New Hampshire - The "Pass-Through" State?

The beer isn't as good (no one on the level of a Hill Farmstead, Treehouse, Trillium, Bissell, etc as a destination)? There aren't concentrated pockets of amazing breweries/beer bars like you have in the other states (Boston, Burlington, Stowe/Waterbury, Portland)?

 

New Hampshire certainly doesn't have a true standout brewery and until recently really didn't have a lot of breweries. In the last maybe 2 years or so the number of breweries has been increasing. Spyglass Brewing in Nashua is probably on par with lots of the breweries in Portland (from the perspective of IPA's) but its not quite at the level of a Bissell. I think give it a few years and New Hampshire might not be a pass through state anymore.

 

Yeah, but who wants to go to Nashua?

 

I see your statement and raise you with "who wants to go to new hampshire period? even the skiing is subpar compared to vermont."

 

Pointless thread

there is a NH thread discussing all things NH brewing on the front page

 

That’s offset by the lack of tristate douches that flock to VT.

 

I’ve never been and want to go. Love their beers and it looks like a gorgeous spot. But it’s always been a consideration as a “it’s on the way to Hill Farmstead” kinda thing rather than a destination of its own.

 

It has a lot to do with laws.

Love both states. But the outdoor activities in New Hampshire far surpass those of Vermont.

I'll give you that it's far, but it's certainly not off the beaten path. It's less than 10 minutes from 93.

 

If I had to speculate, I would imagine New Hampshire is a tougher environment to start a brewery or at least has been in the past. As a result, it kind of missed the opportunity to have an anchor brewery that drew people in during the beginning of this recent boom. Furthermore, it seems like a lot of the potential was marred by poor execution (Smuttynose/Smuttlabs), infighting (Blue Lobster), and other (format offered by Stoneface for example).

It should be also said that starting a brewery in a place that hasn't had a brewery before is tough. I know the permitting process was long and painstaking for breweries like Idle Hands and Notch, even as neighboring towns/cities had seen successful breweries. Heck, Lord Hobo had to keep applying for one day pouring permits for an extended period of time. I could see towns/cities in New Hampshire posing similar problems for perspective breweries.

 

I agree with this.
Maybe it would be ok if it was about a different state but not New Hampshire.

 

Also this...

 

Definitely go to Littleton. Prototypical quaint New England town located very close to major ski/hiking locations. Great little restaurants too & a lively arts scene if you're into that sort of thing.

Also I much prefer the tourists and locals in that area than VT.

 

I once knew a girl from New Brunswick and I always stopped to see her on my way through; it certainly wasn't to drink Moosehead beer with her though.

 

Thought this was going to be a limerick.

 

Ha- I thought for a few minutes about a response- It is a true story though. - I certainly invite others to finish the limerick.

 

I once knew a girl from New Brunswick
Her beer was so bad made my tum sick
Now I drink good lager
I hope they don't flog her
Someone pour me another one quick