Avery Brewing - Boulder, CO

Day 4 of our trip kicked off in Boulder, CO at Avery Brewing. The location is tucked down a long stretch of business areas. Although as of this writing, they are closing and opening a new giant location so my views on the location won't matter much. But it was a decent size place...glad to see they've expanded though. The popularity of this brewery just didn't the size.

They don't do a sampler tray but do allow you to order sample sizes of any beer you want. Being 3 months ago I honestly forgot exactly what I ordered for samples, but the duganA IPA and regular IPA were underwhelming to me. The pump[KY]n was fantastic! Crazy bourbon mixed with pumpkin spice.

I wasn't overly impressed with the beer given the populairty of the brewery. I know they make killer bourbon aged beers and a lot of people do love the IPAs. I wouldn't go running back, but they will do just fine, people love this brewery! So check them out for yourself...http://averybrewing.com/?verified=true

Half Acre/Revolution - Chicago, IL

Our last two stops in Chicago were Revolution Brewing and Half Acre Brewing. I have already visited, and reviewed these.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/half-acre-beer-company-chicago-il.html
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/revolution-brewing-chicago-il.html

Revolution was a full house. I got the Deaths Tar which I was excited to try...a very strong Bourbon Aged Stout. I loved it! But it was so packed we didn't stay long.

Half Acre too was very crowded. I basically sampled every beer on the board and was sadly disappointed. The first time I visited them a year and a half ago I didn't appreciate them or even know much about them. This time I went in with high hopes after trying many of their beers and loving them. Sadly they all fell flat with me this time around. 

But both are absolutely worth a visit to judge for yourself...grab some lunch at Revolution and then go to Half Acre they aren't too far apart. Plus right around the corner from Revolution is the awesome beer store Beer Temple which I also have already reviewed.
http://breweryinfo.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-beer-temple-chicago-il.html

Lagunitas Brewing Company - Chicago, IL

I can't say our first stop was Lagunitas on day 1. It actually was 18th Street Brewing for a bottle release of Imperial Blud (which was all cinnamon, wasn't a fan), and Deal with the Devil Citra Pale Ale which was delicious!
After the release we moved into the city to the new Lagunitas Brewing Co...originally out of California but now operating also in Chicago. Was a little tough to find with 1 way streets everywhere, but in no time we were parked in front of this MASSIVE brewery.

Upon entering we were greeted by 4 people...1 actually working and the others lingering. Checked ID's and then on our way down a very long hallway. Can you say Willy Wonka? They had the Chocolate Factory music playing (Pure Imagination) with flashing colored lights. At the end of this hallway you are greeted by a poster made entirely of bottle caps.

You then make a left and walk down another hallway. At the end of this hallway there is another worker sitting at a desk telling you to take the stairs (a sign would do just fine, but hey not my brewery). After a few stairs, finally you get into the taproom. GIANT taproom. Lots of tables with a great view of the entire brewing process below.

We ordered our beers at the bar and grabbed a table with a nice view. A waiter came over, and sternly said if we were sitting there we should of asked because we need a waiter to be sitting there. There was probably 30 open tables...no idea we had to ask permission..but whatever.

I have had their beer before, never a HUGE fan but a fan. I got a sampler that included Born Yesterday which was a hopped up Pale Ale, Lil Sumthin' Sumthin', Sucks, and Hop Stoopid. All I can say is nothing even came close to Born Yesterday. Hands down the best beer they have ever made..it was powerful, delicious, hoppy, smelled fantastic, just wow. I then decided to get a second sampler..which is shown below also and I honestly don't even remember them. The stout was good I recall, but Born Yesterday just killed it.

Before we left we did a self tour in which you can walk all around outside the taproom and look down at the brewing process. Quick stop at the gift shop and we were on our way.

If you are in Chicago, it is worth checking this place out. They had a food menu (we didn't eat), a giant gift shop, and plenty of space. Check them out..https://lagunitas.com/taproom/chicago/

Climbing Bines Hop Farm - Penn Yan, NY

 

Our last brewery stop Day 1 was at the Climbing Bines Hop Farm.  As you drive into the parking lot, you start to see the rows of hops growing outside and it's a beautiful site. The building is a decent size with a good amount of space inside but there isn't really tables and whatnot set up it's more like grab a drink and then go outside.

We did the sampling which gives you a sample of each beer and keep the glass.  The IPA was nice and the others were good but nothing really blew me away.  Service was great. We then decided to get a pint and walk around the hop farm.  When you buy a pint you keep the glass also! I guess they really don't want any dish washing to have to do.

We really enjoyed this stop.  Good beer and great scenery and it was really cool to see a hop farm close up since I never had. The hops smelled great and I would love to go back again! Check them out for yourself...www.climbingbineshopfarm.com/

Starkey's Lookout - Dundee, NY

Our second last stop of the day and WOW this place is great.  It is located on a main road along the water and the building itself is just MASSIVE. Now it is a brewery, winery, and event place.

Upon entering you there is the beer room with a bar and lots of merchandise. Then a wine merchandise room for things to purchase. Then you walk through a beautiful main room with a fireplace that overlooks the water. And finally the back room which also serves beer and wine.

We got a sampler and went out to the patio.  The service was great, place was completely dead we were the only two there. We enjoyed our beers with a beautiful view and relaxed.  None of the beers really blew me away, but the location, the view, the service and the experience are highly worth stopping in for wine OR beer!

 Do yourself a favor and check them out...www.starkeyslookout.com/

Hill Farmstead - Greensboro Bend, VT

Hill Farmstead is very well known among beer geeks or beer enthusiasts or beer nerds..whoever they are they know this brewery. Located about an hour outside of Waterbury..home of the Alchemist, this place is hidden in the middle of lots of farmland and thank god for a GPS because I would have had no clue where I was going.

After reading plenty of reviews, I knew this place gets packed early and you can expect to wait. We arrived about 30 minutes early and already had about 20 people in line.  We waited, and waited, finally opened! You then go inside a building where you wait again.  Very basic farm house here with an organized process of getting you your beers.  You step up, tell them what you want, they take your growlers and you wait a few minutes and boom..it's done!

The one nice thing is when you get close to the counter, a nice woman comes and takes an order for 4 samples for 5$.  You can choose any 4 of the beers and she brings them to you one by one. 
Between me and my girlfriend and friend we got 9 growlers.  The Susan is just an incredible IPA.  Society and Solitude #4 outstanding. Abner was really good. The Walden Session was a really nice session.  And for a porter the Everett was incredible.  But for growlers it was all about Society and Solitude #4 and Susan...they killed it!

They have a few t-shirts and very nice stemmed glasses for sale. They also sell bottles of different beers they make..none of the IPAs or anything, usually sours and farmhouse ale type beers.

I wouldn't make the trek out here again, too far and too much work for a few growlers. BUT it did look like they were constructing a tasting room perhaps, and in Waterbury you can get most the beers on tap..so I would stick to that.  They update their taplist daily and are open most days expect Monday and Tuesdays I believe, check them out...www.hillfarmstead.com/

Magic Hat Brewing Co - South Burlington, VT

One word will describe my experience here..SHOCKED.  Now my experiences with Magic Hat isn't much expect that I had tried it once or twice and was never a huge fan.  But I figured hey..it's in the area why not check it out? Now if I had to describe this brewery in one word it would be..Eclectic. 

Upon arriving you are greeted by a giant lighthouse type structure near the entrance and a giant steel door to walk through.  In the building there is a giant room with dim lighting and just a green lit feel to it.  Tons of merchandise..all sorts of cool little things I haven't seen at other breweries.  Even a free photo booth that allows you to take fun pictures and they get emailed to you for free.

As for the beer you get 4 free samples you can choose from the 6-8 beers they typically have on tap.  Being such a long day already, I can't even recall each one I had but I will say I did enjoy them and that surprised me.

They offer tours, which from the looks of the brewery I bet are pretty unique tours.  I bought some merchandise, enjoyed the beers and now I can proudly say I am a Magic Hat fan.  I probably won't be buying their buys on a constant basis but I do look for them now every once in a while and want to give them a chance.  If you are in the Burlington area do yourself a favor and check them out...www.magichat.net/