Our Story

Our Story and Our Awards

The Short

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 passion for the brewing process itself. Today, the Lake Placid Pub & Brewery has been brewing award-winning ales and lagers for more than 26 years and has expanded rapidly due to its popularity and quality, earning the respect of the brewing community and national media attention. Over the years we have brewed almost 150 different styles of beer and we brew almost 350,000 pints of beer annually, placing us in the top 7% of brewpubs nationwide. In the summer of 2020 we installed a new draft system allowing us to have 12 beers on tap at all times.

The Long

In 1996, Christopher Ericson and a college friend purchased P.J. O'Neill's, a pub in the small Adirondack village of Lake Placid. Chris had held brewing posts at Federal Jack's / Shipyard Brewing in Kennebunkport, Maine and The Shed Restaurant and Brewery in Stowe, VT, and was eager to break out on his own. The pair kept P.J.'s intact downstairs and renovated the upstairs into a pub and restaurant, installed a seven barrel brewery, and began brewing. The Lake Placid Pub & Brewery quickly became a popular spot both for locals and visitors to the Lake Placid area and word of its legendary beer, Ubu Ale, began to spread.

In 2000, the Pub was a stop for some White House interns accompanying Hillary Clinton on a trip through the area as she contemplated running for the Senate. The interns enjoyed the atmosphere and especially enjoyed the Ubu Ale, our brewery's flagship beer. After hearing the story of Ubu' namesake (a patron's friendly chocolate lab) the interns decided to bring some of the strong ale to President Clinton as a gift. After he tried the brew, the President had the White House aides call in and order three cases of Ubu growlers shipped to D.C. for a party at the White House!

By 2001, the demand for Pub brews both in 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 additional capacity. Chris and his wife, Catherine, traveled to Plattsburgh, N.Y. to the site of a brewery which had been closed for several years. Brewing operations were expanded into this 13,000 sq. ft. facility, and a new company was formed — The Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company. After adding tanks and expanding to a capacity of over 5,000 barrels per year, the demand for the beer was still greater than the capacity of that brewery, and it was closed in January of 2010. Thankfully, in April 2007, Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company had entered into a supply and distribution agreement with Matt Brewing Company of Utica, N.Y., brewers of the Saranac line of beers. This partnership has allowed the Craft Brewing Company to continue to grow and expand distribution into regional areas as well as extend its availability into new states. With the closure of the Plattsburgh brewery, all beer produced for The Lake Placid Craft Brewing Company is brewed and packaged at Matt Brewing. Brewing operations at the original brewpub in Lake Placid continue at nearly full capacity.

Beginning in the summer of 2012, The Pub underwent a major renovation and expansion. The kitchen was moved to a new, much larger location on the second floor. The third floor of the building was completely renovated into a new bar and dining area which is being called The Hop Loft. This space has a great view and the additional space has decreased the wait list times dramatically. The space is also available for private parties, events, and group functions. We also expanded the brewery by 60% allowing us to brew 56 barrel per week - that's 112 kegs. The brewery expansion allows us to brew exciting, new styles of beer (and more beer too).

In 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2013 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.

In 2016, The Pub opened a second location in Lake Placid. Big Slide Brewery & Public House features 10 house brewed beers on tap, including sour beers and barrel-aged beers, and a farm-to-table menu, all set in a modern, industrial building. When in Lake Placid, please visit Big Slide too. www.bigslidebrewery.com

During the summer of 2020, while COVID was in full swing, we renovated our first floor bar and installed new brewing equipment including a new mash/lauter tun and a new brewkettle custom made by Fronhoffer Designs, plus a brand new oak foeder from our friends at Foeder Crafters of America. We also expanded our draft system to 12 lines!!

Our story continues to unfold as our list of accolades grows. Stay tuned.

The Awards

Brewery Awards

2023 - Gold - Best Bar/Nightclub - Adirondack Daily Enterprise
2022 - Bronze - Best Restaurant - Adirondack.net
2022 - Silver - Best Bar - Adirondack.net
2022 - Silver - Best Brewery - Adirondack.net
2021 - Silver - Best Restaurant - Adirondack.net
2021 - Bronze - Best Bar - Adirondack.net
2021 - Best Brewery, Winery, or Distillery in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2020 - Silver - Best Bar in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2020 - Silver - Best Local Brewery - Adirondack Daily Enterprise
2020 - Bronze - Best Restaurant - Adirondack.net
2020 - Bronze - Best Brewery, Winery, or Distillery in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2019 - Best in Show - I Love NY Adirondack Oktoberfest
2019 - Gold - Best Bar in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2019 - Silver - Best Restaurant - Adirondack.net
2019 - Silver - Best Brewery, Winery, or Distillery in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2018 - Gold - Best Local Brewery - Adirondack Daily Enterprise
2018 - Gold - Best Restaurant - Adirondack.net
2018 - Silver - Best Bar in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2018 - Silver - Best Brewery, Winery, or Distillery in the Adirondacks - Adirondack.net
2016 - Best Brewery in the Adirondack Park - Adirondack Life Readers Poll
2015 - Best Brewery in the Adirondack Park - Adirondack Life Readers Poll
2014 - Best Brewery in the Adirondack Park - Adirondack Life Readers Poll
2014 - Best Bar in the Adirondack Park - Adirondack Life Readers Poll
2013 - Tap New York - Best Brewery in Hudson Valley
2007 - Tap New York - Best Brewery in NY State
2007 - Tap New York - Best Brewery in Hudson Valley
2005 - Tap New York - Best Brewery in NY State
2005 - Tap New York - Best Brewery in Hudson Valley
2005 - Empire Beer & Music Fest - Silver - People' Choice
2005 - Empire Beer & Music fest - Bronze - Festival Panel
2003 - Tap New York - Best Brewery in Hudson Valley
2003 - Small Business Administration (SBA) - Excellence in Small Business Award

Ubu Ale

2023 US Open Beer Championship - Gold Medal - Strong / Imperial Brown Ale
2023 Australian International Beer Awards - Silver - Strong Ale
2023 US Beer Tasting Championship - Honorable Mention - Strong Ale
2022 Great International Beer & Cider Competition - Gold Medal
2022 US Open Beer Championship - Gold Medal - Strong / Imperial Brown Ale
2022 US Beer Tasting Championship - Gold Medal - Best of Mid-Atlantic - Strong Ale
2021 World Beer Awards - Silver Medal - Strong Ale
2021 Australian International Beer Awards - Gold - Dark Ale
2021 US Beer Tasting Championship - Gold Medal - Best of Mid-Atlantic - Strong Ale
2019 Australian International Beer Awards - Silver - Dark Ale
2019 US Beer Tasting Championship - Gold Medal - Best of Mid-Atlantic - Dark Ale
2018 New York State Beer Competition - Bronze (Barrel-Aged Ubu Ale)
2017 World Beer Awards - Gold Medal - Porter
2017 Australian International Beer Awards - Silver - Dark Ale
2016 World Beer Awards - United States Champion - Porter
2016 New York International Beer Competition - Bronze
2015 Great International Beer & Cider Competition - Silver Medal
2015 World Beer Championships - Gold Medal
2014 Denver International Beer Festival - Bronze
2013 Denver International Beer Festival - Bronze
2012 Lake Placid Brewfest - Silver Medal - People's Choice Award
2012 Australian Beer Championships - Bronze - Brown Ale
2011 US Open Beer Championship - Gold Medal - Old Ale
2011 Australian Beer Championships - Bronze - Dark Ale
2010 Australian Beer Championships - Silver - Dark Ale
2009 Great International Beer Competition - Silver - Strong Ale
2008 World Beer Championships - Gold - Strong Ale
2005 Empire Beer & Music fest - Gold - Festival Panel
2005 Empire Beer & Music Fest - Bronze - People' Choice

Big Slide I.P.A.

2019 Australian International Beer Awards - Bronze - American IPA
2018 Denver International Beer Championships - Silver - American IPA
2017 Denver International Beer Championships - Bronze - American IPA
2016 World Beer Awards - Gold - IPA
2016 Australian Beer Championships - Silver - American Style IPA
2016 New York International Beer Competition - Bronze - American Style IPA
2015 World Beer Championships - Silver Medal

Salted Caramel Waffle Beer

2020 NY State Beer Competition - Gold Medal - Fruit & Spice Beer (non-sour)

Ubu's Golden Ale

2018 NY State Beer Competition - Gold Medal - Golden/Blonde Ale
2018 US Open Beer Championship - Silver - English-style Summer Ale
2017 Great International Beer, Cider & Mead Competition - Silver Medal - Golden Ale
2017 NY State Beer Competition - Bronze - Golden/Blonde Ale
2017 Denver International Beer Championships - Bronze - Blonde Ale

Around the Bend Extra Pale Ale

2015 - World Beer Championships - Silver Medal

Lake Placid .I.P.A.

2012 Australian Beer Championships - Bronze - IPA
2011 Australian Beer Championships - Bronze - IPA
2010 Australian Beer Championships - Bronze - IPA
2009 Tap New York - Silver - NY State
2008 World Beer Championships - Silver - IPA
2007 Albany Lobster'fest - Silver - Specialty
2006 Tap New York - Silver - Hudson Valley
2005 Tap New York - Silver - NY State
2004 Great International Beer Competition - Silver - IPA

KB's Wee Heavy

2012 Tap New York - Gold - Hudson Valley

Red Wheat Wine

2016 Tap New York - Bronze - Hudson Valley

Twice Bitten Barleywine

2009 Tap New York - Silver - Hudson Valley
2007 Tap New York - Gold - Hudson Valley

Scotch Ale

2005 Tap New York - Bronze - NY State
2005 Tap New York - Bronze - Hudson Valley