“Upstate” Is South of Here

If one travels north on I-81, following it to its terminus at Wellesley Island on the Saint Lawrence River, you reach what locals refer to as the “North Country”. Most non-natives refer to this as “Upstate” but ask any native of the North Country and the curt reply will be “Upstate is south of here”, probably followed by “Where are you from?” The actual boundary of the North Country is subject to debate but is basically comprised of Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, St. Lawrence, and Warren counties. St Lawrence County is the largest county in NY, larger than the state of Delaware. It is also the most sparsely populated with a population density of 42 people per square mile, according to 2000 census data.

I lived in St Lawrence County for the better part of a decade and still have friends there. The favorite beer of those 42 people per square mile is unequivocally the “Light” beer. Busch Light, Bud Light, Blue Light (Canadian), you get the idea.  Since my departure in 2006 the craft beer revolution has swept over the county like a rogue wave over a dingy (The Small Boat)! The county is now home to…wait for it…..TWO breweries! Saint Lawrence Brewing Company located in Canton, and Adirondack Toboggan Brewing in Goveneur.  A brew pub is planned for Potsdam later this year, although according to my sources they aren’t going to actually BREW beer in the pub.  Of the two breweries St Lawrence Brewing Company is the crown jewel. Opened in 2013 in Canton, home of St Lawrence University, Saint Lawrence Brewing Company boasts a nice selection of beers ranging from their flagship Ruby Canoe Maple Porter to my personal favorite Skinny Dipper IPA. It’s probably worth noting that they tend to frown on disrobing in the tap room while consuming Skinny Dipper. Lesson learned!

Over the long Independence Day weekend I seized the opportunity to stop by the tap room and, much to my surprise, St Lawrence has upped their game. The brewery has revamped some of its recipes with beer offerings ranging from ciders to Saisons. Their Barnstormer Bohemian Pilsner is an easy drinking somewhat mild beer  as they strive to attract and introduce the local population to craft beer, according to the tap room manager. By far the most impressive new offering was their “Barrel Roll “, an imperial IPA aged in whiskey barrels. More like a Belgian than IPA this barrel aged 10% ABV gem sneaks up on you and will slap you silly if you aren’t careful. August will mark the 3^rd anniversary of Saint Lawrence Brewing which will undoubtedly be marked by special events. So if you find yourself wandering through Northern New York  Saint Lawrence Brewing is a great place for a “pint stop”.  

Until next time, stay crafty.

In The Beerginning

Once upon a time in a land far far away…..My first exposure to “Good” beer occurred in Europe, thanks to my Uncle….Sam. As a young soldier in Germany I did what most young soldiers do in their free time. I drank beer, a LOT of beer. My beer experience after Germany was comparable to my hair line, fading fast. Then in 2008 my beer life changed forever.  

On Christmas day 2008 my nephew and I received identical homebrew kits. The kit contained a one gallon milk jug, a small package of pilsner malt, and a package of yeast that was easily as old as I am. Four weeks later we eagerly opened our first “Plastic” bottle of our respective batches. Suffice to say vinegar is less pungent than that first homebrew. Thus began my adventure into both homebrewing and craft beer.

Since 2008 I have been on what can only be described as a beer quest as I attempt to make up for lost time. I have visited countless breweries, both home and abroad, meeting amazing and interesting people along the way. A few of these people have left an indelible mark on my “Beer Life”, much like seeing a unicorn. I have brewed some really good, and some really bad beers (Still Can’t Drink Pumpkin Beer). In a few weeks I will make my triumphant return to the “Land Of Beer”. This blog is my feeble attempt to capture some of the experiences that await me, and to share those experiences with the hundreds….tens……okay, three of my followers.  I hope the three of you enjoy them as much as I do. Let the beer games begin!