More NYE Food and Fun!

Got Beer?

The Paradox Brewery will be open from 12 noon today for those who need a growler top up. If you haven’t tried their Winter Lager you are missing out. And if you are a fan of the Schroon Lake Ale – there is one keg left.

At Drakes Restaurant, Chef Lorenzo Cecunjanin will be preparing many special dishes featuring seafood, from crab, scallops and lobster, including our favorite, Zuppa Langosta.

It’s an overflowing plate consisting of half a good size lobster, clams, scallops, calamari and shrimp in a garlic and white wine sauce served over pasta. If you prefer traditional red sauce, that’s also an option.

Flanagan’s will feature a special NYE menu: a 14 ounce Prime Rib, Baked Potato, Green Beans, Soup or Salad and Dessert for $19.95. They will also have their regular menu available. There will be Party Favors, Drink Specials and Champagne at Midnight.

DeCesare’s Pizza will be open New Years Eve.

And in Pottersville: Café Adirondack is fully booked. At Black Bear Restaurant and Grill, the party begins at 8pm with DJ Totally Tuned Phil! There's food, noisemakers, fun hats, and the best part: no cover charge.

Schroon's Musical and Foodie New Year's Eve

As always there’s a party at the Timberwolf and Flanagan’s Pub downtown. But two of Schroon’s biggest restaurants and bars are pulling out all the stops.

At Sticks and Stones two musical acts top their evening of celebration. Vocalist Mikaela Holmes and acoustic guitarist and vocalist Brian Bocheneck take center stage. Also playing -- The River Runners -- a three-piece acoustic guitar outfit.

The restaurant will feature their regular menu, four homemade soups, tender hand cut Filet Mignon and juicy Alaskan King Crab Legs! After dinner relax by their roaring fire while enjoying a fresh piece of homemade pie along with a warm after dinner drink. And at the stroke of midnight: A Champagne toast. 

Sticks and Stones. 739 US Route 9, Schroon Lake. (518) 532-9663

Headlining at the Witherbee’s Carriage House will be Schroon’s most popular dance, party band – The Gregson Brothers. These lads  -- led by Barry, can play just about anything – from Aussie Favorite’s Men At Work, to just about every American rock band there’s been.

On the food front, the restaurant has a great $25 fixed price menu.

Included is home made soup or organic green salad, an entrée and seasonal cheesecake. Entrée choices are Filet of Beef with Crabmeat and Béarnaise, Pork Osso Bucco, Mediterranean Chicken over pasta and Vegetarian Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms.

Dinner starts at 5 pm with the Gregson Brothers playing at 8 pm in the upstairs loft. Enjoy Witherbee’s two fireplaces to get you in the holiday mood. Reservations suggested.

Witherbee's Carriage House. 581  US Route 9, Schroon Lake. (518) 532 9595

Pull The Other One

If you have tasted the incredible ales and lagers from the Paradox Brewery, chances are it was poured from an unusual handmade beer pull.

In fact the name of one of their signature brews -- Beaver Bite  --was inspired by a piece of wood that had been chewed by a Beaver.

Each beer pull is now crafted by two of the brewery’s founding team: Leo Clark and Dave Bruce.

We recently caught up with Dave, as he was varnishing the last batch of around two dozen handles at the brew house workshop.

The wood used is Sumac, Pine and Beech. Dave finds perfect pieces from the west side of Paradox Lake on state land.

His last venture out to get wood was in early November, by boat.

“I had remembered a huge available stash earlier n the summer, but it was gone last time I was out. I rounded a little bay and found a fire pit…looks like some kids had been burning it off all summer."

Lucky for Dave, there was more than enough pieces to be had.

The process is relatively simple. After identifying which pieces will make good handles – which involves keeping and eye out for unusual kinks, knots and patterns -- Dave cuts them to size. Each craftsman has their own approach to the beer pull handles. Leo goes with rounded tops. Each has their own way of making cuts into the wood, giving it a rustic look.

Dave says he likes using Sumac wood. “It's real brilliant fall foliage color with yellow toned wood. You can see the pattern of the grain. It’s a very soft wood and you can’t do much with it, but those who like it, praise it.”

Dave also likes using Beech wood, “because of the smoothness of the wood”.

No matter what the wood used in the handles -- if you haven’t tasted the brewery’s fine ales, pay a visit soon to their tasting room.

You can check out their hours here.

And, you can read our other stories on the brewery by clicking the links below.

Winter Lager

The Beer Is Flowing

A Beer For Whatever Ales You

Beer Almost Here

Brewing A Business

Brewery Photo Tour

What Will You Be Drinking This Summer?

What The Heck Is This

December News From The Brewery

Food News and Specials: Early December Edition Part 4

PDX News from Jenn @ The Paradox Brewery:

As usual we have gift certificates available. AND!!! Most importantly our Winter Lager will be available on December 20th!!!!!

We will be continuing the same weekend hours until the after the New Years, opening Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.Tasting Room hours:
 

Friday  4-until?

Saturday  12-5

Sunday  12-5

The tasting room will be closed Christmas Eve/ Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

(Editor’s Note: We hear some of the brave souls at the brewery have a polar-bear swim New Year's Day at Kinderhook Lake – you are more than welcome to join them).

And wondering where you can quench your thirst for the tasty ales of PDX? Read on:

Basil and Wicks, 3195 State Rte 28, North Hudson

Burgoyne Grill/ Best Western, 260 Burgoyne Rd, Ticonderoga

EBI Beverage Center, 112 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga

George Henry's Bar & Grill, 3735 Main St, Warrensburg

Grizle- T's, 53 Main St, Saranac Lake

Hemlock Ledge,6332  Rte 9, Chestertown

Lisa G's,  6125 Sentinel Rd, Lake Placid

Minogue's Beverage Centers- Queensbury, Saratoga, & Mechanicville

Ninety Nine Restaurant, 578 Aviation Rd, Queensbury

OP Fredericks, 5064 Rte 8,Chestertown

Pather Mountain Inn, 6359 Rte 9, Chestertown

Sticks and Stones, 739 Rte 9, Schroon Lake

Timberwolf Pub, 1071 Rte 9, Schroon Lake

The Pub, 105 Montcalm St, Ticonderoga

Witherbees Restaurant, 581 Rte 9, Schroon Lake