“Electric City Light” Launches in Schenectady with $3 Drafts and Local Buzz

SCHENECTADY, NY — A new hometown beer is hitting taps across Schenectady this summer. Electric City Light, a crisp domestic light beer brewed locally, officially launches on Sunday, July 7—and it's already turning heads with a bold promise: $3 per draft, fixed.

The beer is the brainchild of Tommy Nicchi, owner of The Broken Inn, The Horses Lounge, and The Parlor at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course. Partnering with head brewer Brian Conley at Seven Points Brewery in Schenectady’s historic Stockade district, Nicchi set out to create an affordable, quality beer brewed for—and priced with—locals in mind.

“If minimum wage is $15, it shouldn’t cost you half an hour’s work to buy a beer,” Nicchi says.

To back up that principle, Electric City Light is being sold at cost to local bars and restaurants—but only to those who agree to maintain the $3 draft price. Establishments unwilling to honor that commitment were excluded from the launch.

 

One-of-a-Kind Tap Handle

Adding to the hype is a show-stopping custom tap handle: a functioning lightbulb that lights up every time a draft is poured. The handle, a nod to Schenectady’s nickname “The Electric City,” was custom engineered by Purple Shark Designs in Marysville, Ohio. After weeks of testing and prototyping, they delivered a unique, eye-catching symbol of the brand's local pride.

 

Featured at Nine Schenectady Bars

Beginning July 7, Electric City Light will be available at the following nine Schenectady bars:

  • The Broken Inn

  • The Horses Lounge

  • The Parlor at Schenectady Municipal Golf Course

  • 20 North Broadway Tavern

  • Hunter’s on Jay

  • Backstage Pub

  • Jay Street Pub

  • Manhattan Exchange

  • BL’s Tavern

 

Early Demand Exceeds Expectations

The first batch of Electric City Light—15 kegs—sold out before launch. A second batch, doubling the output to 30 kegs and due for release by July 17, has also sold out in advance. During a soft launch at The Parlor, two 50-liter kegs were emptied in just 48 hours, signaling strong consumer demand.