LOCALadk Magazine

50 Summer 2019 LOCALadk Magazine LOCALadk Mark Jessie and Joe Hockey, co-owners of Raquette River Brewing, are living the dream. Both retired New York State employees, they fondly remember back when they talked about craft beer, started brewing at home, and eventually with a handshake and determination, jumped into business as brewer y partners. What began as a small building the size of a one-car garage in Tupper Lake, has grown into a block filled with a ten unit stainless steel brewing system, a beau- tiful Adirondack style beer hall with at least 60 feet of pol- ished wood bar, local food trucks stationed outside, fire pits, Adirondack chairs, and loads of live music during the summer months. When I arrived they were just setting up for the mid-day crowd to arrive. The wood-fired pizza food truck was out back, the employees stoking the oven and kneading dough, the 60 -foot bar was being polished, and a new batch of beer was fermenting in the stainless tanks next door. The Ameri- can entrepreneurial spirit was alive and well and waiting for the first wave of thirsty customers. Ser ving IPAs, stouts, Mango Wheat Beer, brown and red ales, and a clean and crisp Hefenweizen, the owners take pride in the number of thank-yous they receive from locals and visitors alike. This is a real beer destination, the kind of unique spot that ser ves as a catalyst for the re-invention of a town. Tupper Lake pride is evident at Raquette River Brew- ing: pride in their town, pride in the beer, and pride in their own ability to build something great, fun, and exciting. Just outside the impressive beer hall bar is a celebration wall filled with empty growlers gifted to Mark and Joe from customers who have traveled through Tupper Lake, and in some cases to Tupper Lake, in their quest for great beer. There is little question that they have found it here. Justin Staskiewicz and Richard Mathy know what it means to be truly local—their brainchild is Fulton Chain Craft Brewer y in Old Forge, New York. Friends since 1998, when they met while camping on Raquette Lake, they decided to open a brewer y in 2014. This southern destination for seasoned Adirondack locals and visitors is a mecca for all who are aware of the pristine set- ting of the lakes in the Fulton Chain. Just a relatively short ride from Utica, New York, Old Forge and this special brewer y are easy destinations for Central New Yorkers. Their farm brewer y, under New York licensing, uses 100% New York hops and nearly 85% New York grains to produce their ten different beers and ales that are on tap at any given time. The brewer y produces IPAs, double IPAs, Scotch ales, saison, stout, wheat beers, and brown ales, to name a few. Their vision is to bring quality craft beer to the area, and to bring additional atten- tion to Old Forge —an area that they love. Justin stated, "Craft beer in the Adirondacks, to me, is all about being able to grab a great beer and take it to camp, out on a boat, or even to the top of your favorite mountain to enjoy. People want to know where their beer comes from. Being able to walk into the brewpub, or- der a pint, and talk with the owners and brewers allows people to make a real connection to what great beer is all about." The love and passion for their chosen career as beer-makers is only surpassed by the down to earth Adirondack spirit shared by these crafty friends. Shuffle up to the bar and prepare for a treat; tr y their beers of the day, and keep an open palate for something new. Raquette River Brewing Company—Tupper Lake, NY Fulton Chain Craft Brewery— Old Forge, NY

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