Hill Farmstead in Waitsfield, VT?

Hi all, I'm looking for some area recommendations. Next weekend, mid-October 2021, I'll be taking a brief weekend trip with the family to spend 2 nights in Waitsfield, VT. The goal is some leaf-peeping for them while driving to a couple of 'whale' breweries (or restaurants with their beer) for me (Hill Farmstead, The Alchemist, Lawson's Finest Liquids) - fingers crossed the leaves haven't all completely peaked by then. I'll be looking to buy some fresh VT beer to bring back home too, either direct from the breweries or from beer stores (Fiddlehead's Second Fiddle & Mastermind on the list to look for).

We won't be going to Hill Farmstead itself so I was looking for some recommendations on where I could find some HF either in Waitsfield or Waterbury or Stowe (or very close by)? We won't be going to Burlington or Fiddlehead either. To my knowledge, nobody will offer growler fills or anything to-go of Hill Farmstead, so I'm assuming it will be something to enjoy with a lunch or dinner.

Here's the rough trip outlay so far - family friendly suggestions welcome!
Friday afternoon: Driving through Albany, NY area to Waitsfield, VT hotel - could visit Otter Creek Brewing on the way if worth it. Dinner in Waitsfield area, maybe Mad Taco (closes 8pm though).
Saturday (no set order yet): visit Lawson's Finest Liquids (Waitsfield) & The Alchemist (Stowe), plus family-friendly stops: Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, Cabot Farmers’ Store & Ziemke Glassblowing Studio (Waterbury), Lunch & Dinner in these areas, ending back at Waitsfield hotel.
Sunday: Head home via Foley Brothers Taco & Bean for Lunch (Brandon).

So yeah, any help or recommendations appreciated based on the trip above!
Cheers!

 

Thanks so much for all of the replies and the great suggestions, I'll be sure to incorporate them on the trip.

It'll be myself, my wife and our 9 year-old daughter on this trip, so I appreciate the Cold Hollow Cider Mill shout, that sounds like a stop that they will enjoy. Blackback for lunch or dinner should be fine for a 9 year-old right?

The tour was part of the thinking as it's next door to Ben & Jerry's. However, the Ben & Jerry's tour isn't being offered currently and I have the feeling the same might be true for Cabot. But Ben & Jerry's does at least sell interesting ice cream snacks & stuff so that's the thinking behind stopping there.

It's like an additional hour / 50 miles of journey time. Considering it's already a 4 hour 45 minute journey from where we are in the Catskills, I don't wanna tack any more time on really. Appreciate the shout though!

We'll be there the following weekend so we'll miss this sadly. I'll still bring a cooler and some ice packs though just in case!

I was curious about this. Logic would indeed imply that beers would be fresher & cheaper closer to the source i.e. the brewery they were made at, but I know some breweries who like to upcharge visitors for the privilege of visiting them (even when buying cans - Shoddy practice if you ask me!). I'll try to check both stores & breweries if possible.

 

This was behind my thinking of visiting the breweries to see what they had and not just visiting the local beer stores - hopefully some brewery exclusives they only sell there.

 

Aha. Thank you for the heads up. Will have to miss it this trip!