Scott Vaccaro
Owner/Brewer
Captain Lawrence Brewing Co.: An Elmsford-based brewer of award-winning beers that got started because Vaccaro was “amazed that an area with such a diverse culinary scene could be without a local brewery to help complement all of that great food.”
WHY WESTCHESTER: “This is home for me, born and raised. On top of that, no other community has what Westchester has – a community of close to one million people that love great food, commute to and from NYC and are located in the largest retail market in the country.”
LESSONS LEARNED: “Making beer is the easy part – I am still learning how to run a business.”
SECRET TO SUCCESS: “No secret – just great beer. We are lucky that people enjoy the beer we make, and because of that, they have rewarded us with loyal support. Without a loyal local base, no small brewery will survive.”
REWARDING MOMENT: “When Manhattan Beer Distributors came and asked to distribute our beer, I knew we were going to make it. They are the largest, most successful distributor in the market, if not the country, and we are proud to have them as a distributor.”
WHAT’S NEXT: “Twelve-ounce bottles are the next step for us as a company. It opens up an entirely new market and will be a great way for our customers to be able to take our beer home to enjoy as opposed to only being able to get it at a restaurant or in a growler.” www.captainlawrencebrewing.com
