Hill Farmstead thread

[user 306926]

I blame non beer people. Place seemed filled with people whom had never been to a brewery, let alone one where there are certain rules, this isn't Nam!

elaborate...

I went to HF last week for my first time and noticed there was definitely some folks who were the quintessential "mule" types. It happens at any place with limits. The first guy in line for the day bought 3x the limit of everything without his mules actually being there (they let us in early). They showed up just after opening and got in line.
Once they got to the front they tried maxxing out on CD10's and were denied by the staff as their bud who was first already maxxed out using them as his means to max out. I think they were dumb enough to mention they were with the guy who was first.
Good on the HF staff for trying to curb this.
Needless to say, they were unthrilled.

I think the distance required to get there often times leads to others going along for the ride and many of those others are the non-geeks, moms/dads, girlfriends..... mules....
Hopefully they all get to try some HF they are muling and enjoying it.

 

[JulianB1]

Haven't there also been numerous stories about how - since HF, Alchemist (well, not anymore), etc. have started appearing as destinations/things to do in various Vermont tourist guides and websites - all kinds of non-beer people tourists show up (especially old people) with no conception of what the place is or how it operates? I've heard anecdotal stories about people pitching fits because they couldn't order a pint of beer, and things like that. Or people waiting in line, getting to the front, and then not ordering anything because they didn't realize it's not a bar.

 

[bahnfire]

Haven't there also been numerous stories about how - since HF, Alchemist (well, not anymore), etc. have started appearing as destinations/things to do in various Vermont tourist guides and websites - all kinds of non-beer people tourists show up (especially old people) with no conception of what the place is or how it operates? I've heard anecdotal stories about people pitching fits because they couldn't order a pint of beer, and things like that. Or people waiting in line, getting to the front, and then not ordering anything because they didn't realize it's not a bar.

I've seen people ask to buy heady and Lawson's there. When told by HF staff they don't sell those beer the people insisted that they (HF staff) were wrong and their friends had told them they could definitely get heady/Lawson's there. They were quite upset and seemingly unwilling to accept the fact HF doesn't sell heady/Lawson's.

 

[JulianB1]

I've seen people ask to buy heady and Lawson's there. When told by HF staff they don't sell those beer the people insisted that they (HF staff) were wrong and their friends had told them they could definitely get heady/Lawson's there. They were quite upset and seemingly unwilling to accept the fact HF doesn't sell heady/Lawson's.

I can totally see that:

"I want that beer that's ranked number 1 on BeerAdvocate."

"Umm, that beer is brewed by Alchemist, we don't sell that here. Would you like to try..."

customer storms out angrily just as they were about to be offered a sample of Abner.

 

[bahnfire]

Another good one. I went up the Thursday of the blue berry Flora release and was in line between a husband and wife from Vergennes VT and we're trying to visit all the breweries in the new VT farm beer book or whatever the hell it is, and they wanted to get "one of the brewers" to autograph the book.

About 30min into our wait Denise came by to see if they wanted to do a tasting. The couple decides to share a tasting. The guy turns to me and says "I don't like hoppy beers, what would you recommend?" (mental face palm) The only non hoppy offering was Everett, so I suggested that and explained that all the other beers were hoppy to one degree or another. On Denise's recommendation they went pale ale, ipa, DIPA, Everett and didn't seem to like any of them, always commenting the beers were very "strong".

Now another 30min have gone by and we're like 10 people from the front. They ask Denise if it would be possible to get "a brewer" to sign their book. Denise explains there is only 1 brewer and he's busy, but she'll ask him. A few minutes go by and Shaun just happens to be walking by and the woman runs over to him and asks if he is the brewer and if he'd sign the book. I wasn't sure what to expect at this point, but Shaun was very nice and signed the book.

Another 15 min go by and they are next in line (1hr 15min total wait now). Denise walks by and they ask her if they can by a glass. She grabs one for them and they hand her $8. I then ask them what they are thinking of getting now that their next in line, "oh, nothing I guess, we just wanted to get the book signed and the glass is enough. Have a good day". Then they left.

Had I known they had no intention of buying beer, I would have happily explained to them they could by a glass and do a tasting without wasting an hour and 15 minutes in line.

 

[JulianB1]

"I don't like hoppy beers, what would you recommend?"

I would have replied with "Moving to another state."

 

[Adam Jackson]

Today I learned that if you don't use Untappd or spend all day on forums talking about beer, you're only allowed to buy beer at gas stations.

I hate ******* civilians, too. PFFFT, they don't even know what Dark Lord is.

 

[Evan1212]

So who else is going to HF Zwanze Day besides: Adam Jackson GMRfx OnryAndMean CypherEnigma DmouthCaliBrewz dartbeer Number45 skrip ??

 

[coldafpipes]

I've seen people ask to buy heady and Lawson's there. When told by HF staff they don't sell those beer the people insisted that they (HF staff) were wrong and their friends had told them they could definitely get heady/Lawson's there. They were quite upset and seemingly unwilling to accept the fact HF doesn't sell heady/Lawson's.

Been seeing a lot of flipping out lately (Stowe/Waterbury)...ppl looking for Heady especially.

Haven't there also been numerous stories about how - since HF, Alchemist (well, not anymore), etc. have started appearing as destinations/things to do in various Vermont tourist guides and websites - all kinds of non-beer people tourists show up (especially old people) with no conception of what the place is or how it operates?

Have seen this, but for the most part...the older guests don't flip out. They just don't understand why the **** ppl are lined up for beer. The tourist/beer destination thing is definitely increasing, but the urban mindset can get frustrated w/ a place like HF leading to a lot of pissy reviews or yelp comments.

 

[Respirologist]

Been seeing a lot of flipping out lately (Stowe/Waterbury)...ppl looking for Heady especially.


Have seen this, but for the most part...the older guests don't flip out. They just don't understand why the **** ppl are lined up for beer. The tourist/beer destination thing is definitely increasing, but the urban mindset can get frustrated w/ a place like HF leading to a lot of pissy reviews or yelp comments.

Everyone is in a ******* rush to go no where in the city, got a schedule to abide by , things to see , people to do (yes I said that correctly). No one can slow down and smell the roses, or enjoy the sights you can't see in the city. But yes I can understand a non craft beer person saying a 2 hour wait ?? Wat ??

 

[MikeG1]

Shaun just tweeted that Art and Ann are tasting perfect right now and will be released by end of year. Debating dates, according to him.

 

[Number45]

Shaun just tweeted that Art and Ann are tasting perfect right now and will be released by end of year. Debating dates, according to him.

Cool, heading up to get in line now.

 

[Respirologist]

Updates:

Friendship kicked Earl is now on

No new bottles

CD10 limit dropped to 1

Picture of blueberries posted to FB....

 

[bsc]

. But yes I can understand a non craft beer person saying a 2 hour wait ?? Wat ??

hoping this will get a lot better when the new space is complete and hoping they expand their hours a little once they are producing enough beer.

Their current hours made sense in 2011 when 4pm on a Thursday was actually dead & no one was there, but they are far too popular now to only be open 20hrs a week. Pretty sure there is a line everyday at 5pm now.
Going 11-6/7 and adding another day per week would be the tits, even if they did it only in the summer when things are busier.

 

[Respirologist]

hoping this will get a lot better when the new space is complete and hoping they expand their hours a little once they are producing enough beer.

Their current hours made sense in 2011 when 4pm on a Thursday was actually dead & no one was there, but they are far too popular now to only be open 20hrs a week. Pretty sure there is a line everyday at 5pm now.
Going 11-6/7 and adding another day per week would be the tits, even if they did it only in the summer when things are busier.

All are great thoughts, but the bigger question is.... Do they produce enough beer currently to support more hours. My guess is no. Once they double production with the new building then perhaps it could happen. Til then when I make the drive up I plan on being at HF all day.

 

[SecretSquirrel]

hoping this will get a lot better when the new space is complete and hoping they expand their hours a little once they are producing enough beer.

Their current hours made sense in 2011 when 4pm on a Thursday was actually dead & no one was there, but they are far too popular now to only be open 20hrs a week. Pretty sure there is a line everyday at 5pm now.
Going 11-6/7 and adding another day per week would be the tits, even if they did it only in the summer when things are busier.

I still love my Jan and Feb trips usually bearable late in the day on Wednesday and Thursday.

 

[OnryAndMean]

So who else is going to HF Zwanze Day besides: Adam Jackson GMRfx OnryAndMean CypherEnigma DmouthCaliBrewz dartbeer Number45 skrip ??

Yeah, has anyone received any notification about forfeited tickets?

 

[Os]

Aaaaaron!

 

[Os]

Boom. 2 per person.

First time Shaun has released a beer not on a Wednesday in a while.

huh? I'm assuming it is this Wednesday

 

[Evan1212]

huh? I'm assuming it is this Wednesday

Disregard. Too drunk on this labor day monday.

 

[bsc]

Yea they aren't open until Wednesday lol.

All are great thoughts, but the bigger question is.... Do they produce enough beer currently to support more hours. My guess is no. Once they double production with the new building then perhaps it could happen. Til then when I make the drive up I plan on being at HF all day.

They definitely do not currently produce enough but I'm hoping by this time next year

 

[Fluke828]

I went to HF last week for my first time and noticed there was definitely some folks who were the quintessential "mule" types. It happens at any place with limits. The first guy in line for the day bought 3x the limit of everything without his mules actually being there (they let us in early). They showed up just after opening and got in line.
Once they got to the front they tried maxxing out on CD10's and were denied by the staff as their bud who was first already maxxed out using them as his means to max out. I think they were dumb enough to mention they were with the guy who was first.
Good on the HF staff for trying to curb this.
Needless to say, they were unthrilled.

I think the distance required to get there often times leads to others going along for the ride and many of those others are the non-geeks, moms/dads, girlfriends..... mules....
Hopefully they all get to try some HF they are muling and enjoying it.

Seem to always see a bunch of folks who are there for the first time every single time I am there. Hope they enjoy the experience as well as the beers....

Updates:

Friendship kicked Earl is now on

No new bottles

CD10 limit dropped to 1

Picture of blueberries posted to FB....

I REALLY enjoyed Friendship....sad feels....
however, I had Earl @ the Res last week and 'splosions...

 

[DougOLis]

Another good one. I went up the Thursday of the blue berry Flora release and was in line between a husband and wife from Vergennes VT and we're trying to visit all the breweries in the new VT farm beer book or whatever the hell it is, and they wanted to get "one of the brewers" to autograph the book.

About 30min into our wait Denise came by to see if they wanted to do a tasting. The couple decides to share a tasting. The guy turns to me and says "I don't like hoppy beers, what would you recommend?" (mental face palm) The only non hoppy offering was Everett, so I suggested that and explained that all the other beers were hoppy to one degree or another. On Denise's recommendation they went pale ale, ipa, DIPA, Everett and didn't seem to like any of them, always commenting the beers were very "strong".

Now another 30min have gone by and we're like 10 people from the front. They ask Denise if it would be possible to get "a brewer" to sign their book. Denise explains there is only 1 brewer and he's busy, but she'll ask him. A few minutes go by and Shaun just happens to be walking by and the woman runs over to him and asks if he is the brewer and if he'd sign the book. I wasn't sure what to expect at this point, but Shaun was very nice and signed the book.

Another 15 min go by and they are next in line (1hr 15min total wait now). Denise walks by and they ask her if they can by a glass. She grabs one for them and they hand her $8. I then ask them what they are thinking of getting now that their next in line, "oh, nothing I guess, we just wanted to get the book signed and the glass is enough. Have a good day". Then they left.

Had I known they had no intention of buying beer, I would have happily explained to them they could by a glass and do a tasting without wasting an hour and 15 minutes in line.

Ha. That's pretty ridiculous. Sounds like they were happy with how it turned out though, so I guess good for them?

Wasn't Mary on that day too? That would have been another slightly less hoppy option.

 

[JCastle1]

Yeah, has anyone received any notification about forfeited tickets?

Nope

 

[skrip]

ISO* Aron if anyones going up!

*have you seen my offers for HF stuff lately =]

 

[ilikegoodbeerCT]

So who else is going to HF Zwanze Day besides: Adam Jackson GMRfx OnryAndMean CypherEnigma DmouthCaliBrewz dartbeer Number45 skrip ??

I'll be there

 

[skrip]

I'll be there

ohhh **** FLETCH! for real though? lol

 

[Respirologist]

Twitter:
@HillFarmstead: Barrels post rinse, drying overnight... Awaiting refill. Clara to Foudres- Flora onto blueberries and currants... http://t.co/JRpajWBmrE

CURRANTS.

 

[tehzachatak]

Twitter:
@HillFarmstead: Barrels post rinse, drying overnight... Awaiting refill. Clara to Foudres- Flora onto blueberries and currants... http://t.co/JRpajWBmrE

CURRANTS.

More excited about Clara than anything else there, but seems like its going to get released in the wrong season now

 

[Os]

While I love Clara in the summer... saisons year round for me is what I want...