It began, like many microbreweries, with a homebrew kit and a love of beer. Not just a love of drinking beer but a real respect for the craft, the history, the art, and the industry, as well as a love for the brewing process itself. Today, Lake Placid Pub & Brewery has been brewing award-winning ales for 13 years and has expanded rapidly due to it's popularity and quality, earning the respect of the brewing community. In 1996, Chris Ericson and a college friend purchased P.J. O'Neill's, a pub in the small, Adirondack village of Lake Placid. They renovated the upstairs into a pub and restaurant, installed a seven barrel brewery, and began brewing. Chris' brewing experience included Federal Jack's / Shipyard Brewing in Kennebunkport, ME and The Shed Restaurant and Brewery in Stowe, VT. The Lake Placid Pub & Brewery soon became a popular spot both for locals and visitors to the Lake Placid area.
In 2000, the Pub was a stop for some White House interns accompanying Hilary Clinton on a trip through the area as she contemplated running for the Senate. The interns enjoyed the atmosphere and especially enjoyed Ubu Ale, the brewery's flagship beer. After hearing the story of Ubu's namesake, the friendly chocolate lab with a nose for great beer, the interns decided to bring some of the deep garnet English Strong Ale to President Clinton as a gift. Once he tried the brew, the President had the White House aides call the Pub to get more Ubu Ale for a party at the White House! The demand for the beer both inside the town and outside of Lake Placid increased to the point that the original seven barrel brewpub could not keep up. One expansion at the Pub had used up all available space, and it was time for expansion. Chris and his wife Catherine travelled to Plattsburgh, NY to the site of a brewery which had been closed for four years. Brewing operations were expanded into this 13,000 sq. ft. facility , known as Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company. It has a capacity of almost 5000 barrels per year, and is where we package our beer in kegs, as well as where we bottle the beer in 6-packs and 12-packs to be distributed to loyal fans throughout the Northeast. In 2003, at the TAP-NY Brewery Festival, the largest brewers festival in New York, held each year in April at Hunter Mountain, the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery was awarded the Matthew Vassar Cup as the "Best Brewery in the Hudson Valley" (region ranges from Plattsburgh to NYC) as well as other awards for individual beers. In addition, the Pub & Brewery has been selected as "The Best Brewery in New York State" twice, in 2005 and in 2007. Other awards include a Gold Medal for Ubu Ale at the World Beer Championships in Chicago, IL and the a Silver Medal for the IPA. In April 2007, Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Matt Brewing Company of Utica, NY, brewers of the Saranac line of beers. This partnership will allow the Craft Brewing company to continue to expand distribution back into all the areas where the beers has been available as well as extending the availability throughout all the areas which currently carry the Saranac line of beers. Brewing operations at both facilities continue at nearly full capacity.