Driving through VT- know any good bottle shops?

Discussion in 'New England' started by ryan1788a5, Jul 2, 2012.

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  1. ryan1788a5

    ryan1788a5 Pooh-Bah (2,062) Nov 27, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I'll be driving through Vermont in a few days. I won't really have time to stop at multiple places and make a day out of it, so I was wondering if anyone knows of a good bottle shop. The closer to the MA border, the better. I'm mainly looking to snag some Heady Topper and Lawsons, so a store that sells both would be ideal.
     
  2. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    How far north or south do you have to go from Boston that "packie" becomes bottle shop?
     
  3. ryan1788a5

    ryan1788a5 Pooh-Bah (2,062) Nov 27, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Haha. West, actually. And we still say packie out here too. In my mind, a packie can just be any run of the mill liquor store. I'm looking for something that specifically sells good beer, thus I used the term "bottle shop."
     
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  4. jlordi12

    jlordi12 Pooh-Bah (1,856) Jun 8, 2011 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I'm glad you didn't get pissed for asking a random question on your thread. I actually don't have answer for you, but I'm sure someone does. Good luck
     
  5. snowy

    snowy Aspirant (221) Jul 2, 2012 New Hampshire

    The Winooski Beverage Warehouse, just North of Burlington is terrific. Should fit the bill for you. Lots of domestic craft brews and a pretty good import selection as well. Prost!
     
  6. youbrewidrink

    youbrewidrink Initiate (0) Apr 9, 2009 Vermont

    "The closer to the MA border, the better"

    Me thinks that Winooski is more than a hop, skip and a jump from the MA border.
     
  7. snowy

    snowy Aspirant (221) Jul 2, 2012 New Hampshire

    My apologies. I overlooked that "close to the Ma. border part". Winooski is indeed way North.
     
  8. telejunkie

    telejunkie Savant (1,107) Sep 14, 2007 Vermont

    if you want lawsons, you need to drive to Warren, VT, the general store there is the only place that I know which stocks Lawsons. Currently HTopper is only available basically in the vicinity of the brewery in waterbury from my understanding (see the Heady Topper thread). So to answer your question, exit 9 off I-89:
    http://www.warrenstore.com/
     
  9. duchessedubourg

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

    Lawson's is now generally available (w/ bottle limits) at Hunger Mtn. Coop in Montpelier; The Waitsfield Farmers Market on Sat. all summer/fall; Winooski Beverage near Burlington; and some others. Best place to look for retail is on their website. It is still available at The Warren Store. It is not available in the southern part of VT, as Sean distributes it himself.
     
  10. ryan1788a5

    ryan1788a5 Pooh-Bah (2,062) Nov 27, 2009 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    Made the trip today. To all those interested, I found some good stuff. There's a small store in Chester called Meditrina. They almost always have Heady Topper in stock, and I was able to get a little bit there. Two minutes away is Stone Pizza. They had Hill Farmstead on tap, and I was able to enjoy Edward and What is Enlightenment. Good pizza too. About 20 minutes away from that is Joe's Discount liquors. They usually carry Lawson's, but I was disappointed to find that they were out of stock until their delivery comes tomorrow. All of this is about 90 minutes or so from me in Springfield, MA. Brewfest Beverage was further up, but they had a good selection with a few rarities on the shelves. And the Long Trail brewery sucked, don't waste your time.
     
  11. SABERG

    SABERG Grand Pooh-Bah (5,001) Sep 16, 2007 Massachusetts
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Take a look at the Brattleboro food coop, they have a deep selection and and often a few gems.

    Cheers
     
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  12. Psychmusic

    Psychmusic Pundit (992) Jun 22, 2012 Massachusetts

    Not to hijack this thread but...

    I'm taking a day-long beercation to VT the weekend of the 7/21, hoping to get some Heady Topper at the alchemist brewery and then drive to Hill Farmstead and get whatever is good that day. Just wondering whether anyone had tried this or thought it'd be feasible in a day.

    I'm thinking I'll get some Heady and something from Hill Farmstead, and then get dinner on the way back somewhere that has Lawson's Finest on tap. Thoughts?
     
  13. InspectorBob

    InspectorBob Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2009 New Jersey

    Depends on what time you leave in the morning from RI. From the Alchemist to HF is about an hour drive, give or take .......
     
  14. franklinn

    franklinn Initiate (0) May 29, 2012 Vermont

    The good thing is HF is near 91, so you won't have to backtrack if you're trying to get back to 93. For food check out Parker Pie in Glover! I've also heard good things about Claire's in Hardwick.

    Totally possible if you get up early enough
     
  15. Dopen993

    Dopen993 Initiate (0) Jul 20, 2015 Rhode Island

    Visiting friends in Danby, VT this weekend, leaving from RI. Any shops I might get lucky at (I know I won't find heady or SOS) but any other VT breweries would be awesome ie 14th star, fiddlehead, lost nation, foley.

    I would imagine Manchester would be my best/closest spot, but if I am missing anything either en route or in the close proximity, I would greatly appreciate any info. Not sure of route yet, but I would imagine 495 to some back roads to get on 91 and then more back roads to Danby. Thanks!!!!
     
  16. duchessedubourg

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

    Table & Vine off I-91 in Springfield MA. Meuleman's beer store between Brattleboro and Manchester, and Manchester Bev before you head north up Rte. 7 to Danby.
     
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  17. HuskyHawk

    HuskyHawk Initiate (0) Jun 5, 2014 Massachusetts

    Danby (had to look it up) is nowhere-ville, but you are not too far from Brandon. A visit to Foley Brothers would be possible. As for shops...no idea really in that area. I have found Second Fiddle and 14th Star Tribute at the Citgo station convenience store at the junction of 100 and 4 in Killington. There is a "beer cave" at a Sunoco station on Rt100 in Hancock, good beers...with a growler filling station no less. Vermont is weird. The point is, any random spot might have something good.
     
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  18. InspectorBob

    InspectorBob Initiate (0) Sep 4, 2009 New Jersey

    If you have the spare time you may want to check out Brewfest Beverage in Ludlow. Very nice selection and they have a growler station. Like others have said you're like in nowhere ville .....
     
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  19. Dopen993

    Dopen993 Initiate (0) Jul 20, 2015 Rhode Island

    Yea, I had never heard of it either, farm country for sure. Thanks for all the info, I would be happy with a couple 4 packs of tribute, anything else would be a bonus. I think Manch Bev will be my only destination stop, but I'll swing into some of the package stores as I see them. Thanks again all.
     
  20. Flashy

    Flashy Pooh-Bah (1,767) Oct 22, 2003 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Danby might be in the middle of nowhere, but you will pass plenty of places to stop along the way- make sure you do.
     
    Dopen993 likes this.
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