The Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company got its start in 1996 as the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery (LPP&B). Owner and Brewmaster Chris Ericson has been serving great beers and delicious food in a comfortable atmosphere since day one. Unofficially, his brewing operation began on the smallest possible scale: with a homebrewing kit. Officially, the LPP&B's brewing operation began on a somewhat larger—though still rather small—scale as a sale-on-site-only brewpub that pumped out fewer than 400 barrels each year.
Their fresh, tasty, small-batch brews quickly grew in popularity, and requests for their beers poured in from area restaurant and bar owners. Production increased dramatically to keep up with demand, and they sold every last drop of beer they brewed (much of it before it was physically brewed). In November 2001, Chris purchased the short-lived AAA Brewery in Plattsburgh, New York and dubbed it The Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company. This expansion to a 13,000 sq. ft. production facility vastly improved their storage capabilities and quadrupled their brewing capacity. Most importantly, it added the almighty "bottle" to their product lineup—no more draft-only sales—which really helped get them more exposure. In 2005 & 2007 they were awarded the "Best Brewery in New York State" by TAP New York; and in 2003, 2005 & 2007 they were recognized as the "Best Brewery in the Hudson Valley."
For more information about the brewery or scheduled tours, call 866-4-UBU-ALE, or visit their website at
www.ubuale.com.