My parents are in Keene, NH and wanted to know if they can pick up some beer for me at a store they are at (Brewtopia). I can't say, get me anything that looks good because they will bring me back Sam Adams. are there any locals that I should tell them to grab? I see they have Mead there too, so if Moonlight Meadery is good, which one should I ask for?
I don't think you can even get Heady Topper in NH. If so, I haven't found a place. And their website just shows VT towns. I haven't had anything by Moonlight Meadery (though, I've seen it all over NH), but I have had the majority of Saphouse Meadery from Ossipee, NH. If you can get that, vanilla mead was my favorite flavor. But as far as NH breweries go, there is a new brewery called Kelsen Brewing Company out of Derry, NH. If you like brown ales, their Paradigm Brown Ale is actually pretty delicious (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/33959/114464/). Of course Smuttynose is always delicious (especially their scotch style ale). Woodstock Inn and Brewery has a few good brews. I am a fan of the Kanc Country Maple Porter (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/1251/4961/). It doesn't get any love here, but drinking it on site with their delicious food is great. You can also try to get your hands on a 6-pack of Mayflower Porter (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/16105/41839/). It's out of Massachusetts, but I don't think they distribute very far. All in all, NH is only good for beer in the sense that there is a lot of good beer AROUND NH, not actually in NH.
I actually did this exact same thing last year with my parents. I can get the username of the guy on here that worked there then (no idea if he still does), but he was very helpful. I actually just called him up and gave him a price range that I was looking for. He put me together a great box of beer for that price, I paid for it over the phone, and my parents just had to walk in and pick it up for me. I highly just recommend calling them up and seeing if they can do that for you.
