The Alchemist (July 2016)

Kind of an unnecessary post given the hype around Alchemist alone... especially the fact that they just opened the new brewery.

Not a local but here's my opinion: I had a god damn blast today. I always expect to wait in lines for great beer, so I plan ahead. I brought a book to read, as well as a cooler full of water to pass the time. I actually didn't end up reading the book because I made a few friends in line that made the time pass by in a big way. I was through the line in under 40 mins today and it honestly didn't even feel like it took that amount of time just to grab my cans.

Everyone is right when then say that the staff is amazing. Jen was extremely friendly and I was able to shake John's hand and thank him and everyone for everything they've done. Focal is my number one beer, and I was able to walk away with plenty of it.

Waiting in a line can be 0 fun, but come on now.... You can't tell me this is your first time seeing a line for a beer you (really) want. You can't plan ahead for down time like that? That's why I brought a book. Hell, conversate with people and maybe you might gain knowledge some where. You could even make a phone call to catch up with your mother!

As mentioned before, I am not a local. I wore a Bissell shirt today and that was a immediate conversation starter for people ahead of me and behind me. I wanted to know more about Stowe and learned about Doc Pond and Prohibiton Pig, as well as Smuggler's Notch through conversation with them!

Alchemist handled the line exceptionally well today (significantly, significantly faster than any line I've ever been through, *ahem* Dinner, and Jen was saying they crushed 750 transactions in under 3 hours).

I had a blast and CAN'T wait for my next visit. I'm sorry that you feel the way you do, as a local, but you do sound selfish to a non-local.

 

Also, for locals, Jen did post this yesterday:

"If you don't want to wait in line and are happy with Focal Banger or Heady Topper, you are better off coming later in the day (between 1:30-3pm). We have had many people walk in every afternoon without wait and leave with Focal Banger.

If you want to enjoy some samples and check out the brewery, you should plan a visit after 3pm. There will be no lines and easy access to fresh samples."

Sounds like a pretty good option to those of us who live hours away.

 

Really? So there isn't any Heady-esque beer where you're from? And I'm the entitled one? Wow. Just wow.

Time to polish my can of Crusher.

 

That's my buddy, Nick! LOL. I actually texted him the day of the brewery opening and since he was already headed to the area, he stopped in. He taught me everything that I know about homebrewing. Great guy.

 

Nice post overall. Regarding the above quote: MBC has been processing 220-260 ppl/hr for the past 5 releases (low end is when they have other beers like I-IV and Thank You for sale; high end is when it's just Dinner), so right on pace with Alchemist's total today. Of course, Alchemist has only been open a week, so they will get even more efficient; on the other hand, Alchemist gets to do it every day so they can figure out the shortcuts easier, whereas MBC only has 4 big sales per year.

 

Now that I know professional disc golfer is an option, I think it may be mid-life crisis career change time! He sounds like an interesting dude.

 

Legitimate question though, outside of maybe NE and PacNW what world class fresh hazy NE-style IPAs are just sitting on the shelf your average day of the week? Yes, there are great alternative options readily available - beer you can buy by walking into a store on any given day - those will likely be things outside of the "NE IPA" wheelhouse; styles such as Belgians, more traditional IPAs, non BA stouts, lagers, etc.

So while I'm by no means saying that people should feel obligated to wait in 1-3 hour lines or chase trucks, it is unfortunately what is typically required if you want really good beer for that particular style. I live and work around NYC but breweries like OH, Finback, Singlecut, TH, NEBCO, Trillium, Night Shift, Alchemist, Kane, Carton, HF, Lawson's, MBC, Bissell Bros, or Tired Hands aren't just sitting at my local liquor store.

 

Agree the bounty of these beers is not evenly distributed, but when I was in Phoenix a few months ago, it wasn't hard to get my hands on Mother Road's Tower Station IPA in cans. I'd put it up against just about anything I can get down the street, at least until Trillium's cans start seeing distribution. As an aside, the packaging is gorgeous.

It's not like there's a deep mystery to making a good NE IPA, and as the style becomes more widely appreciated, you'll see regional brewers spin up their own versions to meet the demand.

 

Drove up from Pittsburgh, got to the brewery at 3:30 pm Wednesday the 6th. There was no line and I walked out with 4 4 packs of Focal Banger. Thursday, the 7th, I drove to Warren at 8:30 am for a case of SOS. Then, I drove back up to Stowe and found plenty of parking and the line was about 40 deep at 10:15 am. The wait was not noticeable as I talked with the people in line with me. The weather was great and we were all stoked to get our mixed case. We got samples in line inside and the staff were great. Try the Cheddar Heady, it tastes great too. All in all, I had another fantastic road trip to VT and the Alchemist hit it out of the park.

 

Foam. Better Hoppy Beer than the Alchemist and HF, IMO. Until that becomes a shit show as well. I've been driving up there weekly since they opened to get beer, knowing that the locusts will spread and it will be inaccessible for me. Unless I decide I want to spend my Saturday sitting in line for beer, which I don't

 

Agree their beers are real nice...but you're not exactly helping your cause by spreading the good word on Foam....

 

Unfortunately, it's just a matter of time. I'm pretty sure they won't be in a position to sell a lot of beer for off site consumption, so it should keep a lot of people at bay for a while.

 

Well he said that he isn't really a professional. He does play in tournaments though.

 

I buy Night Shift every week. Hits the perfect spot for me. Tried the Jacks Abby excess or Wormtown be hoppy? All fabo, IMHO. So many good options in the Boston MA area.

 

Have feet. Will travel. My workplace is a few blocks from Trillium Fort Point, but man cannot live on just one source of beer. I think that may be in the Declaration of Independence. Look it up. I am sure that's true.

Used to go the Waterbury retail location for a couple of years until it got shut down. Was up in VT for unrelated reasons so did the wait in the line. Got there at 11:30. I think I was paying sometime between 1 pm and 1:30 pm. Two registers open. Thinking of prior times at Foundation / Bissell, perhaps things could be quicker with a cash-only line, but other than that, sales seemed to be getting processed as quickly as they could.

That being said, beer bought. Ate a really tasty brisket sandwich from the BBQ place next door (I would have called it burnt ends, but tomato / tomaaaahhhto - whatever the name, it was damn good). Gazed out at surrounding beautifully green hills while getting soaking wet in pouring rain.

Would I do it again? Absolutely.

 

Have not spent an entire day in any beer line. Most all my HT experiences have been an hour or less. I am sure the owners of Foam disagree with you on the popularity issue.

 

Did you just call yourself a locust?

 

That's just what I meant. We have access to 4-5 great NE IPAs on the shelf regularly, but other parts of the country aren't necessarily going without.

The hazy future is here, it's just not evenly distributed!

 

Disagree on what popularity issue? They've been super busy. They ran out of beer after opening. I'm just done with waiting in lines for beer, period. I wish Foam as much success and popularity as they want. I'll keep heading there as often as possible.

 

I'd like to think I'm an early adopter. Been gong there and supporting those guys since day 1. Supporting local breweries and small businesses, it's the VT way bra.