Shane Carley Brewery Name: Lithermans Limited Brewing Type of Brewery: Retail Brewery Location: 126 Hall St b, Concord, NH 03301. The brewery is actually a little hard to find--it’s in an industrial park-sort of area, and you’ll have go through the main entrance and bang a quick right, then a quick left around the back of the building. They have a sign out front, so you’ll see it. Website: http://www.lithermans.beer/ Facebook: Lithermans Limited Brewery Twitter: @lithermans_ltd Instagram: @lithermans_ltd Background: As the New Hampshire brewery boom continues, Lithermans Limited is a relatively new addition to the state’s beer scene. Lithermans opened their doors a year ago this month, and just celebrated their first anniversary with a saison festival this past weekend. The brewery bottles and distributes only a half dozen of their beers, but they’ve made over 70 different offerings available at the brewery since they opened. I’ve tasted a few of the regular offerings before, but I don’t make it up to Concord very often. Since I was headed up their for an event anyway, I decided it was finally time to see what Lithermans Limited is all about. Growlers: Yep. Lithermans offers a few different styles of growler for those who want to take away some of their non-bottled beers. The Beers: Lithermans had a nice variety of styles on tap when I stopped in, including two IPAs, a double IPA, a stout, a saison, a sour, and even an imperial red. Much as I love IPAs, I love it even more when a brewery is comfortable (and confident) enough to brew a ton of different styles. Lithermans Limited executes them all with aplomb.
Vibe: Love the taproom vibe. Lithermans perfectly encapsulates that “hole in the wall” feel that so many bars (and even breweries) swing for and miss. The taproom is small and intimate, with a high, open bartop that you can casually saunter up to and order your beers. There are tables and benches scattered throughout the space, and you probably won’t have any trouble finding a place to sit. The outside of the building isn’t particularly striking--there is a sign out front, but it almost feels like a speakeasy, which is cool. Lithermans clearly loves their vinyl records: there are records and record sleeves on the walls all throughout the brewery, and even the stools have various records lacquered into them. I thought that was a pretty cool touch. They even have a handful of old classics on the walls, including Led Zeppelin IV and Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here. As a collector of old Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin records, seeing them on the wall made me smile (PS. You guys want some old Jethro Tull records? Call me). Both of Lithermans’ brewers were present in the taproom, and both were extremely friendly. There’s something I always appreciate about seeing brewers who are happy and excited to talk about their product and greet people as they come into their establishment. These are people who clearly love not just beer, but the business of owning and operating a brewery. That’s always awesome to see. Dogs: Yep. I saw a handful of dogs wandering through the taproom while I was there, so you should be perfectly fine to bring your furry friend along. Price ($ to $$$$$): $. I was shocked at how affordable Lithermans was. I tried all seven of the beers they had on tap and paid less than $2 for each 4oz sampler. Obviously bottles and growlers will set you back a little more, but if your goal is to pop in a try a few great beers, you’ll be able to do it without breaking the bank. Food: Lithermans doesn’t have a kitchen, but they’ll offer snacks every now and then. When I came in I was immediately offered some of the free pizza and wings they had atop the bar, which was hugely welcome. Final Thoughts: All in all, I really look forward to heading back to Lithermans Limited. Concord, NH is a bit out of the way for me, but if I lived in town I would be there every week to see what’s new on tap. As it stands, I’m looking for an excuse to head back up that way just so I can pop in again and see what’s new on tap. Lithermans Limited is definitely one of New Hampshire’s best young breweries, and with such great beers on tap and just a year under their belt, I really look forward to seeing what they do in the future. -- Shane Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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Shane Carley Brewery Name: Hill Farmstead Brewery Type of Brewery: Retail Brewery Location: 403 Hill Road, Greensboro, VT 05842. It definitely isn’t easy to get to, but it's well worth the drive into the gorgeous mountains of Vermont. Website: http://hillfarmstead.com/ Facebook: Hill Farmstead Brewery Twitter: @HillFarmstead Instagram: @hillfarmstead Background: I’m sure you don’t need me to tell you about Hill Farmstead. The brewery has been consistently ranked among not just the best in New England, not just the best in America, but the best in the world. Hill Farmstead’s beers are among the most sought-after on earth, and, while I had been able to try a few of them before, I was very curious to see the brewery itself. Hill Farmstead has worked hard to make their space a must-visit destination for beer lovers. Growlers: Yes. Hill Farmstead fills multiple growler sizes, although there are some restrictions. They provide a full rundown here on their website, so double-check to make sure you've got the right size with you! The Beers: Between taps and bottles, Hill Farmstead had a wide variety of beers available for purchase. One of the nice things about the Hill Farmstead brewing space is that they can sell full pours on the premises. I tried quite a few beers both while I was there and when I returned home.
Vibe: What can you say about Hill Farmstead that hasn’t already been said? A lot, it turns out. I made the trip to the brewery with very little idea of what to expect. I’ve had my share of Hill Farmstead beers on tap around Vermont, but the brewery itself was a mystery to me. It’s not as accessible as a city brewery like Trillium or Other Half. Hell, it’s not even as accessible as Tree House, which is famously in the middle of nowhere. Hill Farmstead of like a magical land in the north that many have spoken of but few have visited. Alright, that’s not quite true. Many have made the trek to Hill Farmstead, and do so on a regular basis. If there’s one thing that has become clear about the craft beer community, it’s that people are willing to travel very, very far for the best beer in the world. And Hill Farmstead absolutely has a reputation for producing some of the best beer in the world. I visited the brewery in the mid-afternoon, well after the initial rush had cleared out, and there was still a huge number of people standing around waiting for bottles or pours. The people at Hill Farmstead were incredibly friendly, both employees and patrons. I had some nice conversations both with people raving about Hill Farmstead’s beer (and bragging about how far they traveled for it) and the employees who genuinely seem to love where they work. The property itself...wow. I’m a writer by trade, and I don’t even think I can do it justice with words. Hill Farmstead sits on a beautiful, lush, well-maintained plot of land nestled on a gorgeous little hilltop. The brewery and serving area is a rustic-looking all-wood building with a deck overlooking the property where patrons can hang out and sip a beer or two. And let’s not overlook how important serving beer is to the vibe of a place--and full pints, at that. At Hill Farmstead, you can buy bottles, yes, and you can fill growlers, sure, but you can also grab a full pour of a wide selection of their beers. With separate lines for all three options, you won’t have to stand in line for too long (depending on when you arrive, of course). Unlike some breweries, there is actually a fair amount of variation between what you can buy in bottles, growlers, and drafts, so if you want to maximize the number of different beers you can try, you’ll want to mix it up while you’re there. Dogs: Dogs are welcome outside, but don’t bring them inside. Price ($ to $$$$$): $$$$. It’s hard to give a firm rating for Hill Farmstead because they definitely vary. Bottles range from the $6 or $7 range all the way up to $20+ for rare beers and barrel-aged stouts. I got a bottle of everything they were selling that day as well as a couple of growler pours and pints, and probably wound up spending in the realm of $150. One of the great things about Hill Farmstead is that they rarely impose bottle limits. If you want a case of one of their beers, you can buy a case of that beer (there are exceptions, but the limits are usually reserved for their more expensive bottles, which, hey, how much money do you really need to spend in one day anyway?). You could drive up, have a pint, and spend almost no money at all, or you could go absolutely crazy and easily drop several hundred dollars. Hill Farmstead gives you options, and that’s something you’ve got to love. Food: Nothing inside the brewery other than snacks, but there was a food truck outside when I visited and I would guess that you’ll find one there most days. Final Thoughts: I can’t say enough good things about Hill Farmstead. And I can’t wait to make a return trip. I’ve never had a bad or even sub-par beer from Hill Farmstead, and I’ve had more than a few beers that seemed to redefine a style. In particular, I look forward to seeing how their Madness & Civilization and Society & Solitude beers continue to develop. It’s hard to say anything more. This is usually where I would say “I expect great things from [BREWERY] in the future,” but Hill Farmstead is already at the mountaintop. Anything more they do just goes above and beyond. -- Shane Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink Brian York Brewery Name: Woodfour Brewing Company Type of Brewery: Brewpub Location: Sebastopol, CA Website: http://woodfourbrewing.com/ Facebook: Woodfour Brewing Co. Twitter: @WoodfourBrewing Instagram: @woodfourbrewing Background: Sebastopol is a town in one of the best regions for red wine IN THE WORLD. Beer is a non-entity, and wine connoisseurs descend on the area at all times of year to tour, taste, and tout the expertise of Old Vine Zins and the latest sexy vintage of Pino Noir. Now, lets not forget that Russian River has made a home in wine country and done just fine, but outside of that, it takes a lot to get noticed for alcohol that doesn’t come from grapes. You might remember my write-up of Crooked Goat, who also make craft beer out of Sebastopol, so clearly there is a revolution brewing (sorry, couldn’t resist) in wine country. Woodfour is another piece of evidence that good beer has arrived. Growlers: Yes! I rarely get to say this, but Woodfour will give you a growler fill for ANY BEER! The sours are priced separately, but hey, when was the last time I could say a brewery will let you walk with a half-gallon of anything? The Beers: Absolutely love the creativity that Woodfour had on tap when I visited. They’re a sour-minded brewery, which sometimes means that other styles get ignored a bit. Not here!
Vibe: Woodfour is a really nice blend of modern and modest. Their space is very clean-cut, with a well defined bar, brewery, and seating area that features lots and lots of glass. Glass for beer, glass for decoration, glass fireplace…it's an element that I personally love in a brewery and it comes across as very straight-edge. They’re very heavy on branding, but thankfully their logo is really solid and their merchandise is unassuming. In a completely unprecedented development, I actually bought some glassware to bring home. First brewery glass I've actually purchased in a very long time! Definitely a restaurant-esque feel to my experience, but beer is aplenty and the bar is certainly big enough. I wish there was a bit more visibility into the brewing section, because the little sliver of windows that I could see through looked pretty damn cool. There is also a HUGE outdoor space that is made to take advantage of the California climate and offer an amazing way to enjoy the fresh air and freshly fermented brews. This is the type of brewery that's great to visit with a large group of people, even if some aren’t bought into the craft beer scene. The space is great, the service is top-notch, and most importantly, the beer is good! Dogs: Yes outside, no inside. As a non-dog owner, you take that and like it. Price ($ to $$$$$): $$. Full pours of the non-sour stuff go for $5. Sours at $6.50 are more than fair, and half pours are available for everything--flights too, if you’re indecisive! I didn’t partake in food, but it’s reasonably priced, especially for the area. Food: Pretty full menu here. If you want to sit down like at a restaurant, you can make a multi course meal with salads, apps, entrees, etc. Bar food wise, there are cheese boards, nuts/chips, charcuterie, so on and so forth. Didn’t get to try anything since this was a stop on the way to dinner, but I’d certainly like to take a go at it on my next visit. Final Thoughts: Sebastopol was a stop during a wine country trip, and I am so glad we decided to switch over to beer for a bit. They’ve got some really neat brews coming out of the tanks here that appeal to a really wide range of people. The coffee-infused black lager and their house sour are really unique beers that make stopping by worthwhile all on their lonesome. Add to that their other beers, awesome branding, and really solid outdoor space, and you’ve got the perfect beer oasis in the middle of wine country. Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink Shane Carley Brewery Name: Woodland Farms Brewery Type of Brewery: Retail Brewery Location: 306 Route 1, Suite C, Kittery, ME 03904. Beer fans in the Kittery area will probably know the area well, as the brewery is located just around the corner from Spruce Creek Provisions, Kittery’s premier place to buy craft beer. Website: http://www.wfbrewery.com/ (redirects to their Facebook page) Facebook: Woodland Farms Brewery Instagram: @wfbrewery Background: Woodland Farms Brewery opened about a month ago in Kittery, Maine. I first heard about them from the fine folks at Spruce Creek Provisions, and everyone was extremely positive about the place. When I found myself without much to do one Saturday afternoon, I figured it might finally be time to check the place out. Also, it’s worth pointing out that the brewery is called Woodland Farms--not to be confused with Woodland Farm (no 's'), a different brewery located in Utica, NY. Growlers: Yes, Woodland Farms offers both growlers and squealers in their taproom. The Beers: Woodland Farms is primarily a lager house, though they also offer mixed fermentation beers and a handful of other regular options. When I stopped in to visit, there were six beers on tap:
Vibe: I really enjoyed spending time here. I visited in the middle of a New England blizzard, and as soon as I stepped in the door I was warmed by the cozy environment (the comfortable temperature of the taproom helped, too). The interior space is very rustic, with a beautiful wooden bar and a handful of tables scattered throughout. The staff was extremely friendly--it just so happens that the guy running the bar while I was there happened to attend the same high school I did. We had a good time shooting the breeze about things back home, and talking about bars and breweries out that way. Everyone there (both staff and patrons) was extremely friendly, and we all had a great time talking about beer and just generally enjoying the space. One of the things that I really enjoy about Woodland Farms is their dedication to artwork. Not only do they have artwork adorning the walls to commemorate each beer they brew, but they even had business cards made up to advertise them. I thought that was a really cool touch, and not something I have ever seen before--so naturally I had to grab and handful for myself. Lager houses and breweries specializing in German beer seem to be on the upswing, and while I tend to be more of an IPA fan, I think it’s very cool to see different styles rise to prominence. Within 20 minutes of my house are Woodland Farms, Liars Bench, and Neighborhood, all three of which specialize in crisp, malty, German beers. I’ve always been a big fan of the latter two places, and I’m excited to say that Woodland Farms measures up well. Dogs: I can’t say for sure, but my guess would be that dogs are fine. They don’t have a kitchen and the space is fairly intimate, so as long as your pup is well behaved I’d be surprised if there’s a problem. Price ($ to $$$$$): $. Extremely reasonable pricing on both tasters and full pours. You’re definitely not going to break the bank here. Food: Not really. They don’t have a food menu or anything, and as far as I know they have no plans to add a kitchen. But they do offer free popcorn, so if you want a snack to munch on while you drink, you’re in luck. Final Thoughts: I went into Woodland Farms Brewery pretty blind, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I came away extremely impressed. This is a place that I’m sure I’ll be visiting more than a few times. If you’re a fan of lagers (or German beer in general), definitely check it out. And if you’re not, broaden your horizons and go check it out anyway. Woodland Farms has a really cool space, a really great staff, and enough different styles of beer that you’re sure to find something you enjoy. Two big thumbs up! -- Shane Don't forget to follow us on social media!
Facebook: Together We Drink Twitter: @TogetherWeDrink Instagram: @TogetherWeDrink Untappd: Together We Drink Peter Zuk Brewery Name: The Answer Brewpub Type of Brewery: I mean, it’s in the name. Location: Richmond, Virginia Website: http://theanswerbrewpub.com/ Facebook: The Answer Brewpub Twitter: @TheAnswerBrew Instagram: @theanswerva Background: Beer is always the answer. This is the same story I have been telling you all for some time. Guy runs awesome beer bar, says “hey, I’m good at pairing beer, I should make it!” Always a concept that breeds skepticism for cynical people like me. Well, this is the most impressive brewery I have been to since our trip to Vermont. Honestly, I am still so in awe of how much I enjoyed this place that I regret not drinking more of their beers while I was there. An Bui, the Answer’s Founder and Chief Beer Officer, is on my bucket list of people to meet in this world, not just in beer. He took a Vietnamese restaurant named Mekong and just turned it into the BEST BEER BAR IN THE COUNTRY. Yes, arguably the best beer bar in the country isn’t in DC, NYC, Burlington, Portland, San Francisco...it’s in good old Richmond, Virginia. Anyone who can elevate serving beer and food to this level deserves some sort of award from the President. But I was still skeptical about the whole brewing thing. The location wanted to do big IPAs like the Hill Farmsteads of the world. High place to aim for, but everything I have heard about this place was that the beer was just awesome. The location also has over 50 beers on tap besides their house beers and apparently there isn’t much on the draft list that overlaps with Mekong, which is located conveniently in the next building over. So much good beer so closeby. Why would you ever leave? Growlers: Yes, for some of the beers. Also crowlers, but very, very limited. They can their beers very, VERY rarely, and they are always really popular. The Beers: Oh, where to begin...
You can just buy a flight of tasters of their beers and not want to try anything else. These were all amazing, and I didn’t even get to try everything because it was so filling with this many stouts. Vibe: The phrase "perfect bar" is a subjective one. Some people want classy, some people want divey. I want a divey, approachable bar with great food and great beer. This place has everything I could ever want in a bar. If I lived in Richmond, I wouldn’t go anywhere else. The place has got a good setup to play live music, they have a ton of games and space, and unless it is slammed, it definitely seems like a place that always has a place for you (depending on what you are looking to do). When you are in the right place, you just know it. The music is right, the lighting is good, and you look at the menu and can’t decide because it has everything you want. This is that kind of place. If you don’t want their beers, you have 50 others to choose from. The staff was great, and everyone just has a positive vibe. I don’t know when I will get back here, but I can’t wait. Dogs: No. Price ($ to $$$$$): $ Food: It’s all Vietnamese sandwiches and appetizers. It’s filling, spicy, amazing bar food. Perfect with beer. You might think it’s not going to work, but spicy food and the beers they have on just go so well together. Everything is also very affordable. Nothing on the menu was more than $10, and all the tasters were really well priced. You could sit at a table there for hours and just drink and eat all day without breaking the bank. Final Thoughts: The most impressive brewery I have been to in a while. Great beer, hype is more than lived up to. It’s wonderful seeing businesses like this because you just can’t help but root for them and hope they decide to expand to your area. -- Pete Don't forget to follow us on social media!
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