Hey Groomsmen,

I just wanted to take a chance to collect some thoughts on some great breweries, beers, bars, & bottle shops I'm excited about for our trip to Vermont next weekend as a way for every body to get an idea of what to look forward to. I know some of you probably have differing tastes in beer and I aim to make sure everybody finds something they love. There's a lot of great beer up there, so it shouldn't be hard.

To start, you can take a look at the map I've made with some key spots HERE!

Breweries - Top Tier:

 

Hill Farmstead:

In all honesty, Hill Farmstead may be my favorite brewery in existence.  This one is hidden in the middle of nowhere on top of a hill, up a dirt road, but people flock to this place.  They arguably invented the New England IPA (though maybe a more delicate approach).  They also make some of the finest pilsners, lagers, stouts, porters and oak aged sour beers in America.  Everything they do is fine tuned to the smallest detail.  I have never had a Hill Farmstead beer in any style that I didn't love.  They make long considered "boring" styles sexy.   Also, the location is very scenic.  Its a great relaxing spot.  The brewery is the only place to buy Hill Farmstead to go (cans, bottles, and growlers).

Side Note: Also available here may be beers from Wunderkammer Bier, a label brewed by one of the brewers here as a side project.  He uses lots of foraged ingredients and has gotten lots of acclaim.

What to try: Anything and everything, drink to your taste.  IPAs and aged sours are recommended, but I'll also be drinking a nice crispy pilsner here too!

 

Foam Brewers:

Foam Brewers is a relative newcomer.  They are located right by Lake Champlain in Burlington and it is a beautiful spot.  They specialize in New England IPAs and have really blown up over the last year or two.  Most of their beers are named after indie bands/albums/songs of the 90s, 00s, & 10s (e.g. Pavement, Galaxie 500, Youth Lagoon, Tame Impala, Caribou, Mouthful of Diamonds).  I've not been here yet, but have tried a handful of their beers I'm incredibly excited for this spot!  The brewery is the only place to buy their beers to go (cans on set days & growlers).

Side Note: One of the brewers also has a side project called House of Fermentology that does a lot of aged sours that are very highly regarded.  Some may be available here.

What to try: NEIPAs (Hazy, pillowy soft, with citrusy/tropical notes)! Try a band you love!

 

Lawsons Finest Liquids:

These guys have been a big buzz brewing staple in the area for some time now, but have only just last fall opened a taproom and it is beautiful.  Lawsons is best known for Sip of Sunshine which became available in local MA shops in late 2017.  Their IPAs/DIPAs are from an older in between breed thats less hazy and tropical than modern NEIPAs, its still slightly bitter, but also still very well rounded and citrusy (I like to classify as a VT IPA similar to Heady Topper).  They also make plenty of classic, less hoppy styles like Red Ales, Blondes, & Pilsners.  They also make the Fayston Maple Imperial Stout made with locally tapped Vermont maple syrup that I'm really hoping to try.  Many releases are brewery only, but some can be found in shops.

Side Note: Brand new cozy taproom.  Nice fireplace.  Grab a charcutterie board.

What to try: IPAs & Stouts, but plenty of lighter beers too

 

The Alchemist:

With it's flagship Heady Topper, this place jump started craft brewing in Vermont.  They were really the start of the modern beer culture where people began lining up for hours just to try a particular beer.  The brew often lovingly referred to as "Heady" was arguably the proto-NEIPA where the beer was very citrus forward, mild in bitterness and slightly hazy (I don't quite consider it a NEIPA, but its a part of how they came to be). They started as a brewpub in Waterbury where Prohibition Pig now resides, until a flood destroyed their brewing space.  There are no onsite full pours, but there are free tasters! Load up on cans and enjoy this beautiful space.  Should be a quick stop.  Heady and Focal Banger will likely be available at shops across VT, but easiest to buy here.  Other beers might be harder to find elsewhere.

Side Note: Owner John Kimmich learned how to brew under Greg Noonan (late owner of The Vermont Pub & Brewery, the state's oldest craft brewery and one of the earliest brewpubs in America).

What to try: Heady Topper & Focal Banger IPAs, or their latest IPA Rapture.  Also have stouts, porters, witbiers, and possible others.