Owners of F.X. Matt Brewing Co. to Give Away the Brewery for A Night

SaranacUTICA, NY – The owners of the F.X. Matt Brewing Co. have made a shocking announcement. Just as this year’s Saranac 12 Beers of WinterTM are released, Nick and Fred Matt are giving away the brewery for a night!

Nick and Fred Matt will take the winners of Saranac’s Golden Ticket Promotion through a magical journey, chock full of experiences only a lucky few will ever have, including:

  • Brewing beer with Nick and Fred Matt
  • A behind-the-scenes tour led by the Matts through the brewery
  • Visiting the private cellar, secret beer lab, official tasting room and bottling floor
  • Being the first to taste test new beers
  • Pouring beers straight from the aging tanks
  • Exclusive five-course beer dinner with the Matts
  • Overnight accommodations at Hotel Utica
  • And many other magical surprises!

As the second oldest family-owned brewery in the United States and New York’s oldest brewery, the Matt Family knows what it takes to create distinctive, yet drinkable craft beers. In 1996, F.X. Matt Brewing Co. coined the ever-popular variety pack, before all the other breweries followed suit.

Inside this season’s Saranac 12 Beers of WinterTM variety pack, consumers will find a brand-new flavor in addition to a chance to find a Golden Ticket and win the brewery. Consumers can also enter for a chance to win by joining Club Saranac, scanning the QR codes found on signage in local bars, visiting the Saranac website or texting SARANAC to 24587.

The 12 Beers of WinterTM is a festive variety pack containing six different Saranac flavors, each one a distinctive and refreshing take on a classic beer style, crafted with signature care by one of America’s oldest and most respected breweries.

This year’s new flavor is Saranac Chocolate Lager — a delicious deep amber lager made with certified organic cacao from Belize.

“Our brewers selected the highest quality cacao to create a smooth, chocolaty taste that only comes from the most exclusive cacao plants,” said Meghan Fraser, marketing coordinator for the F.X. Matt Brewery. “We used the roasted seeds of these plants and paired them with caramel malt and German Hallertau hops to create a malty chocolate sweet flavor. Beer drinkers will love pairing this beer with their favorite holiday foods or on its own for a delicious treat!”

Saranac’s 12 Beers of WinterÔäó 2011 is the most anticipated holiday package this season. Also, Saranac Big Moose Ale, Saranac Bohemian Pilsener, Saranac Lake Effect Lager, Saranac Vanilla Stout and Saranac India Copper Ale will be making an encore appearance. Look for Saranac 12 Beers of WinterTM in stores starting in November, while supplies last.

“This year, we wanted to share with our fans a true inside peek at what we do every day, which is to craft some of America’s finest beer,” said Fred Matt, president of the F.X. Matt Brewery and fourth generation of the Matt family. “Our 12 Beers of WinterTM variety pack is brewed from the finest ingredients found all over the world, while maintaining our local roots. We are even more excited to share with the lucky Golden Ticket winners the real meaning of what it takes to run one of America’s regional family-owned breweries.”