Which weekend is better for Vermont Beer-cation?

Discussion in 'New England' started by cappy201, May 29, 2015.

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  1. cappy201

    cappy201 Zealot (538) Mar 25, 2012 Massachusetts
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    BA peeps:

    I am trying to decide which 3-day weekend is better for a Vermont beer-cation (to Waterbury, Burlington area) for group of half a dozen of us from greater-Boston:

    August 6-9 or August 13-16 (both Thursday-Sunday).

    The goals are: drink and eat Vermont goodness, play some golf, bring home VT beers (hopefully including a trip to Hill Farmstead), and one-or two other day time outings/activities TBD.

    Are there special events on either weekend we should try to check out...or avoid due to crowds. Does the Hill Farmstead Festival of Farmhouse Ales on August 8 draw huge crowds to the area, that we should avoid by choosing the other weekend?

    Suggestions welcome. Thanks!
     
    #1 cappy201, May 29, 2015
  2. woodfinish

    woodfinish Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2005 Massachusetts

    I wouldn't worry too much about FoFA unless you want to make multiple trips to HF. For good and ill, it's not that big a festival (no luck on a ticket this year :slight_frown:). The only downside for you would be that the retail shop would be closed on Saturday and crowds on Friday would likely be larger than normal.
     
    #2 woodfinish, May 29, 2015
  3. pehodges

    pehodges Devotee (395) May 25, 2013 Massachusetts

    Agree mostly.
    Actually the retail shop is Open August 8: 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. (Bottles and merchandise only, no growler fills). In previous years they have released bottles of Vera Mae that week. And in previous years, Parker Pie has hosted an event after the festival (Sat night) with some kegs from the special guest breweries and other goodies.
     
    #3 pehodges, May 29, 2015
  4. Gsulliv2

    Gsulliv2 Crusader (491) Dec 9, 2014 Massachusetts
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    I'm aware that this wasn't one of the weekend options that you mentioned, but last year I went the week after Labor Day and it was perfect. Still warm, zero lines anywhere, and most everything I wanted was available (we showed up to the hunger mountain coop at around 1-2 and there was still a number of cases of heady left, we waited at HF for maybe 20 minutes, etc.)


    Maybe this helps?
     
    #4 Gsulliv2, May 29, 2015
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