The Alchemist (2019)

Lots of time in the car but you can easily hit RR at opening - hf - alchemist. Finish off the day at doc pond. As mentioned the alchemist only done a couple samples, no full pours, and things rarely sell out. None of the dark/ none ipa stuff will sell out. Worst case is go back Sunday morning when they restock and might be busy bc of the race but still nothing like treehouse

 

Last time I was at Alchemist, they were offering full pours on the weekends. It has been awhile so no idea if that is still the case.

 

I was not aware that they did not do full pours. This makes things easier. Going to hit all 3 places, it makes sense now.

 

Full pours were available last Friday: HT, FB & Crusher. I was there at 11:30a.

 

My bad, full pours must be a newish thing.

 

to each their own, we all prefer different things; but as a guy who lives 1,000 miles away, this is the take that coincides with my thoughts on HF. I'd pick going there over any other brewery in Vermont.

 

Does anyone know what time the Brattleboro Co-Op usually gets their Thursday delivery? I'm trying to save a few hours in the car and pick up a couple of 4-packs there.

 

Sorry - poor website searching, it's noon for anyone wondering....

https://www.brattleborofoodcoop.coop/brattleboro-food-coop-departments/beer-wine/

 

I was there this afternoon , Heady was a plenty. Last weeks drop maybe?
Cheers

 

Anybody try Squidgy Black yet? As previously mentioned, the non-barrel aged version was available at Montbeerlier this year in May and it was fantastic. One of the better non-barrel aged stouts I have had. The completed version was aged in bourbon barrels with vanilla. Sounds lovely.

 

First time visit to the brewery recently. Loved the look and it was not crowded at all. The free samples and front retail area/brewery views are awesome. The beer, however, is just ok. It kinda’ is what it is at this point. Heady and Focal are good beers, but you can probably find any beer locally to you that is better.

“Rapture” touted the use of Citra and Galaxy hops, but tasted like an old dogfish head 60 minute IPA - and looked even worse in my glass. I am not sure if they just don’t get fresh Citra and Galaxy or just don’t use them in the same manner as most other NEIPA breweries...regardless, it was not the beer that I expected. I may only stick to the non-IPA beers from them, as that is what I find most enjoyable currently.

 

My experiences lately with Alchemist have been similar. I’ve had so many oxidized cans in the last two years it’s crazy. Even though I live across the country I grew up in VT and work for a NH based company. I’m back there frequently or have friends/family/coworkers bring me beer and so many cans I’ve had have just plain sucked. Oxidized as all hell. I guarantee you they get great hops, has nothing to do with that.

Sucks

Love the brewery. Love what John and Jen have done for craft beer and VT.

Don’t want to hate but things seem to have gone downhill in the last few years that I don’t understand nor can explain.

 

Weird because I was just at the brewery last weekend and picked up my ritual case of Heady and Focal. Both taste as good as ever and Heady is still one of my favorite DIPA’s in existence. I have yet to find anything that is more accessible that even comes close.

 

Agree 100%. I still haven't found anything that comes close to Heady...

 

I swing in every few months and will agree, everything I’ve had tastes the same or better. Rapture was vibrant and super pungent when I had it for the first time.

I can’t remember if they still don’t date cans?
If they do, it’d be easy to contact them and ask about a certain batch. Sometimes mistakes happen and I’m sure they’d want to hear about it.

 

A couple of thoughts from a Vermonter who likes the alchemist.

1. I haven’t had any bad cans of heady/focal from a restaurant or the brewery. I wonder if some of the inconsistency is due to old/mishandled cans.

2. There are a ton of other very good IPA’s available in a short radius (Lawson’s, foam, frost, HF, upper pass, fiddlehead) and many more nationally.

3. I have had one bad alchemist experience in the past 5 years at a beer fest this year. I had the first canning of rapture and it was wonderful, the batch they had at this festival was unbalanced and bitter.

4. The Sterk wit with Brett might be a top 5 beer of the year for me. Wonderful sourness to highlight the orange peel in the recipe. Huge fan.

Woohoo first post!

 

And a good first post - thanks for the insight.

 

FYI if you're referring to the popup sale version of Rapture when you say the first canning, it's worth noting that the beer with that name brewed at Stowe is completely different.