Hello everyone. My wife and I and another couple are planning a trip to VT for some sights and obviously beer. Would like to hit Alchemist, Hill Farmstead and Lawsons Finest. Does anyone recommend which one would be the best to spend some time at the taproom and drink for longer periods? Do all 3 even allow that? Just looking for some good info to help us plan the trip and help us decide where we plan our hotel stays. Any information is appreciated! Thanks BA!
There are a ton of other threads with the answers to your questions if you search. That being said, Lawsons has no public brewery, Alchemist does not have a tap room but only 1 oz samples while you are in the can line. Hill Farmstead has a tap room but limits what you can have for pours.
Head to the Bierhalle at Trapps in Stowe and enjoy a leisurely lunch. All their beers on tap, to take away, and even wines on tap. Great food. Idyltime Brewpub in Stowe is also excellent. Lost Nation great too for lunch & house beers.
Hill Farmstead is a nice place to sit and have some brews. Usually some great on site bottles and a nice selection of pours. They limit how many pours you can have to two. They often have food trucks on site and offer cheese plates in the tap room. Lost Nation, as mentioned above is great for food and some brews and close to Hill Farmstead. You could also hit Hill Farmstead for a few brews and then head to Parker Pie which is about 15 miles away. They have good food and good brews on tap (including HF). As mentioned above, Lawson's not open to public and Alchemist is just samples. von Trapp has an excellent Bier Hall restaurant. Opened recently, great food, authentic lagers. Right near Alchemist. Don't skip River Roost in White River Junction. Great beers. Recently on BA Class of 2016 list. Big Fatty's BBQ in same parking lot has good food and excellent tap list. Also has crowler and bottle shop attached. Foam is great. Fiddlehead is worth a stop. Can grab a growler and a pizza at the shop in the same building (new taproom may be open, but still right there).
Yes, great place. Was there last weekend (von Trapp). They did such a great job with the new facility. BA Trosten was excellent.
Staying in Waterbury for eats and drinks (pro pig, blackback are my 2 preferences) and proximity to Alchemist/HF/Burlington is a good idea. Foam, as previously mentioned, has an excellent taproom
I would stay in Stowe/Waterbury and a night in Burlington. try to stay away from Columbus Day weekend, tourist everywhere and beer moves fast Also,keep in mind hf is only open wed-sat and alchemist tues-sat.
Agreed with night in Waterbury then night in Burlington. Hill Farmstead and Foam are a must IMO - And The Alchemist can be hit up on your way up to HF. You'll have to search for Lawson's in stores or bars. But bar hop in Waterbury one night and Burlington the other.
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/life/2017/02/16/chittenden-countys-top-beer-bars/97709836/ All goood spots Missing foam, flatbread/zero gravity
