This time of year there’s lots to celebrate! And luckily we have tons of holiday beers & ciders! Let’s grab some celebratory libations and raise a glass to good times!

 

A Vermont classic returns in 2017! 

Built to take the bite from a cold winter night, Hibernator features a rich malt base highlighted by warming notes of caramel and toffee. Don’t sleep on this rich, robust winter brew.

Last year we awoke the bears with a limited run of cans offered at our brewery in Bridgewater Corners. In 2017, we’re culminating a year of throwing it back to our roots, by sending Hibernator out for a full run of distribution in 6pks and 12pks of 12 ounce bottles and on draught.

Keep your eyes out for it as the weather cools down!
6.0% ABV, 32 IBUs.

THE DARKEST NIGHT OF THE YEAR CALLS FOR A LOCAL DARK BEER!

 

von TRAPP (Stowe, VT) – TRÖSTEN LAGER – Celebrate the Winter Solstice on December 21st with an epic dark lager from the master brewers at von Trapp! Trösten translating to “comfort beer”, is a dark lager with rich notes of chestnut and toast. Carafa and smoked malts create rich flavors lingering on a surprisingly light, smooth finish. Brewed for the cold winter nights in Vermont, but can be enjoyed on any occasion.

von TRAPP (Stowe, VT) – DOUBLE IPL – This India Pale Lager infuses the complexity of our lagers with the addition of American West Coast hops. Simcoe hops provide a pronounced piney aroma, while the Amarillo Hops provide the citrus aroma. A perfect harmony in a classic rendition of this new-school style. 8.0% ABV, 55 IBUs.
QUEEN CITY (Burlington, VT) – BUSHWICK – Modeled after the distinctive light lagers produced by several Brooklyn breweries in the 1950s, Bushwick Lager is a delicate, light-bodied, and refreshing beer with a subtle sweetness balanced by a pleasant noble hop bitterness. An American classic style brought back to life

HOLY BASIL, BATMAN!

CITIZEN CIDER (Burlington, VT) – TULSI CIDER – Tulsi, more commonly know as Holy Basil, is an aromatic perennial. Harvested in the summer of 2017 right here in Burlington at Hallow Herb Farm. We add this local herb to our off-dry cider blend and let it steep letting the aromatic basil complement the fresh apple cider. Once a house favorite only shared locally, now a cider to share with the Citizens. 5.4% ABV.

 

LIQUID CHEER

What’s better than a chocolate covered raspberry, you ask?
How about that in beer form?!

Sam Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout and Lindemans Framboise Raspberry Lambic are stunning beers alone, or with dessert: either or both of  them can complement chocolate or raspberry dishes, cheesecake, ice cream, pie, or flan.  Our customers have suggested another absolutely magic pairing: put 2-3 ounces of  Lindemans Framboise into a glass, and top it off with Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout. Whether you call it a Chocolate-Covered Raspberry, a Chocolate Truffle, or a Raspberry Stout…this  blend of  two exquisite beers will make any evening into a night to remember!

SAMUEL SMITH’S ORGANIC CHOCOLATE STOUT (England) – Samuel Smith’s Old Brewery at Tadcaster, one of  England’s few remaining independent breweries, was founded in 1758 and is the oldest in Yorkshire. Water from the original well is used to brew all beers, and every drop of ale is still fermented in traditional ‘Yorkshire Squares’ – open-topped vessels made of  stone.  Each Smith beer is a benchmark for its style, but Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout has been the most dramatic beer introduction in the history of the brewery. Chocolate is beautifully melded to the full, roasty flavor of  stout: it’s deep, aromatic, & satisfying; a full body with fruity notes from the Sam Smith yeast strain support the lush chocolate aroma and flavor.  USDA Certified Organic by the UK Soil Association

LINDEMANS FRAMBOISE (Belgium) – Since 1822, Lindemans Brewery has been the benchmark producer of  one of  the world’s rarest and most unusual beers: “spontaneously fermented” all-natural Lambic Ale.  After brewing a wort from locally-grown wheat & barley, Lambic brewers allow wild, airborne yeast to ferment the beer – no yeast is added by the brewers.  Complex, unique flavors result from this magic mixture of  multiple wild yeast strains; the addition of  fresh fruit juice with light sweetening lead to a beautifully balanced, elegant masterpiece. Lambics can be produced only in Belgium’s Senne River Valley, west of  Brussels. Lindemans Framboise raspberry Lambic is the best-selling Lambic in the US for good reason: it offers a profound deep-red color; raspberry aroma and flavor with a crisp clean, delicate palate and undertones of fruity acidity for balance.

 

 

Cheers to our partners at von Trapp Brewing for earning a SILVER MEDAL at the Great International Beer, Cider & Mead Competition for their DUNKEL LAGER!

“We were honored to see our Dunkel recognized at this year’s competition” said Sam von Trapp.  “It’s long been one of Brewmaster JP Williams’ favorites, and we love to see people’s reaction to how smoothly this dark beer drinks.”  This is the second medal earned by von Trapp Brewing at this competition; their Bohemian Style Pilsner won a Silver Medal in 2015.

 

UFO WINTER BLONDE

Have you ever tasted a light wheat beer that tastes like vanilla coffee? We hadn’t either until the UFO brewers made this delicious little treat. Made with vanilla cold brew from a local partner, you won’t believe how light and refreshing this beer is for your next holiday jingle! 4.9% ABV

ANCHOR –

ANCHOR CHRISTMAS ALE – An annual favorite! We only received a tiny amount of Anchor Christmas Ale so don’t hesitate! Limited availability ANCHOR COFFEE PORTER – “Our historic, art deco building on San Francisco’s Potrero Hill was a coffee roastery before it was our brewery. We’ve joked for years that it takes a lot of coffee to make beer. Now, in collaboration with local roaster Four Barrel Coffee, we are doing just that– literally. We start in the brewhouse with our radically traditional recipe for Anchor Porter, which we’ve been brewing since 1972. We end up in the cellar, where we add Four Barrel Flash-Chilled Coffee– developed with Anchor especially for this beer– during secondary fermentation. The coffee used is brewed hot, then flash-chilled within 10 seconds. This proprietary method ensures the vital aromatics and key acids of a great cup of coffee are captured and preserved. The result is a coffee porter of immense richness, intensity, boldness, and smoothness, with deep aromas and mouthfeel of fresh-roasted coffee melded with dark-roasted maltiness. Anchor Coffee Porter is a rich, smooth Porter with a roasty malt backbone, a bold coffee aroma and complex layers of chocolate, nuts and spices.”

 

BREWS FOR A ROCKIN’ HOLIDAY

Real ale fan and history aficionado Bruce Dickinson, IRON MAIDEN‘s vocalist, played a major role in developing the unique flavor of the beer, entailing ongoing visits to the Robinsons brewery in Stockport. “I’m a lifelong fan of traditional English ale; I thought I’d died and gone to heaven when we were asked to create our own beer. I have to say that I was very nervous: Robinsons are the only people I have had to audition for in 30 years. Their magic has been to create the alchemical wedding of flavor and texture that is TROOPER. I love it.TROOPER – A Premium British Beer inspired by Iron Maiden and handcrafted at Robinsons Brewery. Malt flavors and citric notes for a unique blend of Bobek, Goldings and Cascade hops give this deep golden ale a subtle hint of lemon. TROOPER takes its name from the Iron Maiden song which itself was inspired by the famous Charge of the Light Brigade HALLOWEDLimited Edition! A new Belgian-style beer from IRON MAIDEN & ROBINSONS. Crystal Rye gives HALLOWED a blood red hue and a smooth dry finish. The Belgian-style yeast we have used in this brew along with Noble hops combine to deliver a complex palate of subtle banana and a sweet plum finish. 6% ABV.

CHAMPLAIN ORCHARDS –

SOMERSET – A Limited Edition Traditional Dry Cider! Inspired by the ciders hailing from Somerset, England, this limited blend is as dry as we go. Featuring Kingston Black, Stokes Red, Foxwhelp and Dabinett cider apple varietals from our own orchard. Non-GMO, no added sugar, naturally gluten-free. Orchard Made. Every Single Drop.