Best of Vermont's Breweries?

[j1laskey]

Alright my annual VT ski tour is set! End o' February this time, but might move it around a bit depending on when a snow storm comes.

Anyway, hitting up the following:
Wed - Jay Peak > Hill Farmstead
Thu - Stowe > Alchemist
Fri - MRG/Sugarbush > Lawson's Finest (just buying some at the Warren store)

I figure heading home with 3 cases is a solid haul. We all know HT is awesome, but are there any particular brews made by HillF and LFL that I should keep an eye out for? Are there any other breweries that I should include in my travels? Already had my fill of LongTrail, MagicHat, and OtterCreek.

And since I'm traveling alone this time - anyone want to ski and drink beer with me?

Sounds like a killer trip, mid week...nice!

 

[Misplaced_Canuck]

Thu - Stowe > Alchemist

Do some digging around to find out when they can their Heady Topper. It usually runs out the same day, same as in the stores.

MC

 

[bluemoose]

They can Heady on Thursday! good choice.

 

[paulster2626]

Yes that was not by accident!

 

[Callacave]

So many great breweries that everybody mentioned. If the only place you go to is Hill Farmstead, you'll never regret it. IMO, some of the finest beers in the country right now. Sean Hill is amazing.

 

[trymybeer]

J1laskey go for 2 cases if it will fit, its hard to beat fresh brew

 

[hoppyhoppyhippo]

The Magic Hat Artifactory is awesome. While I'm not a huge fan of their beers (love the IPA on Tour beer, solid IPAs, but aside from that I'm meh with their beer) the actual place is awesome and it's right in Burlington so it's something you can do, and taste a ton of their beer for free and if you find one you guys like, buy a growler and take it back to your hotel.

I'm trying to swing a trip to Waterbury when I go up to New Hampshire with my girlfriend to go to try some Heady Topper at the brewery and buy as much of it as I can.

 

[paulster2626]

The Magic Hat Artifactory is awesome. While I'm not a huge fan of their beers (love the IPA on Tour beer, solid IPAs, but aside from that I'm meh with their beer) the actual place is awesome and it's right in Burlington so it's something you can do, and taste a ton of their beer for free and if you find one you guys like, buy a growler and take it back to your hotel.

I'm trying to swing a trip to Waterbury when I go up to New Hampshire with my girlfriend to go to try some Heady Topper at the brewery and buy as much of it as I can.

Yeah I've been there, it's pretty cool indeed. Maybe I'll try to stop on the way and fill a growler.

 

[LarvalCraze]

My favorites:


Lawson's: Double Sunshine, Hopzilla, Triple Play, jade, Chinooker'd. Unfortunately, you'll only have 3 or 4 choices available (fingers crossed for double sunshine).

Hill Farmstead: I'm not a big fan of Saisons, but if you are, pick up a bunch of his bottles (Arthur, Anna, Vera...etc.). The Everett is his house porter...pretty tasty. For $5 you can do a very generous tasting. Bring some clear brown growlers and they'll fill them up for you. Otherwise, you can buy growlers there, but they are expensive (beautiful, but expensive). My favorites are Double Galaxy and Ephraim, which are released only a couple of times a year. Abner is an excellent dipa that should be available, and Edward is always on tap (hoppy apa). Check their website to see what they

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

Up in burlington this weekend stopped by long trail for lunch, alchemist for some samples, rock art, and hill farmstead.
Man was that a mistake droping by HF @ 3 on a sat, lets just say there was over a 2 hour wait just for growler fills all while in the middle of this snow storm, which actually dropped nothing at the end of all this.....Im getting off topic.

Walked away with 6 bottles though since they were nice enough to take orders from the back of the line.
2 arthur, 1 Florence, 1 fear and trem, 1 grassroots, 1 la vermontoise

Lady said to deff come back on a weds or thurs and theres rarely a long wait.

Planning on running by switchback this morning, high gravity (american flatbread) for lunch and possibly magic hat afterwords before walking the town with SWMBO on church street/champlain area and stoping by bev warehouse for lawsons

Alchemist for cases on monday, prohibiton pig for lunch and possibly hitting otter creek on our way back down to LI.
Cheers guys! Taking some requests for trades trying to get a high trade ratio for cans since this trip is a gas GUSSLER for me.

Also while im still up here any other suggestions or tips for the area?

 

[paulster2626]

Up in burlington this weekend stopped by long trail for lunch, alchemist for some samples, rock art, and hill farmstead.
Man was that a mistake droping by HF @ 3 on a sat, lets just say there was over a 2 hour wait just for growler fills all while in the middle of this snow storm, which actually dropped nothing at the end of all this.....Im getting off topic.

Walked away with 6 bottles though since they were nice enough to take orders from the back of the line.
2 arthur, 1 Florence, 1 fear and trem, 1 grassroots, 1 la vermontoise

Lady said to deff come back on a weds or thurs and theres rarely a long wait.

Planning on running by switchback this morning, high gravity (american flatbread) for lunch and possibly magic hat afterwords before walking the town with SWMBO on church street/champlain area and stoping by bev warehouse for lawsons

Alchemist for cases on monday, prohibiton pig for lunch and possibly hitting otter creek on our way back down to LI.
Cheers guys! Taking some requests for trades trying to get a high trade ratio for cans since this trip is a gas GUSSLER for me.

Also while im still up here any other suggestions or tips for the area?

I was at HF on Wednesday and there was only like 5 other people there. Guess I got lucky!

Instead of Prohibition Pig, head a couple doors up the hill to the Reservoir. They have a huge beer list, with HF on tap and other VT greats like Lawson's Finest. I think the food's a bit cheaper there (but still very good), and PP doesn't open until 4pm anyway.

Speaking of Lawson's Finest, if you're around on Thursdays, the Warren store near Sugarbush gets bottles in at 11am. There were none when I went the other day, the owner said there's a line outside the door when they get 'em in.

 

[Johnnyhitch1]

I was at HF on Wednesday and there was only like 5 other people there. Guess I got lucky!

Instead of Prohibition Pig, head a couple doors up the hill to the Reservoir. They have a huge beer list, with HF on tap and other VT greats like Lawson's Finest. I think the food's a bit cheaper there (but still very good), and PP doesn't open until 4pm anyway.

Speaking of Lawson's Finest, if you're around on Thursdays, the Warren store near Sugarbush gets bottles in at 11am. There were none when I went the other day, the owner said there's a line outside the door when they get 'em in.

haha crazy were you up the whole weekend?

We ended up doing PP on Saturday night after we realized they didnt open till late on monday. HF was a MESS lady came saying its more than a 2 hour wait just for tastings and we were still outside. We ended up taking 1 of each bottle and callin it quits. There was a nasty snow storm coming (which ended up being nothing) lol

We went up to bev warehouse and the guy said the same thing. gets em on friday and there gone within an hour. although i did try toast (black ipa) on tap at PP and i was not crazy about it being called an IPA. It was a nice brew but nothing i would go back for. Really pissed that was the first thing i had from him but hey, im sure his others are amazing.

 

[paulster2626]

TBH it's just good beer to me. Nothing that makes me throw a massive chub or anything, just good stuff. But there is a lot of good stuff in VT all over the place.

Does Fiddlehead bottle their IPA? That stuff is fantastic.

 

[LarvalCraze]

Lawsons Double Sunshine is top notch. Most of his other stuff is just good. Fiddlehead doesn't bottle, only growlers at the brewery. They have been serving a tasty dipa. Only available at the farmhouse, now, I think.

 

[Ailstock]

How readily available I'd Lawson's Double Sunshine IPA? I'd like to try it.

 

[LarvalCraze]

How readily available I'd Lawson's Double Sunshine IPA? I'd like to try it.

Pretty rare, actually. I haven't seen it in months. I think he released some in warren, last week. Hopefully it makes it up to Burlington this week

 

[Ailstock]

Pretty rare, actually. I haven't seen it in months. I think he released some in warren, last week. Hopefully it makes it up to Burlington this week

Well if ever possible I'd love to trade for it.