Skip to main content
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
  • See & Do
    • See & Do
    • See all
      • See all
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
      • Accessibility
      • Arts
      • Attractions
      • Downtown
      • Health & Wellness
      • History
      • Live Music
      • Parks
      • Shopping
      • Stories
      • Weddings
  • Outdoors
    • Outdoors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Hiking
        • See all
        • Nature Walks
      • ADK Guides & Tours
      • Birding
      • Boating
      • Camping
      • Cross-Country Skiing
      • Cycling
      • Downhill Skiing
      • Fishing
      • Golfing
      • Ice Fishing
      • Mountain Biking
      • Paddling
      • Snowmobiling
      • Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
    • Eat & Drink
    • See all
    • Cafés & Coffee Shops
    • Craft Beer & Cocktails
    • Restaurants
  • Events
    • Events
    • See all
    • Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
    • ArtWorks ArtMarkets
    • Can-Am Rugby Tournament
    • Celebrate Paddling ADK
    • First Night Saranac Lake
    • Plein Air Festival
    • Winter Carnival
    • 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
    • Stay
    • See all
    • Cabins & Cottages
    • Camping
    • Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
    • Resorts, Hotels, Motels
    • Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
    • First Time Visitors
    • See all
      • See all
      • Accessibility
      • Downtown
      • Getting Here
      • Greater Region
      • Stories
      • Seasons
        • See all
        • Spring
        • Summer
        • Fall
        • Winter
  • Local
    • Local title-header
      • Live Here
        • See all
        • Meet the Locals
        • Real Estate
        • Town of Harrietstown
        • Town of North Elba
        • Town of St. Armand
        • Village of Saranac Lake
      • Do Business Here
        • See all
        • Chamber Job Board
        • Essex County IDA
        • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
        • Professional Services
        • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
      • Community Initiatives
        • See all
        • Arts & Culture Master Plan
        • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
        • Saranac Lake Brand
        • Village Community Development Department
What can we help you find?
  • See & Do
      1. See & Do
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
        3. Accessibility
        4. Arts
        5. Attractions
        6. Downtown
        7. Health & Wellness
        8. History
        9. Live Music
        10. Parks
        11. Shopping
        12. Stories
        13. Weddings
  • Outdoors
      1. Outdoors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Hiking
          • See all
          • Nature Walks
        3. ADK Guides & Tours
        4. Birding
        5. Boating
        6. Camping
        7. Cross-Country Skiing
        8. Cycling
        9. Downhill Skiing
        10. Fishing
        11. Golfing
        12. Ice Fishing
        13. Mountain Biking
        14. Paddling
        15. Snowmobiling
        16. Snowshoeing
  • Eat & Drink
      1. Eat & Drink
      2. See all
      3. Cafés & Coffee Shops
      4. Craft Beer & Cocktails
      5. Restaurants
  • Events
      1. Events
      2. See all
      3. Adirondack Snowshoe Fest
      4. ArtWorks ArtMarkets
      5. Can-Am Rugby Tournament
      6. Celebrate Paddling ADK
      7. First Night Saranac Lake
      8. Plein Air Festival
      9. Winter Carnival
      10. 3rd Thursday Art Walks
  • Stay
      1. Stay
      2. See all
      3. Cabins & Cottages
      4. Camping
      5. Inns, Lodges, Bed & Breakfasts
      6. Resorts, Hotels, Motels
      7. Vacation Rentals
  • First Time Visitors
      1. First Time Visitors
      2. See all
        1. See all
        2. Accessibility
        3. Downtown
        4. Getting Here
        5. Greater Region
        6. Stories
        7. Seasons
          • See all
          • Spring
          • Summer
          • Fall
          • Winter
  • Local
      1. Local
        1. Live Here
          • See all
          • Meet the Locals
          • Real Estate
          • Town of Harrietstown
          • Town of North Elba
          • Town of St. Armand
          • Village of Saranac Lake
        2. Do Business Here
          • See all
          • Chamber Job Board
          • Essex County IDA
          • Franklin County Economic Development Co.
          • Professional Services
          • Saranac Lake Area Chamber of Commerce
        3. Community Initiatives
          • See all
          • Arts & Culture Master Plan
          • Downtown Revitalization Initiative
          • Saranac Lake Brand
          • Village Community Development Department

Brew-Filled Weekend

Watch Video
Be prepared with helpful travel tips!
Brooke O'Neil
September 15, 2015

As an employee of a local brewery for many years, I have come to love a good craft brew. And not only that, but I enjoy learning about beer, and of course, trying new ones! So, that is exactly what my goal was for this past Labor Day Weekend. And...mission accomplished. 

Hohmeyer's Lake Clear Lodge twig sign
Hohmeyer's Lake Clear Lodge twig sign

 My weekend started Friday after work, hopping on the motorcycle, and heading to Lake Clear for a beer workshop and tasting at Hohmeyer’s Lake Clear Lodge. Built in 1886, this is one of the last original Adirondack lodges left, fully-equipped with every rustic piece of decor and charm you can imagine. This chess table in the lobby was my favorite piece!

If I knew how to play chess, I would have sat down and played
If I knew how to play chess, I would have sat down and played

My favorite part of the lodge was definitely the beer cellar. Formerly the lodge's basement, it still has original rock wall and wooden shelving created from wood which was struck by lightning on the property, milled, and reused to hold a number of craft beers, as well as a large selection of wines. Not sure what you might like? The Hohmeyers have provided beer information signs for all the beers with their descriptions and scales for bitterness and color to help you decide which would be best for you. This beer cellar holds the largest selection of craft import beers in the Adirondacks, so you’ll be sure to find something you like!

Beer, beer, and more beer!
Beer, beer, and more beer!

I was excited to participate in the Myths of Octoberfest Beers workshop and tasting, and I did not leave disappointed. I thought I knew a lot about beer until I sat through this workshop. Ernest took myself and five other guests through a tasting of six delicious Octoberfest beers. It was packed full of Octoberfest beer history and evolution. The lodge does a different themed workshop every month, along with Old World cooking classes and themed dinners. They feature an Old World element and try to shop for as much product as possible within one hundred miles of the lodge to keep things relatively local.

Six delicious Octoberfest beers all for me
Six delicious Octoberfest beers all for me

Everyone loved the presentation of the beers on the big wooden paddles. It got us very excited to start tasting! The beers we tried were all very different from one another and kept me wanting to try the next as soon as possible. The first beer we tried was an herb beer, which was light in color with hints of coriander and mustard seed, light and easy to drink. The second was a smoked beer, which was dark in color, super smokey and aged on beechwood. Next up was a lager, which was light in color, but not lacking in flavor. The fourth was a Bavarian wheat beer - it was darker than your average wheat beer, not as citrusy, but still delicious! After that was another wheat beer, which looked like champagne, but tasted like a sour beer.  This one was actually probably my favorite! And lastly, a Belgian lambic, which was red in color and tasted abundantly of cherries. A great after-dinner beer, or something for someone who doesn't usually drink beer. After the beer tasting, I took a walk down to the water's edge and caught the sunset. 

Amazing sunset on Lake Clear after a night of Octoberfest beers
Amazing sunset on Lake Clear after a night of Octoberfest beers

 The next day I headed to Saranac Lake to check out Blue Line Brewery. The Gillis family opened up this brewery just before Christmas of 2014. They’ve been open for less than a year, but you can tell people love it - they were full by the time I left. They feature four brews made right on premise. So, naturally I ordered a sampler to try all four (only $6). The first was their Lake Flower Cream Ale, which is light, crisp, and refreshing, yet still full of flavor. The second was a Session IPA. From working in a brewery I have noticed that people typically have a love/hate relationship with IPA’s. They tend to be very hoppy and bitter, which I love, and this IPA was no exception. But, it got even better because the third beer was their Black Fly IPA, which was a dark IPA, and it was my favorite. The last beer was a porter, which was dark and flavorful. All of the beers were great, and very different from one another with distinct flavors. 

Delicious beer and food - one of the best lunches I've had
Delicious beer and food - one of the best lunches I've had
  

The building was formerly a car wash, so to my right was a garage-style door which was opened to enjoy the beautiful weather, and to the left were the tanks where the beer is brewed.  I decided to check out the menu, which is unique and delicious. I had a chicken sandwich with mac-n-cheese with bacon in it, which was clearly flavored with beer. Wow...so good! Others that were with me tried a smashed burger with rice, topped with spinach and feta, and make-your-own fajitas. We loved everything! 

It might look empty now, but it was full by the time I left
It might look empty now, but it was full by the time I left
Where the magic happens
Where the magic happens

The brewery runs specials Tuesday through Sunday with deals such as $2 pints on Sundays, or an order of wings and a pint for $10 on Wednesdays. They are also working on accomplishing a goal of serving as many pizzas and beers as carwashes from 1989-2011. They recently broke 20,000 pints and are closing in on 7,000 pizzas. And that’s in less than a year! Everything we had was amazing, and we will definitely be back. Overall, I would say it was a successful brew-filled Labor Day Weekend.  

 

On their way to selling as many pizzas and pints as cars that went through the car was
On their way to selling as many pizzas and pints as cars that went through the car was

 Ready to try some of our cool brews? Plan your Saranac Lake getaway today. Check out our lodging options and plan for some great outdoor activities to round out your stay! 


We're talking Cheers & Beers around the ADKs this week - check it out:

It's no paradox: Beer & pretzels are a perfect pairing.

Taste this.

Lederhosen, dirndls, and lager.

Family-friendly fall fun.

Brew it, and they will come.

What do lumberjacks drink?

 

Hohmeyer's Lake Clear Lodge twig sign
Hohmeyer's Lake Clear Lodge twig sign
If I knew how to play chess, I would have sat down and played
If I knew how to play chess, I would have sat down and played
Beer, beer, and more beer!
Beer, beer, and more beer!
Six delicious Octoberfest beers all for me
Six delicious Octoberfest beers all for me
Amazing sunset on Lake Clear after a night of Octoberfest beers
Amazing sunset on Lake Clear after a night of Octoberfest beers
Delicious beer and food - one of the best lunches I've had
Delicious beer and food - one of the best lunches I've had
It might look empty now, but it was full by the time I left
It might look empty now, but it was full by the time I left
Where the magic happens
Where the magic happens
On their way to selling as many pizzas and pints as cars that went through the car was
On their way to selling as many pizzas and pints as cars that went through the car was

Related Stories

Fall Flavors
A Week’s Worth of Nightlife in Saranac Lake
4 Ways to Enjoy Music and More in Saranac Lake
Pick Your Poison
Breaking resolutions with a smile
Bring on some Bitters and Bones!
Home is where the beer is
Brew-Filled Weekend
Tri-Lakes Brewery Tour
What can we help you find?
Sign up to receive more information.
Enter Email
Do•Stay•Eat•Shop•Events
Work Here•Contact Us•DEI•Media Kit•Privacy Policy
39 Main Street, Saranac Lake, NY 12983
Powered by the Regional Office of
Sustainable Tourism
THERE’S MORE TO EXPLORE
We’ve got the best ideas for things to do on your next Adirondack adventure, and we will deliver them right to your inbox! THANKS FOR SUBSCRIBING! Your next adventure awaits you in your inbox! Tell us more about what interests you, and we can help you plan your next trip.
MANAGE YOUR PREFERENCES