more breweries spring up around them so that the area can be revived.
You can choose between indoor and outdoor seating when you visit Battle Hill Brewing Company. They have a collection of delicious beers and an extensive food menu. This place is family-friendly, so you can bring your kids along and order something from the kids’ menu to keep them occupied.
4. Big Slide Brewery and Public House
5686 Cascade Road
Lake Placid, NY 12946
One of the best breweries in the Adirondacks, Big Slide Brewery and Public House opened its doors to the public in June 2016, and ever since, it has managed to bag multiple awards. Some awards include Best Restaurant in the Adirondacks, which they won in 2020, and in 2018, they won a bronze medal at the NY State Craft Beer Competition for their Bourbon Barrel Aged Ubu Ale. In 2017, they won another award at the same competition for their Giant IPA.
Big Slide Brewery and Public House is a 3.5-to-5-barrel brewery that offers a total of 10 beers on tap. These include Belgian beers, Porters, IPAs, Pale Ales, Goldens, Sours, and Stouts. They operate with the mindset of creating innovative beers, their most popular ones being Brett Biere de Garde and Chili Pepper Pale Ale.
The best part about this brewery is that you can also enjoy some yummy farm-to-table food. You can sit on the patio and even bring your furry friends along. If you want to sit indoors, the dining room is the perfect spot. Big Slide Brewery and Public House makes the best brick-oven pizzas, sandwiches, salads, and snacks, so make sure you come with a big appetite!
5. Bolton Landing Brewing Company
4933 Lake Shore Dr
Bolton Landing, NY 12814
This microbrewery has been around since 2017 and was founded by a father-son duo, Brendan and John Murnane. The taproom here is constructed recently, and lucky for you, it is open throughout the year. The monumental outdoor patio is perfect for enjoying your beer as it provides some beautiful lake views. You can also make some new friends here and play a round of cornhole with them on the lawn.
This seven-barrel brewhouse brews all its beers on-site. A famous specialty of the brewhouse is Crowlers- these are 32-ounce cans made out of aluminum that you can fill with your favorite drink. This allows you to take your beverage back home, making it perfect for times you want to drink while hiking, boating, or simply vacationing in the Adirondacks.