Foam Brewers

When Chris Went: January 16th, 2021

Where: 112 Lake Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Native Vermonters enjoying the warm weather

Is there a New England city more hipster than Burlington, Vermont? Well if you had any doubts, then let me introduce you to Foam Brewery. The brewery opened in 2016 by “an eclectic group of industry professionals….looking to move away from the grind of production brewing.” Foam is located on the waterfront of Lake Champlain and has a good amount of both outdoor and indoor seating. They were pretty busy when we went so we did not actually get to sit in the bar area, but from what I did see, it was pretty unique. They have a steel curved bar and design painted walls and the outside walls were all brick. Attached to the brewery is their restaurant, Deep City, which is where found seat.

My mom wondering why I am taking a picture (Deep City)

Let me tell you, hipsters know how to make beer and food. Deep City makes their own ice cream, called Factory Ice Cream, which I did not get a chance to try since I had just had Ben & Jerry’s. But I was able to try three different beers. First was their Lost in the Supermarket, a Rachbier, which I had never heard of so I gave it a shot. It was made with squash, honey, peppercorn, cardamom and lemon zest. I am glad my brother ordered it and not me because I was not a fan. Luckily I was a fan of the two beers that I ordered. First up was the Living Still Life, a blackberry, lime, guava, and lactose sour. This was very good, and my first time trying a sour with lactose with it. I really appreciate breweries that try new stuff and give unique names to their beer. It probably does not matter to most people, but I get annoyed with breweries that names their stuff by the style, eg this is our Stout beer, or Sour beer. Have some fun with the names, people! Speaking of fun names, I also had their Milk & Black Spiders, an imperial milk stout with lactose, coffee, cocao, and vanilla. It gave me the flavor of malted milk balls and was very smooth and creamy despite being 11.5%. These were just a few of the large variety and selection that Foam brewery had to offer, so if you make it up to Vermont you will find something you like here. When it comes to the name of Foam Brewery, it is a very accurate description of their beer as you can see in the image below. All of their beers come with a large head which adds another layer of uniqueness to Foam Brewery.

Other Cool Things:

  • Like all hipster breweries, they have coffee and kombucha available
  • Their house made ice cream is made with their beer, The Factory Black Ale
  • Cans to-go
  • Merch for sale
  • Second location in Hinesburg, VT which is to-go sales only

What Chris Drank:

Chris: Lost in the Supermarket (Rauchbier) 8.5% – 2 out of 5

Chris: Living Still Life (Sour) 6% – 4 out of 5

Chris: Milk & Black Spiders (Stout) 11.5% – 4 out of 5

Brewing Persuasions: 4 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Darkness Brewing

When: October 5, 2020

Where: 224 Fairfield Ave, Bellevue, KY 41073

Born out of two home brewer’s love for dark beers, I’d like to formally welcome you to Darkness Brewery. Darkness quite literally gets it name from their heavy focus on producing delicious dark beers. What could be more fitting? Since 2016, this neighborhood brewery has become an oasis for locals to hang out, have a beer, and walk back home before it gets to late. The brewery is located in a former car garage, which gives the taproom a laid back, industrial feel. The walls are covered in colorful, imaginative mural art that are completely out of this world. Additionally, all of the visible wood and metal is reclaimed from places around Northern Kentucky.

Shannon: Because Darkness is located in a former car garage, the taproom can feel a bit small. Their outdoor seating area is actually larger than their indoor space. I think it’s a lot easier to get a growler to go instead of scoping out a seat inside. The staff behind the bar are fantastic about getting you a drink you’re going to love. The first time I ever visited, they recommended I try one of their most popular seasonal beers. It was fall, so naturally that means pumpkin. Blumpkin is a 7.1% ABV black pumpkin ale brewed with real pumpkin and pumpkin pie spice. Truly one of the best pumpkin beers I’ve ever had.

Other Cool Stuff:

  • Brunch on Sundays!
  • Darkness specializes in dark beers!
  • Open 7 days a week
  • Cool tshirts and hoodies available
  • You can’t get their beer canned but they do offer growlers to go!
  • Outdoor patio space
  • Live events

What Shannon Drank:

Shannon: Man on the Moo (Milk Stout) 5.3% ABV – 4.5 out of 5

Shannon: Blumpkin (Black pumpkin ale) 7.1% ABV – 5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?

Vermont Pub and Brewery

When Chris Went: January 16th, 2021

Where: 144 College Street, Burlington, VT 05401

Vermont Pub and Brewery is Vermont’s oldest microbrewery, opened by Greg Noonan and Bill Mares in 1988, making it older than any brewery in Connecticut. When it opened, Vermont Pub and Brewery was the first Vermont brewery in the state in ninety-four years. All the state’s breweries owe Greg Noonan a debt because it was his advocacy that got Vermont to change their liquor laws to allow for on-site sale of manufactured beer which made microbreweries and brewpub feasible. Since they opened in 1988, Vermont Pub and Brewery has won a number of awards for their different beers, including their Burly Irish Ale, Forbidden Fruit Framboise, and their Handsome Mick’s Smoked Stout. The pub is located in downtown Burlington, not far from the water and close to tons of great breweries and restaurants. The brewpub gives off a distinctly Irish pub feel in aesthetic, beer, and food.

Chris: I visited Vermont Pub and Brewery while it was snowing which led to a very picturesque scene. With its location in downtown Burlington we decided to make a day of it and see all the things the city had to offer, so that meant brunch, beer, and Ben & Jerry’s. Since we had already decided to have all the unhealthy food we decided to order some of the best poutine I have ever had. (I would be open to starting a craft poutine blog) We also wanted to try as many beers as we could so we got a flight. On a quick side note, I feel as though Vermont Pub & Brewery was the safest restaurant or brewery I have ever been to in terms of covid precautions. In terms of beer, I was a little disappointed that they did not have any darks for me to try, but I was able to sample four different beers. After reading the rave reviews of their beer I was not impressed, not giving any of the beers over a 3 out of 5, and it seems most people on untapped seemed to give similar ratings. I tried two sours, Forbidden Fruit and Spuyten Duyvil and did not think either was very good. Maybe we just came on an off day and got the B lineup instead of the A lineup. In summary, Vermont Pub and Brewery is a place with great history, great food, and okay beer.

Other Cool Things:

  • Merch for sale
  • Founder has written THREE books on brewing (two on lagers and one of scotch ale)
  • Take out available
  • Maybe you will see Bernie Sanders there

What Chris Drank:

Chris: Flash Mob (Pale Ale) 4.9% – 3 out of 5

Chris: Spuyten Duyvil (Sour) 5.6% – 3 out of 5

Chris: Regal (Lager) 4% – 3 out of 5

Chris: Forbidden Fruit (Raspberry Sour) 6% – 3 out of 5

Chris: Vermont Maple (Ale) 7.2% – 2.5 out of 5

Brewing Persuasion: 3.5 out of 5

Feeling persuaded yet?