New England Vacation Suggestions/ideas

[TheDudeLebowski]

I will try my best to track that down. I see there is a release next week.

Just get the scuttlebutt on best places to get it. Summer's flying by and haven't taken a vaca yet. Arrows may be pointing to checking this off the bucket list.

 

[MGamber]

Is that the reason for the one missing case up on the right? So the passenger can see thru the rear view window?

LOL...nah, ran outta money. :-D PA wasn't exactly progressive when it came to...well, almost anything, alcohol specifically. A couple years ago they finally made it legal to bring in alcohol from out of state. Before that I could bring back maybe 6 or 7 cases. Now I can bring back that counterful.

 

[MGamber]

On the way to Portland....Madden Beverage in Saco. They almost always have a ton of everything from all over New England. As I hear it the owner is the brother of the brewer at Lone Pine and they usually have their best beers when you can't even get it at the brewery. Again, not far off of 95 on the way.

 

[MGamber]

All this Portland, and no mention of The Great Lost Bear?! http://www.greatlostbear.com/

80 taps, great food for carnivores and non-carnivores alike, generally cool atmosphere, and Maine Brewing Supply is right next door.

I'd heartily recommend a stop if you can swing it. I don't think we've skipped it when we've visited ME for the last several years. Pretty much cemented into the itinerary.

More southerly, there's Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT. https://tworoadsbrewing.com

About an hour away from Mystic Seaport, and possibly on the way either coming or going. Used to be a Sikorsky factory, I think.
Only made it once, just before last call, so we didn't get to tour, but did get to beer very briefly.

I'm a little embarrassed myself. :-D GLB is awesome.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

I'll have to check that out. Not far form Palace Diner in Biddeford on the other side of the river.

 

[MGamber]

I'll have to check that out. Not far form Palace Diner in Biddeford on the other side of the river.

Yup, looks like a 5-10 minute drive. Madden has been great every time Ive been there.

 

[Rodent]

More southerly, there's Two Roads Brewing in Stratford, CT. https://tworoadsbrewing.com

About an hour away from Mystic Seaport, and possibly on the way either coming or going. Used to be a Sikorsky factory, I think.
Only made it once, just before last call, so we didn't get to tour, but did get to beer very briefly.

ha! I was multi-tasking in a meeting while looking up the webpage for Two Roads and you posted that. apologies for not thinking to re-check the content in this thread before posting.

there's a couple pizza places close by that will deliver some outstanding pies, making for a great evening of pizza and beers outside on the tables near the beer trailer. just remember to start loading up about 30 min prior to last call so you enjoy the summer evening outside once they close shop for the night

 

[CTownBrewer]

Based on the trip I just took a few weeks ago, here are my suggestions (in order starting with the best spots for each area)...

VERMONT
-Hill Farmstead
-Foam
-Alchemist & Lawson’s were good for a 1 time visit, but the beer isn’t as good as the other 2
-Prohibition Pig was solid for food when I went there years ago (before Alchemist built their new brewery)

MAINE
-Bissell Brothers
-Goodfire
-Duck Fat (fries were excellent & they had in house Oxbow fruited sour bottles...Oxbow is only a few minutes away)
-Novare Res (depending on tap list)
-Barreled Souls (least favorite of the 3 breweries, but they had a huge variety of solid beers & also have an Anniversary coming up & probably releases to go with it...Stay Puft is insanely good if you can find it on tap)
-Alisson’s Restaurant (amazing lobster fries, lobster rolls, & scallops)

MASSACHUSETTS
-We only passed through to make stops at Trillium & Tree House

CONNECTICUT
-New Park (blew me away with their blender sours & NEIPAs...best brewery I never heard of that we visited on the trip)
-NEBCO (good for a 1 time visit)

Just my 2 cents...if you don’t make it to some of these spots, hit me up when you get back. I have cans from most of them if you want to work out another trade.

Have fun!!! [emoji482]

 

[TBC]

After surfing google maps at work I noticed Grey Sail Brewing is only about 10 minutes from where we are staying in CT. I guess we will road trip to Rhode Island. I do enjoy the Captain’s Daughter!

 

[Dgallo]

Hey @TBC im too lazy to see if anyone suggested this but my wife and I love the trip we took two years ago. We made a road trip. Went to Stowe Vermont hit alchemist. Hit Fiddlehead brewing on the way to to Burlington for Zero gravity and magic hat. Then we took the back roads through whiteface mountain area to Portsmouth, NH hitting up Smuttynose on the way. Then went to Portland,Maine wher there are breweries everywhere. Then we hit up both Trillium and Treehouse on the way home. If you don’t mind driving and only staying in each place a couple nights, it’s such a great trip and not to mention an awesome beer trip.

 

[TheDudeLebowski]

After surfing google maps at work I noticed Grey Sail Brewing is only about 10 minutes from where we are staying in CT. I guess we will road trip to Rhode Island. I do enjoy the Captain’s Daughter!

Doh! And I'd highly recommend Tilted Barn Brewery which is about 10 miles away. Don't know if it's closer or farther on your location

 

[Rodent]

and what would a stop in Portland or Freeport ME be without catching a bite + pint or three at Gritty's?

https://grittys.com/

 

[Gravitysucks]

and what would a stop in Portland or Freeport ME be without catching a bite + pint or three at Gritty's?

https://grittys.com/

I was a mug club member at Gritty's for about 12 years and would never say anything to disparage them but if I were in Freeport looking for a great meal and a good selection of local beers that isn't tourist town expensive I'd go to Jameson Tavern beside L.L. Bean down town.

 

[j1laskey]

This is a must !!!!

On your ride up 95 North through NH into Maine, make sure to stop at Tributary Brewing in Kittery. It's like 1.5 - 2 miles off the highway and really won't take much time off your travel.

Most likely you will be able to sit and have a beer and a chat with the one and only, Tod Mott.

 

[fourfarthing]

How did I forget Fiddlehead.... great VT brewery

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

In the Mt Washington Valley i will throw in a vote for Moat Mountain, good food, good beer. If you are heading through the Lincoln NH area i would recommend Woodstock Inn and Brewery. Their beer was up and down a few years ago but they seem to be back on track.

If you are in the Littleton, NH area I recommend Schilling Beer Company

In VT you seem to be hitting many of the top spots. Not sure if i saw Fiddlehead or Lost Nation or Rock Art listed anywhere. All worth visiting. In Waterbury I like the Reservoir(not a brewery but a great VT tap selection and the Blackback Cafe (across the street from Pro Pig, on the corner. not a brewery either but great selection and food

 

[ApolloSimcoe]

HAHA! The shorter list would have been "Places to Avoid"

 

[paulthenurse]

Mystic Pizza is ok but you'll be far happier stopping at Frank Pepe's in New Haven and getting the clam pizza. You can thank me later.