Adirondack Pub and Brewery

Last weekend Pam suggested we do a "live" blog from one of our venues. What a great idea! Since the Lake George Winter Carnival had just gotten underway and there was at least some possibility we'd be able to find a place with WiFi, we thought of the Adirondack Pub and Brewery on Canada Street at the southern end of Lake George Village. I emailed them, having discovered it's to our and the establishment's advantage if they know ahead of time. It eliminates suspicion. We were not able to secure an internet connection while we were there. I managed to send my introduction via iPhone, but the network was too slow to continue. We'll try again from another location.

We were warmly welcomed by Laura, marketing and sales director, on this Sunday afternoon at the Adirondack Pub & Brewery. She answered all our questions and we were pleased to learn that the pub will not be closing at the conclusion of Winter Carnival, but will remain open Thursday through Sunday, and adding Wednesday in April. The decor? You guessed it! Adirondack theme, with clever and interesting twists. I was rather fond of the stuffed bobcat (no, it's not en entree') standing just above and behind our table.

You won't find PBR on tap here. The Pub serves its own beers exclusively and offers six-packs of Bear Naked Ale and dirty Blonde to go, as well as 64 oz. growlers and even kegs! They will add new flavors about every week as they test sales of popular beers. You can also purchase tee shirts and drink glasses from a tiny little store area near the entrance.

At Laura's recommendation, we started with the sampler to share (six different beers served in 8 oz. glasses). Working from lightest to heaviest/darkest, we started with the Dirty Blonde. It had a light pleasant flavor, with a slightly fruity aftertaste with a touch of bitterness which I found unusual in a wheat beer. Next was the Bear Naked Ale, their most popular. I have ordered this a few times at some of the other pubs we've visited for this project. It's flavorful but not heavy, and has a somewhat earthy quality to it. I don't know if there's a proper term for the flavor you taste in your nose or sinus area, but that's where the earthiness could be detected. The Brewer's pick, a Dunkelweisen, was described as possessing hints of banana and clove, though couldn't really pick up the banana. Gently spicy with a warm flavor, I liked this one best I think. The IPA was next. Not a fan of IPA; too bitter. And this was no exception. I will leave analysis of IPA's to those who appreciate them. (Of course, I drank it anyway.) Our sampler concluded with the Cafe' Vero Stout, brewed with roasted coffee. This was dark, rich, mellow, and tasty and a fine conclusion to the trip around the sample wheel (and my other favorite). Pam ordered a Bobcat Blonde pint which, for the calorie-conscious, is a mere 71 calories for 12 oz. (This is not a random guess; they actually sent it to a lab for analysis.) That's about 92 calories in a pint, lower than most light beers out there, and far more flavorful. Extra points for that!

Laura gave me a quick tour of the brewery and a brief explanation of how it all works. I plan to come back when the brewmaster is available and make myself a pest with all my questions. The brewmaster has poetic license when it comes to creating new brews. I think a "Blue Line APA " flavored with a hint of blueberry (variances allowed), would be perfect for the region.  The "APA" could stand for Adirondack Pale Ale? Almost Pale Ale? You ask, "Who would flavor a pale ale?" I googled it; it's been done.

Though it was fairly quiet at the Adirondack Pub and Brewery when we visited, the bar area had steady traffic. My experience was mostly positive and I recommend you see for yourself. We did not have dinner, but Pam and I enjoyed a generous plate of nachos. I plan to return, perhaps when the tourist season starts to pick up.

Cheers!

Kim