Has anyone been? How is it? Any input is appreciated. It's a 4 hour drive for me but trying to coincide it with a concert. http://www.burlingtonbrewtours.com/
haven't been on the tour but looking at the stops does not look worth it at all to me. All of those can be easily done without much worry about drinking too much. If it were to take you up to hf, longtrail, and down to brattleboro or something it would be worth it
Meh...however they do occasionally have a groupon and localvore today coupons for it. Half price I think, may make it worth it as a touristy thing.
I've never done the tour, but Burlington is very walkable for the brewpubs, and you probably won't drink much at all at the production breweries south of town (Magic Hat, Fiddlehead, Switchback). I'd say drive to those (or take Burlington's surprisingly good CCTA public buses), then settle into the bars and brewpubs of downtown. Devote another day to visiting Waterbury.
Three Needs is no longer a brewpub - it moved over to a nice space on Pearl St. but has turned into a college bar. Owner Glenn still hasn't resumed brewing there yet, and Paul who was hired to do it left for Portland, OR last year. So, your options are Zero Gravity/American Flatbread, and VT Pub & Brewery. There are 2 more breweries in the works in the city - Queen City Brewing and VT Beer Co. QCB is projected to open in July. It is 3 guys from our local homebrew club that have each been brewing for about 20 years and cleaning up at competitions.
There goes my dream of seeing a Queen City Brewing Company in my hometown of Manchester, NH, one day! Oh well--glad to hear that are going to be some more additions to the Burlington brewery scene.
Here is a recent article in our alternative weekly on Burlington Brew Tours: http://www.7dvt.com/2013swilling-suds-and-learning-beer-basics-burlington-brew-tours
I talked with Paul a few days ago. He said his new target opening date is before Oktoberfest events start, but he's not 100% sure if he can make that date with the construction, remodeling, etc.. So I'd expect maybe September or October opening rather than July. I'm looking forward to tasting his beer. Paul also said that he hopes to get some food trucks into his parking lot for lunch/dinner, but I don't expect him to serve food in his brewery (but I forgot to ask that). Burlington Beer Company will be opening in Williston, near Gardener's Supply area (a block or two away from there, I think). Joe just signed the lease for a warehouse there last week, so he's hoping to be open by end of year. Rental prices for large spaces in Burlington, forced BBC to look into Williston. I don't know, if he'll keep name or change it
Thanks - I couldn't tell where that space was that Joe posted re: BBC, and I knew he had been looking at Pine St. downtown for awhile. The last time I talked with any of the guys at QCB was December, so glad for your update. Fiddlehead is killing it with satellite taps at the Friday Night food trucks gathering on Pine St. behind the ex- Fresh Market, I heard. Hoping to go this Friday to check it out.
I couldn't go to the food truck stop last week either, but I'm hoping to make it this week. Are they doing Fiddlehead growler fills there or just cups? I'd love for Fiddlehead to get a growler station somewhere in Burlington. Shelburne isn't that far of a drive, but it feels far BBC will also be relaunching their CSB in couple months. They had some issues (with the VLC, I think, didn't ask what/who issues) that needed to be worked out since it's the first CSB here, so there'll be some minor changes but basically same thing as originally intended. I have a few other minor updates for QCB and BBC, but nothing too important that I'll be uploading to vtbeer.org soon (waiting for article to be published in a July mag issue before uploading online version).
I did it a few years back. They picked you up at your hotel and dropped you off back after. It's not the most amazing beer experience you'll ever have- but I thought it was a good way to spend an afternoon! Would do it again if I went up with a different friend.
we're getting to the point if someone mentions a brewery besides Alchemist, Lawson's, or Hill Farmstead - we make the stinky cheese face.
trying to hold back stinkface but you're absolutely right. enjoy every brewery for what it is (although I went to a horrendous brewery in upstate NY on Monday). it's a good thing I don't have money and power, i'm turning into an insufferable azz by simply having access to Vermont IPA.
