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Woodstock Magazine’s Upper Valley Beer Picks for 2019

Mar 04, 2019 12:12PM ● By Kevin
America’s favorite glass-raising holiday is upon us. St. Patrick’s Day is a reason to celebrate Irish heritage, and many folks enjoy a good, craft beer (or two, or three, or…) in the process. In light of that, we decided to honor our local brewers with a list of hot new creations and old-time favorites currently on tap.

Check out these 8 beers when you tour your local breweries St. Patrick’s Day 2019 and beyond.

 

Whistling Pig Red Ale of Jasper Murdock Ales

Inspired by an Irish Classic. Garnet red in color and full-bodied with a rounded malty flavor and lingering hop aftertaste. First brewed for the Whistling Pig Game Dinner held on Groundhog Day. This brew is 5.1% ABV.

Jasper Murdock’s repertoire has grown to more than 50 different craft beers, including traditionally English style cask ales. Their ales and lagers are crafted from the finest malts and hops, occasionally including hops grown in our own hop garden here at the Norwich Inn. Because filtration can strip flavor and body from a beer, the yeast is allowed to settle out naturally in an extended cold-aging period to ensure that all the goodness reaches your palate. The Vermont craft beer is then pumped underground and across the 100 foot distance from the Brewery cellar to our Pub at the Inn, where we rotate 8 different beers, plus one cask ale. For more information, visit norwichinn.com/brewery.

 

Unfallen of River Roost

This one packs a heavy punch at 10.2% ABV. Unfallen is an Imperial Stout with Ancho chiles, chocolate habaneros, cacao nibs, and Ceylon cinnamon.

River Roost Brewery offers aromatic, hop forward, full flavored beers brewed in 10BBL batches. Established in 2016, owner and operator Mark Babson, a former brewer and quality technician in the industry, now spends his days in the brewhouse or behind the bar creating favorites like Más Verde, Mo’rilla, and Glimpse. For more information, visit riverroostbrewery.com.

 

Clown Shoes Galactica of Harpoon Brewery

Dry hopped with Galaxy hops, Clown Shoes Galactica is a clean malt backbone enhances the dank and luscious IPA flavors. It is 8.0% ABV.

The Harpoon Brewery Riverbend Taps and Beer Garden, located in the same building as the brewery itself, offers a full selection of Harpoon beers straight from the source along with delicious food to pair with your pint. Enjoy a beer inside the brewery overlooking our bottling line or outside in the outdoor Beer Garden area! For more information, visit harpoonbrewery.com.

 

Long Trail Lager

Introducing the first widespread lager release in Long Trail Brewing Company nearly 30-year history as a craft brewery! Sparked by two years of small-batch recipe development, Long Trail Lager is a clean, easy-drinking craft lager with a crisp base accompanied by lemon and herbal hop aromas derived from Kazbek hops.

Like a campfire’s glow, this light golden beer is a beacon to brewers, hikers and everyone in between. A relatively new brew, this 5.3% ABV lager started selling in the beginning of February 2019. 

With the Mountain Brewers leading the pack, Long Trail Ale® slowly weaved its way into the Green Mountain landscape – becoming as much a Vermont tradition as the hiking trail itself. For more information, visit longtrail.com.

 

Little Farmhouse Saison of Upper Pass Beer Company 

A crisp and peppery Vermont-style farmhouse ale made with Pilsner, Vienna and wheat malts, Fermented with a secret mix of French and Belgian saison yeast and lightly dry hopped. This one is 6.2% ABV.

Upper Pass Beer Company is a farmhouse brewery in Tunbridge. They released their first beer at the Tunbridge World’s Fair in September 2015. Their tasting room is now open at First Branch Coffee in South Royalton, located in a historic building facing the village green. Tasting Room hours are 4 to 9 p.m., Tuesday and Friday, and 12 to 4 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. For more information, visit upperpassbeer.com.

 

Stack O’Lee of Brocklebank Craft Brewing

A pilsner made with American hops. Named in honor of the brewery’s late, great brewdog, Stack O'Lee, it shares his handsome golden color. This pils’ is 5.5% ABV.

Brocklebank Craft Brewing is a one-and-a-half barrel nanobrewery in Tunbridge. They brew all kinds of beers, including IPAs, pilsners, stouts, weissbiers, and fruit beers, and distribute to a dozen bars and restaurants in central Vermont. For more information, visit brocklebankvt.com.

 

Blood Orange Imperial of Bent Hill Brewery

This is the brewery’s flagship, New England-style, double IPA, brewed with blood orange and dry hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Belma, Azzaca, and Centennial.

Bent Hill Brewery brews more than 20 different styles providing a vast selection for all taste pallets. The three barrel brewery is located on our 16 acre farm in the Braintree mountain range of central Vermont. For more information, visit benthillbrewery.com.

 

Snowblower Porter of The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille

This porter is a dark, warming, viscous ale balancing mouthfeel, body, and roastiness with a gentle, but persuasive hop presence. At 6.8% ABV, it is brewed with chocolate rye, spelt, and wheat, and hopped with Cryo-Cascade. 

The Flying Goose Brew Pub & Grille brews are available on tap in the brewpub and also available for purchase in growlers to go. They typically have 17 different styles on draft at any time and a rotating, seasonal selection. Flying Goose brews about 1,500 barrels per year in 20 to 30 different styles and is powered by solar energy. For more information, visit flyinggoose.com.


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