Headed to Burlington and Waterbury next month. Does Blackback Pub offer crowlers or growlers? I couldn't find any info on their website. I read Prohibtion Pig does offer crowlers but not sure about growlers? Any info would really help, especially for Blackback Pub. I love their logo since this will, in-part, be a fly fishing trip.
No crowlers or growlers at The Blackback. I believe the brewery portion of the Pro Pig does the crowlers, but not growlers.
If you come up through White River Junction, Big Fatty's does crowlers and is right next to River Roost Brewery (outstanding IPAs).
pro Pig fill used to have growlers, not sure if they have move to Crowler only. Keep I mind it is only the beers they brew. Not the HF Lawson's etc on the tap list
We (ProPig) fill crowlers and growlers, clean and dark only please. As stated above, only house beers.
While I have some of your attention, I also have a couple "etiquette" questions when it comes to sampling? This is my first trip to VT and I'm not sure what the laws are in regards to this? For example, I read on Hill Farmsteads website you can order 2 drinks but you are allowed to sample others. Now obviously I'd like to sample everything they have, but is this frowned upon?? I just don't want to be a pain in the ass. So any sampling etiquette tips at pubs and breweries would be much appreciated! Thanks guys!
Most places in VT I've been are very happy to do a bunch of samples, provided you're not a 1 and done customer. If you're hanging out at HF, I believe they're happy to let you sample whatever their personal max is for samples. At bars/breweries, they're happy to sample, again provided you're hanging out or having full pours, it's not frowned upon to do multiple samples.
My impression at HF was that sampling was not frowned upon in the least. We sampled maybe 5 without having ordered at the growler line and not having committed to pours ... I got no impression I was being frowned on for asking for the samples. They advertise them on their website (and obviously the tasting room) so it would be hard for me to believe they'd frown. I didn't sample per se anywhere else but Blackback, for example, is more than happy to offer you a taste if you aren't sure on something. There (where I've been way more than HF) I would not ask for multiple tastes of things. For all I know they might be cool with it, but that's not my personality.
Hill is great about samples and have never been anything other than totally gracious about providing them. Oddly, the busier they are the happier they seem to be to keep on pouring them, sort of keeping the throngs cheerful and well-lubricated. (Not that they won't bounce your sorry ass if you turn out to be a drunken douchebag). Just remember to smile and say 'thank you' because they are genuinely terrific people.
Off the top of my head, Alchemist: Free samples while you are in line Hill Farmstead: Free samples if you ask. Just be careful that you arent lingering too long in line while you drink them. Fiddlehead: They offer samples of whatever beers they have to everyone who comes in. Magic Hat: Four free samples about 2 oz in size. Harpoon: they will give you small samples if you ask. If you get a good spot at the bar you are more likely to get samples offered to you. VT Pub and Brewery: If you sit at the bar you might be able to ask for samples, but if you are sitting in the restaurant area you are better off getting a flight or regular pour. Most of the rest would probably give you small samples if you asked, but most have some sort of flight and usually i just get that. Pro Pig lets you get half pours of the beers on the menu, which makes it easier to try a whole bunch of things.
Not only is Alchemist free unlimited samples....they did some free full pours today. Hard to think of another brewery doing the same.
