OT: Burlington Breweries

[HuskyHawk]

I was at Lawsons two weekends ago and while the building is fine the beer isn’t close to the best in the state to me. But Lawson’s will sell you all manner of merchandise from hats to bike jerseys and skirts.

Hill Farmstead is better. But other than that, nobody is. Foam is better for IPAs but that’s it. But it’s the nicest brewery experience in my opinion. Really love what they’ve done. Alchemist on the other hand is a pointless brewery experience. Foley Brothers is fun in warm weather but the quality has declined.

 

[HuskyHawk]

dont waste your time at magic hat

but Fiddlehead is just a little further south on 7 and has a good pizza place next door.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

but Fiddlehead is just a little further south on 7 and has a good pizza place next door.

Magic Hat’s only purpose on a VT beercation is to appease the wives.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Magic Hat’s only purpose on a VT beercation is to appease the wives.

My wife is more into IPAs than I am. So not in my case. I thought it was a fun spot 15 years ago.

 

[MattMang23]

Mine just unequivocally told me “I have no interest in Magic Hat.” So we aren’t going. I’m good with that. I didn’t have any desire in visiting Vermont’s version of Hooker Brewery.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Magic Hat’s only purpose on a VT beercation is to appease the wives.

Magic Hat's purpose is to keep wives from becoming moms.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Magic Hat's purpose is to keep wives from becoming moms.

honestly it’s purpose is to get UVM kids laid.

 

[Dove]

In the mid 90s I was a big Sam Adams Cherry Wheat drinker. I decided I was going to delve in the craft beer scene even more. Anchor Steam and Sierra Nevada were on CT sheves and seemed okay. Then I tried a Magic Hat #9 and the bitterness was such a punch to the face I was set back decades from diving into craft again.

 

[Hoophound]

In the mid 90s I was a big Sam Adams Cherry Wheat drinker. I decided I was going to delve in the craft beer scene even more. Anchor Steam and Sierra Nevada were on CT sheves and seemed okay. Then I tried a Magic Hat #9 and the bitterness was such a punch to the face I was set back decades from diving into craft again.

Tough crowd. I still grab a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada or Magic Hat once or twice per year. I like to mix it up sometimes.

 

[HuskyHawk]

In the mid 90s I was a big Sam Adams Cherry Wheat drinker. I decided I was going to delve in the craft beer scene even more. Anchor Steam and Sierra Nevada were on CT sheves and seemed okay. Then I tried a Magic Hat #9 and the bitterness was such a punch to the face I was set back decades from diving into craft again.

Magic Hat #9 was bitter? I used to drink it often in the summer, in part because it was less bitter than Sam, Sierra or Harpoon IPA. That apricot made it almost sweet. Loved Red Hook ESB back then too.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Tough crowd. I still grab a 12 pack of Sierra Nevada or Magic Hat once or twice per year. I like to mix it up sometimes.

Sierra Nevada is definitely top notch in the large/national craft market. Magic Hat is just not a must see for a beer enthusiast going to VT.

 

[Waquoit]

Mine just unequivocally told me “I have no interest in Magic Hat.” So we aren’t going. I’m good with that. I didn’t have any desire in visiting Vermont’s version of Hooker Brewery.

That's a smear of Hooker. I'm thinking Two Roads is a better comp.

 

[8893]

That's a smear of Hooker. I'm thinking Two Roads is a better comp.

That’s a smear of Two Roads.

I think Saranac is a better comp.

 

[MattMang23]

That's a smear of Hooker. I'm thinking Two Roads is a better comp.

It was meant to be a smear of Hooker, but I’m just as happy smearing Two Roads (or Stony Creek)- just not Area 2.

Hooker has improved with the introduction of #NoFilter, #DoubleNoFilter and the one whose label looks like the Double Dare logo, I’ll give them that.

 

[8893]

Re Magic Hat, #9 was one of three beers we had on tap at our wedding in 1996. It was my wife's call and it was very popular at the time, and it tasted great compared with most of what was available here then. I mean, Pete's Wicked Ale was all the rage and I can't even remember the last time I saw that swill. I'm guessing it's long gone.

I believe one of the others we had was a brown ale from Farmington Valley--was there a Farmington Valley brewery back then? I think that was it.

I am trying to remember the third tap. I think it was from Saranac, maybe their IPA.

Funny that that was considered a pretty impressive lineup in terms of what you could get on tap in the Northeast back then.

 

[Hoophound]

I still appreciate Magic Hat #9.

 

[HuskyHawk]

That’s a smear of Two Roads.

I think Saranac is a better comp.

Bingo. Two Roads is vastly better than Magic Hat. Saranac is one of the brands I'm amazed is still around.

 

[Fishy]

Bingo. Two Roads is vastly better than Magic Hat. Saranac is one of the brands I'm amazed is still around.

Why?

They’ve been in business since the 1800’s.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Re Magic Hat, #9 was one of three beers we had on tap at our wedding in 1996. It was my wife's call and it was very popular at the time, and it tasted great compared with most of what was available here then. I mean, Pete's Wicked Ale was all the rage and I can't even remember the last time I saw that swill. I'm guessing it's long gone.

I believe one of the others we had was a brown ale from Farmington Valley--was there a Farmington Valley brewery back then? I think that was it.

I am trying to remember the third tap. I think it was from Saranac, maybe their IPA.

Funny that that was considered a pretty impressive lineup in terms of what you could get on tap in the Northeast back then.

Pete's Wicked went out of business long ago. It was actually a solid beer, but when your flagship is a brown ale, you aren't going to survive the IPA revolution. Pete's Wicked Winter was superb. It's one thing that hurt Red Hook, their flagship beer was an ESB. I think Harpoon has lasted and grown in part because their best beer was an IPA (even if a traditional English style IPA).

I'll be in Burlington next weekend. The Farmhouse Tap and Grill has the best burger I've ever had. Have not visited Zero Gravity yet, may check it out. Will definitely try to hit Foam.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Why?

They’ve been in business since the 1800’s.

The beers are truly awful. Badly made. I'm not crapping on the Sam Adams tier of craft beer, of which Sam makes quality beers, and so does Harpoon. Saranac just doesn't.

 

[8893]

The beers are truly awful. Badly made. I'm not crapping on the Sam Adams tier of craft beer, of which Sam makes quality beers, and so does Harpoon. Saranac just doesn't.

They have an audience and a price point, and they have an economy of scale because the FX Matt brewery, which owns the brand but also makes Matt's, Utica Club and a ton of contract beers, is still a very large regional brewer. It always reminded me of when Homer toured Duff and all the different beers were coming from the same vat. I drank it a bit when it first came out because my wife's family is from Utica and it was a thing to do.

 

[HuskyHawk]

They have an audience and a price point, and they have an economy of scale because the FX Matt brewery, which owns the brand but also makes Matt's, Utica Club and a ton of contract beers, is still a very large regional brewer. It always reminded me of when Homer toured Duff and all the different beers were coming from the same vat. I drank it a bit when it first came out because my wife's family is from Utica and it was a thing to do.

I will confess I have had only scarce amounts in recent years and it seemed worse than it was back in the day. I could be selling it short because what we see on shelves may be really old beer. I find that Harpoon is drastically better when fresh. I know that all beer is better fresh, but when a mediocre beer falls off it falls to drain pour level.

 

[8893]

I will confess I have had only scarce amounts in recent years and it seemed worse than it was back in the day. I could be selling it short because what we see on shelves may be really old beer. I find that Harpoon is drastically better when fresh. I know that all beer is better fresh, but when a mediocre beer falls off it falls to drain pour level.

You're not selling it short. It's not very good and never was, and the better beers from Harpoon now are much better than anything Saranac ever made.

 

[HuskyHawk]

You're not selling it short. It's not very good and never was, and the better beers from Harpoon now are much better than anything Saranac ever made.

Had Harpoon One Hazy Summer at a concert in Boston and was surprised that it was really a very good pale ale. Just about ideal for a warm summer night. I want to try the spruce tip ale. They have done a good job being true to their core consumers yet evolving with the times.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Sierra Nevada is definitely top notch in the large/national craft market. Magic Hat is just not a must see for a beer enthusiast going to VT.

I can't think of a single Sierra Nevada beer I've had where I thought it was one of the better tasting beers of any style- summer crisps, holiday ales, IPA's, etc. I just steer clear of it now.

 

[8893]

I can't think of a single Sierra Nevada beer I've had where I thought it was one of the better tasting beers of any style- summer crisps, holiday ales, IPA's, etc. I just steer clear of it now.

I've always found them above-average as among the large, national "craft" beers. Their original pale ale was one of the all-time crowd pleasers for decades, and their Celebration Ale was my favorite beer, period, for many years, as was their Wet Hop Harvest Ale when that came out.

None of those taste special any more, but I think all of their beers remain quaffable.

 

[Hoophound]

I will confess I have had only scarce amounts in recent years and it seemed worse than it was back in the day. I could be selling it short because what we see on shelves may be really old beer. I find that Harpoon is drastically better when fresh. I know that all beer is better fresh, but when a mediocre beer falls off it falls to drain pour level.

I find Harpoon better fresh as well. When I get a fresh batch I think it is one of my top 5 readily available beers. Leave it in the fridge 2-3 weeks and it seems a little bitter and the smooth/sweet qualities disappear.

 

[Chin Diesel]

I've always found them above-average as among the large, national "craft" beers. Their original pale ale was one of the all-time crowd pleasers for decades, and their Celebration Ale was my favorite beer, period, for many years, as was their Wet Hop Harvest Ale when that came out.

None of those taste special any more, but I think all of their beers remain quaffable.

I get it, personal taste. I've just learned to stay away and avoid disappointment. I don't come across the decision to exclude a beer lightly. There were multiple "tasting" sessions in different environments and I've put it to the side.

 

[Hoophound]

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale gets drastically better when you have a second one. First one is always slightly cringe worthy. I drink it when I am forced to visit a chain restaurant that features it as their only "real" beer.

All Sam Adams gives me a crushing headache.

 

[Dream Jobbed 2.0]

Not to completely derail this but SN’s nooner Pilsner is an absolute golf staple for my crew