Best Beer Experiences (New England Edition)

every trip to Munich and Waterbury!

 

Sorry, I already jumped the topic.

 

For me it would be Hill Farmstead. Moved to NYC from the UK in 2008. Loved exploring the US craft scene. Was a great counterpoint to the more traditional cask scene I’d come from (which I still miss/love). But that 2008-2010 period was definitely dominated by a lot of beers which were extreme for the sake of being extreme. A lot of (D)IPAs were great, but so many were OTT enamel-strippers. Then in 2011 I went to a VT event at our local spot Blind Tiger not knowing much about what I’d be trying. Had several HF, plus double sunshine and heady. They all blew me away but none more so than HF. I just couldn’t believe the flavor profile and general softness/drinkability.

Fast forward to May of the following year and we (my wife, sister-in-law and her husband - the latter also getting into beer as I was) made the pilgrimage for the first time. We rented a house for a long weekend on Caspian Lake and attended the second anniversary party. Weather was incredible (unlike the following year which we went to as well) and just had the most amazing time. Being from rural Scotland the whole area just had a familiar vibe that I hadn’t encountered anywhere in the US (most new yorkers consider anything north of the bronx as “country” and anything above westchester as “rural”). Had an awesome time at the event itself, but the most memorable was sitting out on the lake in beautiful sunshine cracking various growlers. We literally drank HF for breakfast, lunch and dinner for several days straight. Amazing. My small claim to fame was that until they revamped the website I was the cover photo for the 2nd anni photo gallery on their site.

 

I got a good one for you- It was 2001 and I had finally turned 21 and went out to scout the local scene- We had a brewery in Fitchburg Ma, called Z street Brewing that made a red ale that I quite enjoyed. I convinced a friend to go scout out there location after we went on the Wachusett Brewery tour-(which was awesome BTW) we ended up in a industrial park knocking on a garage bay door. The brewer greeted us with some surprise- I don't think they had many/ if any visitors and we asked if they offered samples- He laughed as he was a one man show and told us that if we helped clean the place he would share some beer. It was a blast learning about brewing, working, and then sampling some of his beers. The brewery is long gone as are many- RIP- Z Street- You will always have a fond place in my heart!

 

Does having Fort Point Market drop off amazing beer at my door step within two hours count?

Kidding, I'll return later with something decent. 16 years drinking craft in New England has produced quite a few memories...

 

Ha, it's all good. Both places are fucking awesome.

 

Gotta say having an Edward and taco on the deck at Hill Farmstead was pretty amazing

 

Too many good ones, but because of the circumstances, the weekend I proposed to my now wife in Stowe.
Started with a great visit to Hill Farmstead featuring a rainbow over head w/ a glass of Madness and Solitude, proposed at Trapp Family Lodge followed by a free glass of celebratory Von Trapp lager. We popped and took down a magnum of Anna that night and next day went back to HF for a celebratory glass of Ann 2014 on an amazing day on the hill. That was the well anticipated first time drinking Ann. That night it snowed at Trapp lodge and enjoyed an Abner & a Focal Banger on the balcony watching this hills go white. Surreal experience personally.

But also anytime at Hill Farmstead basically.

 

“Ann - fuck - Anna - shit I’m sorry - Sarah will you marry me”

 

You all have cooler drinking stories than I do. I just drink the stuff.

To be honest, most of my memorable drinking moments have occurred with nondescript beers. With regards to New England craft, as cheesy and cliche as it is, the first time I had Tree House was a real wowzer. I think they had just started canning. Some beer geek on a sports forum I posted on suggested it to me. I picked up a few cans of Haze and growlers of Julius, Green, and Sap. Got home and drank while watching some NBA, was blown away. When my roommate got home, he shared some, and he was blown away.

If the beer doesn't need to be New England, every father's day I take my Dad out for Irish Breakfast and Guiness at an Irish pub in Newport. No, we aren't Irish, we just really like Irish breakfast and Guiness. That's always my favorite beer of the year.

International Honorable Mention: after attending a Vasco Da Gama match in Rio with my friend, an absolute deluge rendered the city inoperable for a few hours. We had no recourse but to post up at a street-side bar, feet up on plastic chairs as water rose up to mid-shin level, drinking Brahma or whatever other cheap swill til 3-4a.m., talking to other locals who were in the same predicament. I'll never forget that night.

 

or not!