SACKETS HARBOR BREWING COMPANY and Historic Sackets Harbor

By Carey Tucker

There’s nothing quite like having an unexpected day off in the middle of summer. For those of us who precede their job titles with the word ‘freelance’, these days are sometimes self-directed. In any event, it was a great day taking off from our BrewsTraveler.com headquarters in Colborne, Ontario and driving east along Lake Ontario to the Sackets Harbor Brewing Company (located between 210 – 212 West Main Street) in Sackets Harbor, New York.

Depending if you take the scenic route (which I did), or zip along Interstate 81 from the border crossing at the 1000 Islands, the trip to Sackets Harbor should take anywhere from an hour to an hour-and-a-half from Kingston, Ontario or Syracuse, New York.

Sackets Harbor is a beautiful historic village in the spectacular 1000 Islands area approximately 30 miles from Canada and one of the largest natural harbors on Lake Ontario. This prime navigational location provided important military ties to wars and training that started with 1812 until the US government declares their properties surplus in the 1950’s. In 1875 the Utica and Black River Railroad opens service to Sackets Harbor. Later taken over by New York Central it stops this service in 1949.

Unlike many of the “living” history recreations the Sackets Harbor historic preservation is not manned by costumed guides but real people have real stores and homes in the historic and undesignated but picturesque areas of town. Around the late 1960’s the State of New York purchased the Union Hotel and several parcels of land adjacent to the Old Battlefield Park with the intent of opening the historic site to the public.

The Village of Sackets Harbor adopted an Historic Zoning Law and by 1974 vacant and deteriorating Madison Barracks is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the Sackets Harbor Battlefield.

The Sackets Harbor Historical Society created by village residents continues to stimulate the communities revitalization and purchases the Old Bank Building and the USO Building. This movement has transformed Sackets Harbor continues to this day now encompassing the local waterfront.

The Brewing Company opened in May of 1996. That year they sold beer out of the Sackets Harbor pub, and began selling kegs of beer to other restaurants in the area. The beer was brewed onsite in an addition built on the front of the restaurant. SHBC outgrew its own brewing facilities in August 1997, and started contracting brewing out to Middle Ages Brewery in Syracuse. By November of 1997 SHBC had outgrown Middle Ages as well, and began working with Ten Springs Brewing Company in Saratoga Springs, NY. SHBC sells about 46,500 gallons of beer per year. About 15,500 of those gallons are still produced at the Sackets Harbor location.

The bar at Sackets Harbor is cozy with high ceilings, beautiful dark stained wood, and a clear view of the brew house. You can order a sampler, which comes on a cute toy wood train set. I tried the flagship WAR OF 1812 ALE (which can be found in bottles in upstate New York), the seasonal Feather Hammer Maibock, and the Independence Wheat. My friend tried the GRANTS GOLDEN, which, for lighter ale, had a ton of flavor. A real find!

During our visit we munched on the complimentary breadsticks and talked local brewing with the bartender. We asked about the new microbrewery in nearby Watertown, but at the time of our visit. it had not received its license to serve its own house brews. We then took a quick tour of the dining area and discovered the outdoor patio overlooking the local marina, very scenic. We also discovered that Sackets Harbor Brewing owns Good Fellows, a brick oven pizza and wine bar, just a few doors up the street.

Walking on Main Street you’ll find interesting shops and fine eating establishments such as Tin Pan Galley with its wonderful stone patio, Vachon’s 1812 Steak & Seafood Company, and the Lake Ontario Playhouse, which during the summer operates a patio. Nearby the historic Madison Barracks including a quaint waterside restaurant. All in all, a return visit is definitely on the agenda. However, one should take note that things start to quiet down in Sackets Harbor during the winter months, so it never hurts to call ahead.

Driving directions to Sackets Harbor.
Follow Interstate 81 to exit 45 (Arsenal St.), take Route 3 west about 8 miles until you see signs for Sackets Harbor. This will take you onto Broad Street. Make a right onto Main Street (just past the fire department on your left) and you’re in the heart of downtown and all the action.

Sources:
Tourism for Sackets Harbor
315 482 2520
www.1000islands.com/sacketsharbor

Sackets Harbor Brewing Co
407 W. Main St.
Sackets Harbor
315-646-2739

Tin Pan Galley
110 West Main
Sackets Harbor
316-646-3812

Vachon’s 1812 Steak & Seafood Company
212 West Main Street
Sackets Harbor
(315) 646-2041

Lake Ontario Playhouse
103 West Main St. Sackets Harbor, NY 13685
315-646-2305
e-mail playhouse3@aol.com

SACKETS HARBOR EVENTS CALENDAR

July

August

September
Date Time Event Place
lst 3PM CONCERTS ON THE WATERFRONT –
10TH MOUNTAIN DIVISION BAND
Battlefield State Historic Park
8 – 15 ‘PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBIT’-AANY-Visitor Center Visitor Center
28 10pm CYSTIC FIBROSIS-GREAT STRIDES WALK-A-THON

October
Date Time Event Place
OCT 12th OKTOBERFEST – Visitor Center Lawn Market Square Park

To confirm any event schedule contact the
Sackets Harbor Chamber of Commerce
PO Box 17
Sackets Harbor, New York 13685
(315) 646-1700