Favorite Vermont non-IPA beer?

Discussion in 'New England' started by jamesewelch, Jun 10, 2013.

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  1. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    Hey all,

    I'm doing some research of Vermont non-IPA beers for a summer article and was wondering about favorite Vermont non-IPA beers. The beer doesn't need to be highest rated, but something that you'd recommend for someone to try out a new style or new beer.

    I have a list of my own non-IPA favorites that I'll be mentioning and I'll be highlighting ones from different beer styles, but wanted to see how my list compares to others and to make sure I don't leave out any obvious ones.

    Here's some of my list: (I'm focusing on newer and non-IPA beer for humid, summer drinking)
    * Foley Brothers Ginger Wheat
    * Lost Nation Gose

    thanks,
    Jim
     
    #1 jamesewelch, Jun 10, 2013
  2. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,181) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    I hardly drink any IPA's - VT or otherwise. My tastes run toward old Euro styles like Belgian sours, saisons, UK ESB's, German lagers and wheat beers like hefe and dunkels.Also anything barrel-aged.
    Like both the ones you posted, but I will drink anything from Hill Farmstead, Zero Gravity, Crop, and Bobcat that fit those style categories.
     
    #2 duchessedubourg, Jun 10, 2013
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  3. jbertsch

    jbertsch Pooh-Bah (2,874) Dec 14, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Can't help but immediately think of Hill Farmstead's various farmhouse ales...
     
    #3 jbertsch, Jun 10, 2013
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  4. bahnfire

    bahnfire Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2011 Vermont

    Yeah Hill Farmstead's saisons are great for summer time (or anytime really) and are excellent beers to expose people to a new style.
     
    #4 bahnfire, Jun 10, 2013
  5. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    had Backacre Sour Golden and thought it was very well done. Was great for a hot late afternoon manning the grill...
     
    #5 telejunkie, Jun 10, 2013
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  6. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    Thanks.

    I'll definitely mention HF saisons and the Trapp offerings. I wanted to speak about the Backacre Sour too, but I haven't had the chance to sample that yet (but I'll probably include it too since I've read some good reviews about it).

    I'm trying to get a wide net of offerings from various styles, so some beer that people can pick up at local grocery/beer store (like Wolaver's Wildflower Wheat, Foley's, etc.) and others that they might see on menu at restaurants, etc. The HF selections might be out of reach for the general readers of the magazine, since the only way to get HF without making a trip out of town (Burl/So Burl) is to go to Farmhouse and if you're heading out of town for beer, then you probably don't need suggestions :slight_smile:
     
    #6 jamesewelch, Jun 10, 2013
  7. woosterbill

    woosterbill Pooh-Bah (2,807) Apr 6, 2009 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    Celia could be an interesting one to highlight, both as a Saison and a gluten free option.
     
    #7 woosterbill, Jun 10, 2013
  8. fredmugs

    fredmugs Initiate (0) Aug 11, 2012 Indiana

    I really can't recommend it yet since I haven't opened it yet but Lawson's Fayston Maple Imperial Stout may be a good candidate.
     
    #8 fredmugs, Jun 10, 2013
  9. brownswisscow

    brownswisscow Crusader (476) Feb 9, 2012 Vermont

    Celia was disco'd

    Anything Zero Gravity, Fiddlehead (other than IPA's), Lost Nation has started strong, Trapp, HF Saisons, Drop-In
     
    #9 brownswisscow, Jun 10, 2013
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  10. woosterbill

    woosterbill Pooh-Bah (2,807) Apr 6, 2009 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah


    Didn't realize that; too bad. While it doesn't affect me personally, I thought it was the best gluten free beer out there.
     
    #10 woosterbill, Jun 10, 2013
  11. sandman3479

    sandman3479 Initiate (0) Dec 8, 2006 Connecticut

    Agreed. I'd suggest this pretty often to people looking for Gluten Free options.
     
    #11 sandman3479, Jun 10, 2013
  12. cookiequiz

    cookiequiz Savant (1,119) Apr 15, 2013 California

    Really? I tried it a few times, but never enjoyed it. The first sip is OK, but the aftertaste is no good.

    (I'd suggest cider or perry for GF people.)
     
    #12 cookiequiz, Jun 10, 2013
  13. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    to tack on...for widely available beers, Hop Session from Otter Creek is a solid, easy drinking APA I recommend to most friends. I think it is a revamped version of their Summer Solstice which i also really enjoyed until it was discontinued. Harpoon Summer is a solid Kolsch (not sure if brewed in VT). Sunny & 75 is a decent wit from Rock Art. Good luck with the article! Btw, where should be looking for it?
     
    #13 telejunkie, Jun 10, 2013
  14. dunix

    dunix Initiate (0) Jan 26, 2011 Vermont

    I honestly think you could write a whole article and leave out the big 3. Both Crop and Fiddlehead have a very nice Helles. Anything by Lost Nation. Both Zero Gravity and VPB put out some good ESB/Bitters that would hit the spot during summer. 14th Star is pretty decent too, for those north of Burlington. Otter Creek's new VT Lager is not bad.

    Rock Art can be passed by imo...
     
    #14 dunix, Jun 10, 2013
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  15. Horbar

    Horbar Pooh-Bah (1,593) Feb 24, 2012 Rhode Island
    Pooh-Bah

    Long Trails Altbiers are pretty decent and underated.
     
    #15 Horbar, Jun 10, 2013
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  16. MVP09

    MVP09 Initiate (0) Oct 19, 2012 Massachusetts

    Shed makes a very good strong ale. Think its called Mountain Ale.
     
    #16 MVP09, Jun 10, 2013
  17. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,181) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    Shed name & branding was purchased by Otter Creek - is now brewed by them. The old Shed in Stowe is now the Crop Bistro & Brewpub - head brewer is Will Gilson, formerly of Moat Mtn. in No. Conway.
     
    #17 duchessedubourg, Jun 10, 2013
  18. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    All, thanks for the ideas. I'm not sure the direction of the article, but I might lean more towards easier to find/access beer instead of including the awesome but hard to acquire beer like HF. My target audience probably won't be driving hours to buy beer, but they might pick up something new/different in a grocery/beer store or decent restaurant - at least that's my aim.

    I'm writing a column for South Burlington Community Magazine. It's one of those free magazines that you find everywhere with lots of adverts inside and some articles. So it's nothing big, but just experience with writing/publishing world and a nice little hobby. This column will be in Aug issue. My first column should be appearing in the July issue - it's just a basic intro to VT beer and breweries, so nothing that everyone here doesn't already know. :slight_smile: If anyone has a writing itch, let me know. We can work together on a future article (I can help with writing/spelling/grammar/formatting stuff, so don't worry too much about that).

    I'll ask the editor, but I think I might be able to do a special feature with "ask a local". If so, then I can give you guys a quote, name, city, and maybe headshot/photo. Something like "what's your favorite beer for summer bbq", etc. with photo and name. If so, then I'll let you know guys know and you can PM me quotes, names, and cities (prefer near South Burl/Burlington area since that's mag distribution).
     
    #18 jamesewelch, Jun 10, 2013
  19. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    That was my original idea for the article, then it kind of morphed into an anything but IPA article :slight_smile:
     
    #19 jamesewelch, Jun 10, 2013
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  20. jamvt

    jamvt Savant (1,150) Aug 5, 2005 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Don't forget about Harpoon. They have the brewery in Windsor. UFO White is a great beer, and a solid choice for your audience, as it's readily available.
     
    #20 jamvt, Jun 10, 2013
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