Burlington, VT - Growler fill advice

Discussion in 'New England' started by DmouthCaliBrewz, Aug 2, 2013.

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  1. DmouthCaliBrewz

    DmouthCaliBrewz Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    I know there is a recent thread about Burlington Beer but it was regarding where to get heady, so I didn't think it was the appropriate location for this question.

    My buddy is taking his girlfriend to Burlington this weekend, and I let him borrow my car to do it. He knows I am a beer lover, and said that he heard burlington had some good breweries and so he offered to pick me up some beer in town, or fill a growler for me while he was there.

    I'm not interested in switchback or magic hat, but do any of the smaller breweries in Burlington do growler fills? If so, is there anything on tap right now that I should make it a point to get? I can't find much info online, and the only info I found points to the Vt Pub and Brewery as the only brewpub that fills growlers. And are there any bottle shops that tend to stock anything special?

    Thanks in advance, and Cheerzz
     
  2. jsled

    jsled Initiate (0) Nov 9, 2005 Vermont

    VPB does growlers. Fiddlehead does growlers. Pearl St. Beverage has a growler bar, and has a solid beer selection, only bested by the Winooski Beverage Warehouse.
     
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  3. DmouthCaliBrewz

    DmouthCaliBrewz Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    Thanks for the info! Anything on tap at any of those places you think I should make it a point to have brought back to me?
     
  4. stmgl01

    stmgl01 Initiate (0) Dec 11, 2007 Pennsylvania

    Zero Gravity does growler fills as well.
     
  5. bahnfire

    bahnfire Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2011 Vermont

    I'd recommend calling Pearl St. Beverage to see what they have on tap for fills. It seems to change pretty regularly but I can't find it listed anywhere online :angry:. Zero Gravity at American Flatbread is a great option as was mentioned. Can't really go wrong with any of their beers but I tend to prefer their IPAs.

    I'll second the Fiddle Head suggestion as well.
     
  6. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    Burlington on-site growlers: Zero Gravity, Vermont Pub & Brewery
    Burlington off-site growlers: Pearl St Bev, U-Save Bev

    Like jsled said above, the Winooski Bev Warehouse has awesome supply of bottles, but no growler station yet.

    About 40 minutes south is Fiddlehead in Shelburne, which I highly recommend if your friends are heading that way. It's across street from Shelburne Vineyard/Winery too, just in case they prefer wine.

    On tap now:
    Fiddlehead - 3 taps, 2 rotates new brews
    current offerings http://www.fiddleheadbrewing.com/beer/

    Fiddlehead IPA (flagship, always on tap), Second Fiddle DIPA (great DIPA, will probably be gone before your friends arrive), Hef-You (Hefeweizen)

    Zero Gravity (located inside American Flatbread, across street from Vermont Pub & Brewery)
    current offerings: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?....332466813438548.83767.332441423441087&type=1

    U-Save Beverage Mart (South Burlington, just across city limits of Burlington) has Lost Nation Gose and 2 others. I think the other 2 are non-VT beer, but may be different this weekend.

    I highly recommend Zero Gravity as first stop (since friends are in Burlington), if they are nice enough to drive to Shelburne, then Fiddlehead is also highly recommended. If you like Gose (or want to try it), check out the U-Save Bev Mart. I have no idea what Pearl St Bev has on tap.

    Winooski's Vermont Beverage Warehouse also has lots of bottles from some great smaller VT breweries, highly recommend picking up Foley Bros Ginger Wheat, Porter, and/or their IPA (very new and small brewery, but I've been very impressed with each of their releases). If your friends get there on Friday afternoon/evening, even a chance to maybe get some Lawson's.
     
  7. brownswisscow

    brownswisscow Crusader (476) Feb 9, 2012 Vermont

    Get a fill from Zero Gravity or Fiddlehead. VPB's beer is meh-tastic.
     
  8. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    Magic Hat,

    I don't give shit what all you haters think, Magic Hat has done some great small batches only available at VT draft accounts and their Artifactory. I'd stop by even if just for sample and the tourist effect.


    3...2...1
     
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  9. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    The Honey Wheat IPA is the current VT only beer at Artifactory. I think this one is great (my fav MH beer). I wish it was on tap year round. I missed it by 2 weeks last time I stopped there, arriving before it went on tap for the season. Hoping to pick up a growler of this in a couple weeks.
     
  10. cbutova

    cbutova Grand Pooh-Bah (3,059) Oct 10, 2008 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    +1 for Fiddlehead. Just outside of Burlington. They have samples and 32oz + the standard half gallon growlers. The prices are great and the beer was super fresh when I was there. I was very impressed by the IPA, Double IPA and Dark English Mild I tried when there. I will be stopping there every time I get up to Burlington from now on.
     
  11. HelpMeBloody

    HelpMeBloody Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2013 Rhode Island

    One of the best sour ales I've ever had was a single batch Magic Hat Odd Notion. My sister stumbled upon it around Christmas at the Artifactory a few years back, and brought a couple growlers to our parents house for the holiday. Outstanding.
     
  12. duchessedubourg

    duchessedubourg Savant (1,181) Nov 2, 2007 Vermont

    I had the Ginger-Beet experimental beer there on Monday - disgusting. However, the Ol' Puckerface Passion Fruit IPA was fantastic - I'd take a growler of that stuff home in a minute! The rest, not so much. As for Flatbread, they're all great & growler-worthy.
     
  13. DmouthCaliBrewz

    DmouthCaliBrewz Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2013 New Hampshire
    Trader

    Looks like he will be stopping by zero gravity then, and snagging me growlers of the IPA and narconaut Black IPA.

    Thanks for the reccomendations dudez!!
     
  14. brownswisscow

    brownswisscow Crusader (476) Feb 9, 2012 Vermont

    Get conehead if they have it!
     
  15. HelpMeBloody

    HelpMeBloody Initiate (0) Jul 22, 2013 Rhode Island

    Thanks for the Heads up! My sister happens to be coming back from Burlington tomorrow. Grabbed me a growler a few minutes ago!

    [​IMG]
     
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  16. amp138

    amp138 Initiate (0) Dec 21, 2011 Rhode Island


    VPB's beer is good. It's not great. But the prices are so awesome especially when you compare it to their nearby neighbors Farm House. Now, I LOVE Farm House (it's a better overall experience than VPB - better food, beers on tap, ambience) but damn they can get expensive for beer pours when you get down to brass tacks.
     
  17. SupremePie

    SupremePie Initiate (0) Sep 30, 2012 Vermont


    OP: This post contains just about all you need to know, but James, it does not take anywhere near 40mins to get from Burlington to Fiddlehead. 15 tops
     
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  18. jamesewelch

    jamesewelch Initiate (0) May 11, 2012 Vermont

    I think you're right. I was probably basing on that from my house, I'm in South Colchester\NNE, so it takes me at least 30-40 minutes from home. From downtown Burlington, it's probably ~20-25 minutes.
     
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