Enjoy Paradox Brewery's Gold: But Ya Gotta Wait For It!!!

Paradox Brewery Founders Paul and Joan  Mrocka, and Jenn and Vaughn Clark  -- along with their talented brew master Devon Hamilton  -- are standing tall after their non-barrel aged version of their Black Mountain Baltic Porter struck gold. The win was at the North American Beer Awards last weekend.

Devon tells us the beer was a 10% Porter, fermented cold for about six weeks.

“That beer is now sitting aging in once used Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrels. It’s going to come out of the barrels sometime in December and be available about 2 months later after bottle re-fermentation.” Devon said.

“The competition is a good sized one. Breweries from all over the U.S and a few from Canada sent in bottles to be judged. In 2014 over 1,400 entries were submitted, more in 2015 but they have not put out numbers yet”.

Devon sent the beer to the competition via Fed Ex. 

“They wanted six 12oz bottles for each entry. We entered seven beers : Beaverbite, Underbite , Overbite and Pilsner. From the Off trail series we entered  Belgian Pale Ale, Red Ale and the Black Mountain Baltic Porter

Paradox Founder Paul Mrocka praised Devon.

“He’s an amazing brew master with a tremendous talent for making good beers. He experiments, he takes chances, and the results speak for themselves”.

Paul says Paradox plans on releasing 1000 750ml bottles at the brewery. They will sell for $19.95 each. A sign up sheet is now at their tasting room.

As for the future, this recent win gives the team the incentive to do better. “I'm ready to get another win. It's like: ‘Ok that's great, we did a good job, now on to the next one. How to we get better so we can win two golds’.” 

Schroon's Wednesday Night Seafood Fest

There's only one place to be each Wednesday night for fresh, fresh, seafood -- and that's the newly re-opened for the season, Drakes.  

Drake’s Restaurant and Motel. (About one mile north of downtown)  1295 US Route 9, Schroon Lake, NY 12870 518- 532-9040

Ben Tornado: Welcome Back Drake's

To the delight of many Italian food fans, Drake’s Restaurant opened its doors this week. Chef Lorenzo Cecunjanin and his wife Jasmina are back for their third year.

“We are so happy to be back and seeing friends we haven’t seen in six months,” Jasmina told Schroon Laker today.

“People know us and we have been welcomed back like family.”

The restaurant has a special Mother’s Day Menu featuring roast duck, surf and turf, and Chicken Genovese, along with their regular menu.

Dessert is their special home-style tiramisu. Seating’s begin at 1pm. Drake’s is open seven days a week. Sunday through Thursday, 4pm  - 10pm. Friday and Saturday 4pm – 11pm.

Drake’s Restaurant and Motel. (About one mile north of downtown)  1295 US Route 9, Schroon Lake, NY 12870 518- 532-9040

Schroon's New Wine, Beer Tavern: Charcuterie Optional

Bob and Patti Mehm. Photo Courtesy Anthony Ruiz, Giant Mountain Studio. Copyright Anthony ruiz. all rights rserved.

For years Patti Mehm and her husband Bob  -- owners of the Towne Store on Maine Street  -- have had a fascination with wine making. Not just any wine, but wines from New York state. During the summer season they would  always pick up a bottle or two of NY wine from the Schroon Farmer’s Market.

Last year their investigation into wine-making lead them on a tour of wine makers in the Finger Lakes, as well as wineries close by, referred to by some as the Upper Hudson Valley Wine Trail.

During that journey they met with vintners,  got hands on harvesting and crushing grapes and made wine,  Patti told Schroon Laker.

 “The whole process was an eye opening learning experience.  We got the wine making bug. At one stage Bob thought we could grow grapes here in Schroon,” Patti said.  “Maybe even behind the Town Store,” she recalled with a giggle.

After their winery adventures, the couple realized that making wine might take up just a little more time than they had bargained for. So the next step seemed almost too logical: why not promote and sell New York state wines instead, without having to crush the grapes?

So was born their new venture, Vine and  Barley, Tasting Room and Tavern, which will be nestled inside the Towne Store on the second floor.  The tavern will feature New York state wines, New York hand crafted beers, as well as some wines from a certain famous area on the west coast. Gourmet light fare will also be served.

Late last year the couple embarked on a series of New York wine tastings, with locals and second home owners here in Schroon. Some were great, some not so.

To find what food would fit their wines the couple visited several wine bars in New York City, where they tasted various charcuterie platters. Fast forward a few months – and one fire – and the couple are on track for a mid-June opening.

The Tavers logo

The ambience, says Patti, will be “very casual and accessible.”

“We will be selling wines by the glass or tastings or flights of wine. For the non-wine drinkers in your group we will have craft brewed beer.”

Under the special license they are in the process of securing from New York State, they will only be permitted to sell wine or beer by the glass.

“Once you taste a wine or beer you like we will have all the information about where it’s from in New York and how you can get it.”

Patti says the wine selection will change day to day, with between 9 to 12 wines available for tasting.

To begin with the tavern will serve three hand crafted beers, and there’s no guessing which will take front and center: ale from Schroon’s own Paradox Brewery.

“We have spoken with Paul and Joan (the breweries founders) and they plan on having a specialty beer for the tavern. Eventually, as the tavern business grows, Patti says she’s like to utilize a pump system and offer more beers.

For the menu, Patti is already working with local purveyors, including Juniper Farms, who supply more than 30 area gourmet stores and restaurants.

“Our goal is to have light fare with a local favor, using local products to keep it local.”

Patti says the menu will feature soups and gourmet paninis, as well as charcuterie, (smoked meat and cheese platters).

A  charcuterie platter

The tavern  -- in the space once which once housed the Town Store’s Art gallery --  will have seating for  48. All of the furniture will be made out of recycled wine barrels. Patti says she expects the tavern to be open from around 12pm to 8pm each day.

“We want this place to be special, for locals, second home owners and people on vacation to pop in and have a glass and then head off and have dinner at one of our fine, local restaurants.” said Patti.

The new bar under construction