Planning a December Vermont visit..need some help

Use the search function homie, or even just go back a few pages on this forum. At least 2 of these threads seem to pop up every week. If you opt to stay in Waterbury, you have a bevy of top notch beer bars and restaurants in your vicinity. If you opt to stay in Burlington, hit up the Farmhouse or American Flatbread for beer and drinks, and beverage warehouse in Winooski for bottles..

 

I hear Jay Peak is trying to cater to ya Canucks

 

In your case, I'd say stay in Burlington, since there's more to do there in than Waterbury. I'd try to get down to Waterbury for at least a few hours though and hit the local bars for Heady, Lawson's, and Hill Farmstead on tap.
Maybe pick up some Heady at the Brewery, if it's available.

Do you know what days of the week you'll be in Vermont?

Burlington is 30 minutes closer to the border.

 

Oh, it's definitely worth it, though I imagine those backroads are a pain to traverse come winter

 

Whatever the weather, whatever amount of trouble or stress it takes, please go to Hill Farmstead. It will end up being worth far more than whatever effort it takes to get there. Beautiful location, beautiful people, truly amazing beer.

 

I echo celfan's remarks about staying in Burlington (or even South Burlington). There's more hotels, restaurants, etc.

If you're driving up the 89, then stop at Hill Farmstead, Alchemist, Rock Art, Trapp Family Lodge/Brewery, etc. before you get to Burlington, then while in Burlington you can stop over at Switchback, Magic Hat, Vt Pub & Brewery, Zero Gravity (Am Flatbread), etc. As far as beer restaurants and pubs, the Farmhouse in Burlington is a must stop while in town. Waterbury has Prohibition Pig restaurant and Reservoir and Blackback pubs. For a bit further south (maybe 30mins from BTV), Fiddlehead has some nice beer.

Alchemist is on the way to Stowe (near Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream factory). Trapp Brewery in Stowe has great views, nordic skiing, hiking trails, etc. Rock Art Brewery is not too far out of the way from Stowe. The Crop Bistro & Brewery in Stowe should have their brewing equipment working soon (I expect sometime early next year).

If you're visiting local restaurants, pubs, etc., then there's a good chance they'll have Switchback on tap. Fiddlehead IPA is growing in popularity with local businesses too, so there's a chance that will be on the menu. The Farmhouse Tap & Grill (BTV) usually has at least one (or two or more) Hill Farmstead on tap (and maybe Heady Topper in can). The Waterbury pubs also usually have one or more HF on tap.

Here's a brewery map http://www.vtbeer.org/breweries/map/ The vtbeer.org site also has all of the links to news, info, brewery web sites/facebook/twitter, etc.

Also, if you're driving your own car, make sure you have winter tires. If you're getting a rental, then make sure to ask. Getting to Hill Farmstead in cold, snowy weather might prove to be a problem if you don't have winter tires. Most of the other breweries shouldn't be too big of a problem.

The drive to Montreal is about 1.5 hrs from Burlington if you take the Interstate 89. If you prefer a more scenic route (probably closer to 2 to 2.5hrs), I'd suggest driving up to the islands (Grand Isle, North/South Hero, etc.) and then across and into NY state then take the 87 north.

 

I'm headed up to Vermont the weekend of December 15th. How is the snow situation usually around that time. I live in Buffalo, NY but we don't usually get snow until closer to January

 

I just came to this section to pretty much ask similar questions. Wife and I will be in Boston for New Years, thinking about trying to make a trip up to hill farmstead during our trip. Is that a ridiculous idea to try to make that drive in winter? We'd obviously play it by ear and watch the weather.

Anyone recommend an awesome place to stay near the brewery? Thanks in advance.

 

Don't. Stay in Waterbury. The brewery is nice, but spend some time there doing a tasting and then go back to Waterbury and enjoy yourself at the Rez, Pro Pig, and Blackback.

The interstates are usually pretty good, unless a serious storm is happening or just happened. So driving up from Boston to Waterbury will be fine. Waterbury to Greensboro will be pretty spotty. If you really want to go to Greensboro, I would suggest an AWD/4WD rental vehicle.

 

There is a 50% chance we will have a TON of snow. There is a 50% chance we will have some snow. There is a 50% chance we will have no snow. Welcome to New England

 

Waterbury sounds awesome. Recommend a sweet place there?

Have a good friend in Morristown, might actually stay there.

 

Truth. It's like that from October until May

 

Speaking as someone who lives 5 miles from the nearest pavement, winter isn't bad, unless there has been an ice storm (in which case the paved roads aren't much better). The frozen road is generally firm and smooth and a little sanding takes care of traction issues - it's often better driving conditions than in summer. Spring is a different story that you don't want to hear.

 

Nice to see that the weather is not much different than upstate NY then

 

Southern Vermont is a good beer wasteland, by good beer place standards. Though Brattleboro is getting a new brewpub fairly soon, we shall see.

 

Stagecoach Inn or Best Western. If you are in Morrisville/Morristown, Bees Knees. That area is a wasteland other than that place.