Vermont Beer: History of a Brewing Revolution

by Kurt Staudter, Adam Krakowski

Overview

Vermonters love all things local, so it is no surprise that the Green Mountain State has had a thriving craft beer scene for more than 20 years.

Early Vermont brewers faced a strong uphill struggle however, as a state-imposed alcohol prohibition began in 1852, and continued well after the ending of federal prohibition. Conditions remained unfavorable until Greg Noonan, founder of Vermont Pub & Brewery, championed brewing legislation that opened the door for all breweries and pubs in the 1980s. About the same time, the now beloved Catamount also began brewing, and Vermont's craft beer scene exploded. Years ahead of the rest of the country, local favorites like Hill Farmstead, Long Trail, and Rock Art Brewing have provided world-class beer to grateful patrons. From small upstarts to well-recognized national brands like Magic Hat and Harpoon, Vermont boasts more breweries per capita than any other state in the country. With brewer interviews and historic recipes included, discover the sudsy story of beer in Vermont.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781540210197
Publisher:	History Press Library Editions
Publication date:	07/01/2014
Pages:	210
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

Kurt Staudter is the executive director of the Vermont Brewers Association, representing all of the breweries in the state. He and his wife, Patti, run the association from Springfield, Vermont. He is the Vermont columnist for Yankee Brew News, and has written about beer and politics in the Vermont Standard and Vermont Magazine. He learned about beer from his first-generation German-American father, who ensured his love for good food, great beer and family were passed on to the next generation. Adam Krakowski is a decorative and fine arts conservator in Quechee, Vermont. He holds a BA in art history, a minor in museum studies and an MS in historic preservation from the University of Vermont. He has worked at museums, historical societies, art galleries and restoration firms all over New York and New England, and was the recipient of the 2010 Weston Cate Jr. Research Fellowship from the Vermont Historical Society on the project A Bitter Past: Hop Farming in Nineteenth-Century Vermont."

Table of Contents

Preface 7

Acknowledgements 9

Part I Brewing After the Revolution

1 1789 3839: Growing Pains 15

2 1839-1879: Damnation of Ale 28

3 Skirting the Line 34

4 The Evils of Ale 43

5 Temperance 46

6 Vermont's Bitter Crop 52

Part II A Brewing Revolution

7 From the Humble Beginnings of Homebrewers 59

8 1989-1993: Vermont Brews a Name for Itself 73

9 1993 1996: Vermonters Love Their Local Brew 90

10 1996-2000: Unprecedented Growth and a Shakeout 101

11 2000 -2005: Brewing a World-Class Reputation 113

12 2005-2010: Fermenting the Vermont Beer Mystique 123

13 2010-August 2011: Then Came Irene! 139

14 2011-Present: Vermont Is the Wonderland of Beer 164

Epilogue 173

Notes 177

Index 185

About the Authors 191