This past week I was fortunate to embark on a brewery tour of (most of) New England, including some of the best breweries located therein! It was an enriching and awesome experience, and not that hard on the wallet. I would encourage anyone in the northeast to try to make the trip, especially if you're interested in the hoppier side of life.
I was able to visit Jacks Abby, Trilium, Allagash, Hill Farmstead, Alchemist (sort of) and Harpoon. Due to unforeseen, ahem..."companion issues" I was unable to visit Oxbow, Maine Brewing or Treehouse, but I consider it an enormously successful trip nonetheless. Each brewery had its own unique qualities, and in time I would love to revisit them.
It is not my intention to criticize, but my experience at Hill Farmstead was VERY different than previous years, with a several hour wait to simply get a growler filled. I know the establishment is opposed to further expansion, but the experience was a disheartening and disappointing for someone who knows and loves their beer to endure. Maybe it was just the holiday season, but I can't believe that it's reasonable to expect a several hour wait to get a growler filled.
Somehow I forgot to take pictures along the way! So here's a money shot for you beer geeks...
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1451686154.632994.jpg
I was able to visit Jacks Abby, Trilium, Allagash, Hill Farmstead, Alchemist (sort of) and Harpoon. Due to unforeseen, ahem..."companion issues" I was unable to visit Oxbow, Maine Brewing or Treehouse, but I consider it an enormously successful trip nonetheless. Each brewery had its own unique qualities, and in time I would love to revisit them.
It is not my intention to criticize, but my experience at Hill Farmstead was VERY different than previous years, with a several hour wait to simply get a growler filled. I know the establishment is opposed to further expansion, but the experience was a disheartening and disappointing for someone who knows and loves their beer to endure. Maybe it was just the holiday season, but I can't believe that it's reasonable to expect a several hour wait to get a growler filled.
Somehow I forgot to take pictures along the way! So here's a money shot for you beer geeks...
View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1451686154.632994.jpg
