Hill Farmstead 4th Anniversary

JArmour15, awesome! Glad you had such a great trip to Vermont! Thanks for supporting Vermont beer and keep coming back!

 

Yes

 

Right on. I was the tall guy with hat and glasses, #3. Glad you had a great trip!

 

Glad everyone enjoyed our little town. Other than getting screwed by lawsons it was an amazing day

 

If they do this again next year (anniversary at the 3 bars in Waterbury) how was it? Were there lines to get into the bar, were they all at capacity? Or was it a laid back atmosphere?

 

Ple

Please elaborate on getting screwed.

 

I really hope they go with the Waterbury trifecta again next year as it couldn't have been smoother for an event that put all three bars at capacity right at open. All three were full the several hours that I was there, but between people hopping between them and others who must have stopped in for just a drink or two, it didn't look to me like anyone waited in line longer than 15 minutes. Definitely not laid back, but hardly chaos either. I think you'd have to really hate crowds to have been upset with the way the afternoon unfolded.

 

I got screwed for assuming the times meant something. Had a pretty late number, so I showed up around noon and they said they called all the numbers earlier and skipped who wasn't around. So when they say only come when it's your time, apparently they mean an hour before. Met a few other people who had the same thing happen. Sucks but the rest of the day was awesome so it's not all that bad

 

Not sure it's fair to say you were screwed by Lawson's. They never know what the demand will be. They bring a certain amount of product, I imagine almost all they could have possibly produced, hoping it will be enough. But this was also Hill Farmstead's 4th anniversary, with seemingly most of their entire lineup available at four area bars. And Alchemist had announced an important pop-up sale.

I feel for you. But a lesson learned. When you are in Big Three country during probably the biggest beer-hunting weekend of the year, you'd darn well better be at the right place somewhat before your appointed time, or expect the possibility that you will not be getting what you came for, especially if you have a relatively late time. It's not called WAITS FIELD for nothing.

Glad the rest of your day was amazing. Cheers!

 

Screwed in the sense that I followed their rules and got no beer. Probably should've known better but oh well. First time I've hit the market since they started this system. Now I know at least

 

Are most locals happy with the way Lawson's does the big releases? For a place with a supply that probably can't even satisfy local demand and no apparent plans for significant expansion, I think I would find it a bit frustrating to have to compete with these increasingly large crowds on Saturdays. I suppose the benefit of $ getting pumped into VT could mitigate this to a certain extent. Just curious.

 

High demand has nothing to do with Wilson's situation. The Lawson's crew did well getting numbers called and getting people on their way. They worked well and efficiently. However, it made the times on the later tickets mean nothing. My buddy got his beer about a half hour before the corresponding time on the ticket. Additionally, I believe the ticket had a request for people to not show up before their appointed time as to not clutter up the area around the Lawson's table. So, some people with earlier tickets may have missed out on Rum Fayston simply by adhering to LFL's requests and time table.

I had to go to the back of the line to get a ticket because tickets were handed out before the appointed time (8am) and had walked away for a few minutes.

Lesson to be learned: Sombrero guy's watch is ~20 minutes faster than mine. Secondly, disregard the time table on the ticket.

- Joe

PS I am thankful and humbled by the kindness of people near me in line who saw what happened and helped me. It reminded me of how amazing this community can be.

 

Don't be an ass and chastise the guy for following the schedule released by Lawson's. Geesh!

 

It is a pain to deal with, which is why I haven't been since they started this system. The system would work fine if they stuck to the time slots an rules that they set. Sucks I didn't get any triple sunshine, but I have Lawsons on draft at my local bars almost always, so I guess it's good other people got to get some. If nothin else hopefully my situation will help people to know not to trust the system entirely.

 

Did the later time slots get fucked by people not showing up on time? I was number 111, and they said to be there 10-10:15. Showed up at like 9:50, and was called a little before 10, and got full allotment. Some people weren't there when I was called, so I moved up maybe like 5 spots.

 

I completely understand where @ajfa531, @WILSON_forbin and others are coming from. I love Lawson's beer and used this holiday weekend for my first visit to Waitsfield's market. I left the Boston area around 4:30am and arrived around 7:50 to a chaotic scene, not the orderly line I anticipated. @youbrewidrink's assurance that "no tickets will be handed out prior to 8am," just added to the confusion and feelings (however false) of being "screwed over."

Don't get me wrong, I underestimated demand and that's my fault. I am also extremely grateful to have met the local VT beer advocate who gave me his #274-275 tickets so that I could at least get some Triple Sunshine, but then the scene at Waitsfield Market just added to the confusion. How are we supposed to know what number is called if we are told to stay away from the table? I arrived almost an hour prior to my scheduled time and my number was already passed! Not that it would have mattered at #274, but I understand where feelings of resentment are coming from, especially when you compare this experience to the one at Alchemist's truck sale that afternoon. Over there I didn't have to line up at the crack of dawn to be guaranteed beer, and I only had to stand in a single line until purchase. This line had music, plenty of raffle giveaways, free food, and free samples of a one-of-a-kind blend poured by John K. himself! Somebody even lost their wallet in line and the brewery offered a free tour to 6 people if it were found. That's going above and beyond, and gives the impression that the brewery actually cares about its customers, rather than a "Soup ****" vibe. Thank you @JenKimmich and everyone at Alchemist for the awesome experience!

All that being said, Triple Sunshine is amazing, I had a great time this weekend, had plenty of the most incredible beer in the world and met a lot of awesome people. Vermont is by far my favorite state and I can't wait to go there again. Cheers!

 

It's frustrating sometimes like when I couldn't even get a ticket and got there around 7:30, but most people who travel up here really just love to come up to our state and drink world-class beer. Like others have said the system is kind of a pain and I wish there was some way for locals to curb the crowds but I suppose thats a little selfish.

At the end of the day I think it's pretty awesome for Vermont that we have this incredible craft beer scene in our little state that rivals anywhere else in the country. It's that same philosophy that makes me want to share our goods with people all over the states who don't have the luxury of driving/flying up to the northeast. It was pretty crazy to see the lines at the pubs in Waterbury at 10:30 in the morning and is a real testament to the close-knit community of quality VT beer makers. Congrats to Shaun Hill, I thought the anniversary was fantastic and the Beyond Good and Evil was unbelievable!

 

Fantastic weekend all around! Don't listen to all the haters complaining or all of the pre-fest haters saying how much of a sh!tshow it was going to be....it definitely was not. Each bar knew exactly how to handle the crowds...it was never crowded, lines weren't long at all. Farmer's market was great too...regardless of scoring any Lawson's or not.

Triple Sunshine is amazing and the casks of Eddie were ridiculous! Cheers!

 

if I remember correctly, the only reason tickets were passed out at 7:30 is because there was already more people in line than the 320 or so tickets available could fill, and they though it best to let those at the end of the line know they were going to be shutout instead of making them wait any longer.
as for the ticket times, they had loads of full-allocation boxes pre-made so it made the distribution of boxes super fast. we had #s 115-116 so our ticket said 10:15; we wandered around the market occasionally checking the Lawsons stand to see what #s were being served and quickly realized they were well ahead of schedule. we got to the table at the Lawsons stand around 9:40 and watched them call #s and no one showing up - within 5 minutes they were at our #s and we grabbed our boxes and hooked up a guy who had been shut out of a ticket with our Spring Fever Sessions.

I thought the Lawsons market was excellently run, though the line to get into Mad Taco wasn't moving so after a bit we gave up on getting in for the pours and went to the market for breakfast (THAT Maple Yak and egg burito, WOW!)

 

it was a great weekend, got shut out of the Lawson's, i did read the 8am ticket time but when i showed up, all the tickets where all gone, went up to the Warren store where we had breakfast and conversations with the locals around the tables. Drove up to Hill Farmstead where we met cool people on line, made the 2 hours fly, plus we were inside when it started raining, sampled and purchased beers, glasses, maple syrup, yes my wallet was almost bare when i left the place, drove into Waterbury, got on line around 3:40 for the Alchemist truck ale, more cool people to BS with, got my case and off to town to drink. Blackstrap had the shortest line, tasted a bunch of HF, off to Pro Pig for some Lawsons and more HF, and pork rinds, of course. Went back to hotel to mellow for a couple of hours then walked to town and hit the Resevior for beer and then the Blue something for pizza and a walk up the hill back to hotel. To tired to botlle share.

Next day got up, hit the Brattlebore food co-op and the Peoples Pint in Greenfield MA for beers and lunch, abd then all the home.

Best beers where E and the Port Damon that was tapped at 5pm at the Blackstrap.