A Guide to Adirondack Breweries
Raise a glass to the Adirondacks
Few things pair better with Adirondack adventures than a cold craft beer. After a morning spent summiting a High Peak, paddling a quiet lake, biking a rail trail, or exploring a small mountain town, the region’s breweries offer the perfect place to unwind and raise a glass to the adventure.
As varied as the Adirondack landscape, each brewery offers its own way to experience the region. Some are found in historic villages, others sit on working farms or along scenic rivers. Together, they showcase the creativity, community, and craftsmanship that make the Adirondack experience so memorable. With crisp lagers, hop-forward IPAs, experimental sours, and small-batch specialties on tap, these breweries offer a true taste of the mountains.
Ready to start exploring? Here's your guide to finding great craft beer across the Adirondacks.
Adirondack breweries
Ausable Brewing Company (Keeseville): A farm-based nanobrewery set on 140 acres of rolling farmland near the northeastern edge of the Adirondack Park. Craft beers and house-made sodas are brewed with an emphasis on local ingredients and a strong connection to place.
Big Slide Brewery & Public House (Lake Placid): Located near the Olympic Ski Jumps, this industrial-chic brewpub serves ten rotating taps of experimental beers alongside an elevated menu featuring gourmet brick-oven pizzas and street-style Mexican specialties.
Bitters and Bones (Saranac Lake): In the village’s downtown, this lively rustic brewpub pours house-made craft beers brewed upstairs alongside an inventive, globally inspired menu, all of which can be enjoyed on two scenic rooftop decks.
Blue Line Brewery (Saranac Lake): A neighborhood brewpub built inside a converted car wash on Lake Flower Avenue, serving house-made craft beer and South Shore–style bar pizza since 2012.
Hex & Hop Brewing (Bloomingdale): Operating as a unique farm-to-glass brewery and apiary on State Route 3, this community-first taproom pairs its own honey-infused microbrews and artisanal meads with freshly baked pizzas, which guests can enjoy in a dog-friendly outdoor space.
Lemon Tree Brewery (Speculator): Steps from the shores of Lake Pleasant, this cabin-like taproom offers a rotating selection of New York State craft beers and a cozy space for settling in after a day outdoors.
Lake Placid Pub & Brewery (Lake Placid): Overlooking scenic Mirror Lake, this iconic 1996 institution pours highly celebrated microbrews alongside classic pub fare and is famous for its smooth, flagship Ubu Ale, which draws passionate fans from far beyond the Blue Line.
Paradox Brewing (North Hudson): Tucked away off Route 9 in the southern Adirondacks, this independent local favorite pairs sweeping mountain views and a full artisanal pizza and burger menu with a highly reliable tap list spanning clean pilsners, crisp lagers, and rotating hop-forward series.
Prison City Brewing (Lake Placid): Located right on Main Street, this intimate, 710-square-foot tasting room serves as the Adirondack outpost for Auburn's acclaimed brewery, pouring award-winning hazy IPAs, New York ciders, and curated small-batch releases.
Raquette River Brewing (Tupper Lake): This booming Tupper Lake destination pairs outdoor fire pits and an active food truck alley with an expansive 3,000-square-foot timber beer hall, while its newly renovated sister tasting room inside the Lake Placid Alpine Mall pours flights right on Main Street.
Ray Brook Brewhouse (Ray Brook): Situated right between Lake Placid and Saranac Lake, this homey rustic tavern pairs an adventurous food menu, famous for its signature "Brewtine," with a diverse lineup of house-brewed traditional lagers, wild sours, and heavy-hitting IPAs.
RiverTrail Beerworks (Saranac Lake): Bordering both the Saranac River Walk and the local Adirondack Rail Trail, this spacious waterfront brewpub serves twelve house taps alongside a locally sourced, vegan-friendly menu, featuring an expansive screened-in patio with riverfront fire pits and high-tech indoor golf simulators.
The Boat (Lake Placid): Directly across from the Olympic Center on Main Street, this unique outpost serves as a satellite tasting room, pouring river-inspired craft beers from Clayton’s Wood Boat Brewery alongside Thousand Islands wines and spirits at a stunning bar crafted from a restored 1960 Chris-Craft wooden boat.
