So me and my wife were thinking of planning a trip to Vermont next year. Obviously I am interested in hitting the alchemist, Lawson's and hill farmstead. I would like some input on the best bed and breakfast spots centrally located to those three breweries. Also I would like to hear the best time of year to go so I could take advantage of some of the seasonal releases and the best way to take home all the best craft beer offerings in the area
Although I'm sure there are many mid- Atlantic BAs like myself who have made the trip, perhaps this belongs in the New England forum?
Lawson's is not available for visitation or sales. Check the websites for offerings. I recommend HF on a weekday to avoid longer lines.
Yeah Vermont is New England not Mid-Atlantic. But make sure to check the Lawson's blog and go when Lawson's will be at a farmers market. That's only 1 weekend a month and its not the same weekend every month. Normally Lawson's is only sold in 3 stores and the Warren Store is has the best selection but you are limited to 4 total bottles of Lawsons. At the farmers market you are usually allowed 4 bottles of each variety and lately 2 of each of the super limited stuff like Maple Trippel. Alchemist only cans on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and sells out pretty much by early Friday morning if not Thursday every week. It's currently 1 case per person per day. Hill Farmstead has a great website that lists exact hours, availability and prices. The actual purchasing process is nowhere near that smooth. Great place to visit but man are they slow. Not their fault entirely. The beer is great and worth the wait. This will be sped up but not for many months until the new tasting room is complete. They are moving fast though. 2 years and still only tyvek on the top half of the exterior brewery walls so I'm glad their priorities are correct. Blackback Pub, The Resevoir, and Prohibition Pig for bars in Waterbury. Three Penny in Montpelier. Vermont Pub in Stowe is fun for a younger crowd but still with good beer. Worthy Burger in South Royalton out of the way but awesome burgers and always good stuff on tap. Vermont Pub, Zero Gravity @American Flatbread, Farmhouse Tap in Burlington. Stores are Winooski Beverage, Warren General Store, Hunger Mountain Co-op, Pearl St Beverage. Some under the radar stuff. Visit Lost Nation Brewing and Fiddlehead Brewing. Make sure you get your beer passport and get it stamped at every brewery you visit. You get some free stuff when you get to certain levels.
I'll add that Mad River Taco in Waitsfield was the only place I found Lawson's Double Sunshine on tap when I was in Vermont. Their tacos were awesome and the vintage punk music they were playing was fun, too. Also, if you get to Hill Farmstead a half hour before they open on a Thursday, you'll be first or second in line. But do your tastings (it's a separate line) AFTER making your purchases, or you'll go to the back of the purchasing line and be stuck there forever.
