Currently on the shelves at Hill Farmstead (August 2017)

Important Updates for This Week!

• Tasting Room & Bottle Shop Open Weds. - Friday, 12 - 5 p.m.
• Tasting Room CLOSED Sat., Aug. 5
• Bottle Shop Open 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sat., Aug. 5 (No growler fills or samples)
• Parker Pie Co. FoFA Brewers' Night! Friday, Aug. 4 (see Parker Pie's page for details and draft list)
• Festival of Farmhouse Ales 2017 Sat., Aug. 5 (info/updates coming up on the FOFA Page)
• Parker Pie Co. Post-FoFA Bash! Sat., Aug. 5

 

@AutumnBeerLove if we are taking the bus, do we need to email you guys that it's our dd or is that just assumed?

and when does the beer list come out? or is it a surprise? ☺ wanna say I remember reading it last yr ahead sometime the wk of, but could be mistaken easily with so many fests these days. can't wait!

 

Pretty sure this was posted EVERYWHERE but here so here it is...

http://hillfarmstead.com/main/2017/8/2/important-updates-for-fofa2017-attendees.html

 

I'm aware, they mentioned one line. didn't know if they were just watching us get off the bus and that's it, since I don't think it's officially a hf sponsored thing (though endorsed) or it was more detailed since they're being strict. a follow up email was sent after I posted this that explained we get a bracelet. but thanks for the snark response telling me what i already knew.

 

just out of curiosity (probably can't stay for FoFA), and trying to tiptoe around hyping anything up, do they usually release something special for takeaway bottles for that brief window of time the shop is open before the fest?

 

Was traditionally Vera Mae but not this year.
Usually what's there will be announced ahead of time. OTOH, this is the summer of silent can releases, so who knows?

 

Finally! I can say I'm planning a trip to HF! I've traded for so much HF over the years, and can't wait to sip on some from the source. Is early to mid October generally the best time to leaf peep? Are there places to stay nearby? Looked into a few Air B&B's, seems like it might be the best option. We're making a road trip out of it (have to get some lobster rolls from ME) and want to check out the fall colors.

 

Every year is different ... but that far north, you are probably on the cusp of leaf peeping season especially if you move closer to mid as opposed to early October.

 

5 Miles away:
https://www.highlandlodge.com/

Should be nice peeping early to mid October, but every year is a bit different. This has been a particularly cool and wet summer at this point.

It will be beautiful either way though!

 

Thanks for the info! Just found the "Where To Stay In The Area?" button on the website!

 

FYI, for anyone planning a trip for the long weekend (from Twitter): "Hello everyone! We will be closed Saturday, September 2nd (labor day weekend). My apologies for any inconvenience that this may cause."

 

If anyone is visiting Hill today and has an update on can availability that would be much appreciated. Not sure if there is unwritten rule to keep can availability there on the DL or not.

 

Double Citra 6pk (12oz) 1pp to go
Everett 6pk (12oz) 2pp to go
Dharma Bum 12oz can on site

 

Thanks! Not sure how fast these go, but sure hope they have them Friday at open.

 

have they ever given a reason why the cans are always silent?

 

Not that I've seen publicly. Perhaps to avoid the nonsense that occurs down at Treehouse and any other in demand brewery for that matter than cans their beer these days.

 

I really hope it stays that way to.

 

I think that's exactly the case - I went up last Wednesday and they weren't canning, even though they canned each weekday the prior week, and I was not a bit disappointed. I think canning is based on brewers' whims and there is no rhyme or reason to it, and it should stay that way. Other than the information on cans, limits and prices a few messages before this, which was inevitable, there has been an amazing dearth of information on HF cans. Period. This message will self-destruct right now.

 

Sorry to have ruined this for this time around. Never been before. Probably won't be back for a very long time. Great trip nonetheless. Beautiful venue. Superb beers. Friendly staff and patrons. A true bucket list checkoff.

 

I think the way they are doing it is fine, and I have shared the can selection on here to. That's totally fine. I just don't want them announcing in advance like they do with bottles. Glad you had fun and hopefully you can make it back soon.

 

Were the cans still around up there or did it sell out already? I hope to go tomorrow.

 

Cans are still available.

 

Thank for all your replies and comments in these monthly threads!

 

Heading up on Friday, can't wait!

 

I wish there was a way to keep things calm/accessible for the locals but also help those of us from a long distance away plan a trip. I know some will say "just go up and enjoy whatever they have," nice idea but not that realistic for those of us 6+ hours away. Posting ahead of time may create a crap show as well. Maybe online pre-sales? No offense to HF who seems to always try to do things the right way and adjust when things don't. Just a fanboy who dreams of HF cans.

 

As someone who has been there 3 times and has to come from a lot more further away, I couldn't disagree more. Any day at HFS is guaranteed great on site options and - at worst - very good take home options. All without a huge wait.

 

Lol - yes, you disagree bc whatever you get is fine - basically exactly what I stated. Appreciate that some of us like to know a bit more as we plan very rare trips away like places to HF. Why is it so wrong to want to plan a trip around what is available? I love their saisons so would rather go when several are up vs. Everett, as an example.

 

You're not making sense. Saisons are always posted. Silent can thing is beautiful IMO.

 

Very constructive, thanks for the input (sarcasm). The point of mentioning saisons vs. stouts was just to state that not everybody wants to make the trip just regardless of what they have is fine. Having the bottles posted is great and helps me to make that decision. Having silent can releases makes it difficult to make that decision if I would really like to get cans. I don't think I was stating anything in a confrontational way, maybe people's responses can be a bit less douchey, just an idea.

 

I'm with you, man. The Northeast Kingdom is a hike from here and since my main objective when going to Hill Farmstead is to bring back beer to drink at home, I only make the trip when I see several things on their bottle/growler lists that I'm eager to get. Yes, it's a pretty area, onsite bottles are great (but pricey), and it's a scenic drive. That said, I think anyone who drives all the way to Hill Farmstead irrespective of what's available to-go is crazy, but to each their own (I'm sure I do plenty of things that seem strange to others as well).

For my purposes, the more information available, the better. But if they need to keep the can releases silent to keep the place from getting mobbed, I get it.

 

We might have to fight back with fake news can releases.

 

For what it's worth all canned beers have been available for growler fills as well. So if your concern is getting to try the beer as well as take some home you're all set.

 

Just call them tell them your making a super special trip and your beer has to be in cans and it can't be in growlers. I'm sure they'll understand and make an exception.

 

The entitlement is real.

 

Always been interesting to be on BA. Raise a question, provide some views, etc. and people jump all over you. I stated in my first post how much I love HF and how great their customer service is. Not sure how much more non-judgmental I could have been regarding their approach. I thought this was a forum, not a vehicle for people to jump all over others trying to have a discussion. Would you speak like that to me if I met you in a bar and raised the same points? Probably, which makes you the cool guys that you are. Cheers.

 

It's a can, the can options are available in growlers. You basing your trip on getting "cans" is absurd because all the beers are still there and it's never a dull day at HF. Between the staff, the beer and the atmosphere I think you should settle for being able to be within driving distances to experience it. They also just started canning, so let them figure it out and you'll eventually land a can of HF its that important. Patience is virtue.

 

I think the criticism of your posts is unwarranted. I'm sure to some, just the experience of being at Hill Farmstead is enough to make the trip for them worth it. For me, I go to Hill Farmstead so I can buy a very tasty way to get a buzz on for the next 2-3 weeks (plus maybe a few bottles to be enjoyed over the next few months). The staff are pleasant but my interactions with them are brief, the onsite beer is delicious but I'm always driving myself so I limit myself to just a couple, and the area is beautiful but in the end it's almost always just a day trip.

There's a lot I can do with 9 hours on a Saturday (7 of which is spent in the car), that I try to time my trips when I've got the most reason to go. Namely, beers I want in formats I prefer. Having to use my growlers isn't a dealbreaker, but I'll always take a can over a growler. All this just helps me decide whether to head north or do something else that day. Saying it would help you if they announced can releases doesn't sound like entitlement to me. It just sounds like a reasonable desire to aid in making plans.

 

I think this is likely why they do things the way they do - they don't want it ending up anywhere close to the way Treehouse is now. It seems like they're going for the experience of being at HFS to be as much importance as the to-go offerings.

Said another way - they probably don't want 200 people from NYC and Boston waiting to pounce on the first canning of Abner, double galaxy, etc.

 

For the love of god, no can announcements please. Don't ruin our favorite brewery.