Hill Farmstead (2020)

Pushing 10 Year Fest to August in lieu of FoFa.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B--JS77BpOP/?igshid=1b1p2w6zjqvbg

 

Friendships and Explorations Festival is now August 1 instead of June 13, replacing FoFA

IG link: https://www.instagram.com/p/B--JS77BpOP/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Text:
After evaluating the available information and timelines ahead, as well as with new guidance handed down by Vermont Governor Phil Scott prohibiting lodging reservations through 15 June, we have no choice other than to postpone our Friendships and Explorations Festival, originally slated for 13 June 2020, to Saturday, 1 August, 2020, in lieu of our annual Festival of Farmhouse Ales.⁣
⁣⁣
⁣As of now, tickets issued for the formerly scheduled June Friendships and Explorations event will be honored on Saturday, 1 August 2020. Tickets are fully transferable; thus, we will not be issuing refunds at this time. In the spirit of the events we host, we do encourage those of you who will need to transfer tickets to pass them along as face-value, of course!⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Given current conditions and trending, it is entirely possible that we may not be able to hold this Festival in August. It is possible that our brewery and retail operations could still be closed. In the event that we must cancel our 10th Anniversary Friendship and Explorations Festival, we will then plan for and announce refunds. The unfortunate circumstance of selling physical tickets this year—a great idea at the time—creates a number of challenges to provide refunds in a straightforward manner! In any case, given whatever delays and postponements, we are confident that we will host a Tenth Anniversary Celebration at some point in the coming years… perhaps our Tenth Anniversary will occur in our 11th year. More to come…⁣
⁣⁣
⁣More information will be posted on the event in August as soon as we have a clearer picture of all that’s taking place. We will make a firm decision and announcement by 15 June.⁣
⁣⁣
⁣Thank you all for your understanding and best wishes. ⁣

 

Well then...I intentionally passed on trying for the 10 year because I intended on going to FOFA this year, or trying to...kind of ironic. But, guessing they won't be selling separate/additional tickets to FOFA now...?

 

I usually like to drink my Hill beers with no certainty towards the future, usually sooner than later but now I regret drinking some bottles figuring I’d be up there this week originally and now what’s left will have to hang as bday beers next week.

 

My post was somewhat in jest, but I am currently drinking the BA what is enlightenment- such a cool beer. I never thought I would enjoy a barrel aged IPA, but it is dope. I am trying to commit to not drinking the Damon out out of a children induced hasty decision, but it may still go down. I really enjoyed the first CD 27 I had, and I know a friend would love to split it, so I will do my best to hold on to that one. The 4% ABV Clara is probably safe. This lockdown is 5% plus!

 

I opened a damon last night. Sooo good and soo worth opening.

 

Who am I to say no to a Wizard!

 

A. I highly doubt we are in a position to hold beer festivals by August.
B. I'm really surprised they've shut down production, from what I gather from that post. I dont understand why they wouldn't produce beer and distribute to stores up here.

 

Agreed on both points. Hell, part of me was hoping they'd send some cans down to MA, but that would probably cause quite the shit show at some packies.

Perhaps they can afford to shutdown production for social distancing purposes and still take care of their employees? Shaun seems to have expanded rather modestly up there. I'd guess their debt obligations must be pretty reasonable. That's certainly one of the benefits of not trying to grow as fast as you can like many breweries do.

 

Yeah you nailed it. He’s got to be a millionaire at this point the way he/they have been operating. Definitely lives well within his means and is able to support his staff between the business revenue & govt stimulus packages.

 

So everyone is just agreeing we won't see beer festivals return before September? I don't know about that. Things are bad out there right now but that is six months away. I bet there are sporting events, concerts, and beer festivals this summer. Mark my words.

 

This will age poorly

 

What do we get when you’re wrong? Can’t wait (Bart Scott voice).

 

"Their defense can't stop a nosebleed."

Hmm. I don't know. I guess an "I told you so" but if I am right I get an "attaboy".

 

I think DigitalGrave is right in theory. I think this ends earlier than predicted and we could, in theory, get back to it gradually.

But I’m not in charge of shit. I’m not a medical professional. I’m just a regular asshole like the rest of you, living day to day, letting my emotions be dictated by the last social media post I read.

No government leader wants to be the first one to say fuck it and open the doors and risk being “the fuck up”. So everyone’s being overly cautious.

 

The only defensible solution at this point is for social distancing to continue until there's a vaccine. This holds true for every sector of the economy.

to someone's point about continuing production for distro, that still encourages people to head up to VT. They need to stop the attraction, which means no production.

 

I just think it'll come down to dollars. Social distancing will be a thing until a vaccine is developed, which is at least another 12 months out if things go as medical professionals project. Due to that, governing bodies will in all likelihood make sure that there aren't over x amount of people in one place at one time. Makes it difficult to organize an event when a large portion of a concert/festival's limit will be taken up by vendors, security, organizers etc. And on top of that, if you can only sell x amount of tickets, it won't be feasible to put on an event in which you're losing money.

 

There's no vaccine for any coronavirus. The body does not maintain immunity to coronaviruses. SARS was a pretty big deal coronavirus disease, and no vaccine still despite the world trying to develop one.

 

So, you’re willing to shut everything down for the next year? That’s indefensible. With mass testing, moderated social distancing & identifying/quarantining positive & at risk folks, & use of masks society can slowly re-open on a targeted, smart basis. When that time comes is up to debate (personally I think another 4-5 weeks of “lockdown” could be reasonable), but shutting things down for another 12-16 months is unreasonable & causes innumerable problems.

Beer culture should be able to adapt within some strict guidelines instead of just flat wishing for a 100% vaccine, which may not happen until 2022.

 

We all need to shoot a little lower than packed stadiums and beer festivals by August. By summer I'm thinking relaxing social distancing guidelines only to the extent to allow people to at least see their extended families. Maybe restaurants and stores but on a limited basis. On the bright side, we may never see TB in a TB uniform or Mookie in a Dodgers uniform.