Somber post this morning as the FX Matt Brewery - better known as the Saranac Brewery - has been burning since yesterday around 4. Saranac Brewery is best known on this blog as the brewer of Utica Club. The brewery is one of the oldest in America at over 100 years old. Utica Club was the first beer sold in America after the repeal of Prohibition. 
I just visited the brewery for the first time last Fall. Lauren asked me to run out to get breakfast with her and basically kidnapped me. As we got on the Thruway, I realized something was happening. Here's an actual quote as I figured out something was up:
"Say, Lo. Since we missed the turn for Dunkin Donuts over 12 miles ago, don't you think we should turn around now?"
For some reason she deemed me worthy of a surprise trip to a brewery and casino. (I don't think there's any mystery why I'm with this girl.)
We got to Utica and took a tour of the old brewery. It was an extremely cool experience that I'm glad I was able to have. After the tour we got to sample some beers in the in-house bar. I also got a stein, glass and shirt from the girt shop.
Aside from my trip to the brewery, friends and older readers will know that I love Utica Club beer. It's cheap as hell and it's semi-local. "Uncle Charlie's" remains the only bright spot to Bomber's Burrito Bar on Lark Street in Albany. $2 Utica Club cans are a tough deal to beat in any city.Hopefully, the family decides to rebuild and continue with the rich tradition.
1 comments:
That is sad. I took that tour 25 years ago when I was 10, yeah, I'm old. Drinking UC is a rite of passage if you live here in Upstate NY.
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