St. Regis Mohawk Tribe breaks ground on brewery at casino

Monday, August 6, 2018  

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe is opening a brewery at its casino, the first of its kind in New York.

Maple Brewing will produce more than eight handcrafted beers when it debuts later this year. The beer will be served at the Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort and distributed to local bars, restaurants and convenience stores.

“Akwesasne Mohawk Casino Resort is proud to be the entertainment destination of the North Country," general manager Todd Papineau said at the July 30 groundbreaking ceremony. "Our guests enjoy coming to our property because of the friendly atmosphere that our staff provides. The addition of another amenity brings a new level of excitement for our guests.”

Toby TenEyck, the director of food and beverage at the casino, said the brewery will be the first at an Indian gaming facility in the state. The 1,400 square-foot facility is capable of producing 160 half kegs of beer per month.

Maple Brewery is expected to open in mid-December. It will serve as an addition to the steakhouse at the casino, which will be known as Maple Steak & Ale.

"Maple Steak & Ale will provide guests the opportunity to enjoy beer brewed on property while enjoying their favorite dishes" from the restaurant, the casino said in a post on Facebook.

According to the Brewers Association, craft brew sales in the United States hit $26 billion in 2017, representing a growth rate of 8 percent. The craft beer market accounts for 23 percent of the overall U.S. beer market.