Hill Farmstead Bottle releases

The point is that it's anyone's guess. No one can really give you any credible advice. Risk adverse and wanna make sure you get a full allotment? Show up early. Willing to roll the dice to avoid an early morning and waiting for open? Show up later.

 

Ann was a different time...we strolled in about a half hour before the release started and had no trouble getting full allotments (1 Ann, 3 each of Jimmy and CD4?). Things have ramped up a bit since then...

In all seriousness, getting there at 9:30 should I think be plenty early. Or, take your chances and get there at like 2, that might not be the worst plan.

 

So the guy that runs a beer website can't understand the desire to get beer?

 

just for posterity

 

Ill be there Friday hopefully to pick up the pieces.

 

Not going to make it to the HF line till Saturday. Feel free to leave some scraps for those of us that cannot get off work.

 

Now I'm kind of hoping that I don't start my new job until after 9/26. This has me very conflicted.

 

I've held out for a long time and this question is essentially off topic but what have the wait times been like during the week at HF. I waited like 20 minutes in Jan but I'm planning on going next Wed. My threshold is an hour, BECAUSE I'M BUSY AND HAVE THINGS TO DO. I'M AN IMPORTANT PERSON.

 

Important person ? Hmmmmm judging by your facebook photos and your ridiculous statements you seem like more of a troll to me...

 

I went up yesterday, got there at 11:55am. I was 13th in line and it took approx 40 minutes to get my fills and be out the door. Normally I try and get there late in the day (after 4:30) when there is little to no wait at all, but my schedule yesterday didn't allow for that.

 

Seconded...going later in the day on Wednesday/Thursday have given me the quickest trips to HF. Although, I usually can't go during the week so I shoot to be there by 11 am on Saturdays to get near the front of the line. I may try a late-afternoon trip this Saturday ... have never done that before.

 

I can understand the desire to a certain point ... I don't have access to HF beers and I rarely see them on tap when I visit Burlington once a year. Waking up before the sun rises to then drive several hours to then wait in line for a few more hours for a handful of bottles / growlers baffles me. I could say this for all of the releases where so much time is spent driving / waiting in line and after 10 years or so of hearing about it I still feel the same way.

 

Obviously spending a whole day or an entire vacation on the quest for great beer is not for everyone. I on the other hand could not think of a better way to spend a day: outside in the beautiful crisp fall Vermont air interacting and discussing and enjoying amazing beer in person with real life people who share your passion. If my drive there was only 4 hours instead of 12, I would be there every time.

Also, I enjoy this forum as an informative catch all for Hill Farmstead news and discussion. I find the history valuable and do not think the sporadic nature of their bottle releases will lend themselves to interesting separate threads. Maybe there are logistical reasons why this thread has to be closed. But if not, I would vote to see it continue.

 

Agreed...part of the fun I have going to HF is chatting with people in line. Not often I find people so deep into beer geekdom outside of a few friends at home. The setting is great, the beer is great, and Parker Pie is 15 minutes away. No better way to spend a day off. Release days can be a zoo, but it's still fun. Now, being only 90 minutes away from HF doesn't suck either...I'm not sure how I'd feel if I was 4, 5 or 8-10 hours away like so many people are.

I also would vote to keep this thread alive. I have often read back through older posts here talking about Norma, Juicy, etc. being released. Not my site though, I'll survive either way.

 

This is an interesting post, Jason. The hype you're questioning is the same passion that fuels this website. I personally think the posts about Breweries, and upcoming releases, is far more informitive than the stupid nightly posts asking what every moron on this site is drinking??? Yeah, that gets old fast...

That said, this post has lost it's value and should be locked down...I only respond to your position/confusion on the beer geaks and their willingness to travel far for the beer the love. Very interesting indeed.

 

It really sounds like your in the wrong business then. Either that or in it for the wrong reasons.

 

I sorta feel the same way he does, but I'll come out and admit it's rooted in selfish annoyance. I loved driving up to Hill Farmstead and being out of there in 60-90 minutes with 5-7 growlers and a whole bunch of bottles to restock the cabinet. Sometimes I'd drive straight back, sometimes I'd stay in VT.

Now the lines are longer, limits are imposed across the board, and the possibility of being shut out of a beer comes into play. It's significantly more effort to come back with significantly less. I could bitch about it, but the reality is there are just more people that are willing to go to greater lengths than I am. So I shrug my shoulders, cede to them, and thank the beer gods that Trillium is pumping out Fort Point Pale Ale and Little Rooster to scratch my hop itch.

 

I can certainly see both sides of this. I wouldn't question Jason's motivations or perspectives--it's just a different set of values (here, valuing time over the beer/in-line community/etc.).

I think each of us views "beer advocacy" differently. While I am extremely happy for the HFB folks that there are enough people to take the trip and make it an enjoyable and profitable day for them (and an enjoyable and beneficial day for their visitors), I couldn't personally envision calling out of work and driving 18 hours round trip for a few bottles of beer (even if they're among the best beer in the world). I personally prefer stumbling upon what's available on the shelves when I am able to make it up there. Both approaches are just as right, and for reasons that are just as right--to each different part of this cool community of beer advocates.

 

I guess we all have our limits. For me, it's a 4 hour drive, and I have no problem getting in a car with fellow beer loving friends, and buying world class beer at HF. I'll usually head to Waterbury after, stop at the cannery, get a brisket sandwich at Pro Pig, then a few more beers at Blackback and Reservoir. Thats a fun ass day. But 18 hour round trips, I don't think I could hang with..

 

as early as 7am according to phil today. as auror mentioned earlier, they base limits on the line. they're not expecting to have enough DBD for everyone in the initial line even with a 1 bottle limit.