In a vacant storefront on 14 Utica St., construction on Lower Lake Taproom is underway in anticipation of a Fall 2024 opening.
Laura Mechling Jensen and Mark Jensen, the owners of Lower Lake Brewery and Taproom, made the move to Hamilton, N.Y., from New York City during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When Laura Mechling Jensen lost her job due to the pandemic, Mark Jensen found a job at Meier’s Creek Brewing Company and the two moved to upstate New York, near where he grew up in South New Berlin.
“We moved upstate, we bought a lake house, and then I had a baby. You know, the whole thing, I guess,” Laura Mechling Jensen said.
Laura Mechling Jensen spoke about opening the taproom in the village.
“We think there’s so much potential in downtown [Hamilton]. And you know, you’re really excited at the fact that we felt like what we wanted to do was an underserved market,” Laura Mechling Jensen said.
The two elaborated on a specific timeline for the opening of the taproom. The opening depends not only on the amount of time their beer has been in tank, but also on licenses from the state of New York and construction of their space.
“We are a primarily logger brewery, and we’re doing things very traditional. It’d be different if we were doing IPAs, or things of that nature, which really are like a two week turnaround,” Laura Mechling Jensen said. “We’re in it for the long, long game.”
They are optimistic about opening before the start of December 2024.
“[It’s] really just up to the State of New York right now, waiting on our licenses. And we’ve been waiting for a very, very long time,” Mark Jensen said. “Our lawyer assures us, or, you know, optimistically assures us that [by the] end of October we should have our licenses in hand.”
Laura Mechling Jensen emphasized Lower Lake’s desire to serve the Colgate University community, including students, faculty and staff, as well as the greater Hamilton community.
“I will say that we definitely want to involve and cater to, I would say, the professors and the working professionals at Colgate and definitely a lot of the community that’s our age, while also gearing towards the students as well,” Laura Mechling Jensen said. “But we’re really hoping that the working professionals have a fun place to go after their work day and even are able to bring their family.”
Senior Kate Harper spoke about her anticipation for Lower Lake’s opening.
“I think that having another venue for socialization will be great! Each place in town has its own distinct energy that attracts different parts of the student body and local community, which I think helps create a more inclusive and diverse social environment,” Harper said.
The two highlighted their desire to focus on the craft of brewing and the quality of the space of the taproom.
“I think for us, we really want the space, the customer service, the atmosphere, the beer itself, all to feel really unique and special while not taking ourselves too seriously at the same time,” Laura Mechling Jensen said.
Most of the beer brewed and served at Lower Lake will be low alcohol by volume (ABV) and traditionally brewed, focusing on the ingredients and approachability of the product.
“We like things that are delicate and easy on your palate,” Mark Jensen said. “So, when you come into our space, you’re not going to get something that’s going to overwhelm your palate.”
Harper also spoke about the diversity she hopes Lower Lake’s product will bring to the Hamilton and Colgate communities.
“It’s also great to hear that Hamilton is receiving another local business, especially one that is brewing its own product — it’s exciting to know that Lower Lake’s product will be something new and different to try as opposed to the classic bar menu lineup,” Harper said.
Mark Jensen spoke about collaboration between Lower Lake and the Hamilton Initiative, which is effectively run by Colgate University and owns the space on 14 Utica St. The Hamilton Initiative is also heading construction on the development at 18 Utica St.
“They’ve been unbelievably accommodating and supportive. And they go above and beyond to promote us and to talk us up,” Mark Jensen said, “It’s nice that we have that, that level of support coming from our local community. Because I feel like, if we didn’t have that, it would be a lot more challenging to keep our spirits up.”
Lower Lake also set up a Kickstarter campaign, which has already surpassed their goal of $20,000 dollars. The goal date, Nov. 9, is still weeks away.
“[The Kickstarter] was great, great news,” Laura Mechling Jensen said, “And definitely some, some weight off our shoulders. We have a lot of weight on our shoulders right now, but that definitely lowers it.”
Harper gave a student perspective on the Hamilton community’s support for new businesses.
“It seems as though other local businesses owners within Hamilton also really want to see each other succeed as well, which I think creates such a great culture of support and collaboration in the town,” Harper said. “I’m sure that in the coming months there will be even more excitement surrounding the opening of Lower Lake.”
Lower Lake’s future opening on Utica St. was featured on the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce Instagram page, and more information about Lower Lake and updates on their opening can be found on their Instagram page and website.
