Hey Vermonters, First, I'll apologize in advance for starting another VT brewery thread, but there was no specific information regarding what I'm hoping to find advice for. I'm from NYC, so I understand the annoyance of weekly "Where should I go?" threads. I'm going up to VT from NYC for my bachelor party next week, staying in Stowe. Saturday we're doing a brewery bus tour and I'm hoping to get the best recommendations for what breweries we should hit. There should be about 13 of us. Lost Nation is probably our top priority, albeit in the opposite direction of Stowe from the other locations in Waterbury and Burlington. I'm really looking for places that would accommodate a group of our size, you can drink by the glass as opposed to just sample and leave, places that we can hang out for an hour or so and not feel completely cramped, have food in case people need it, etc. Even if the beer doesn't match the quality of HF or whatever, it's going to be as much about experience as beer. Thanks (and apologies again) in advance!
Fiddlehead would be a great spot for you guys. The bar is small, but the pizza place attached has a good amount of space to hang out, eat pizza and drink beer.
To provide more detail to @Evmo31's post, the pizza place next door is BYOB. So you can get a couple growlers (or however many you need) and go there and eat. The Fiddlehead space itself is probably not big enough to accommodate the whole group and they don't do pint/full pours. The growlers are redeemable (or were the last time I went there), so I don't think that should be an impediment. I personally think Zero Gravity is a better call between the two because there'll be more variety on tap and you're right by downtown. You would be able to check out other bars if you want. The food at Zero Gravity is pretty good too. Why are you planning your own bachelor party?
My brother who lives in Cleveland is planning it, but he's not a beer guy so he wanted me to pick the breweries. Zero Gravity seems like a great option, I see there are two locations. You're recommending the restaurant one rather than the other, across the street from Queen City Brewing? We're probably starting at Lost Nation and will eat there, so food isn't a requirement. I also looked into Four Quarters, any opinions on that one?
I have not been to the new Zero Gravity space so I cannot comment. I've only been to the Zero Gravity/American Flatbread.
Lost Nation would work well! Harpoon in Windsor is a great space, big inside, decent food options, tons of outdoor seating and places for kids to play (if your bringing some). Seems like you'll be on other side of the state though, so I agree with American Flatbread/Zero G...great location downtown, good beers, outdoor and indoor area, cone head always a tasty choice and easy drinking for the craft or non-craft drinker.
Yeah, I was unsure about MH because it's just so widely available, but it would probably cater to the non-super beer nerd guys coming up. We went to Harpoon's location a couple years ago (along with Long Trail and 2 other smaller places), so we're gonna pass on that one this time.
Lock that one in. Plenty of space, food is good and not too expensive, and the beer will satisfy the beer-geek and non-beer-geek alike.
4 Quarters is extremely small inside- your party would pretty much fill the entire brewery. There are a few outdoor picnic benches so if the weather is good, you could hang outside. No food offerings there, though. Since you guys are going to be in Stowe, you should check out Crop. Their Idletyme IPA is very popular and they have pretty good food, too.
