Veteran-Owned: Slickfin Brewing Co.

Inspiration comes in many different ways.

For US Marine Corps veteran Kris March, inspiration for his brewery came during his final deployment in Afghanistan. During that tour, Kris decided to try his hand at brewing beer, so he started by reaching out to a friend to find out what supplies he would need. Kris found the materials, worked his way through each step of the brewing process, and then put the beer away for six weeks to complete the procedure. When it was ready to drink, he shared it with his fellow Marines to help relieve some of the stress of the mission. It also gave them a much needed laugh. “It was awful!” Kris recalled. “It tasted like yeasty champagne. I share this memory with five other guys, two of whom I know very well, my closest friends. Hardships create great stories and great memories.” That is where the idea for Slickfin Brewery was born: on the battlefield, amongst friends.

Slickfin Brewery, located at 147 Broadway in Fort Edward, is owned and operated by former US Marines Kris and Heather March. This husband and wife couple saw the potential in Fort Edward and have never looked back. Fort Edward is a small historical village along the Hudson River in Washington County, and it’s where Slickfin Brewing Co. has made its home.

When Kris and Heather first discovered Fort Edward, the downtown was filled with vacant and deserted commercial properties. Now, the area has a welcoming vibe, with a hustle and bustle of a thriving village that supports a variety of commerce. The couple saw the potential in downtown Fort Edward and have worked to help build a neighborhood and community around them. “We were scouting locations for the brewery and came to Fort Edward to look around. What we saw were a lot of empty storefronts along the Hudson River which is right there,” said Kris, pointing to their backyard beer garden. “We looked around and thought, ‘We could do something here.’”

Slickfin Brewery has full-sized windows that look out onto a sidewalk patio with tables that line Broadway. The beer garden in the back of the building provides a generous amount of space for patrons to relax and enjoy. Kris described the inside of the building when they first found it. “The whole interior area was divided into small spaces. It was all sectioned off and very dark,” Kris said. As Kris and Heather worked to create a more open concept, Kris also built the bar himself.

The unique name of the brewery comes from Heather and Kris’s shared military experience. The term slickfin refers to the fin on a bomb. Kris, during his time in the Marines, was an explosives ordnance disposal technician. His experience inspired the name, and the name inspired their logo.

Kris and Heather love working together and being part of a community. Heather grew up in Fort Ann, on Hadlock Pond. She graduated from Fort Ann High School in 1998 and attended Suny Adirondack prior to joining the Marines. Heather is happy to build their business and raise their family in the area where she grew up. “My family is here and my friends are here. That makes a big difference to us,” she said.

Kris and Heather met on the rifle range at Quantico and married a year later. Together, the couple run the brewery with Kris brewing the artisanal craft beers and Heather focusing on creating a welcoming environment and expanding their customer base.

Slickfin Brewery is perfectly situated to both witness and take part in the evolving resurgence of Fort Edward. Kris and Heather have watched new businesses move in around them and love being part of building a community.

“Our community wants to be a part of the change that is happening,” said Heather. “Everyone is looking and watching and wants these businesses to succeed.”

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s taken a while,” Kris added with a smile.

Kris and Heather experienced the support of the community first hand while navigating the pandemic. Having established their business in 2017, Slickfin Brewery opened in March of 2019. The pandemic created unforeseen challenges that warranted creative solutions. Slickfin provided curbside pick up for their customers, and expanded their patio to serve their customers safely. Having only recently opened, Heather and Kris found that the community was dedicated to helping their business. “Cars would line up along Broadway and we would run their order out to them after they had paid over the phone,” Heather recalled. “It was definitely a challenging time but we got through it.”

Slickfin is surrounded by businesses that help support each other. Heather gives credit to their neighbor, Underwood Park CrossFit, because their clientele often frequent the local businesses. The community has welcomed the Twisted Taco food truck and values long-standing businesses like The Anvil Inn, Ye Old Fort Diner, and Mamma’s Cafe.

Seeing what Heather and Kris have created begs the question, ‘What’s next?’ “We have plans. Our fifth year in business is coming up in March of next year, that’s the year we plan to go to market. I’m working on organizing my methods. Since we opened we have brewed over 200 types of beer, I would like to stick to between 50 and 75 of those. We have had a lot of fun. The small system that we use allows us to do a lot of things. It allows us to change our menu frequently,” Kris said. The Slickfin craft brew menu creates an opportunity for patrons to enjoy a 5 oz taster, the traditional 16 oz pint, or a 32 oz Crowler, which is essentially a growler in a can.

Slickfin Brewery does not serve food, but has created partnerships to encourage patrons to support neighboring eateries. Kris and Heather keep menus of neighboring restaurants on hand and allow customers to order food in. For example, patrons can order delivery from Stumpy’s Pizzeria, and the Twisted Taco food truck parks right outside on Tuesday nights.

Kris and Heather keep their customer base updated on what’s on tap through their website. Their tap menu is constantly offering new varieties, with names like Yacht Rock Blueberry Blonde Ale, Before I Had Status IPA, Street Fighterz Lager, and Night Shade Maple Porter. Their website also lists information about their offerings such as place of origin, bitterness level (IBU) and alcohol content (ABV).

The brewery maintains a full event calendar, from weekly favorites like trivia and karaoke nights to theme nights with live music, such as the recent “80’s Party” bash. Coming up next, the pair are planning a larger event for Oktoberfest.

Slickfin Brewery is open Tuesday through Sunday. The hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday from 4pm to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 2pm to 10pm, and Sunday from noon to 5pm.

For more information please visit their website at SlickfinBrewing.com