Not only the beautiful surroundings and tasteful beers make Raquette River Brewing what it is today. It’s also OUR PEOPLE! Let’s meet them all so you know what we are talking about.
JOE HOCKEY | Co-Owner
What made you open Raquette River Brewing?
I had one too many beers in Mark’s garage one night, the next thing I knew we had bought an old cable company garage on Balsam Street.
How long have you been here?
10 years
How did RRB start?
Home brewing in Mark’s garage.
Where are you from?
I was born in Gouverneur, N.Y and have lived in Tupper Lake since 1970.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
I am an avid woodworker and love to camp with my wife Jennie and dog Nala.
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
The American IPA and Light Lager.
What do you love most about RRB and what excites you most for the future?
What I love most about RRB is the diversity of our customers, they come from all different walks of life, nationalities and geography. I’ve met people from all over the world at RRB and the one thing we have in common is the love of beer.
MARK JESSIE | Co-Owner
What made you open Raquette River Brewing?
Insanity
How long have you been here?
From the start. 10 years.
How did RRB start?
RRB was born from a love of craft beer in my kitchen.
Where are you from?
Tupper Lake, NY
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
Hike, listen to music, and travel to other Breweries.
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
ALL of the IPA’s
What do you love most about RRB and what excites you most for the future?
I love the sense of community and meeting people from all walks of life. I’m looking forward to the growth of RRB and Tupper Lake as a whole.
CAITLIN SKIFF | Front of House Manager, Maker of Beer Soaps and Spent Grain Dog Treats
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
My dad, Joe Hockey.
How long have you been here?
6 years!
Where are you from?
Tupper Lake, NY
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
Go on adventures with my kids, husbands, and dogs. Fishing, camping, and hiking!
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Woodwalker New England IPA.
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
Meeting all the new people and dogs! I am excited about the growth and to see all the new things the Brewers come up with!
DAKOTA HOCKEY | Beertender, Wholesale, Event Planning
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
My family!
How long have you been here?
5 years.
Where are you from?
Tupper Lake, NY.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
Reading, camping, spending time with my kids.
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Winter: Chocolate Raspberry Stout.
Whole Year: Woodwalker New England IPA.
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
I love having such great co-workers and being able to work in such a positive work environment where everyone around me is passionate about what they do! My favorite part about my job is meeting amazing people from all around the world!
TANNER HOCKEY | Head Brewer/Fixer of all things
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
My father got me into the industry, but I have developed a strong passion for brewing in the last 3 years.
How long have you been here?
8 years.
Where are you from?
Tupper Lake, NY.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
Fly fishing… you find me on the river, or brown pond!
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Favorite beer to brew: Woodwalker New England IPA.
Favorite beer we make: Any kettle sours.
What’s your favorite recipe/why?
Imperial Pumpkin. It has more ingredients than our regular beers which makes the process more fun!
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
Family. Everybody here is an important aspect to make RRB what it is. Although many of us are actually brothers and sisters, everybody is family here. I’m excited to watch growth and continue making awesome beers with some awesome co-workers!
KEVIN CONNELL | Brewer
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
I bought a home brew set with my friends when I was 20, so we could make/drink beer and play darts.
How long have you been here?
2 years.
Where are you from?
Carthage, NY.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
I like reading and learning. During the summer I like hiking, fishing, swimming, and paddling. During the winter, I like snowshoeing. I can be found in the woods or at my in-laws camp on Lake Ontario.
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Favorite beer to brew: Double IPA or NEIPA Batch Series.
Favorite beer we make: Chocolate Raspberry Stout or Watermelon Cucumber Kolsch.
What’s your favorite recipe/why?
The NEIPA Batch Series and our World IPA Series from Summer of 2021. It allows the 3 of us to be our most creative!
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
I like brewing beer with my degenerate friends. I am excited about moving up to the OWD and working on a new brew system.
TAYLOR KENNISTON | Brewer
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
The craft aspect of the industry is the most alluring. Being part of a hand crafted brew is so rewarding!
How long have you been here?
1 year.
Where are you from?
OG Tupper Lake boi.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
KENDAMA!!!!
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Sours/NEIPA’s.
What is your favorite recipe/why?
The Puck Drop Sour, a great sour comes with a good pairing of flavors. Lemon and black raspberry? I’m there.
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
Watching the exponential growth of this brewery is amazing. It’s a pleasure to be a part of the process and my dope co-workers make life great!
JOSH WEISE | Online Store Manager
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
Mark Jessie and my love for craft beer.
How long have you been here?
5 years.
Where are you from?
Adams, NY.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
Play guitar, live and at home. Going to Breweries with my beautiful wife and puppy! You can find me traveling/eating delicious food.
What’s your favorite beer to brew? What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Favorite beer to brew: House NEIPA.
Favorite beer we make: NEIPA Batch Series.
What’s your favorite recipe/why?
Any new recipe because we get to experiment and try out new ideas and techniques.
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
Being a part of the craft brewing community. While building and growing with my fellow Brewers, Brewhouse staff and Front of House staff. I am excited about what heights we can reach as we expand and strive for better and even more delicious brews!
GINA BELL | Bookkeeper
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
Took business classes in high school and have been doing this line of work my whole life.
How long have you been here?
3 years.
Where are you from?
Lived in Tupper Lake my whole life.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
Love to quilt.
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Don’t like beer, have never tasted any of them, lol!
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
I love the flexibility with my job to rearrange my schedule if needed and having Mark & Joe for bosses, make things enjoyable to come to work everyday. I see big changes and growth in the near future for the Brewery with our expansion.
MEGAN PICKERING | Lake Placid Tasting Room Manager
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
Tanner and Joe Hockey initially got me into the industry.
How long have you been here?
I have been at RRB for 7 years and can easily see myself with RRB for at least 7 more. I love my job and co-workers, we make a great team!
Where are you from?
Tupper Lake, New York.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
When I’m not at RRB, you can find me drawing and painting in my studio, spending time with family, snowboarding, golfing, hiking trails, or seeking out my next adventure with my boyfriend Tanner and our dog Layla.
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Asking me to choose my favorite RRB beer is like asking me to choose my favorite artist, the options seem endless. The American IPA and New England Style IPAs are normally my go-to beers but I also really enjoy trying new brews as the brewers experiment with new recipes.
What’s your favorite recipe/Why?
All of our brewers put forth so much effort, thought, and passion into their recipes that it is impossible for me to pick just one!
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
What I love most about RRB is the work environment! All of the employees are passionate about their role and we all get along great! Our customers are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met, and I get to communicate with new people everyday and learn about where they are from, while sharing our reflections of the many delicious beers on tap.
I am very excited to see RRB continue to grow and to keep seeing our brews in new locations throughout New York.
MADISON WEISE | Label Artist, Social Media & Marketing
What got you involved with Raquette River Brewing?
Quick friendships with Mark & Joe and loving the atmosphere at RRB from the moment my husband and I moved here 6 years ago!
How long have you been here?
4 years.
Where are you from?
Chaumont, NY.
What do you do outside of the Brewery?
My full-time job I’m a Coordinator for an incredible work program for people with disabilities. Any free time you can find me with my husband and our pup Lennon, cooking, traveling, crafting & drawing, camping, paddling, and seeing our favorite bands!
What’s your favorite beer at RRB?
Summer Ale! It’s a lemon packed crusher. And obviously, the entire NEIPA series.
What do you love most about working for RRB and what excites you most for the future?
The outpouring support from the RRB family and the freedom to create! I’m excited for the continuous new recipes, the places we’ll pop up next, & the continuous growth for RRB and the community.
ALL ARE WELCOME
