BrewView Vermont Mockup

BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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House of Fermentology

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Citizen Cider

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Lawson’s Finest Liquids

THREE SIPS TO ENLIGHTENMENT.

BY PAM HUNT

FROM FRUIT TO FRUITION: FILLING A “PRESSING” NEED .

BY PAM HUNT

A PHENOMENON ROLLS INTO A NEW ERA.

BY MARY GOW

contents 6

Brew Views

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Brew Finds

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BrewView To Go . . .

COOL STUFF FROM COMMON DEER.

LOCAL TASTINGS AND HOW TO FIND THEM.

A COMPREHENSIVE MAP AND KEY OF WHERE TO FIND LOCAL BREWERIES, DISTILLERIES, WINERIES, AND CIDERIES. BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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BY PAM HUNT

house of

Fermentology T h r e e S i p s to E n l i g h t e n m e n t

I

n a state where most breweries feature a hop-heavy IPA, it can be refreshing to find a completely different flavor. And completely different is what House of Fermentology offers.

Several years ago, founders Todd Haire and Bill Mares collaborated to update Mares’s book, Making Beer. It was during their research for this third edition that they found themselves in Oregon, where they visited several brewers making sour beers. The idea clicked, and they decided to give it a go themselves.

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BREWVIEW FALL 2018

flavors in there!’ And then the third sip is, ‘Where can I get more?’”

Using the two strains of yeast results in wild fermentation, which can cause slight flavor differences between batches. “We’re not making McDonald’s hamburgers or Budweiser,” Bill explains. “They’re all going to be roughly predictable. People will remember a specific dot, and when it comes up again, they will remember the flavor, and I think they’re going to be tolerant of small variations. We’re giving customers a variety of beers, each of which is first rate.

But we’re asking you to experiment, to try

A QUEST FOR TART “Todd has brewed all his life,” Bill says. “He’d done every kind of beer there is except sour beer.

He could never do them commercially because you can’t put Brettanomyces yeast in a regular brewery—it’s just the devil on other beers.” In their quest to focus on producing these tart brews, they created House of Fermentology and secured a space in the Noyes Tire building on Pine Street.

In the meantime, Todd, who has brewed at Magic Hat and Switchback, joined Foam Brewers, a move that benefited the House of Fermentology. “We brew our wort there, and then put it in our barrels,” Bill says. “Then, when we’re ready to sell it, we put it in kegs or bottles and take it back to Foam. It’s been a really good synergy between the two breweries. It just makes for more

something new.”

Local beer lovers have taken to the extraordinary tastes of House of Fermentology’s beers. On a typical evening at Foam, one can see glasses of the vividly colored beverages throughout the bar, and bottle releases sell out quickly. Noting that the pair recently bought additional space to increase production, Bill says, “It’s a good problem to have.”

variety and more drinking pleasure, we hope.”

The brewers use Saccharomyces and Brettanomyces yeasts and lactic acid bacteria as well as diverse flavoring agents to create their blends, which are then aged in oak barrels. The resulting brews are each named for a colored dot that graces their labels, such as Orange Dot, which features honey and roasted Cara Cara oranges, and Purple Dot, with blackberries and black currants.

A VARIETY OF FIRST-RATE BEERS And what about the flavor? Bill offers an apt analogy: “We like to say it’s three sips to enlight-

HOUSE OF FERMENTOLOGY

777 Pine Street Burlington, VT (802) 999-3020 www.houseoffermentology.com

enment: The first sip is, ‘Wow, that’s tart!’ The second sip is, ‘Ahh, it’s like a Rubik’s cube of

BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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BREW

VIEWS

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BREWVIEW FALL 2018

BY PAM HUNT

CITIZEN CIDER BRANCHES OUT

F R O M F R U I T TO F R U I T I O N : F I L L I N G A “ P R E S S I N G ” N E E D

“If somebody is growing cherries and wants to juice them, we’ll be able to do it.”

S

ince its founding in 2010, Citizen Cider has proven that the market for hard ciders is solid—and not only in Vermont. The cidery ships its colorful cans throughout New England and to New Jersey, the metro Philadelphia area, North and South Carolina, Illinois, and parts of New York.

The cider company has pressed all its locally grown apples at Stan

and Mary Pratt’s Happy Valley Orchard in Middlebury since 2011. Every week, two or three tanker trailers, each labeled like a giant horizontal can of Unified Press, make their way north up Route 7 to the Citizen Cider production facility on Pine Street in Burlington.

However, the need for greater production capacity and the Pratts’ desire to retire from this part of the business has brought a multiyear plan to fruition: Citizen Cider is opening its own pressing facility in Burlington’s South End.

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BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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When you visit a beer brewery, it’s just bags of malt, bags of hops. In our production area, you’ll see the apples getting crushed and pressed.�

And after all these years, Citizen Cider isn’t parting ways with Stan Pratt. “He’s still going to maintain the actual orchard,� Cheray says.

“He’ll still be involved with the business, for sure . . . bringing the apples. He was even up here the other day showing the guys what to Although the tasting room will stay put on Pine Street, Citizen Cider’s marketing director,

do with the press!�

Cheray MacFarland, says the cidery team has big plans for the new building. In addition to the new fruit presses, the facility will bring the company’s warehouse space to Burlington.

With the powerful new press, the company is potentially looking to expand beyond apples. “We’re hoping to attract other fruit processors to the new facility,� Cheray says. “If somebody is growing cherries and wants to juice them, we’ll be able to do it. Right now, there are only two fruit-processing places in the state, so for us to be able to help other businesses would be awesome.�

The new pressing plant won’t be open to the general public except by request—after all, it is first and foremost a processing factory. However, Cheray says that group tours are likely in the future. “It’s so cool to see all the apples and how the press actually works.

CITIZEN CIDER

319 Pine Street, Suite 114 Burlington, VT Offices: (802) 448-3278 Tasting Room: (802) 497-1987 www.citizencider.com

BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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BREW

FINDS

Who, what , where . . . we know why!

NAME CITY OPEN

OUT PETS DOORS

SERVES FOOD

LIVE MUSIC

WHETSTONE STATION whetstonestation.com

Brattleboro

7 Days

Y

N

Y

Check Website

BROCKLEBANK CRAFT BREWING brocklebankvt.com

Tunbridge

Fri, Sat

Y

Y

N

Check Website

SWITCHBACK BREWERY switchbackvt.com

Burlington

7 Days

Y

Y

Snacks

Check Website

PROHIBITION PIG prohibitionpig.com

Waterbury

7 Days

Y

Y

Events Only

MILL RIVER BREWING millriverbrewing.com

St. Albans

Wed–Sat

Y

N

Y

Check Website

THE VERMONT PUB & BREWERY Burlington 7 Days Y vermontbrewery.com

Patio Only

Y

Check Website

OTTER CREEK BREWERY Middlebury 7 Days Y ottercreekbrewing.com

Outdoor Areas

Y

Check Website

HARPOON BREWERY RIVERBEND Windsor 7 Days Y harpoonbrewery.com/breweries/windsor

Common Areas

Y

Check Website

DROP-IN BREWING COMPANY dropinbrewing.com

Middlebury

7 Days

N

Y

BYO

Events Only

SAXTONS RIVER DISTILLERY saxtonsriverdistillery.com

Brattleboro

7 Days

Y

N

Tours by Appt

Y

N

OLD ROUTE TWO SPIRITS Barre oldroutetwo.com

Check Website

BOYDEN VALLERY WINERY AND SPIRITS Cambridge 7 Days Y boydenvalley.com

Outdoor Areas

N

Check Website

SHELBURNE VINEYARD Shelburne 7 Days Y shelburnevineyard.com

Outdoor Areas

N

Check Website

STOWE CIDER

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BREWVIEW FALL 2018

Stowe

BY MARY GOW

A P H E N O M E N O N R O L L S I N TO A N E W E R A

LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS

W

hen Karen and I launched this business in 2008,

to a 7-bbl capacity, housed in a small sugarhouse style outbuild-

we had big dreams of what might happen, but

ing at the Lawson’s home. That year, their Triple Play IPA won the

we never had any idea that it would turn into

National IPA Championship.

a phenomenon. It has gained a life of its own,”

says Sean Lawson standing with his family and Governor Phil

a variety of styles. Sip of Sunshine IPA and Super Session ales,

Scott last autumn, shovels at the ready, preparing to break

Lawson’s Finest’s flagship brews, are accompanied by dozens of

ground on the new Lawson’s Finest Liquids brewery, taproom,

small-batch beers including maple stouts, wheat ale, red spruce

and retail store in Waitsfield. The new home of Lawson’s Finest

bitter, and more. Watch the website for updates on special beers

opens this fall.

and distribution dates. Devotees arrive early, many driving long

The story of Lawson’s Finest is legendary. From Sean’s college and post-college brewing hobby, he and Karen made the leap to Lawson’s Finest Liquids as a small-batch brewery in 2008. At first

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A versatile brewmaster, Sean has created defining flavors in

distances, for new brews and older favorites including Double Sunshine and—just once a year—Maple Tripple.

their home nanobrewery had a tiny capacity, just one 1 bbl. In beer

EXCITING CHANGES ON THE WAY

parlance, 1 bbl, short for barrel, equals 31 gallons; a keg is half a

In 2014, Lawson’s Finest added an alternating proprietorship

barrel. Sean packed a lot of flavor into those tiny batches. Awards

arrangement with Two Roads Brewing in Connecticut. Sip of Sun-

came fast and fans even faster. In 2011, Lawson’s Finest expanded

shine and the Super Session Series are brewed there and are now

BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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available in cans and on draft in six Northeastern states. Sip of Sunshine IPA is likened to a

“tropical vacation in a glass,� lupulin-laden and with hints of fruit and floral aromas. Super Session #2 and #8 are refreshing lower-alcohol beers, abv 4.8%, each featuring a single hop variety, #2 brewed with Amarillo hops and #8 with Mosaic hops.

“We always knew we wanted to grow with a public taproom and brewery,� explains Karen, noting that their priority has always been their family and raising their two daughters.

Now, the girls are older, Lawson’s Finest has had a spectacular decade, and the handsome timber-framed taproom and brewery is on its way.

LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS ROLLS INTO A NEW ERA

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LAWSON’S FINEST LIQUIDS

With its 30-bbl capacity, favorite Warren brewery recipes will be scaled up for production there. Family friendly in addition to being a tasting room, its taproom will feature artisanal local foods. Lawson’s Finest brews will be available in the retail store. Beer drinkers will get to see their favorite beverages in production and meet the brewer. And fans everywhere can

284 Main Street Warren, VT Â (802) 496-4677 www.lawsonsfinest.com

pay a virtual visit to Lawson’s at www.lawsonsfinest.com.

BREWVIEW FALL 2018

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BREW

KEY

BREWERIES

1. Kingdom Brewing, Newport 2. Next Trick Brewing, West Burke 3. Hill Farmstead Brewery, Greensboro 4. Ten Bends Beer, Hyde Park 5. Brewster River Pub and Brewery, Jeffersonville 6. J’Ville Brewery, Jeffersonville 7. 14th Star Brewing, St. Albans 8. Mill River Brewing BBQ & Smokehouse, St. Albans 9. Kickback Brewery, Westford 10. Red Barn Brewing, Danville 11. Foam Brewers, Burlington 12. House of Fermentology, Burlington 13. Magic Hat Brewing, Burlington 14. Queen City Brewery, Burlington 15. Simple Roots Brewing, Burlington 16. Switchback Brewing, Burlington 17. Vermont Pub and Brewery, Burlington 18. Zero Gravity Craft Brewery, Burlington 19. Farnham Ale & Lager, South Burlington 20. Good Water Brewery, Williston 21. Burlington Beer, Williston 22. Four Quarters Brewing, Winooski 23. 1st Republic Brewing, Essex Junction 24. Stone Corral Brewery, Richmond 25. Frost Beer Works, Hinesburg 26. Fiddlehead Brewing, Shelburne 27. Rock Art Brewery, Morristown 28. Lost Nation Brewing, Morrisville 29. Alchemist Brewery, Stowe 30. Idletyme Brewing, Stowe 31. von Trapp Brewery, Stowe 32. Saint J Brewery, St. Johnsbury 33. Prohibition Pig, Waterbury 34. Bent Hill Brewery, Braintree 35. Brocklebank Craft Brewing, Chelsea 36. Foley Brothers Brewing, Brandon 37. Cousins Brewing, Waitsfield 38. Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Waitsfield 39. Good Measure Brewing, Northfield 40. Norwich Inn, Norwich 41. River Roost Brewery, White River Junction 42. Bobcat Brewery and Café, Bristol 43. Hogback Mountain Brewing, Bristol 44. Drop-In Brewing, Middlebury 45. Otter Creek Brewing, Middlebury 46. Long Trail Brewing, Bridgewater Corners 47. Rutland Beer Works (Hop’n Moose), Rutland 48. Harpoon Brewery, Windsor 49. Trout River Brewing, Springfield 50. Backacre Beermakers, Weston 51. Madison Brewing, Bennington 52. Northshire Brewery, Bennington 53. Beer Naked Brewery, Marlboro 54. Hermit Thrush Brewery, Brattleboro 55. McNeill’s Pub and Brewery, Brattleboro 56. Whetstone Station, Brattleboro

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DISTILLERIES

1. Elm Brook Farm, East Fairfield 2. Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, Jeffersonville 3. Green Mountain Distillery, Morristown 4. Caledonia Spirits, Hardwick 5. St. Johnsbury Distillery, St. Johnsbury 6. Wild Heart Distillery, Shelburne 7. Old Route Two Distillery, Barre 8. Hooker Mountain Farm and Distillery, Marshfield 9. Vermont Spirits Distillery, White River Junction 10. Applachian Gap Distillery, Middlebury 11. Stonecutter Spirits, Middlebury 12. WhistlePig Farm, Shoreham 13. Silo Distillery, Windsor 14. Spirits of Old Bennington Distillery, North Bennington 15. Vermont Distillers, Marlboro 16. Saxton’s River Distillery, Brattleboro

WINERIES

1. Boyden Valley Winery, Cambridge 2. Snow Farm Vineyard & Winery, South Hero 3. Hillis’ Sugarbush Farm & Vineyard, Colchester 4. Shelburne Vineyard, Shelburne 5. Charlotte Village Winery, Charlotte 6. North Branch Vineyards, Montpelier 7. Montpelier Vineyards, Montpelier 8. Neddo Family Vineyards, Barre 9. Fresh Tracks Winery, Berlin 10. La Garagista Winery, Bethel 11. Neshobe River Winery, Brandon 12. Lincoln Peak Vineyard, New Haven 13. Whaleback Winery, Poultney 14. Putney Mountain Winery, Putney 15. Honora Winery & Vineyard, Jacksonville

CIDERIES

1. Eden Specialty Ciders, Newport 2. Stowe Cider, Stowe 3. Hall Home Place, Isle La Motte 4. Citizen Cider, Burlington 5. Groennfell Meadery, Colchester 6. Chapin Orchard, Essex Junction 7. Boyer’s Orchard and Cider Mill, Monkton 8. Shacksbury Cider, Vergennes 9. Lawson’s Finest Liquids, Warren 10. Flag Hill Farm, Vershire 11. Champlain Orchards, Shoreham 12. Vermont Hard Cider, Middlebury 13. Woodchuck Cider, Middlebury 14. Windfall Orchard, Cornwall 15. Mountain Cider Company, North Chittenden 16. Wood’s Cider Mill, Springfield 17. Whetstone Ciderworks, Marlboro

BREWVIEW TO GO . . .

Everywhere you want to be at a glance Newport 3

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St. Albans

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Montpelier 7

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Middlebury

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St. Johnsbury

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91

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2 29 30

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Stowe

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89 4

45

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Rutland 13

Woodstock

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White River Jct.

Breweries Wineries

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Cideries Manchester

Distilleries

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14

100

30

14 51

52

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Bennington

9

15

53 17

15

54 55 56

Brattleboro 16

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