Raquette River Brewing grew from Mark Jessie and Joe Hockey’s $4,000 garage home-brew setup into a Tupper Lake brewery making small-batch Adirondack ales. Founded in 2013, the brewery pairs experimental brewing with a locally built beer hall, food-truck alley, and a welcoming, family- and dog-friendly gathering place in the Adirondacks. Its Lake Placid tasting room, opened in 2023, extends that local beer-making story to another Adirondack community.
Fulton Chain Craft BreweryFounded in 2014 by Adirondack friends Richard Mathy and Justin Staskiewicz, Fulton Chain Craft Brewery makes small-batch beer in Old Forge, where its 7-barrel production brewery supplies an Adirondack taproom and beer garden. The New York State farm brewery uses 100% New York hops and more than 85% New York grain, with head brewer Justin developing beers that range from the signature Go Fluff Yourself to seasonal releases. Its family- and dog-friendly gathering place also serves handcrafted cocktails and food for visitors heading out on the region’s trails, lakes, and winter routes.OLD FORGE, NY
Iron Tug BrewingFounded in 2016, Iron Tug Brewing makes craft beer in Rochester’s Park Avenue neighborhood, drawing on Lake Ontario and Great Lakes life for its taproom’s distinctive brews. Owner Mike Nulton’s connection to the lake and more than a decade building businesses on Park Ave give the brewery a distinctly local, community-focused character, while partnerships with nearby farms bring local ingredients into its beers.ROCHESTER, NY
Swiftwater Brewing CompanyFounded in 2015 by owner and head brewer Andy Cook, Swiftwater Brewing Company makes innovative beer in Rochester’s South Wedge and serves it alongside from-scratch food in its farm-brewery taproom. The brewery’s local character runs from seasonal ingredients sourced through the farming community to kayaks recalling Cook’s whitewater-kayaking past and handmade black-walnut furnishings milled from his family’s farm. Swiftwater also keeps its beers gluten reduced and its taproom centered on camaraderie and acceptance.ROCHESTER, NY
Willow Rock Brewing CompanyWillow Rock Brewing Company grew from Rockney Roberts and Kevin Williams’ 2015 garage brewery into a Syracuse-area beer maker with two Central New York taprooms. Its rotating pours are brewed locally and served alongside made-to-order pizza, with a neighborhood-minded atmosphere that includes free brewery tours, Brewer’s Hour, and regular community events. The company has also earned New York Craft Beer Awards medals and recognition through the New York Green Business Program.SYRACUSE, NY