E-Malt.com News article: USA, NY: Great Adirondack Brewing Co. to expand in Lake Placid

Head brewer and owner/operator of the Great Adirondack Brewing Company, Rob Kane Jr., has plans for expansion, Lake Placid News reported on March, 3.

The brewery was started in its present location in 1997, mainly to supply the restaurant with beer, Kane said.

"It gives us an added boost, gives another reason for people to come in," he said.

The brewery does distribute its beers to a few local establishments such as Brown Dog Cafe and Wine Bar, Zig Zags and the Whiteface Lodge, but Kane would like to expand the brewery's distribution reach.

But in order to do that another facility needs to be acquired to increase production. As of right now, the brewery produces about 450 to 500 barrels of beer in a year.

"We don't produce a ton here that's why we're expanding," Kane said. "We're kind of maxed out our space here and what we can do with it."

He said he is looking for a new brewing facility in town.

"We'd like to keep everything in Lake Placid to give a strong economic boost to the region," Kane said. "We've got high expectations of what can happen out of Lake Placid. Right now we distribute to just a couple of spots in town. Hopefully, we'll expand across New York state and go from there. It's a lot of work though."

He said he's been working on expanding the brewery for the past year. His plans include canning beer into 16 oz. cans.

"Hopefully, within the next year we'll be up and running," Kane said. "It's definitely a tougher deal when you're the head brewer, trying to maintain full production for a restaurant and trying to start and get the financing for another production facility."

But that doesn't deter him from having high expectations in this venture.

"One of my first objectives is to gradually grow and expand in the Northeast region," Kane said. "I guess my end goal is to be an award-winning successful quality brewery."


07 March, 2012