The Alchemist (August 2016)

Plus you had an Illinois idiot lug around.

 

I went Saturday of the Stowe brew fest IMO they actually like when you get a full case of focal it gives more crusher and HT for the throngs that haven't had it yet I was there around 1130 on a SATURDAY of a brew festival and they had all of the beers!! Don't DB!!

 

I was there at about 10:30 on Friday so you must have been a few spots behind me. I definitely recall a couple of folks with young ones playing in the grass while I was in line. The brewery staff were awesome and I can confirm they were handing them stickers and little Heady temporary tattoos.

No kids of my own so it was a simple trip for me, but definitely worth it considering they must have opened right at 10 at the same time of the parking lot. Good dudes over there, no complaints!

 

Got there at 11 Saturday, was told by the parking attendant I for sure wasn't gonna get Crusher, 50/50 on Heady. The wait was long (hey, it's Saturday, to be expected) but staff came out to update on on stock of each beer. Finally had everything still in stock by the time I was up roughly an hour and 15 minutes later, opted for one 3 pack of each instead of full case to allow others to get some.

Good experience, friendly staff!

 

so I got a mixed case 3 weeks ago, and while crusher is good, I would have opted for more Focal without thinking twice now.

 

Does the place chill out on a Friday at any point after noon? Not concerned with how much of what beers I can buy. Just want a few four packs at minimum.

 

I'm planing to hit the new brewry on a Wednesday (08/31) with the family in tow. Does anyone know if the line has been long on Wednesdays? My wife and kids are patient enough, but I don't think I want them to wait around for an hour (since I'm taking them with me to Hills afterwards). Thanks.

Edit- sorry to hi-jack the thread

 

Arrive right at 10 when the lot opens, you will wait around 40-45 mins, it goes quickly and they usually open slightly early to keep the parking lot from filling up.

 

Is it everyday now that they are allowing the option of getting a full case of Focal instead of the nixed case? Heading up Thursday and want to know what to expect.

 

Arrived at the brewery around 11:40 yesterday (Wednesday, August 10) and was out with my mixed case of Heady, Focal and Crusher by 12:15. No difficulty parking. Super smooth process - the conveyor belt with mixed cases behind the counter is excellent, as are free samples while waiting in line. Great experience overall. Props to the Alchemist for making this work so quickly.

 

Does anyone have an idea how long stock has been lasting later into the day?

I assume crusher and heady sell out early. If I couldn't make it there till early afternoon say 2pm has focal lasted that long?

 

Last Wednesday at 3pm. I was the first one shut out of Heady, got Focal and tasters, no problem.

 

Ok so I gotta ask, how are people managing to be line people 1-10?

 

Jen told me when I was there on a Saturday that you are allowed to get a case of Focal in lieu of a mixed case as long as Crusher is still available. Once Crusher is gone you cannot get a case of Focal, only two four packs.

 

Driving by at exactly the second they open the lot? Hopefully by coincidence and not by driving by 15 times in 5 minutes.

There's not really a point. We were around 50-60 on Brewer's Fest weekend and still managed to get to HF before official open and snag some Ann.

 

We're in Stowe for the week so I've gone three times. I went saturday at 3pm and got focal with no wait. Drank 8 between saturday night and monday night.

Went yesterday at 10:35am. Was back in car 45 min later. Then went today at 1:30pm and got a mixed case in less than 10 min. I heard them say it's the first time crusher has lasted past 1:30pm

If you just want heady and focal, there is no need to line up. Show up around 12:30pm and you can get both with no wait. If you just want focal, show up in late afternoon.

 

I bought 4 four packs of Focal at 5:45 yesterday. There was plenty left. I think they have had at least some Focal for everyone who arrives while open since the first initial rush.

 

We arrived Friday at 12:15 and it took about an hour to get to the checkout. At about 1:00 they ran out of Crusher. So we each got a case of 2-Heady plus 4-Focal, which was fine by me as the Focal was the most amazingly aromatic and delicious taster in line.

 

Glad to have a patient family to take a side trip during our weekend excursion through Burlington and Lake Placid.

Arrived shortly after 10am on Saturday and was back in the car by 11am with couple mixed case. Was a great experience for a first timer. Hoping for an equally great experience in Freeport next week while visiting the folks.