Input on our NE beer road trip?

I dunno if it's been mentioned, but if you want to save yourself the trip to the hinterlands for Farmstead, you will be able to order and drink it at Prohibition Pig. HF is a scenic spot but in the middle of nowhere. Also, make sure to bring a standalone GPS or download Google Maps in advance because there's no reception up there.

 

The bar at Best Western usually has Heady Topper cans. So you can unwind with one in your room at the end of the day if you wish.

 

I can't wait to do a Portland Oregon road trip! I'll definitely hit you up for suggestions when it happens.

In the meantime, you can't go wrong if you decide to head towards Newport to check out what Rhode Island has to offer. @kevdemers gave you some great suggestions… definitely check those places out! I also thought Whaler’s Brewing Company (4 – 10 on Friday’s) was a fun stop less than 15 minutes from Proclamation.

If you decide to venture a little closer to the CT border, Grey Sail is another quick and easy stop (open 4 to 7) in Westerly (about 30 mins from Proclamation). And if you make it that far, drive 15 more minutes and stop at Beer’d (5 to 9) in Stonington as well!

Looking forward to hearing about your adventures! Have a great trip.

 

Agreed with Grey Sail and Beer'd, really enjoy chilling out with a pour in the Beer'd space. I was just thinking near the end of the trip they may be done ticking a bunch of places everyday...but you never know! Also of note that it doesn't look incredibly far on the map but it takes close to an hour to get from Westerly or Stonington, CT over to Newport easily, that could play a factor in whether to mix the western spots in.

 

Blackback is actually the place to go for Hill Farmstead (on the off chance you don't want to make the pilgrimage). They routinely have a bunch of taps. They had either 7 or 8 depending on the night I was there last week.

Also, definitely got some reception outside at Hill (between buddy and I we had AT&T and Verizon and both had some). We did lose it on the way there though. We typed the address into WAZE in Stowe and also had a screen shot of the suggested directions from the website. Nowhere near as complicated as some stories I've heard.

 

If you're looking for a very nice dinner before hitting the Waterbury bars, I highly recommend Hen of the Wood. I'll let the Yelp reviews do the talking - great food, cool atmosphere, awesome drinks (Heady too), etc... if you're looking to skip the pub food / bbq.

 

It's also only 15-20 minutes to Warren or Mad River. I'd try to be in Warren on Thursday morning, and maybe hit the Mad Taco for lunch in Mad River. There's nothing more rare than a bottle of Lawson's Finest that isn't SOS or #2

 

One more general note, advice I provide to everyone who asks these questions here. It's fall in New England. The weather should be gorgeous and the trees will have color in the north and will start to even in MA. Enjoy the trip. Enjoy the places. Don't just drive by the waterfalls, and blow off all the historic sites in Boston and Portsmouth and Portland. The view of the Adirondacks across Lake Champlain can take your breath away. You can, in two days...fill an SUV with enough beer to last months. Many of these breweries are really just pick it up and go places. So plan some time to enjoy yourself, maybe drink a Focal Banger after hiking up a mountain, or chill a Heady in the White River. Whatever works for you. Memories last longer than beer, and beer consumed as part of a great moment is always the best beer.

 

Just a little plug for a friend here but a dear friend of mine just moved her business in Waterbury and has an expanded tap list and beer offerings. Her place is called Cork and used to be right on the main drag but they've moved to a bigger and better space. It's a wine bar first and formost but they have 8 beers on tap including Sip of Sunshine for $4/pint as well as Heady and Focal in cans (yup restaurants are getting it again)
As well as small plates of food. Check it out if you get a chance. Very cool vibe inside and if you happen to be dragging your non beer drinking significant other along on a beercation it's a great stop that could satisfy everyone's needs.

 

I don't know that you need to overnight in Portsmouth but you could spend one heck of an afternoon there enroute from Boston to Portland. It's less than an hour from Boston to Portsmouth and even less than that from Portsmouth to Portland - totally feasible.

Lunch at the Portsmouth Brewery, then tasters and cans at Great Rhythm, then on to Tributary over the river in Kittery, would make for a worthy detour. With a little more time, swerve slightly west over to Stoneface and Deciduous, too. Maybe a stop at Banded Horn in Saco.

I was at Great Rhythm yesterday and, for a brewery which used to make some pretty damn mediocre beers, they've really upped their game with Squeeze, Sticky and Hi-Fi.

 

I'm sure you are aware but the beerfest was moved to 10/29!

They are offering refunds

Cheers

 

Not sure if this was stated.
Make sure you hit foam brewers in Burlington.
Portland I'd suggest Austin street and foundation if you're going to Allagash

 

Would love to hear details of your trip when you're done!

 

So would I. Curious to see what worked and didn't work. I think people often underestimate the time it takes to get from A to B in New England. The distances aren't long, but the roads aren't often straight either.

 

I believe this is the place that was right in the corner. I used to go in there all the time to say hello, a drink and they would always have cases of heady. Last time we were up over the winter we saw it moved and went to the new spot as heady was sold out all over. Found a case there for us to split up. Good spot if its who I am thinking of. Also, the girl I've talked to before with an accent is great!

 

Glad you enjoyed our little city of Portsmouth. The funny thing is you probably walked right by Liars Bench brewery going to Great Rythm. They're literally a few blocks from each other. I can see how they can be confusing. Once you understand the area you realize its one road straight into or out of downtown to GR. I'm surprised you had trouble getting an Uber from Tributary. Its literally on the Portsmouth line and I had no issues getting once from their anniversary party a few weeks back.