I've visit the brewery numerous times over many years, going on multiple tours, attending Saranac Thursdays during the summer, attending special events hosted there, and renting out the place myself for events I've organized for associations and reunions. Tours are enjoyable, educational, and tasty (samples of root beer and other sodas as well as craft beers included in the tour price). A fun place to spend a few hours touring with friends or to host a gathering yourself. Please note that handicapped accessibility is limited, so call ahead to get details for any tour or event access. For events, the staff can help arrange food or other services as needed; be sure to ask for pricing of various menu options and service charges for their staff assistance, whether ordering through them or having an external catering service deliver for you. read more

I grew up in the Utica area moving when I was 4 for my dad's job. We always returned to visit and at least once a year it included a trip to tour the brewery. I am 23 years old and I have probably been at least 15 times. It is truly that cool. It has a really cool history. They start you in the gift shop and then through the lobby. There are fascinating facts like the one chair, the grandfather clock, and a Tiffany lamp as well as getting to see a collection of bottles and cans from their history. The thing that is so amazing about this tour is that it keeps you interested while telling you some neat facts. This brewery was brewing during prohibition and selling bottles that said not to add yeast and let sit for a certain period of time or you would make beer. They were also the first brewery to deliver beer after prohibition ended. There is really nothing off limits in this tour. You get to feel the hops, see the bottling, go through the cold room with the tanks, and even hear how local farms pick up the old hops to feed their animals. Most of the tour guides are well trained and some that have been there a little longer will give you even more fun info about the company. And then of course the best part is tasting at the end. It is an old tavern and you get 2 beverages depending on your age, you can get beer. My husband is personally a big fan of the Black & Tan and the Pomegranate Wheat. I am a Root Beer fan and is just does not seem right or taste right to drink anything other then Saranac Root Beer. This is truly something that I miss now living in the South. This is a must if you are in the Utica area. It will cost you $5 - which stays the same. They are pretty reasonably priced for a tour that includes free tasting! Call ahead though because they do not have as many tours in the fall and winter. And I would recommend bringing a jacket even in the summer. Some of the buildings are kept pretty cold and you will freeze on this tour if you go in without a jacket. read more

The tour is a lot of fun and the shop is stocked with somecreally fun products. The Taproom is also a unique place to have small-ish special events (not sure what the capacity is). read more

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This is a fun experience for children and adults. You get to see how the beer and soda are made and you can sample. They also have a bar and gift shop to grab some souvenirs read more

Took the next generation. Did both the Zoo and then the brewery tour which did about 30 years ago........still excellent, fun, and informative. Only gripe is there is little or no signage anywhere to direct you to the brewery. Thanks to Garman we found it - certainly no help from Utica signage. The brewery needs to work with the city to place some signs on poles here and there. read more

Saranac makes a great variety pack that I've enjoyed over the years, and I was thrilled that they distribute to PA which has the weird case laws (you have to buy the entire case at some places). While few of the Saranac beers are my absolute favorites, I find myself enjoying nearly all of them very much - overall solid, well-crafted beers of distinction. Cheers! read more

As interesting as touring a small brewery is, the best thing is access to one of the nicest bars that is NOT open to the public. The beers they have on hand are numerous and some not even sold in stores...WHHYYY?? The beer comes with the admission...3 glasses I think. Two of them were the best craft brews I've had recently. If you are a history buff, there is a decent museum of the company history, and beer making history. Met a lot of people from outside the area. Went with a group of friends, good Saturday afternoon activity during bad weather. One note to the staff: In the historical collection of UC beer cans in the display case is one from the early 20th century, let's just say it's racially insulting. I'm not thin skinned, but nobody comes out on a beer tour expecting to see an ugly racial slur against them, put that "special" can in the vault. read more

Thankfully, while having lunch at the Chowder House(another great choice) a lovely couple suggested this tour as we had a couple hours to waste. What a great tour....we LOVED every minute of it! Can't beat the value for $10....tour and each of us had 2 full size beers, plus a few samples to help us decide. DAHHLICIOUS Caramel and S'More Porters....SO good! The tour was SO informative and so much history! The beautiful bar/tasting room with all the gorgeous woodwork, etc was a treat too! Will definitely return if curling every brings us back to Utica! read more

I love going on the brewery tour here at Matt's; it's a great way to kill a few hours on a lazy Saturday for $3, (complete w/two free drinks at the end,) and it's a great place to bring out-of-town friends as well! The brewery lobby at the beginning of the tour, as well as the 1888 tavern at the end are beautifully appointed, historically accurate, and the tour of the "nuts and bolts" (barley and hops?) of microbrewing is very professionally done. The history of the brewery itself is fascinating, and it's a great place to bring people of all ages; the trolley ride in the summer at the end of the tour is a lot of fun, and the soft drinks are (IMO, anyway,) even better than the excellent beers brewed here! (I live in Albany now, and I still miss Saranac Diet Root Beer something awful!) Definitely a must-see in Central New York! read more

If you're in or around Utica and you like beer definitely check out this brewery. $5 includes about a 45 minute tour from a knowledgeable tour guide, historic building, and two pints. It's worth the stop! read more

Showed up when they were dead and asked if one of the five employees standing around would give us a tour and they said nope. They also didn't have their Pomegranate Wheat beer or really any of their other regular beers available for purchase ... I guess that does it for me and this beer. Unaccommodating & unfriendly - I guess thats why they are famous for their beer and not the service at their Brewery. read more

This is one of my favorite brewery tours. I've stopped by 3 times. The last time was August 2016. I enjoy history and this is a historical brewery. The tour starts in a parlor filled with old marketing Steins, bottles, cans and memorabilia. Then you go into a Speakeasy. Then take the elevator up to the brew house. This is the second oldest brewery in the United States and they've preserved the brew house very well. As with all great brewery tours, this one ends with samples. Yum! read more

I just tried the Shirley Temple Soda... it's like happiness in a bottle :)

If you are in the Utica area this is truly the only thing worth while to do. I have family there and had great memories of visiting this brewery as a kid. Now coming back as an adult and beer lover it was wonderful! Its only $5 for adults to get in and kids are free. The tour was informative and fun. The best part, two FREE beers or soft drinks of your choice at the end! read more

This is a well done, interesting brewery tour ($5.00), that is not rushed. On the tour, one can earn extra drink tickets, by winning trivia contest questions. I won two tickets. At the end, they are not stingy with the beers, as pint offerings are available. RJT read more

When I saw the label on Costco's new Kirkland beer bottles, the mfgr. was listed as American Brewing Company, Utica, NY. I said to myself (having been a long time upstate New Yorker who imbibed often of Matt's Seranac brand), "This has just gotta be the old FX Matt Brewery under another name. Sure enough, the internet sends seekers go the Matt Brewing company. Good beer. Great price. Costco, you've got a winner here. Don't mess with it. read more

Thank you for making Utica, New York, a National Beer Stop! There's always a Saranac in my fridge!

this is a really cool brewery with a lot of history that i feel goes unnoticed to a lot of people. the building is beautiful inside and out. the gift shop is pretty cool but can be pricey. the tour guide was into his job and pretty informative and friendly. the tour costs $5 but at the end you get 2 free pints of beer as well as samples, so you can get a pretty nice buzz in a cool atmosphere while hanging with friends. The Saranac beers are pretty good, but the Utica Club doesn't have much goin for it except for its history. Utica is kind of a dump, but if you live within an hour or 2 of this place it's definitely worth checking out. read more

Brewery nights on Thursday are awesome! The admission is cheap, the beer prices are cheap (although it's only a small cup), and there is a lively crowd. I like most of the beers brewed here. The Shandy summer beer is refreshing. The pomegranate wheat is one of the best pomegranate beers I've ever had... definitely better than some of the other organic New England ones. The limited release Irish Red is tasty. I also like the Adirondack Lager. Utica Club is a great pilsner if you are looking for a normal beer. This place has character. They also sell awesome steins. read more

This was a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon, and inexpensive. We took the tour and then were able to taste the beer, two full mugs each, for about $5.00/per person. Not bad at all! The brewery is really amazing. The building is about 7 stories tall, and all the operations are updated with computer controls etc. but with the original brewing equipment. The automation allows them to brew beer for other vendors, with different recipes easily. The tour guide was a young woman, who apparently was too young to drink alcohol, so was not very versed at describing the beers, but she was enthusiastic. The pub, where we went for tasting after the tour, was great. An old english style with gothic, hand carved wood beams, railings etc. There were tables to sit at, and the bartenders were friendly and helpful in describing the different brews, including many from other vendors' recipes, made onsite. read more