Hi guys, I'm doing a small beer trip in US, from 18-25 Nov. I will be travelling by myself, and got the following idea: 18/11: arrival NYC, visit Other Half and bars 19/11: NJ: Kane, Carton,... 20/11: get rental car, go visit ... Trillium? 21/11 XXXXXX? 22/11: visit Hill Farmstead, bars in Waterbury? 23/11: drive back, visit XX? (stay in NYC) 24/11: Black Friday - BC release 25/11: last NYC day, return flight in evening Do you have some advice, other places to visit? Ive considered Tree House, but I had to choose, and it's not really possible because of Thanksgiving. Which area in NYC should I best stay around the Goose Island release? Thanks for all the help! Trading? I've posted a list yesterday, cheers.
There are a lot of good places in NYC, but I tend to go to 'As Is' on 10th Ave. The Canton Trillium location has the bar (versus downtown, where it is to go only), so you can try a bunch of stuff that isn't available in cans/growlers. You can't go to Treehouse on the 22nd? I suppose if you bring some of the OHalf or NJ beers, you may be able to trade for a TH or two since the plane trip limits your take home (best I have done is a case). Hill Farmstead is my favorite place to go. Really in the middle of nowhere - great beers and very cool view. If you go there mid-week, it should be pretty calm. No idea on BCBS release locations.
If you're taking I91 up to Vermont hit up River Roost in WRJ. If you're taking I93 up hit Schilling in Littleton NH.
I would point out that you are renting your car after the NJ day ... You might want to rent the car before and drive to the NJ breweries. I would suggest that you drive from Boston to Waterbury, VT on the 21st. Get there in time to go to The Alchemist in Stowe and then enjoy your evening in Waterbury. There are several other breweries not far (Trapp, Lost Nation and Rock Art are all nearby). Being in Waterbury, will give you as easy a ride as you can hope for to get to Hill Farmstead at opening on Wednesday where I think it would be much busier than a normal Wednesday being the day before Thanksgiving. Keep in mind that it is likely several of the places mentioned will have special holiday hours. This could be both good and bad in terms of extra patrons, being closed when normally open or being open when normally closed. I, personally, would avoid Treehouse (as you are currently planning). That Wednesday before Thanksgiving is likely to be incredibly busy. That has traditionally been a crazy day for them and that was before the new location.
Will you be in Boston for the 21st? Tons of options for breweries/tap rooms/bars. Mystic, Night Shift, Cambridge for a few. If you have more time in VT, Foam and Fiddlehead are not far off from Waterbury. Burlington (Foam) is a fun town with some great food options too and Shelburne (Fiddlehead) is 10 or so minutes away. Surprised nobody asked yet, but are you bringing a bunch of Cantillon/etc.? I'm sure you could find some Tree House via IP trades if you do. If you drive between Waterbury and Hill Farmstead you could drive by Alchemist, Lost Nation and Rock Art and not mess up your route too much. Foley Bros. is a popular stop in VT, but a bit out of the way. Someone above mentioned River Roost, if you are on 91 you will drive right by (White River Junction). Schilling in Littleton is great too if you come up 93, also mentioned above. Threes is pretty close to Other Half. Interesting spot. Not sure what will be open on the 23rd. If you are heading down I91 and want a pit stop The Latham House in Lyme NH is open and serves a full Thanksgiving Dinner. They have a decent tap list for NH.
I've got a friend in Highlands, so he will show me around. So I wont need a car for that day Thanks for the great advice on planning, def will add some stuff, though seems like I will have to make some choices.
Yeah, Boston probably 20th, then I will use 21st to drive up to VT. Yep, plan on bringing some Belgian stuff, posted a FT:ISO in the Beer Trading section. 23rd, I guess that will be partially visiting, partially driving, as I will head back to NY or NJ (24th going for Black Friday stuff in the city).
I’d second hitting Burlington while in Vermont. I’ have a decent cellar of BA beers and lots of Vermont beers if you are interested in trading for some Belgium’s.
So my schedule got more fixed now. I will travel back from Waterbury,VT to Newark on Thanksgiving day, eventually returning my rental car in the evening. 1. What's the best route to take? 2. Some stuff on this way being open? 3. Thanksgiving is not an European thing, but even though I will be in USA, would there be some places to have a nice dinner, again, on this possible route (or some small detour), with some nice beers Heck, I even thought about going to an event, helping out people. Really have no clue Cheers !
Hard to say what will be open on Thanksgiving, but from Burlington to Newark you pass right through the Hudson Valley. Theres tons of threads on that region already, but dont drive by Suarez or Hudson Valley Brewery without stopping in
I have heard that at least one of the Waterbury bars will be closed on both Thanksgiving and also the day before it. It may do you well to call them in advance to plan your beer outings? Burlington itself is most likely to have places open on those days, but you will definitely want to do research there as well. A few restaurants downtown have great Thanksgiving dinners, I've heard.
This is a little misleading. He's driving on Thanksgiving. I don't think any brewery would be open and very few restaurants. For OP, Thanksgiving is probably the most National holiday we have here. More places are closed than on Christmas or New Year's or any other holiday you might name.
Haha yeah, so it seems I guess I just will drive back and see whats on the way. So driving via Albany maybe?
