We are a farmhouse brewery that has been in operation since early 2015. Starting from the love of brewing and the question of “What if…”, Jim Hume and his wife, Darlene, started Battle Hill Brewing Company in 2015 in the current location, a historic 1840 building in the center of Fort Ann. The vision was to create and share eight different beers at a time while using fresh, local ingredients and refined recipe and brewing practices. Washington County, NY has a long and varied agricultural history and we are very honored to be part of that.
But who are we really? We are a family friendly brewery that values community and bringing people together from all walks of life. We believe that bringing people together is everything, and it is what makes life meaningful. We value our local community and the people within it, and we want to be a beacon of light not only for Fort Ann but also for Washington County as a whole. We love our local community and use ingredients from local farms as much as possible as a way to support our local farmers. Additionally, we also partner with local organizations, distilleries, and wineries as a way to strengthen our community. We believe that we are stronger together than apart.
Thank you for joining us today! We so appreciate that you chose to visit our brewery today. We hope that you had a wonderful drinking and eating experience and we hope that we get to see you again soon. Do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions!
How we started
Fort Ann, NY
Jul 8, 1777
The Battle of Fort Ann on July 8, 1777, was a British victory, but was remarkably advantageous for the Patriots because it hindered the progress of the British Saratoga Campaign.
During the summer of 1777, the British were in the midst of their Saratoga Campaign, a plan to subdue the Patriot rebels in New York, and were making their way through New England, defeating rebel armies and capturing forts. After British Gen. John Burgoyne overtook Fort Ticonderoga on July 6, he forced the Continental troops to retreat and reconvene in a defensive perimeter near Fort Ann. The British then set their sights on capturing the fort.
While the Patriots had successfully outnumbered and surrounded the British, the Patriots ultimately retreated to Fort Ann and then to Fort Edward when they were deceived into believing that enemy reinforcements were preparing to surround them. Regardless, the Patriots successfully delayed British movements toward Saratoga and ensured an American victory there.
[Information courtesy of The American Battlefield Trust ]
In the early 1800s, an authentic New England colonial house was built on the site. I guess you could say we’ve got history in our bones!
Where We’ve Been
The Portage
The Portage was a restaurant and diner advertising:
New York Authentic New England Colonial House built in the early 1800’s… Colonial Dining Room and Lounge… Beautiful natural panoramic view in new addition … seating 140. Northern point of the Great Portage (be- tween the Hudson River and Lake Champlain) used by Indians and Whites for hundreds of years… Gateway to the North – so called from French and Indian War Days… Actual Site of 5 Forts built from 1690 to 1781. Queen Anne Well on southeast corner of property… Decisive Battle of the Revolutionary War was fought within sight of the Fort, on Battle Hill between Burgoyne’s Men and the New Hampshire 2nd Regiment.
Queen Anne’s “Old Well”
Located on the southwest corner of the property is an old well apparently built at the behest of Queen Anne.
