NE Beer Trip - Missing Any Must Stops?

Discussion in 'New England' started by emr25, Apr 22, 2016.

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  1. emr25

    emr25 Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2011 Georgia

    Planning a NE beer trip with some friends either the first or second week in June. Our current plan is outlined below. Anything along our routes that I am missing as a must stop? We're trying to hit the highlights and bring home as much packaged beer as we can (within reason). Let me know what you think!

    Wednesday
    Fly from GA to Boston arriving around 12PM. Pickup rental car and drive to Tree House for Wednesday cans. From there head to Waterbury, VT. Dinner at Prohibition Pig and hit the usual spots in Waterbury (open to suggestions). Really hoping to try Focal Banger during this stop.

    Thursday
    Drive to Hunger Mountain Coop early to get Heady cans. Leave from there as quick as possible and drive to Warren Store for SoS cans. Next, drive to Hill Farmstead and sample some drafts, plus pickup bottles and growlers to go. Back towards Boston, stopping at Night Shift and staying in that area for the night.

    Friday
    See some of Boston in the AM. Hit Trillium in Canton to stock up on bottles. Head back to Tree House early enough to ensure we get the Thursday can run and the Friday can run, plus some growlers. Dinner at BT's Smokehouse, then drive to just north of NYC to stay the night.

    Saturday
    Hit Other Half for their Saturday can release (hoping we can figure out which Saturday they'll have a release to decide whether to go the first or second week in June). Drive to Richmond, VA and stop at The Answer / Mekong and stay the night.

    Sunday
    Drive the rest of the way back to GA with a car full of world class beer to enjoy all summer long!
     
    #1 emr25, Apr 22, 2016
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  2. skleice

    skleice Maven (1,271) Aug 6, 2015 Connecticut

    That's a lot of beer!

    You can get SOS in Montpelier too on Thursday afternoons FYI. One 4 pack limit, but 3-4 stores very close to each other.
     
    #2 skleice, Apr 22, 2016
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  3. emr25

    emr25 Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2011 Georgia

    Thanks for the tip! We were hoping to get to Hill Farmstead when they open on Thursday (12PM). Anywhere between Tree House and Waterbury that would have 4-packs on Wednesday? Or anywhere else in the Montpelier area or on the way to HF that would have 4-packs Thursday mid morning?
     
    #3 emr25, Apr 22, 2016
  4. CraftBeerCellar-SpaCity

    CraftBeerCellar-SpaCity Initiate (0) Jan 26, 2016 Arkansas

    If your into craft beer and in the Boston area - you gotta hit up Craft Beer Cellar. It's a craft beer candy shop. The main store is in Belmont, with another just outside Fenway Park.
     
    #4 CraftBeerCellar-SpaCity, Apr 22, 2016
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  5. BucketsB

    BucketsB Initiate (0) Mar 1, 2011 Massachusetts

    Minor, but on Friday, Trillium Canton is further than Fort Point from Tree House (1:22 v 1:20) so no real reason to drive all the way out there unless you really need the samples while here. I'd do lunch in Boston then hit up Trillium Fort Point on your way to the Pike (I-90) and Tree House. Row 34 is right next to Trillium, would be a shame to come all this way and not get some seafood!
     
    #5 BucketsB, Apr 22, 2016
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  6. BAMF

    BAMF Initiate (0) Jul 11, 2007 Massachusetts

    On your way to HF you could hit Lost Nation, they have some tasty stuff. Pick up some Singlecut as well - can find on the shelves in MA or at the Brewery in Queens.
     
    #6 BAMF, Apr 22, 2016
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  7. DirtyDawg10

    DirtyDawg10 Initiate (0) Apr 5, 2016 Connecticut

    After BT Smokehouse stop a few doors down at Yankee Spirits. I went for my first time tonight and picked up Night Shift, Trillium and Lord Hobo. They have an amazing selection. I had to walk away from the beer so I didn't empty my bank account there.
     
    #7 DirtyDawg10, Apr 22, 2016
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  8. emr25

    emr25 Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2011 Georgia

    Thanks for all of the suggestions and input. I did a good bit of research to come up with our plan but knew there were tips and advice from those more experienced that would help out.

    Is there any risk in the breweries we are planning to hit being short on supply from Memorial Day weekend crowds if we go 6/1-6/5? Is there any reason that 6/1-6/5 is better than 6/8-6/12 or vice versa? It looks like based on Other Half's every two week schedule 6/4 would be their can release, but that is subject to change until they announce it so we aren't banking on getting cans there.
     
    #8 emr25, Apr 22, 2016
  9. TheSmokingChimp

    TheSmokingChimp Initiate (0) Oct 7, 2015 Massachusetts

    Craft Beer cellar Waterbury is across the street from prohibition pig and I believe they get Heady and SOS on Wednesday. Although I'm not sure if they last into the evening. You also might consider making Trillium Fort Point your first stop. It's the first exit off the highway coming from the Airport and it likely not be busy on a Wednesday afternoon. You could get in and out real quick. This would free up your Friday so you could hit Jack's Abby or Wormtown on your way back to tree house.
     
    #9 TheSmokingChimp, Apr 22, 2016
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  10. j44thor

    j44thor Initiate (0) Feb 24, 2010 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Yep definitely hit Jack's Abby http://jacksabby.com/visit/ Great beers and food and they usually have a good selection of beer to go both growlers and bottles to go along with the draft list. Agree with the above that hitting Trillium on Wednesday is probably your best bet. You will be in and out in 15-30 min unless they have a rare release. That will give you plenty of time to head to TH after.
    Or you could keep your schedule and hit Jacks Abby on the way back from Trillium Friday. Since it is more or less on the way from Boston to TH. Either way I would make it a must stop.
     
    #10 j44thor, Apr 22, 2016
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  11. Chaaaarlieeee

    Chaaaarlieeee Initiate (0) Nov 23, 2012 Rhode Island

    Skip dinner at Pro Pig and have dinner at Hen of the Wood instead. Other than that you have this thing down cold.
     
    #11 Chaaaarlieeee, Apr 22, 2016
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  12. Auror

    Auror Pooh-Bah (1,641) Jan 1, 2010 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    That's a lot of driving mixed with drinking the nights before. Well researched though. Good luck!
     
    #12 Auror, Apr 22, 2016
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  13. DanSails

    DanSails Crusader (411) Oct 3, 2012 Massachusetts

    Leave Hill Farmstead and make the 3-3.5 hr drive to Portland, ME before 6PM for Foundation/Bissell/Maine Beer Co/Allagash etc (consider staying the night and hit up Novare Res or Great Lost Bear)
     
    #13 DanSails, Apr 22, 2016
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  14. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,220) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    If you do go to Trillium Canton I highly recommend making a quick stop at Castle Island Brewing, which is 10 mins away. They're new & not well known but they're doing some very nice things.
     
    #14 Jcorn, Apr 22, 2016
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  15. Jcorn

    Jcorn Savant (1,220) Jun 17, 2015 Massachusetts
    Trader

    Also, this will be happening in Boston on June 3-4, which is sure to be crazy.

    http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...-invitational-june-3-4-2016-in-boston.368066/
     
    #15 Jcorn, Apr 22, 2016
  16. ScottDawg7

    ScottDawg7 Initiate (0) Jul 27, 2015 Georgia

    If you do end up taking 100N route from Warren Store to HF (through Waterbury and Stowe), you could make a quick stop in Rock Art. Lost Nation and Rock Art are literally about 5 mins from each other, Rock Art had some tasty IPAs when I visited last August. Had bottles to go there. I can't imagine you not finding Focal Banger at one of the Waterbury establishments, but if not, I also found it at Pizza on Main in Morrisville on our way to HF. Trip will be a blast! I'm ready to go back again since I missed out on Tree House.
     
    #16 ScottDawg7, Apr 22, 2016
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  17. emr25

    emr25 Initiate (0) Mar 19, 2011 Georgia

    So many great posts already in this thread!

    We actually added 6/15-6/19 as another potential week to go, and might be leaning in that direction. Avoids any concerns I have about less packaged availability after Memorial Day weekend. The Microbrew Fest in Boston sounds great but not what we're looking for during this trip.

    Thanks again, keep them coming!
     
    #17 emr25, Apr 22, 2016
  18. ScottDawg7

    ScottDawg7 Initiate (0) Jul 27, 2015 Georgia

    Mid June you might get lucky that the new Alchemist location would be open.
     
    #18 ScottDawg7, Apr 22, 2016
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  19. jhavs

    jhavs Grand Pooh-Bah (3,587) Apr 16, 2015 New York
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    Only suggestion I would have is to get your SoS in Montpelier or Barre on Thursday. Driving back to Warren after Hunger Mountain then back up to HF seems like a lot of backtracking.

    Mystic is very close to Night Shift. Great place.
     
    #19 jhavs, Apr 23, 2016
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  20. HOP-E-DAYZ

    HOP-E-DAYZ Initiate (0) May 11, 2014 Connecticut

    I would def. plan the later June.for hopes of alchemist being open! It will save u a few stops for Heady.and the almighty focal banga! And maybe consider Nebco in Ct. as an option.if going to New York.
    Cheers! And safe travels
     
    #20 HOP-E-DAYZ, Apr 23, 2016
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