In the coming week of 12-14 August, we will release the 2019 edition of Vera Mae; the next entry in our Self-Reliance series; and new cans of Sumner and Society & Solitude #4.

Vera Mae (2019 Vintage)

Since 2010, the brewing of Vera Mae has become a Spring ritual that revolves around the communal collection of dandelion flowers growing in the fields surrounding our brewery. This Farmstead® ale is crafted from organically grown grains, characterful hops, Vermont wildflower honey, dandelion flowers from our fields, our farmhouse yeast, and water from our well. The 2019 Edition was refined in our oak puncheons and wine barrels for two months and has been bottle conditioning for more than one year.

Self-Reliance: Riwaka

This release was brewed and dry-hopped exclusively with hand-selected 2019 Riwaka hops from New Zealand’s Freestyle Farm. Riwaka remains one of the most uniquely expressive varietals that we have encountered along our brewing journey, and we are fortunate to have met and partnered with Freestyle Hops shortly after their inception. Each of our Farmstead® Ales celebrates the dwindling tradition and process of bottle conditioning (more to come on this, in another post!). Although this beer will age gracefully for years, we encourage you to consume this within six months for best hop expression. We hope that, by now, many of you may have been inspired to read the writings that inspire some of our beer names. In this case, Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Self-Reliance” is quietly pleading (along with our encouragement) for a few hours of your quiet introspection.

Our retail page has all the details for curbside ordering, and you may order directly at http://toasttab.com/hillfarmstead/. Please arrive as near to your selected time as possible!

Travel

Reminder: a mandate for mask usage is now in effect. All Vermonters and visitors are required to wear masks or cloth facial coverings over their nose and mouth any time they are in public spaces, indoors or outdoors, where they come in contact with others from outside their households (https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/masks). For an updated map and travel guidelines, please visit https://accd.vermont.gov/covid-19/restart/cross-state-travel.

Thank you for your support and for observing these travel guidelines to maintain our staff, community, and families’ safety and health.