Hill Farmstead (2022)

I’m pretty sure Hill Farmstead has been regularly on at Monks for some time now, at least past couple of months when I’ve checked. I’ve been tempted to go enjoy a pour of Edward. I’m fact Edward, Marie and Charlie are all on right now…

@JackHorzempa

 

It has. I also enjoyed some Charlie at Standard Tap last weekend, and Marie (I think?) on tap at Memphis the week before. Some of that might be due to PBW, but you can thankfully find Hill on at a variety places in Philly at most times (so I'm not sure what "good 'ol days" Jack is yearning for).

That being said, I completely agree that there's something special about visiting the location in Vermont, obviously.

 

I rarely make it into the city.

The places I was referencing 8+ years ago were a number of craft beer bars in the suburbs. They will very occasionally still get some Hill Farmstead beers but it is much more on a rotating basis and then only a single keg.

The 'good old days' I was referencing was I could travel to a nearby (10 minute drive) craft beer bar and there could be multiple Hill Farmstead beers on tap. I have not seen multiple Hill Farmstead beers on tap at these places in well over 5 years.

Cheers!

P.S. Kudos to Hill Farmstead to still 'support' PBW and send 'more' beer down into the city.

 

I was able to drink Rhetorica while getting my 2L growler filled with Poetica.

Doesn't get much better than that, at least here in the states.

 

I'm picturing perpetual motion, where you finish off your Rhetorica just as the growler is done filling, swap, drink the Rhetorica while they fill your Poetica growler, swap,....

 

I used to visit the Churchville Inn when I was up that way and it seemed they always had numerous Hill Farmstead beers on tap.

 

I'll be in Burlington in a few weeks on a Saturday (July 16), seems HF is only open the first Saturday of each month, is there any way to get cans at other locations or is there a friendly local proxy for the travelling out of country beer dads? Just looking for the basics, I see Willy's hardware has some to go's...

 

They've changed that - open all Saturday's starting 6/25. No reservations needed for Saturday, but remain in place for W-F.

Willey's should have the "shelf" bottles from Hill and they do get cans occasionally as well so you might be covered for your basics search.

 

Going clear to the goddamn northern Vermont/Canadian border for my sister in law's baby shower (but much love, really!). We got the Highland Inn in Greensboro for this Friday night but I was not successful in getting a reservation at HF and signed up for the waitlist.

Does anyone know the relative turnover/cancellation rates or how the walk-in experience is? I can plan on a to-go visit with visit to Parker Pie for a laid back experience if necessary. Haven't been to HF since 2015 so I have no north star for how they run now haha.

 

I think the cancellation rate is fairly high, at least high enough that you're not completely out of luck. People are constantly asking on the fb group if anyone wants their res. (I'd recommend joining the enthusiasts group and paying close attention this week.)

Also, you don't need a res if you just want IPAs or Poetica - they just won't serve you 'the special stuff' (bottles, stout taps) if you don't have one.

 

I have not had luck with the HF waitlist, but it was quite easy getting a reservation through the HF Enthusiasts FB group, even for Memorial Day weekend. But you can still go get a pour of something like Edward and whatever lager they are pouring that day, along with to go stuff, if you can’t get a resy. It all sounds a bit complicated, but the new system ends up being very chill in practice.

 

On Thusday night, there were a total of 9 regular spots for Friday afternoon. No problem booking for the very next day. That tells me weekend travel-day cancellations (even on a holiday weekend) do happen.

 

Is there any camping nearby?

 

Scroll down to Travel Information, Camping & Cabins

https://hillfarmstead.com/visit-us/

 

Very pleasant on-site experience today. Highlight was a pour of Art, Batch 1. Lowlight was a dad with three kids running around like f’n animals. This is coming from someone who has been bringing his kids to breweries so I absolutely sit in judgement of this super-douche.

 

was he in a fish shirt and crocs?

I know the type

 

Really? They had Art batch 1, from 2011?

 

Nope. Fucked that up. 2016. Was distracted by super douche dad and his feral children.

 

Nondescript attire. More the behavior. For example, said to his youngest child (maybe 5): “Just sit here…I have to go inside (the retail shop) and see about some bottles.”