Hey all, looking for some help from anybody who might have some info. I don't get too many weekends off, and I actually have this Saturday Off with my wife. We were arn't too far from Boston and were wondering if anybody knew of any apple/pumpkin picking places in the area of Southern VT (or maybe NH) that wouldn't be too far from a store/bottle shop that would sell Heady Topper. Figured kill 2 birds with 1 stone. We didn't want to drive too far up because we were hoping to be back home around dinner time if we left in the morning. Thanks for looking into it. ***Also we have 2 dogs, so if anyone knows of anywhere that's animal friendly that would be helpful too. I know this is a stretch, but I'm not coming up with too many results myself so I figured I'd throw it out there.
Bro your 3 hours from Waterbury! Unfortunately the Alchemist is usually sold out by Friday night, on the flip side they list every establishment that they distribute too in VT. Hunger mountain co-op has heady and is located in Montpelier, they inforce a (2) 4-pack limit per person, but they also carry some Lawson's and Hill Farmstead treats. I would check the alchemist website to see if they are sold out, if they aren't make the trip. Waterbury is great for lunch (prohibition pig, crossroads, the reservoir) plus the alchemist is next to Ben and Jerry's Factory which is always a plus with the ladies.
There's a small town called Chester that is not too far into VT. Not sure about an apple/pumpkin picking place, but there is a small package store called Meditrina that usually stocks Heady Topper. There's also Pizza Stone around the corner, and they usually have Hill Farmstead on tap. Call in advance, these places tend to keep weird hours.
Warren store takes longer to get to from the south than montpelier does, as you need to travel quite a bit from exit 9 to get to warren, but hunger mountain is really quick to get to off exit 8
please read regarding Meditrina: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/for-those-traveling-to-southern-central-vt.40899/ The Alchemist is not selling to any store outside of the Montpelier/Stowe/Burlington area until production increases with their upgrade which is happening as we speak. To the OP, southern VT is about the same time to get to from beantown, then Montpelier area. I'd say that is probably your best bet if you're dead set on trying to get your hands on HT.
So you come up 91 and take 89, right? Montpelier is a little bit under a half an hour less time than the Warren Store. Sure, once you're up to a 4 or 5 hour trip, a half hour isn't much, but if you're trying to shave time off, and are turning around right after, it makes more sense to hop right off the interstate at exit 8 to hit Hunger Mountain Coop than it does to drive another 5 minutes up the highway, get off and drive 20 more minutes to Warren, turn around, drive 20 minutes back to the interstate etc. Unless you're talking Fair Haven VT, off route 7, which would obviously change things.
If I were to come from home, Danbury CT, yes I'd go 91 to 89. I WAS referring to Fair Haven, VT though, as that's where my gf's parents live. Sorry for the confusion!
I thought about the Warren Store, but every time I've been there I've never seen Heady, plus it's so far out of the way of everything (like some were getting at here). Somewhere in Montpelier could possibly work. I heard it's supposed to rain this weekend, so the whole idea could be a wash anyway (no pun intended). To everyone and anyone who gave some info, thank you, you guys are the best!
I've probably been to the Warren Store 5 or 6 times in the last year, and have seen HT there every time. Literally. And that was on Fridays and Saturdays.
Thanks, that's good to know, I probably haven't been in probably 6-8 months. I've been there a hand full of times and have yet to see it so I'm glad that's an option.
Not to discourage you from going to Vermont if the weather works out, but if it's lousy and still want to do something apple- and beer-related on your weekend off, you could head to the North Shore. Russell Orchards in Ipswich has apple picking, but also a big old barn store with apples, donuts, hard ciders and so on. It's a very nice place in any weather. And best of all, it's a stone's throw from probably the North Shore's best beer town, Amesbury, where you could check out the Amesbury Ale House, possibly the Flatbread Company, or even continue on to Portsmouth. It's certainly not as much of an adventure as going to Vermont, but maybe a good backup option if the weather doesn't work out.
