Stowe Breweries Exceed Expectations!
Finally made the trip to New England to hit up a bunch of breweries in Boston, Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. It was a whirlwind tour for sure and there are so many excellent breweries in the area, it is well worth a trip. This post focuses on the three breweries we visited in Stowe, VT.
How could this place possibly live up to the hype? One answer - just walk in the door and you will understand. The fresh hop aroma literally kicks you in the face - in a good way! Just about everything is served in cans except the Heady Topper which is also available as a cask pour! I've been down on hazies in general lately but after this tasting I am a true believer. There is nothing like a fresh Heady Topper - I had one that was literally canned the day prior! It almost reminded me of a fresh hop west coast IPA - tropical but also bitter and well balanced. Every beer lover needs to visit here at least once.
The setting here is absolutely stunning. It really does feel like you are in Austria or Germany with the expansive mountain views. How about the beer? Exceptionally well executed lagers. All very clean, crisp, and true to style. We were fortunate enough to be there when they were pouring their 75th anniversary Keller Pils and it was fantastic - fresh baked bread with a touch of sweetness. You can find their cans up and down the east coast now, but there is nothing like having it fresh at the source!
We went to Idletyme mostly for the food as they have an excellent menu with lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Surprisingly wide variety of beer styles and all very well executed. I had their Helles lager which was great. Having already visited the Alchemist and Von Trapp, I didn't have it in me to try any others! I'd love to go back and sample more of their brews in this very nice setting.
