Great Adirondack Brewing Company Lake Placid

Having left Zig Zags on that Thursday night, day 1 of Happy Hour in the High Peaks' Lake Placid Summit Tour, we went straight down Main Street to stop #2, The Great Adirondack Brewing Company.
We immediately introduced ourselves to Tom, the General Manager of 15 years, and let him know that Rob Kane, co-owner with his parents Edward and Joan Kane, had sent us. This bar is part of the Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Restaurant, which has been in business since 1982.

Wood, wood and more wood sets the scene inside the bar and restaurant area, from the oak bar to the richly stained pine paneled walls, bead board ceilings, and peeled log beams. Movie posters, sports memorabilia, a golf ball collection and winter sports gear create a confusion of decoration throughout the pub. Law enforcement and firefighter badges surround the bar, representing protective service from around the country. Delicious smells fill the air, tempting patrons to enjoy a fine meal.

Customers come and go, many apparent regulars who exchange friendly greetings, some curious about the two women in matching hats. The first bar to introduce Pam to grape rum, they offer drink specials featuring their best brews and a variety of "rum runner" drinks. A blackboard listed several beers on tap. Kim opted for the Abbey Ale, with a rich, fruity aroma and sweet flavor. She sampled the porter as well, claiming it tastes "Just as a porter should."

Open every day year round, the best best time to visit the Great Adirondack Brewing Company is in the summer months, but winter weekends and holidays can be special too. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The bar seats about 12 people, with additional tables along the perimeter. The bartenders are attentive and very professional. Posted on the walls in several areas are notices banning cell phone use. They have had problems with loud cell phone use, but advise that polite usage is generally tolerated.

The weather that day was not conducive to outdoor seating, but ample outdoor space, semi-privately tucked back from the sidewalk, provides at least 15 tables on the patio, easily accomodating a large crowd on a sunny day or warm evening. They do occasionally feature outdoor acoustic music on the patio.

Located in the Village of Lake Placid, the Great Adirondack Brewing Company is definitely not to be missed. If you're a beer drinker, you probably can't leave without purchasing a growler. Kim had been eyeing the decorative bottle with pewter handle and swing top lid and Pam was sure they wouldn't be leaving without one of those filled with Abbey Ale. She was correct. Not only did the Abbey Ale come home with us, we traded two of our HHHP hats with a couple of brewers for an additional growler of porter and posed for a photo op. (Pam optimistically hoped at least one bottle was full of grape rum.) Hopefully, the brewers will be sporting our hats when you visit the Great Adirondack Brewing Company.


Cheers & Bottoms Up!
Kim & Pam

HHHP does Lake Placid

Brett, bartender at Zigzags. He's bringin' sexy back.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words (or at least a few) we feature a photo gallery of today's adventures.

We started in the Zigzag Pub and did not want to leave. We've never been welcomed with such enthusiasm or made so many friends.

Our new best buds, Tony and Wayne

No kidding, hugs were exchanged as we left. Great customers and bartenders. Everyone was eager to talk to us, we gave out HHHP cards like candy and just felt really at home. Without even visiting other bars we knew it would be tough to top this place. In retrospect, our predictions were correct.

Off we went to the Great Adirondack Steak and Seafood Pub and Brewery, followed closely by pub owner Rob Kane whom we spotted about a block behind us. We were warmly welcomed by Tom, general manager and bartender of the pub and enjoyed some of the best beers we've ever had. The Abbey Ale was mellow, warmly flavored and slightly sweet with a fuzzy head of dense foam. The porter was smoky and decadent. Pam had something grape rum based (who knew there was grape rum??!!) with a splash of grape rum and Chambord. It was something like a Grape Crush.

Next stop: Dancing Bears. It was an absolutely gorgeous place. Upscale in appearance with clean architectural lines and a reasonably priced and delectable menu. I have to say, though food is somewhat off limits in the reviewing realm, the nachos were the BEST we'd ever had, both in presentation and flavor. The calamari, not so much. Anybody who orders calamari in Lake Placid gets what they get.



Finally, on our first night in Lake Placid, it's back to the hotel already. We had to return to the Great Adirondack Brewing Company because a growler to go sounds like a great idea. Plus, the bottle's gorgeous. Interesting, but we cut a deal with some patrons who traded a full growler for two Happy Hour in the High Peaks hats. Sounded good so we went for it.

Good Trade:
 2 Happy Hour in the High Peaks Hats (limited edition) for a growler of Porter.

More adventures tomorrow...