anyone ever been to a Hill Farmstead release?

I went to their 2nd Anniversary this Memorial Day weekend and it was off the hook. I am so pumped to go to this bottle release and just about anything else they have going on. Easily the best beer on the east coast right now, if not the country, not to mention the area the brewery is, is the middle of nowhere and super chill.

The 2nd Anniversary wasnt mobbed, but for a farm in the middle of nowhere, seeing cars parked with plates from NJ, NY, PA, CT, RI, and so on was pretty wild. Probably a couple hundred, but lines went fast (no more than 10 minutes) and when you're out in a field with a bunch of other beer pilgrims, there are worse things to be doing.

 

There's lines but I've yet to hear of or been to a complete sell out at HF. Basically, get there early if you want the 1 per person limit bottles (those sometimes do sell out) or growlers. Come later if you don't care about the super limited ones. Seems like they will be pouring beer for this release too.

 

Does "early" mean when they open, or do you mean EARLY (like when the rooster crows)?
Also, can anyone tell me where the nearest (legal) camping situation is? And should I bring out any CA beers to share?

 

I usually get there a little before (30 mins) or when they start. Never been shut out. Some people show up way early to be in the front but I don't see the point.

I don't believe any bottle sharing is allowed. Maybe a slim chance inside the drinking area but it would be best to ask first.

 

It seems you can show an hour late and still get everything you're supposed to.

I think I've been to three releases now.

 

I am so excited for this...I wish I had more room on my motorcycle to ride up there, but I think it'd be more fun to go with people.

 

Just bring a banjo and hold your own if some young dipshit who has never been to a dentist starts to challenge you.

 

Well its not that bad up there. Its actually quite nice. The Hill Farm is appropriately named, with some great views and large fields surrounding the area. Its like going to drink beer from The Shire, its awesome. Considering how good the beer is, I'd be willing to drive to a place that fits your description as well...

 

...... I'd be more worried about the flatlanders that have pre-traded their full allotment of HF brews.

Seriously, I've been in line and actually heard people complaining since they got there late they might not get the full allotment and would not be able to fufill their pre-trades. Boo Hoo.

 

All true. I started the Deliverance joke a few weeks ago because someone was worried about getting lost on the way up but it's really an exceedingly nice area. And if you're getting out of the city for a couple of days, getting a little lost might be a bonus. There are worse things than cruising along back roads surrounded by beautiful scenery.

 

Seriously, greensboro is one of the most beautiful places around!

 

The wife and I made a (day long) detour to Greensboro, Waterbury, and Stowe when she had to go to Schenectady for work. It was so gorgeous that I think we're going back at the end of summer for vacation. Seriously beautiful, but I don't know how the hell you people from Vermont drive on those roads in the winter.

 

Very, very carefully (sometimes)

I've lived a couple different places in VT, but none make me feel like I NEED to be there. Except greensboro. If I don't make it up there once a week (not always for HF, but clearly I try to make them coincide as much as possible) it just don't feel right.

 

As a non-native Vermonter who has lived here for a while, I'll tell ya it is a lot easier than you'd think. Especially compared to the Mid-Atlantic region where I grew up.

 

I know VT gets less snow than we do in Rochester, but those hills are brutal. Going 60mph through those mountain roads was insane. There was also some highway I ended up on coming home that seriously was like looking down a 6lane rollercoaster.

 

And you probably wonder why people from Vermont call people from MA "Massholes"? Which I'm not condoning btw. I've lived in enough places to know people are people.

 

I was at the last one and I was there for a couple of hours since I had to wait in the bottle line and the growler line
by myself. The growler line takes a long time. Last time I went to the bottle line first, so I was at the end of the growler line. Had I went to the growler line first I would have got out of there 90 minutes earlier, the risk is getting in the growler line first and then having the bottles sell out. Last time this would not have happened, there were bottles available all day. The bottle line finished up in about half an hour, the growler line probably finished up in a couple of hours.

Not sure of my strategy for tomorrow.

By the way the Taylor Road sign is missing. They have a homemade sign up but it is hard to see if you are coming from the west. If you see a road sign something like "Sparhawk RD (sp) to the right it is Taylor on the left. I missed it last time and it cost me a lot of time on line too.

 

Its not just people from vermont...

also, if you've ever driven over the border into MA, you know why lol

 

What's the camping like at the festivals