Indulgent Beer Series | Hill Farmstead Samuel

Everyone has their own definition of indulgent. It could be a decadent chocolate cake that pushes the boundaries of your sweet tooth and your waistband. It might be a 5-star spa day or a vending machine that distributes gold bars. There may be no clearer measure of an indulgent purchase, however, than seeing the facial expression of a beer non-connoisseur when you tell them you have spent $50+ on a single bottle of beer. Hill Farmstead Samuel becomes the latest release to stress-test the wallet, especially in the midst of a pandemic that is making us reevaluate our financial priorities. Read More

Zero Gravity Brewery | Green State Lager

I remember my first time like it was yesterday. It was late March in the winter of 2016. My wife and I were looking for some après-ski nourishment. After a long day of skiing at Stowe, this was an absolute necessity. Making our way down the mountain access road we eventually wandered into a restaurant called Doc Ponds. 

Gazing at the beer menu while taking a seat at the bar, I asked the bartender, “what do you recommend?” An avid Vermont skier, I’m very familiar with the Green Mountain State’s vast craft beer market. However, I always like a local’s take when I can get it. Ultimately, his response pushed me in the direction of Zero Gravity Brewery Green State Lager, a beer that they had just put on tap. One sip and I was in love, hooked on the light, crisp, bready Pilsner bearing the state’s name. 

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The OGs of Craft Beer | Magic Hat Brewing Company – #9

In writing this, I fired up the PorchDrinking DeLorean and visited our original showcase of #9 from 2012. Even though it’s way before my time with Tristan and the gang, reading the article was a nostalgia trip that perfectly reflects the reason #9 deserves its place in this series. Coit Stevenson is so excited just to get #9 in Colorado he barely remembers to review it. #9 was for many drinkers their first dabble into fruit beers and pale ales. With the market today practically drowning in Blood Orange as multi-fruit sours are available in any mid-level liquor store, it’s nice to remember a time when a little bit of magic, and some apricot, brought so much wonder onto your palate.
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Foolproof Brewing Co. | Shuckolate Chocolate Oyster Stout

ABV: 6%

Tucked way up the East Coast in Pawtucket, RI is Foolproof Brewing Company, an awesome group of brewers who recently released their 2017 limited edition of Shuckolate, a chocolate oyster stout!

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Inside the Tank | Foolproof Brewing

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of sharing a delicious five-course meal paired with Foolproof Brewing beer selections while sitting across from head brewer Steve Sharp. I fell in love with their craft creations, which are distributed to the Northeast, but unfortunately not in my city! Still — I believe in this brewery and am spreading the word through an insightful interview with Foolproof’s founder Nick Garrison. Cheers!

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Weekly Growler Fill | National Beer News Roundup

Alchemist brings more Heady Topper to Vermont, Left Hand makes its way into Wyoming, and Governor Jay Nixon expands growler sales in Missouri. This is just a taste of the craft beers news this week, but why have a taste when you could have the whole glass? Read on to catch all of the details in this edition of the Weekly Growler Fill.

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Hill Farmstead Brewery | George (American Brown Ale)

Vermont in the summer is something out of a dream. In between the rolling Green Mountains lie breathtaking backdrops, acres of farmland, and pleasant, wonderful people enjoying everything the mountain landscape has to offer. It’s so surreal that it can be hard for visitors to believe they’re experiencing reality.
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Ultimate 6er | Green Mountain State

The hidden craft market has been brewing in Vermont for years. This humble state is always in the top craft lists but never seems to get the media hype it deserves. By the sounds of it, that’s what they want. Many of these brewers don’t distribute outside state lines, let alone outside of their county or town. So unless you travel up through the green mountains yourself, you will need to wait until the next time a fellow craft head drives cross country to share the wealth from this secluded state.

Last week I found myself in the middle of the craft mile in Vermont for an extended weekend. Overwhelmed with this opportunity, I embraced this rare experience. After some homework and multiple country store stops, I’ve compiled my Vermont Ultimate 6er.

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Hill Farmstead | Daybreak Imperial Stout

Hill Farmstead Brewery

10% ABV

Driving up the snow covered dirt road to Hill Farmstead Brewery brought flashbacks of days growing up in the green hills of Vermont. Once the … Read More

Vermont Beer Trip Prospectus

When I decided to start writing here, my plan was to focus exclusively on Boston breweries. I enjoy showing people around my town and talking about it, and I felt … Read More

Lawson’s Finest Liquids – Spring Fever Session IPA

My journey to acquire Lawson’s Finest Liquids put all of my beer-hunting skills to the test. Rural roads, quaint stores, and rare beers combined to make my search for Lawson’s … Read More

The Alchemist Brewery – Heady Topper

I still remember vividly my first can of Heady Topper. I was out celebrating my birthday with my girlfriend, a burger, some oysters, and beers. Inexplicably, The Alchemist’s Heady Topper … Read More