May 6, 2000: Adirondack Park, NY --

With this week's spotlight firmly focused, here is a place for the weary traveler. I know that the pub we are going to discuss is quite a drive (no popping out there for a Friday night on the town...) but if you find yourself in the area, do yourself a favor and swing on by for a frosty pint and some good old fashioned atmosphere.

Located just outside the Adirondack Park in upstate (3 hours north of Syracuse) New York, in a small college known as Potsdam (spelled bassakwards itís Madstop) is a shrine to microbrewing. This shrine is disguised as a bar called Maxfields. Owned and run by Larry Hazen, Maxfields has been a gathering place of beer aficionados for many a moon. With 25 taps ranging from budwieser and Coors to Alimony Ale, Rogue brews, and a full line of Sierra Nevada's, there is something on tap that everyone can sink their teeth into for a fairly reasonable price. They also carry a wide variety of your favorite concoctions in bottles as well, so make sure to check the back wall before ordering. One of my most loved beers at this establishment has always been the Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout, and the Brooklyn IPA should not be discounted either. With a closely monitored keg room, all the beers on tap at Maxfields are served icy cold (except stouts, they are kept about 10-15 degrees warmer) and in glass pints (which is always a bonus, coming soon-Ban The Plastic Cup..). You may also want to sample some of their liquors from the fully stocked bar (there is plenty to sample, believe you me).

Aside from the beer (of course, most important) there is the food a Maxfields. Even if you are not a drinker of fine potables, everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) enjoys fine food. That is one this Maxfields has in spades. Make sure you drop in for dinner to try their Tuscan Chicken or authentic stirfry. All entrees come with fresh, hot bread, and is served with fresh veggie of the day, your choice of a salad and garlic mashed potatoes which I dare say are heavenly. As this is not a food review, I won't get too in depth, but take my advice, if you stop in, it may be pricey, but it is absolutely worth it. Have dinner with friends and sample a few brews-you won't regret it.

Now for the truly important part for any beer drinker. How do I get cheap good beer? Well my friends, let me tell you. I have two words to solve the money issue. FLIP NITE. That's right, it's flip nite. For a minimal cover charge at the door, on a Tuesday night, you can win your beer. How you ask? The bartender will flip a coin, if you call the toss- the beer is free. You lose, you pay. It's just that simple. I know from personal experience that Flip Nite is a long standing, well loved tradition in Potsdam. Other specials include a Friday happy hour, often with food provided (included in the cover charge) and a jazz ensemble from the Crane School of Music, and live music most every weekend.

If you are heading up to the great white north, either to New York, Vermont or Montreal, do yourself a favor and get some true Adirondack flavor, stop in to Maxfiields on the corner of Market St. and Main St. in Potsdam, NY and say hi to the gang for me.

Notable Brew Notes: Brooklyn Brewing- Black Chocolate Stout

Dark Brownish/Black in color
Semi-Sweet bouquet
Thick, clingy head (last about 3/4 of the way through beer)
sweet chocolate taste with notes of : Coffee, oak and dark malt
slightly bitter after taste( but not unbearable)
3 stars

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