Lawson’s Double Sunshine IPA Completes the Holy Trinity of Vermont Beers

No world class beer comes without a storied journey.  Whether it’s a Pliny the Elder being smuggled to the east coast in a suitcase, a trip to the heart of Vermont’s North East Kingdom for a taste of Hill Farmstead Abner, or a well-packaged six-pack of Zombie Dust arriving in the mail, getting your mitts …

Seven Local Beers for the Christmas Season

‘Tis the season for family feasts, yuletide gatherings, and Christmas mayhem.  What better way to celebrate the season than by imbibing in locally brewed beers from around New England?  Instead of showing up with a bottle of Cabernet to this year’s Festivus party, grab a 22 oz. bomber or a growler of the brilliant beers …

Lost Beer Passage from Kahlil Gibran’s ‘The Prophet’

Then an old man, a keeper of a bar, said, Speak to us of Beer. And he said: Would that you could live simply on the fruits of the earth and be sustained by wine. But since you were born to drink delicious craft beer made locally by brewmasters who harness the powers of grains …

Hill Farmstead Brewery is a Microbrew Dream

You find yourself in Burlington, Vermont, and you don’t know why. You’re not frightened. You’re where you’re supposed to be. It’s night. You walk down Church Street and get a Bombay Grab IPA at Vermont Pub and Brewery. This is delicious, you think. After tipping the angelic woman behind the bar, you walk up St. …

Always Remember, It’s Just Beer

To some people, the title of this blog might be blasphemy.  Like when Mick Jagger sang through those big puffy lips, “I know, it’s only rock and roll, but I like it.”  A lot people were up in arms.  Only rock and roll?!  How can Mick be saying this only five years after Woodstock?  How?! …

Why I Write About Beer: A Manifesto

1. I love the words I get to use when I write about beer.  Look at the names of different types of hops: Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, Kents Golding, Bravo, Apollo, Zeus, Cluster, Nugget, Chinook.  The hops alone are a verbiage gift that keeps on giving.  How about the words associated with the brewing process: mash, …

Pliny the Elder Vs. Heady Topper: A Fight for World Dominance

Drinking Pliny the Elder a few weeks ago with Tim, we got to musing over whether or not there’s any reason to rank beers.  If a beer kicks your palate’s ass, then why start rating it against other beers?  Why do humans feel the need to categorize and make best-of lists? As humans, we like …

Is Heady Topper the Best Beer in America, Nay, the World?

Since it came to my attention two weeks ago that Heady Topper has been named the best beer in America and the best IPA in the world by some beer rating outlets, it became my unbridled mission to get my hands on a can during my Vermont trip.  As a Vermont ex-pat living in Maine, …