So I've decided I'm finally going to make the trek to grab some Backacre next time it's released... However, all the stores that carry it are extremely far from my usual VT destinations. Any recommendations on good breweries/bars/beer destinations in the southern VT area? I'll most likely be hitting Manchester Discount Beverage to buy the Backacre.
Whetstone Station in Brattleboro gets HF regularly - last time I went in late fall they had 6 HF taps, plus Everett bottles (at $18 iirc... a full $10 more than at the brewery). Maybe half a mile away from that is Hermit Thrush Brewing - newer place, solid sours and fruited beers - belgian-inspired stuff mostly, but a solid lineup.
Bldg8 might be worth a stop to pick up a case of their IPA. Not Vermont, but you might be able to include it on your tour.
If you do head down I91 into MA, there are a ton of small breweries in the Greenfield-Northampton corridor. Could spend a whole day hopping around and still not hit them all.
Well…if you're gonna come down towards Manchester, I would say a loop would be a good idea. Not sure where your entry point is…but a couple notables near the border: -Harpoon brewery -Worthy Burger -Chester Pizza One loop idea is to come across on Rte 11 in the morning, then head back via Rt 4…the other being head back on Rt 9. If you head back via Rt 4, you'll be closer to Hop N Moose, Roaring Brook and Long Trail. Head back via Rt 9 and you can find Northshire, Ramuntos Pizza & Madison's in Bennington, Hermit Thrush and Whetstone in Brattleboro. Probably the only place in Manchester I might recommend is Gringo Jacks…but that pales in comparison to a place like Worthy Burger, Chester Pizza, Ramuntos Pizza or Whetstone Station tap lists. I'll be heading over to Keene to hit Elm City this weekend, then stopping at Whetstone on the way back…it may be my top pick for you to hit. Best of luck on the hunt! Backacre stuck around almost 24hrs after the last drop now that they've changed the 'holding rules', so hopefully you should be able to score some.
Thanks for the info! Think hitting up Manchester Beverage is a solid plan? Wasn't sure what the limits/etc. were at all the places that carry it, but I saw on Facebook that Manchester lets you pay in advance over the phone so that's why they were my pick.
Thanks @RuckIt and @sosbombs for the info also. Next time I take the wife out to the Berkshires, I may be able to trick her into a mini beer-cation...
Yeah, solid plan. I do love Manchester for the scenery…coming down the mountains past Bromley into Manchester is still beautiful to me with Mt Equinox rising 3000' in the backdrop and I've been doing it for 12 years now. Unfortunately Manchester is still relatively backwaters in the beer scene…but things are slowly changing and Discount is doing a good job of brining in what they can with rumors constantly flying about breweries and beer bars coming to town…I'll believe it when I see it, but certainly would be nice to have a bar with more than 4 craft beer lines running at a given time (actually gringo jacks has maybe 6)…cocktails, wine & Stella still rule the roost around here with the tourist set & many of the locals still love them some PBR.
Haven't been there yet but heard good things. I keep ending up at Ramuntos when in Bennington…they have a steak bomb there that is easily in my top 3 of all time, but could even #1…plus one of the best tap lists for southern VT. Tough for me to deviate...
I got some great info when I posted a similar question last year: http://www.beeradvocate.com/communi...ee-vt-worth-checking-out.303715/#post-3913991 I can vouch for Worthy Kitchen (restaurant/bar) and Woodstock Hops and Barley (bottle/growler shop) both being awesome. Nice drive too. Good luck!
Had HF Susan at the Whetstone just yesterday. It was pretty awesome and well worth the seven dollars they charge.
