The Saranac Hop Harvest
Join us for the first ever Saranac Hop Harvest.
(That’s right folks, we’re having a good old-fashioned, hop pickin’, hootenanny!)
But first, a little history:
In the 1800's and 1900's, our family traditionally used local hop farms for ingredients to brew our famous award-winning beers. Nick Matt can remember as a child, his grandfather, F.X. Matt, visiting farms every Sunday to pick out and purchase his hops for the week. One of these popular hop farms originally owned by the Shaul Family, is still in existence today. Founded in the 1860's, this hop farm was later purchased by the Hittleman family to supply their Brewery, Edelbrew, in Brooklyn, NY. Currently owned by Jim Wrobel of Wrobel Farms, this farm which is right outside of Utica, in Bridgewater, NY is equipped with an original hop kiln, and is blooming with hops! A rich background in growing and harvesting these delicate flowers is what enticed us to explore the idea of brewing with local hops. There is already a deep connection since the farm dates back to the 1860's, not far from when F.X. Matt founded our Brewery in 1888. It has always been our goal to brew beer using as many local ingredients as possible. With these hops grown less than 20 miles from the Brewery, we’re going to be able to support yet another local business while brewing our beer.
For the past several years, Jim has been testing different varieties of hops with hopes of expanding his crop so we could make a brew. Recently our brewmaster, Jim Kuhr, paid Jim Wrobel a visit and he couldn’t have been more thrilled to see what this year’s crop has to offer. We immediately formed a partnership to brew a special Saranac beer made with these local heirloom hops dating back to 1872.
By now you’re probably thinking this is pretty cool, and you want to get involved, right? We have good news…we’re looking for your help!
On Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 2-6PM we’re inviting our friends of Saranac (that means you) to help us harvest the hops. When we’re done picking, our brewers will head to the Brewery to start the beer, and you'll stay at the Farm hanging with us while we cook you a backyard barbeque right at the Farm. Of course we'll toast to a job well done with some cold Saranac, too!
If you want to be part of our first ever Saranac Hop Harvest, and say you helped brew the first ever locally hopped Saranac beer, be ready to get your hands dirty, and click the link below. We hope you can come share this special day with us!
small changes. BIG IMPACT.
We're teaming up with the awesome folks at Rust to Green and Enter the Haggis to make a "small change" before we kick-off Great American Irish Festival weekend! Rust to Green, a Action Research Initiative founded in 2010 by five professors at Cornell University, came up with the idea of "small changes" which are little projects planned throughout Utica that add up to make a big impact. At Saranac, we always believe in helping our local community, so we decided a "small change" would be a perfect way to begin our "green" weekend. Our friends from Enter the Haggis agreed! We're going to help Rust to Green spruce up an area near Franklin Square by cleaning, planting trees and painting a mural. Anybody who attends is invited to join us in the 1888 Tavern immediately following. We'll provide an ice cold Saranac Beer or Soft Drink, and you'll be able to hang with the guys from Enter the Haggis before they play! They'll continue the party at Saranac Thursdays where we'll be serving up lots of Saranac Irish Red Ale. We hope you can join us on Thursday for some fun, philanthropy and beer. It doesn't get any better than this!
Rock on with the Sounds of Saranac!
Tomorrow we're continuing our Saranac Summer Concert Series with Yonder Mountain String Band and Umphrey's McGee. For the first time on the Saranac stage as a double bill, these two bands are expected to create one of the best live performances we’ve seen at the Brewery!
Yonder Mountain String Band has always played music by its own set of rules. Bending bluegrass, rock and countless other influences, Yonder has pioneered a sound of their own. With their traditional lineup of instruments, the band may look like a traditional bluegrass band at first glance but they’ve created their own music that transcends any genre. Visit their website and click "listen now" in the upper right hand corner to hear some of their tunes.
Chicago-based Umphrey's McGee is no stranger to Saranac, having played here for our very first concert at the Brewery. Plus they put on an awesome show last summer! Umphrey's McGee describes their singular style as, “virtuoso playing with acrobatic tempo changes and rhythmic shifts complemented by dazzling song craft and composition, memorable hooks, and anthemic guitar lines.” Say that five times after a few ice cold Saranacs! To hear their sound, check out their Live Recordings Archive for some recent shows and samples from their new album, Mantis.
To experience these shows in Brewery style, visit our Trailwear site for info on our Sounds of Saranac Packages. Grab a pair of tickets, do a tour, get awesome beer gear and more for one all-inclusive price! Offers for tomorrow's great show and our next concert, Robert Randolf on August 5th, are available.
Cheers to music and great beer!
Yes, we can
This summer, Saranac is going portable. Now available in cans, Saranac Pale Ale and Saranac Summer Ale are perfect companions for your favorite outdoor activities. On the golf course, on a boat, or on a beach -- enjoy our flagship Pale Ale and our refreshing summer seasonal, Summer Ale. There's nothing more refreshing than the sound of that can cracking open and enjoying your first sip of an ice cold Saranac. Available this summer while supplies last.
Saranac Pale Ale
Saranac Pale Ale is an English style pale ale that is rich and fruity yet finishes crisp. With copper amber color and medium body, it is very drinkable. More on Pale Ale...
Saranac Summer Ale
To celebrate summer in the Adirondacks, we've brewed a beer with generous amounts of wheat malt for a light, refreshing taste. Look for subtle hints of lemon. More on Summer Ale...
It's beer madness
We're participating in DRAFT Magazine’s annual March Beer Madness Competition, and we want your help to send Saranac to the sweet 16. Voting for the first two rounds is open until March 20th. The winning beer gets $1,000 donated to a charity of their choice, and we've chosen our local United Way of the Valley and Greater Utica Area. Help us and United Way by grabbing your favorite Saranac and clicking for a great cause. You can vote multiple times, so please vote early and often for Saranac Pale Ale. Cast your vote here.
Time flies..when you're enjoying your favorite beer!
Another Boilermaker 15K Road Race has come and gone, and many records fell, both on the course and at the after-party. 40,000 runners, family and friends, 250 kegs of Saranac Pomegranate Wheat and great music all added up to a great time. Thanks to all the volunteers, spectators, and of course runners, for making this the largest Boilermaker ever. We shot this time-lapse footage of the party from the Brewery’s roof (see if you can spot yourself in the crowd!) Remember to keep the party going all year long by enjoying Saranac in your hometown. Tell a friend how much fun you had at the Boilermaker, and bring them along next time. Cheers to another successful race. See you next year!
Only Running For The Saranac
Whatever your reason is for running, spectating or volunteering, we like to think it's for the beer! Since its inception in 1978, we've been proud to sponsor the Boilermaker Road Race, the best 15K in the country. We believe community is one of the most important entities in owning a business. Supporting those around us is something we strive to do every day at the Brewery. The Boilermaker is an amazing display of how a community can come together to put on an event so special to everyone involved. We invite you to join us on race day; there is a place for everyone! Run and have fun, grab a spot on the course and start cheering, or lend a hand and volunteer. Most importantly, don't forget to enjoy a Saranac along the way. We'll be serving over 250 ice cold kegs of Pomegranate Wheat at the finish line on race day, July 11, 2010. Cheers to 32 years and the best 9.3 mile beer run around!
The secret's out, and we have the last 2 tickets
A few fans of jam band moe. heard about their upcoming, unannounced show in Saranac Lake, and were lucky enough to score tickets. Their date at the Waterhole (a small but legendary venue) on Thursday, July 29th quickly sold out (in 5 hours to be exact.) Luckily, we have a tiny little connection with moe. (it might have something to do with the beer) and we grabbed the last 2 tickets to the show! We want to give our fans (and moe.’s) an opportunity to go, so we’re giving you a chance to win them! Stop by the Waterhole this Saturday, June 26th, for a Saranac with our sales rep Damon. You might be a lucky winner. We hope you'll be joining moe. in Saranac Lake July 29th, to tip a few of our brews, and enjoy a great day in the north country.
The show isn’t even listed on Waterhole’s website (it’s unannounced, after all), but you can get directions there.
Are you ready to get hot?
We're participating in a contest run by the Brewing Newspapers, the third annual Global Warming Open. Here is some homework for you: get hot, then cool down with a Saranac Summer Brew! After you enjoy, visit the GWO official website and enter the Locker Room to start your bracket. Help us predict Summer Brew as the most refreshing beer in America! You can even take a tip from the judges and relax in a hot tub (or in an adirondack chair like our furry friend to the left) while doing it.
Gimme some moe. Saranac
This is a big year for us. Saranac turns 25. And a few short years after we introduced it, a group of guys at University of Buffalo got together and started playing great music, and coincidentally, drinking our new brew. The members of the band loved music, and they loved Saranac, and so began a long and successful journey for each. Saranac has even been featured in their songwriting. Ah, great inspiration. This year the band is celebrating 20 years together. Our paths and fortunes have brought us together many times over the years, and in so many ways we just go together well. Great music and great beer.
Of course, we’re talking about legendary progressive rock band moe., and we’re psyched to have them return after a year’s hiatus to kick off our 2010 Summer Concert Series. They’ll play two nights, something we’ve only let moe. do before, on Friday and Saturday, June 4th and 5th, so you’ll have plenty of jam to go with your beer. Tickets are available at the Brewery Shop and here. Get yours soon—they’re going fast—and join us and a few thousand friends to kick off summer with Saranac and moe.