Over the river and through the woods... to hidden hops we go!
The New England craft beer scene is BOOMING and these six small states house over 500 breweries! This accounts for 12% of all breweries nationwide - pretty impressive for our little corner of the world! Breweries now occupy everything from main streets to abandoned warehouses, and everything in between. Some are easily accessible and others are hard to find - you know we prefer the latter. Here's a round up of some of our favorite hops off the beaten path...
FOGTOWN BREWING
25 Pine St. Ellsworth, ME
Fogtown is first up - a thirst quenching pit stop on the way to Acadia National Park. Maine grown ingredients, food trucks, live music and local artists. Fogtown brews are funky, rustic, flavorful and fun!
GOTTA GET:
Gnome Juice - "made with magic", hoppy with hints of cranberry and apple cider
Moonjuice - an IPA aged in Gin barrels
Food truck favorite - Eat At Joe's
A farm-to-table truck sourcing local to serve organic veggies, grass fed meats and homemade sauces!
STONE COW BREWERY
500 West St. Barre, MA
There's more than just beer at Carter & Steven's Farm in Barre, MA. Stone Cow brewery is just one awesome offering on these 1,000 acres!
Make sure to also stop by the farm store for farm fresh ice cream, raw milk, grass-fed beef, and fresh fruits and veggies!
Well worth a weekend trip for their "Field to Flame BBQ" featuring only locally grown foods from June - September.
They also have yoga and live music!
Farm brewed beer at its' finest
GOTTA GET:
Fields & Forest IPA - hazy hops & exotic fruits
Farm Girl Blueberry Sour - made from local hops & local blueberries
THE POUR FARM
56 Crawfordsburn Ln. Union, ME
Union, Maine is home to just over 2,000 people and has only 3 restaurants which makes The Pour Farm a diamond in the rough. It's a brewery in the woods - what's not to love?! Find it if you can! The property is scenic and surrounded by forestland, making it a perfect spot to have a picnic!
This young Nano Brewery is fermenting from local ingredients...
GOTTA GET:
Windsurfing Hippie Painkiller - Amber Ale
Sunk Haze - New England IPA
GRANITE ROOTS BREWING
244 North Main St. Troy, NH
We just can't handle HOW CUTE this little place is.
Local ingredients & sustainable farming are the foundations of these Nano brews. A stellar summer spot to be outside in the beer garden (literally a garden) AND a welcoming winter spot to cozy up inside by the wood stove.
Flavors of the Monadnock region shine through the 2.5 barrels at this brew stop.
GOTTA GET:
Hefe-Metal - a good pun and an easy drinkin' Hefeweizen
BELGIAN MARE BREWERY
207 Gilsum Mine Rd. Alstead, NH
Beer made the old fashion way - cooked over a wood fire! This 3 barrel tasting room is only open on Sundays from May-Nov.
Come thirsty, the brews are sold in 22oz bottles!
GOTTA GET:
Hive & Oak - dark NH honey, aged in oak
Spiced Ale - . copper ale, spicy coriander
FOLEY BROTHERS BREWING
79 Stone Mill Dam Rd. Brandon, VT
This list is in no particular order so as these brewing brothers may be last, they certainly are not least! Hop on down the dirt road to this quintessential Vermont tasting room where IPA's rule the rural taps. Don't like IPA's? Try the wine!
15 barrels of small batch experimental brews - try em on draft or in 16oz cans.
GOTTA GET:
Skeleton Crew - the way IPA should be
Changes in Latitude - Brut IPA
That sums up this road trip but we're always thirsty for more...
Where are your hops hiding? Let us know where to go next!
