The days are getting crisper and the nights colder, which means that it’s time to say goodbye to zippy, floral wines and heady sangria’s, and cozy up to heartier drinking fare. If you are looking for top Adirondack breweries, you must join us in our taproom. We bring the best of New York breweries to you with exceptional food pairing options! New York State boasts award-winning craft breweries in the metropolitan area as well as upstate, and our Adirondack bed and breakfast is proud to feature a wide selection of local craft beer in our Adirondack Wine Bar/taproom.
Full of complex flavor, these finely-crafted beers are great for a toast to the new season or to your significant other, and even better when accompanied by one of our many taproom dishes. If you’re new to craft beer, or an enthusiast looking for new suggestions, here are a few of our favorite pairings of brews and food.
Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager
If you’re looking for a classic, versatile beer, Brooklyn Brewery’s Brooklyn Lager pairs with just about any dish served in our taproom. A beer that’s full in flavor but easy to drink, Brooklyn Lager is an amber-colored beer with a malt center enhanced by aromatic, bitter hops. It is noteworthy for its dry-hopping brewing technique, in which the beer is continually steeped with fresh hops.
You’ll be satisfied to pair just about any item on the taproom menu with this local favorite, but in our opinion, the best way to drink it is to keep tradition strong and pair it with the Pride of NY Pastrami & Swiss sandwich. Not only is it thematically appropriate, but also the contrast of smoked meat, tangy rye and mild Swiss matches perfectly with this well-balanced beer.
Lake Placid Ubu Ale
Lake Placid, another local brewing company, makes a perennial favorite that’s suited for autumn nights at the taproom. Lake Placid Ubu Ale is an English strong ale variation, dark red in color with intense malt and fruit flavors and moderate bitterness. This full-bodied beer is perfect for warming up on a chilly night and makes for delicious drinking on its own, but like most delights, it’s better enjoyed with some good company.
Pair it with dishes that can stand up to its boldness, like our Pulled BBQ Pork Leg (also available in a slider version for easy sharing) or the stronger selections in our well-curated variety of local and international cheeses. Your taproom sever will be more than happy to offer their recommendations.
Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout
Our final selection is best enjoyed at the very end of a long winter evening. Brooklyn Brewery’s Black Chocolate Stout is a rich, almost decadent interpretation of an imperial stout (for a more traditional variation, we also have the excellent Founder’s Brewery Imperial Stout available, as well as an extensive selection of other Founder’s beers).
Imperial Stouts originate in Russia, so it comes as little surprise that this is the ideal winter beer, whose warmth is unchallenged by even the coldest of Adirondack nights. Since it easily overpowers most meals with its sweet, dark palate, we recommend that you indulge in a pairing of intense chocolate or fruit desserts, as well as strong, well-aged cheeses. This is a seasonal beer unavailable during the spring and summer, so be sure to sample it if you’re visiting during the colder months of the year.
Parting Thought
Of course, this is only a small sampling of some of our favorites from our extensive beer and food menu. Looking for a good porter, IPA, or Belgian-style abbey ale? Craving fresh-caught mussels or salmon? You’ll find it at Friends Lake Inn. Don’t limit yourself to one Adirondack brewery, come experience the best of all New York breweries. Browse our menu, check out our variety of Adirondack romantic getaway packages, and plan your stay!
Share your favorite craft beers and food pairings on our Facebook page, or leave your thoughts in the comment section below. Did we leave out a must-try menu item? Let us know about it!
