Celebrations and releases

Another month has passed since my last entry - proving more difficult to find the creative spirit and timing to update everyone with our progress.  But, with the Grand Opening party just a week away, I have forced myself to write an update and a few words while in the midst of filling kegs and brewing yet another batch of Edward.

Next Saturday, May 29th, several hundred people will descend upon Hill Road for what will soon become our annual festival (which, in a way, merely displaces the annual birthday celebration of my youth - memorial day weekend).  A few words about the event:
12pm to 6pm
Counter to a circulating myth, there will *not* be free beer.  Only great beer. Very hoppy beer. And much of it.
For those that arrive promptly at 12pm -
Cask Conditioned Edward (double dry hopped, naturally carbonated) 5.2%
Cask Conditioned Abner (triple dry hopped, naturally carbonated) 8.2%
Cask Conditioned Edward James (double dry hopped, naturally carbonated) 6.8%
*This is the debut of James, our India Black Ale.

Once those casks are gone -
We'll be pouring those 3 in draft versions plus the debut (if time and conditioning cooperates) of our all Citra IPA and a sneak peak at our farmhouse ale (with 2 weeks in the oak)...

Pricing: All beers are 5$ per glass.  There will be specials - but it is very much a cash only event.  Admission to the event and music is free for your auditory pleasure.

Food: The Parker Pie Co. will be serving:
P.E.I. Mussels with Saison, Leeks, and Fennel
Red Curry Chicken Kebab
Pork Belly and Kimchi Sandwich
Gruyere, Prosciutto, and Sage Mac and Cheese
Smoked Trout Cake with Apple Slaw

Music:  Jazz with PJ Davidian, Parker Shper, and two guests.

In Brewing News - The barrels are full.  Our smoked baltic porter is resting, silently, in wine and bourbon barrels.  Growing more delicious by the day (I can attest!).  The first batch of Arthur, our Saison, is resting in Pinot Noir barrels with various strains of Brettanomyces - and, one barrel, with 5 kilograms of honey straight into the barrel.

The new and the upcoming...  Next week we'll be brewing a new saison - our Dandelion/Lilac/Honey saison.  This is a throw back to a beer that I brewed 3 years ago and served at the Belgium Comes to Cooperstown event at Brewery Ommegang (Terra Madre).  This beer will likely be called Vera Mae (my grandfather's sister and the first born child of Abner... One might entertain  stories in a manner akin to greek mythology : Abner, as an imperial india pale ale, gives birth to a daughter... who likens herself to all things the encompass flowers and spring).  A good friend of mine, Will Meyers (of Cambridge Brewing Company) will be joining me for the day.  Will seems to like picking flowers (ie. Heather/Lyng)... and he'll return to our brewery, once again, in June, to collaborate on a new barrel aged beer - likely an Imperial Rye Porter (similar perhaps to the beer that Mike Murphy and I brewed at Amager: RugPorter/Murphill... two of Amager's highest rated beers =)

Also, we'll finally brew our Russian Imperial Stout - Damon (named for the memory of my beloved Black Labrador Retriever).  This one will be aged in Bourbon, Brandy, and Wine barrels... think SEVEN, slightly modified (ie. not 17 different malts...)

Lastly, Ryan will be flying over to Vermont in early September where we will likely brew my Christmas Porter/Stout (strange, isn't it, to collaborate with another brewery that you own? Grassroots/Hill Farmstead.)   After two days in Vermont, we'll fly together to Tampa, Florida for a collaborative brew with Cigar City...

Oh.. yeah.. and Menno from De Molen will be passing through in the coming months, as well.  More to come...

New at the Farmstead: Within the coming months, we will be launching a few special beers that will only be available at the brewery, in growler fills.  Please check the website for availability.  We will also begin selling Grassroots Brewing beers from Denmark, in growlers, here at the brewery. Available nowhere else in the US.

Bottle shop is open, too.  Featuring beers from Mikkeller, Cantillon, Nøgne ø, Dieu Du Ciel, and various oddities... check often for updates.

Upcoming events:
Festivals:
May 22, 2010: Brattleboro Brewer's Festival: 1pm to 5pm

June 4 and 5, 2010: Philly Beer week events in Kennett Square.

June 18/19, 2010: BeerAdvocate's American Craft Brewer's Festival, Boston, MA.

July 9th, 2010: Hill Farmstead Beer Dinner at the Round Barn Inn in Waitsfield, VT.  Email me (shaun at hillfarmstead.com or the chef, chef@cookingfromtheheart.com) for more details or tickets.  Will be an amazing dinner with never before sampled beers...

Early September, 2010: Potential Beer Dinner, here in Greensboro, VT, at the Lakeview Inn, with two my favorite people: Mikkel Bjergsø (Mikkeller!) and James Beard Award winning chef Matt Jennings, of Farmstead/La Laiterie.  Still in the planning stages...  but expect greatness from all three of us... along with a blend of Nordic and Vermont cuisine.  ** If, for some reason, Mikkel cannot entertain these dates, we'll either fly solo with Matt or... 1. Import Grassroots Beers for their first ever sampling in the US 2. Invite another friend...?

See you all soon!

Comments

[Timi Carter]

I was at your opening this weekend and feel you need to connect with Eric Michaud of Novare Res Bier Cafe in Portland, ME. I am emailing him about your website and hopefully you two can connect! Thanks for a fabulous product..... I will be up for more and so glad I can enjoy it at Claire's also :~)

[Vasili]

Hey Shaun,

Congadultions on the WBC awards! fantastic news. Also great to hear that things are rolling along. Sounds like some great beers and collaborations. I wish I was heading to VT this summer to try some out. I hope the opening was great and keep up the good work.