Help with Hill Farmstead Visit

Take a look at the website, https://hillfarmstead.com/location/retail-shop/

There are FAQs there.

Here is info regarding onsite service/taproom, https://hillfarmstead.com/location/onsite/

These have been the hours for a bit, Retail Shop Hours: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday — 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

They used to be open Saturdays as well. This could all change come September.

 

Given where the entire earth is at the moment. I wouldn’t worry much about a September trip until some point during the summer. Which yes, sucks for folks who like to plan.

But we all have seen the world the last two years. We can’t predict anything that far out. Let alone changes in the last month or two.

You will enjoy the trip. That’s a guarantee.

 

If you are looking to do other beer stuff on your trip, post-Labor day, pre-Leaf peeping there is a little lull in tourism (kids are also back in school). Mid-September is a nice time to visit and avoid crowds at a lot of the places that are probably on your list.

 

I went three times this past fall. The experience morphed to the point where it's one ticket for inside/outside and the tap room was re-configured to just have a bunch of long stand up tables. The ticket gives you two hours to enjoy both the beers on tap and special bottles available (usually at least a dozen plus - spanning farmstead beers and stouts etc.). Your can buy their cheese plates (Jasper Hill oh yea) or BYO food. For my last two tours I hit up Parker Pie for lunch and did the reservation at Hill for ~2ish and it worked out great. The two hour time limit isn't enforced but I doubt there are many folks that stay longer given that almost everyone needs to get somewhere far away after their visit. You can order growlers for take away but they limit to one or two beer types (Edward and Poetica when I was there last). If you don't have a ticket - you can still get served but - like growlers - they limit you to Edward or one other beer. I'm sure things will continue to morph between now and Sept but I doubt it will involve an expansion of any kind. The employment/staffing situation really seems to be an issue for them. It's really a unique experience - the limited # of people makes it nice and mellow. The bottle selections have been really outstanding.

 

Phil Harmstead sightings are always a bonus

 

Wait, is that a thing?

 

I say plan away. I also love the Alchemist, Von Trapp and Lawsons. Waterbury area is a great place to stage.

 

I’ll second Von Trap and have been there in September. It’s truly amazing. That patio area is nuts. This was august a few years back just to try to do the land some justice. Little non kid trip.

 

Nice. Got to hit a killer brewery AND the gun show at the same time.

 

You'll be tripping over cans of Focal and Heady. They sell it nearly everywhere. And it's always stored cold no matter where you go.

 

Heady and focal can be found at any decent beer store, even some gas stations. If driving from Burlington from to Hillfarmstead you will basically be going by the alchemist, it’s maybe 15min out of your way
Tons of good beer stores For the biggest selection hit the beverage warehouse. craft beer cellar in Waterbury lists an up to date inventory, link on their Facebook. Even if you don’t hit their store it gives you a good idea of what available in the area, Mas verde is usually around

 

They still do this? Last few times I’ve checked I didn’t see the Google Doc link anymore.

 

This is taken from Instagram. The link is there.

https://instagram.com/cbc_waterbury?utm_medium=copy_link

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11k6YUz6iFCny_QNHcqZkHeMIKoOuPwNckX_Yu1STgiw/htmlview#gid=0

 

Believe it or not, Hotel Vermont has an on-site Beer Concierge named Matt, whose job is to help all guests with procuring stuff on their beercationing lists. He doesn't shop for you, but he has all the deets & connections to make your visit fruitful on the beer front.