Going on a beer tour in Vermont. Any recs?

Beer and Spirits
1

We’re flying up to Vermont over Memorial Day weekend for some brew R&D. Definitely want to hit Alchemist one day then probably doing the brew tour on Sunday. Any recs for some gotta try brews up around Burlington??

2

Hill Farmstead !!!

Looks like it is a drive from Burlington at about 80 miles but everything I have heard of them they are world class. Be sure to check their website for details.

This would be the brewery I would hit if in area without question.

3

Alchemist

Love me some heady topper!

4

Hill Farmstead. There are no other destinations.

5

If you are in Burlington, you can stop at the Farmhouse Grill and sample many local brews, including Hill’s Edward. Just south of Burlington is Fiddlehead in Shelburne and Drop Inn in Middlebury. If you do head out to Hill, beware of long lines but do stop on the way at Rock Art in Morristown.

6

Alchemist
Hill farmstead
Lawson’s

7

Right there

Cheers,

Bud

8

According to their website Lawson’s does not offer tours, tastings, or retail sales, i.e. they are not open to the public.

Again Hill Farmstead is a must but I imagine it will be slightly crowded Memorial Day weekend.

9

Thanks all. Hill is holding a bottle release that Sunday so we’ll probably make the hike. Will likely hit Fiddlehead as well closer to town. Is it even worth seeing Magic Hat?

10

Another restaurant must. Owner came through Charlottesville and shared with me my first Hill Farmstead. Very hooked in to the scene.

11

I think it is since you’ll be right there. Their beer isn’t of the caliber of the other breweries suggested, but they usually have some brewery-only things available for tasting, and some can be pretty nice (some of the standards can be pretty good, too). Just don’t buy any of that imperial pilsner! [barf1.gif]

12

On your way from Alchemist up to Hill Farmstead, you will be driving through/around Stowe… Crop VT now has their own brewery on premises and Rock Art Brewery is just outside of Stowe on the way up to Hill Farmstead.

Harvest Market in Stowe is a great spot for sandiwches/bread/cheeses, etc… they have an occasional bottle of Switchback Brewery… Brewery’s in Burlington and the Ale is top notch.

13

Hey Justin, never heard how your beer tour went. Did you make it to the Alchemist and Hill Farmstead?

14

Crickets? Never get a comment back on untappd either.

15

Sorry guys. Been crazy getting our brewery off the ground. The trip went great. First, the Alchemist was out of beer to sell but offered a free 2oz pour. Outstanding unfiltered DIPA!!! We, unfortunately, went at the end of the week so most brews were sold out everywhere as most of the big breweries there distribute on Monday and are sold out everywhere by Wednesday. We were lucky enough to score a case of Heady at a local gas station at a ridiculous mark up.

As for the Hill Farmstead bottle release, the rain and cold were wicked there that weekend and they canceled their event as they are located down a long dirt road which was washed out from the rain. We were able to try a few of their beers on tap (Prohibition Pig and a few other places) but likely not their better offerings as I was slightly underwhelmed with what I tried.

No Lawsons to be found anywhere (they’re not open to the public) other than their colab brew with Abbey (Smoked Lager) which was pretty damned solid. Found a few of those to tote home.

We also visited Magic Hat was more of a carnival than a worthwhile beer tasting. The place was crazy and much like a freak show but unfortunately their beer was underwhelming. We did enjoy our visit to Fiddlehead which is making some pretty damned good beer. We also visited 14th Star Brewery which is a tiny operation but is making some killer beer. If you have a chance, go visit this little operation. You wont be disappointed.

Overall, the trip was great though it was cold and rainy almost the entire time. I’d go back in a heartbeat under better weather conditions. Vermont is undeniably the mecca of beer and worth the trip no matter where you reside. Even the run down gas stations sell some unbelievable craft beer.

Sorry for not posting sooner. Thanks for the patience!

16

Bummer the timing wasn’t good for visits to Alchemist and Hill Farmstead. Sounds like you had a good time though and found some other places with great brews. While Vermont has some great breweries I wish they would send some of their product out of the area. I guess it is just a different philosophy out there.

17

How’s that going?

18

Fresh Lawsons Double Sunshine, 4 day old, is by far the best beer Ive had so far this year. Looking forward to getting some more soon hopefully.

Cheers,

Bud

19

How is this ‘philosophy’ any different than what they do at Russian River? Three Floyd’s? Because beer, especially fresh unpasteurized beer, is so unstable, it is really a locavore movement in its pure form. I don’t think there is anything wrong with these guys wanting to keep their beers local/regional.

I just need them to get the Heady down as far as NYC. [snort.gif] flirtysmile

20

Slow but to be expected. We’re finalizing the lease for the space now at which point we’ll file for our federal and state permits. We recently hired our head brewer (formerly a head brewer at Keegan’s, Alaskan and Dogfish) and he’ll be starting on half barrel experimental batches at the beginning of August. We still plan to be operational by end of calendar year. Very exciting stuff!! You can find us on FB under Jailbreak Brewing Company or at www.jailbreakbrewing.com. You can follow our progress there. As for system size, we’ve decided on a 20bbl brewhouse with 20bbl and 40bbl fermentors. We likely won’t be bottling 6pks/cases until middle to end of next year but will likely bottle bombers for local distribution. We’ll likely be filtering about half of our beers if not a bit more. We’ll likely be focusing on four flagship beers with another 2-3 in rotation at the tap room at any given time. Exciting times for sure but I’m just antsy to get into the production stage!!