Hey all- Planning a 4-day trip via Amtrak to the Lake Placid area around the 4th of July. Any good beer destinations up that way worth checking out? We may be able to incorporate a day-trip to Burlington, VT as well.... Any good bottle shops where we could stock up on a few things? Would love to grab some Heady Topper, if possible.
Lake Placid does a have a brewpub in it...I have never been to personally but they do bottle several of their beers and they are average at best. http://beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1888 Where exactly are you getting off the train and driving up??? Albany has a couple of okay bottleshops but if you want HT, you gotta drive over the border into VT for that then.
Yeah what these guys said...while in LP proper stop by Great Adirondack and LP Pub and Brewery. All of the beers from each are sorta hit or miss; I was just at the former and actually enjoyed a flight that was quite nice overall. But get this: the flight (7 four oz pours) was 14 bucks. Crazeeee. Anyways if you can get over to Burlington (look into the ferries) check out Farmhouse tap (last time had 2 great HF and 2 great Lawson's on tap), Zero Gravity, and VT Pub and Brewery. Oh and go to Winooski Beverage and get some Heady and other treats.
Awesome, thanks everyone for the feedback. Merc, we haven't booked the train yet, but most likely we'd take it up to Westport, as that seems to be closest to LP (meeting family who will likely pick us up wherever we stop).
Lake Placid Brewpub is a decent place IMO. The UBU strong ale sells well and is a great beer. I understood President Clinton had cases of it shipped to the white house after sampling it. The Lake Placid Steak house beers are marginal IMO. Lake PLacid Brewpub has better parking too.
I never pass through through Lake Placid without growlers in hand. Great Adirondack's Abbey Ale and Whiteface are top notch, while I can never get enough of Lake Placid's KB's Wee Heavy.
GA's Whiteface Stout on nitro was quite nice recently. Their hoppy pale is pretty good too, overall I think they're a bit underrated (but also a bit overpriced).
If you stop in Lake George, the Adirondack Pub and Brewery has some great beer on tap and for bottle purchase. They just finished an expansion and have brewery tours. Try the BA Fat Scotsman and the Imperial Cream Ale! Both are fantastic!
Not sure of your route heading up there, but Half Time Beverage near Poughkeepsie is worth stopping at. Lake Placid Brewing isn't mind-blowing, but is definitely worth checking out if you're staying in town.
If you catch the Port Kent ferry on the NY side over to Burlington as a walk-on, you can do some decent beer-shopping on foot right in downtown B'ton. City Market, Pearl St. Beverage - and visit some taprooms/brewpubs all in a 6-block radius. Or just bring the family's car for a scenic outing? (I think it's up to $17 RT.) Or - just drive over the gorgeous new Crown Point Bridge and head north up Rte. 22A & and then Rte. 7 - make a stop at Fiddlehead Brewing in Shelburne for a growler fill and great pizza next door on your way to B'ton. (Shelburne Vineyards' wine tasting room is directly across the road if you have wine-folks on board. Whether car or car-less, you've got options. The upstate places mentioned in NY have been frequent beer-destinations for me when I've scouted other craft beer territory during ADK trips or skiing on the other side of Lake Champlain.
