Après Time
On March 23, the Vermont Brewers Association (VBA) hosts the second annual Winter Beer Festival at Killington Resort. The VBA’s summer beer festival in Burlington is a large-scale, multi-day gathering. This smaller, more intimate festival is completely outdoors. It also has a focus on collaboration. Thirty-four of the featured brewers will get together to create special one-off beers, which will only be found at this festival. Pour sizes for special beers will vary between 3, 6, and 9 ounces. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet the brewers and enjoy food trucks and the fire pits at the K-1 base lodge. Sessions are from noon-3 p.m. or 4-7 p.m., and tickets are available through the VBS website. There are also Sip & Ski packages available for those who want to hit the slopes. Editor’s Note: This is an outdoor event on a ski mountain. Dress accordingly.
Expanding the Brewers Family
The Vermont Brewers Association, founded in 1991, has welcomed Green Empire Brewing and Upper Pass Beer Co. to the family. These are the 57th and 58th members of the association. More breweries are in the works to join soon. Congrats and great work by the VBA.
Party Time in the Queen City
The Vermont Winter Brewfest takes place February 9 at the Double Tree by Hilton in South Burlington. The indoor beer tasting event will span three conference rooms on two levels featuring local and regional beers, cider and spirits plus live music and food and drink workshops. Tickets also include snacks and a food sampling area plus party games. There are two sessions for the festival: noon -4 p.m. and 6-10 p.m.
Bigger & Smoother
It’s been a busy time for von Trapp Brewing in Stowe. The brewery took time out of its brewing schedule to brew a batch of Sierra Nevada Resilient IPA. This collaboration is only available at the von Trapp bierhaus. The proceeds go to the Camp Fire Relief by Sierra Nevada Brewing.
The brewhouse has also worked on some upgrades, which will translate into growth and canning of beers.
Beyond that, as we head into the winter season, a popular après ski beer is back. WeissBier will ward off the aching muscles or winter blues. It’s available in six-packs of 12-ounce bottles. Heading toward spring in March means the return of BockBier (6.5%). This spring specialty will finish off the lingering Vermont winter available in 16-ounce four-pack cans.
New Brewery Alerts
Red Leaf Gluten Free Brewing in Fairfax is up and running. Some of the brewery’s first batches will be available at the Winter Brewfest in Burlington. Vermont’s only dedicated gluten-free brewery, Red Leaf is a one-barrel brewhouse.
First reported in December by Seven Days reporter Hannah Palmer Egan was Whirligig Brewing. The nano-brewery is slated to open this spring in St. Johnsbury. This will add to the growing brew scene in the Northeast Kingdom and compliment Kingdom Taproom and St J Brewing.
A Pig & A Hen
Back in December, the Prohibition Pig in Waterbury changed hands from founder and owner Chad Rich to Eric Warnstedt and Will McNeil. The ProPig Brewpub took shape after the original Alchemist Pub & Brewery was taken out by Tropical Storm Irene in 2011. In the pub’s reinvention, the talented Nate Johnson took over the helm of the new brewery’s operation.
While it’s sad to see Chad move on to other projects, it’s safe to say that the Pro Pig is in good hands for the long haul. Thanks, Chad, and cheers to Eric and Will.
Mount Snow Brewers Festival
The Winter Brewer’s Festival Package is valid for March 29-31, 2019. The festival itself takes place on March 30, and the package includes lodging and admission to the festival. Adult/drinker admission includes a souvenir glass and two beer tokens. Non-drinker/minor admissions include a water bottle and a free soda. Early bird pricing for the festival is valid through close of business on March 6. Any changes or additions to festival admission done after then will be at slightly higher admission cost. It’s possible to also choose optional lift tickets, equipment rental or spa services.
Be a Smuggler
March 30 is the Smugglers Notch 24th Annual BrewFest Part 2 featuring the finest in craft beers and regional favorites plus ciders The lineup includes Two Roads Brewing, Ballast Point, Clown Shoes, Sam Adams, Sierra Nevada, Spiked Seltzer, Stone Brewing, Stony Creek and Ten Barrel.
For those whose tastes run closer to home, there will also be beer from Vermont’s own 14th Star, Boyden Valley Winery and Cidery, Harpoon, Long Trail, Magic Hat, Otter Creek, Shed and Zero Gravity. A DJ will spin tunes in the background, and Resort’s Mountain Grille will have an appetizer buffet plus munchies and prizes. The event runs from 6 p.m.-10 p.m. in the Meeting House. Tickets are available at the door or online.
Blue Above the Green
In the fall, Switchback Brewing in Burlington released for the first time a canned beer, Switchback Ale and is now adding to its metal offerings with Switchback IPA. This beer uses a generous blend of Centennial, Amarillo, Cascade, Chinook and Simcoe hops to create a complex aroma and bittering profile. Switchback IPA is available on draft and 16-ounce four-packs
Dreaming of Warmer Weather
A sign that spring and warmer weather is coming is the annual release of Citizen Cider’s bRose (6.1%) in Burlington. The blueberry and apple co-fermented cider is crisp and refreshing. This year’s release will be coming in four-packs of 12-ounce cans. The second cider ever produced, it’s been a local favorite right from the start.
Citizen Cider is also releasing a limited run for sugaring season. Big Juicy (8.0%) is an imperial dry cider made from Vermont-made apple molasses. The molasses is produced from fresh apple cider in a local sugarhouse. It’s then blended with the sweet cider and fermented to be completely dry. Juicy will be released in 12-ounce four-packs.
Tanked
Vermont Cider in Middlebury is bringing back a fan favorite, Woodchuck Belgian White Cider, a cider fermented with Belgian yeast and with added orange and coriander. A popular release years back, it’s returning as part of the revolving tank series on draft and available for a limited time in 16-ounce four-packs
Rounding Up the Corral
At Stone Corral Brewing in Richmond, February is the kickoff to Belgium Comes to Richmond. This celebrates the release of Big Belgian Draft Horse Ale (8.9%), a Belgian-style dark strong ale. Adding to the celebration is Golden Tripel (10%), and a brand new Belgian-Style Pale Ale. Chef Billy will serve some creative and hearty Belgian-inspired dishes at the brewpub. The beers are available on draft and in growlers only.
Sweet Mead Good-Bye Party
On February 16, there’s a goodbye party at the Mead Hall from noon-8 p.m. After five amazing years in Colchester, the Colchester Mead Hall is moving. The Mead Hall has been so important to so many people over the years. With that, the owners are throwing one last hoorah and pulling out all the stops.
For those who are lucky, they’ll see some early Groennfell releases. There will also be special guests and all-you-can-eat pork shoulder. There will be toasts throughout the day to all the amazing people who have made the meal hall what it is.
