About
Good friends sharing values of community, authenticity, quality, and of course, great beer
The Founders:
John Menapace, Hope Strods, Dorothy Krause, Sal Strods, and Dan Welch - Owners
John Menapace, Dan Welch, Dorothy Krause, Hope & Sal Strods tossed around the idea of opening a brewery. John owned an old mill building on Skaneateles Creek (the outlet of pristine Skaneateles Lake) that had history and charm (and the challenges that go with it). In the summer of 2018 the renovation and buildout of the taproom and brewhouse began.
Fast forward to December 2019, we opened Skaneateles Brewery. We were so excited to bring this project, a labor of love, to the community. Then Covid arrived. At first we managed to survive by selling crowlers to-go through a small makeshift window. Eventually we were able to open the Taproom and outdoor spaces again, and more interior spaces were created. And here we are now. We’re proud to harness the best water in all of the Fingerlakes, pay tribute to Skaneateles Creek’s historic past, be a committed member of the Skaneateles community, and brew fantastic beer.
The Brew Master
Thoughtfully crafting award-winning beers that are both interesting and very drinkable
Chris Watson - Head Brewer
Meet Chris Watson our head brewer at Skaneateles Brewery. A talented brewer whose experience spans some of the most iconic names in the industry as well as some of the most creative and community-focused craft breweries in the region. He began his journey in large-scale production environments-honing his skills and deepening his understanding of quality control and consistency. His time at FX Matt (the legendary brewery behind brands like Saranac and Brooklyn) and Anheuser-Busch gave him a solid foundation…creating beer on a national level. He has made an impact at other highly successful local craft breweries such as Middle Ages, Meiers Creek and Prison City. Additionally, Chris was instrumental in expanding the production of the whiskeys of Beak & Skiff’s 1911 Spirits brand. Chris’ passion and dream has been the hands-on creativity and close-knit culture of a small hometown craft brewery. His dream has come true in that he lives in Onondaga (the reason for 13 Degrees Ale which gives a nod to not just our opening date but also the 13 curves roadway in Onondaga) and works in Skantown. His combination of big brewery expertise and small-brewery artistry comes to Skaneateles Brewery bringing his unique ideas and thoughtful brewing style. From classic beers to inventive new releases, you are certain to find a well made beer you will love.
The Location
A picturesque village overlooking one of the cleanest and most beautiful lakes in the U.S.
The town of Skaneateles is known for its beautiful, namesake lake, which is one of the cleanest lakes in the country. Skaneateles Lake is a Finger Lake, having been formed by glaciers scratching into the land like a big hand, many, many years ago (hence the word "Finger”). Skaneateles Lake is also known for being very deep (over 300’ in places), spring-fed, crystal-clear, gorgeously-blue, and usually relatively COLD. People used to come from all over the country to benefit from the supposed healing properties of the water. We don’t know if the lake is healing but it certainly makes us happy. It’s always a joy to experience Skaneateles Lake, while on a boat, sitting on a bench in the park, or even just catching a glimpse of the blue waters while driving through the village. We’re grateful and proud that the water we use to make our beer comes from Skaneateles Lake. For us it feels like another way to experience the lake, in every sip of our beer.
Skaneateles Village Photo by: Skan-Drone
The Building
Historical, full of character, and with many past lives
Old Mill Building, circa A Long Time Ago
Our historical, creekside building has had many lives, and has always been an integral part of the local and regional community. It’s been home to a grist mill, a distillery (both in the 1860’s and currently with the Last Shot Distillery), a paper mill, a vacuum cleaner manufacturer, a Lightning sailboat factory, a ceramic tile factory, a clay factory, an office building, and now, Skaneateles Brewery. We’re proud to bring a new life to this building, and be a part of the community, and we’d love to welcome you here to enjoy our warm atmosphere and very special beer.