Brewfest!

Brewfest took place July 20th and 21st in Burlington! I have been working on my Vermont Brewery Passport for over a year, and in preparation this year, I visited four breweries in one day. I'm still two short of having a full passport, but it. will. happen. (Grits teeth, life is such a trial). Below is my Long Trail sampler. My favorite Long Trail beer so far is the Pollinator, a seasonal beer, although I did try and enjoy the Double White, which is one of their specialty beers.

I also visited the Perfect Pear (Vermont Beer Co.), The Norwich Inn, and Harpoon Brewery in the same day. I loved Harpoon's bar and beer garden, they have a great fireplace inside. This is all a lead in to the grand event: Brewfest!

Brewers from all over Vermont, New England, and the Northeast, including a respectable contingent from Canada, converge on the scenic Lake Champlain waterfront so that I can sample as many beer varieties as humanly possible. Or to share brewing knowledge, delicious brews, and get great publicity. And my "humanly possible" amount of beer is a relatively small amount that some other participants found lacking.

It's one of the few places you can get Lawson's Liquids, a popular Vermont brewery, and Northshire Brewery pours. One non-Vermont brewery that I have enjoyed both years is Beau's All Natural Brewing Company. They have great beers and a good designer working for them- sometimes, it's all about the bumper sticker.

In order to afford the entry fee, I volunteer one night and get reduced admission the next night. I usually learn a lot and get a lay of the land while I'm volunteering, so I'm prepared to drink all night the next night.  This year, I was stationed in the Education Tent, so I heard about chocolate-beer pairings, cheese-beer pairings, barrel aged beer, and a beer collaboration between Saranac Brewery and Otter Creek.

This past week has been filled with picture perfect summer activities. I went to a baseball game, visited the farmer's market, and did yoga on the waterfront. Right now, a summer storm is brewing, promising a break in the heat and the perfect end to the week. The cherry on top is that my sister is here visiting Vermont!

Wanderlust

Welcome to Wanderlust! This was an amazing experience and I can't wait until next year . . . After nearly 3 hours of driving, a rather slow shift at the information desk, and a fall into bed at 11:30 pm, I was unsure whether it was all worth it . . . Oh, but. it. was.

Wanderlust is an annual yoga festival that takes place in 4 spots across North America. Colorado. California. Whistler. and Stratton, VT, mere miles from where I lived when I first moved to Vermont. I emailed the family I lived with there, volunteered for the festival, and my extremely affordable yoga experience was underway! For the cost of a tank of gas (notable, not cheap), I was going to enjoy world class yoga teachers, national music acts, and an awesome festival experience.

 

So, I worked the festival for a day and half and had one whole glorious day of yoga focus and serenity. The teachers were incredible, the spirit of the festival was joyous, the weather was perfect, the scenery was mountain glory, and I fed my body with nutritious deliciousness.

Like fresh juice. With kale. What could be better?

Maybe a veggie and protein packed pita? It could have been a salad . . . But who can resist all of that goodness in a sandwich?

And the very best part: seeing again the wonderful family I spent so much of my time with last year and who welcomed me to Vermont and into their home. There wasn't enough time in the day to cover all of the topics I wanted to discuss with TJ, or to chat and play with H, to tease M about his aversion to vegetables, or meet the newest addition to the family, A.

I'll see you again next year, Wanderlust. And hopefully you sooner, southern Vermont.