Brew Review

The Lake Placid Brewery offers four outstanding brews for you to choose

Story and photo by Nick Chowske

Whether you’re sitting down to a hearty beef stew or bellying up to some barbeque, the Lake Placid Brewery has a brew that’s right for you. Brewed in Plattsburgh, New York at the Lake Placid Craft Brewery, Lake Placid offers four beers to suit any taste.

After sampling their four year-round beers, I must say it was love at first sip. The brewery bottles its three award-winning ales, Ubu Ale, 46’er Pale Ale, and IPA, in six and 12 packs, and offers its fourth, Moose Island Ale, in a 64 ounce “growler” jug.

Lake Placid’s Ubu Ale, named for their chocolate lab, is an English Strong Ale. This English style ale is a deep red color with a thin, wispy head. Loaded with rich malt and English hops, this beer has the perfect balance of sweet malt and bitter hops.With its mild hoppy aroma and light carbonation, this smooth, creamy ale provides the perfect compliment to hearty red-meat dishes such as beef stew. At 7 percent alcohol, Ubu ale, which took the gold medal at the World Beer Championships, is sure to please.

Lake Placid’s 46’er Pale Ale, a silver medal winner at the World Beer Championship, is a well-rounded brew that can compliment any meal. This English style pale ale features fuggles hops, and a rich, copper color that holds a mildly hoppy and malty flavor. Fuggles hops are a variety of hops commonly found in England and are traditionally used in English style ales, and have an earthier flavor than some other varieties. At 6 percent alcohol, this lightly carbonated ale has little or no head and a nice, hoppy aroma.

The brewery's third award winning beer is their India Pale Ale, or IPA, formerly know as Frostbite. Taking home a silver medal at the Great International Beer Festival, this deep copper IPA features the extra bitter flavor of American hops with just a touch of sweet malt. At 6.8 percent alcohol, this bitter brew, with its hoppy aroma and bitter aftertaste, is best suited for spicier fare like chicken wings or Cajun cuisine.

Finally, there is the Moose Island Ale, which is only available on tap at the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery in Lake Placid and the Lake Placid Craft Brewery in Plattsburgh. This Golden Ale is a light blond color with a creamy head, and has a low bitterness and slightly sweet aftertaste, which makes it a great match with any poultry or seafood dish. It has a crisp, refreshing drink-ability making it the ideal summer-time barbeque beverage.

You can find Lake Placid’s Ubu Ale, 46’er Pale Ale, and IPA in bottles across the eastern United States by going to the brewery’s Website. But as the Moose Island Ale is only available on tap, I recommend a special trip to Lake Placid or Plattsburgh to sample this delightful brew.

Which brew do you do?