In the summer and autumn of 2022, our location played host to a collection of hives provided by Northwoods Apiaries in Westfield, Vt. Over that span, the bees settled into a rhythm within the natural environment, industriously enjoying a wide variety of native flowering fruit trees, field flowers, and whatever suited them best.

The results of this arrangement were both productive and sweet.

Beginning this week in our bottle shop, we’ll offer 8-ounce jars of raw Vermont honey created from the land surrounding our brewery. This honey was harvested and packaged by Northwoods Apiaries for Hill Farmstead. We will also begin using this same honey in upcoming brews of Anna and 2023’s Vera Mae, anchoring the beer even more intrinsically with the place.

As is sometimes the case with raw honey, this has begun to crystalize after packaging, which is entirely natural. If you prefer the visual presentation of uncrystallized golden liquid, you can simply place crystallized honey in a warm water bath (40°C or 100°F) for about 15 minutes—the crystals will dissolve, and your honey will return to its liquid state.

I have romantically held onto the idea of keeping bees for over 20 years. It was written into the original business plan (along with beer distributed in wooden crates, reusable bottles, and a permaculture landscape) in 2004. These notions of a diversified farmscape were advanced and inspired by time spent WWOOFing in New Zealand in January 2004. It was naive to believe that a brewer would somehow have sufficient time to fulfill such expansive and zealous visions. With community and collaboration, we resurrect and realize the advancement of our dreams.

Shaun