When Scott Vaccaro successfully wheedled his parents to let a family friend teach him to make beer, he was just 17—in other words, still years away from being able to legally drink. But his folks wanted to support his passion, and so they allowed him to tinker with brewing in the family’s South Salem kitchen.
When it came time for college, Vaccaro’s parents suggested he pursue a business degree, but after a year at Villanova he transferred to UC Davis in California to study fermentation science in hopes of becoming a professional brewer. “I told my parents this is where my heart is,” says Vaccaro.
After graduation, he spent a few years brewing in California and Connecticut with his eyes on a brand of his own. In 2005 he drew up a business plan for Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, named after the street he grew up on. That summer he started construction on his first location in Pleasantville. By January 2006, the inaugural batch of Freshchester Pale Ale was sold at Lucy’s Lounge a few blocks away. His tasting room opened the following month, with relatives pitching in to sell flights and the county’s first growlers-to-go.
For the first few years, Vaccaro acted as his own distributor, driving a Jetta full of kegs around the county delivering to local restaurants, bars, and grocery stores. With craft beer rapidly gaining momentum, the biggest challenge was not brewing but building relationships. “People would ask me, ‘What are you offering that’s different?’ Vaccaro recalls. His answer was personal and simple: “I’m local. I’m here. I’m working directly with you, small business to small business.”
Five years later, Vaccaro relocated Captain Lawrence to a much larger facility in Elmsford, affording him more room for customers and to play with experimental batches. Over the years, the brewery has grown to 33,000 square feet including a full-service restaurant. His evolving empire now includes small-batch whiskey and canned cocktails, a second facility in Mount Kisco, and a popular food truck.
Plenty of accolades confirm Vaccaro’s vision: 10 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) awards, a World Beer Cup gold medal, and numerous nods from the NY Craft Beer Competition and TAP New York Craft Beer & Wine Festival.
“We sell liquid smiles and have made a lot of people happy over the years,” says Scott Vaccaro.
Today, the brewery produces over 28,000 barrels of beer a year. Captain Lawrence is widely available on tap in restaurants, on store shelves, and in over 7 states. Vaccaro credits his company’s success not only to making good beer but to the relationships he has carefully nurtured. “Everyone wants to support local,” he points out. “Westchester is still our biggest and best market.”
For their big anniversary, the team is planning a celebration in May and monthly new beer releases. “I feel lucky and blessed to realize what I wanted to do at 17 years old,” he says. “We sell liquid smiles and have made a lot of people happy over the years.” Cheers to that!
Scott Vaccaro and his team are planning an anniversary party on May 15th. VIP tickets will be sold in advance; walk-ins will also be welcome. Check the website or app for more info.
Related: Trader Joe’s to Open Its Fifth Westchester Location in Yonkers
