Bite Club

Vermont Brew Bracket: Round 3 Now Open

by Tyler Machado Posted on March 22, 2013 at 11:08AM

We saw some awfully close races in Round 2 of the Vermont Brew Bracket presented by Three Penny Taproom — and the choices only get tougher from here.The big upset of Round 2 was the rise of 14th Star Valor, which defeated last year's debutante Fiddlehead IPA by a 58 percent to 42 percent margin. Somewhat curiously, this matchup had about twice as many votes as the other polls — 2880 total votes, while the others had between 1321 and 1692.

Vermont Brew Bracket: On to Round 2

by Tyler Machado Posted on March 20, 2013 at 12:20PM

Yesterday saw the end of the Round 1 matchups in the Vermont Brew Bracket, presented by Three Penny Taproom, and once again, there were no shocking upsets. Some of the biggest names in local brewing, including Long Trail, Switchback and Wolaver's, handily defeated overmatched opponents. The only brew to defeat a higher-seeded rival was Hill Farmstead's Twilight of the Idols, which took down Trout River Rainbow Red 60 percent to 40 percent.

Alice Eats: A Little Peruvian

by Alice Levitt Posted on March 19, 2013 at 1:12PM

Burlington Winter Farmers Market, every other Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Memorial Auditorium. Info, 310-5172.There are lots of favorite foods I grew up eating in the New York City suburbs of Connecticut that I long for living in the Green Mountains — Korean barbecue, great Indian buffets, Greek.

Vermont Brew Bracket: Second Half of Round 1 Now Open for Voting

by Tyler Machado Posted on March 18, 2013 at 10:19AM

We're now voting in the second half of Round 1 for the 2013 Vermont Brew Bracket, presented by Three Penny Taproom.Round 1 voting has concluded for the left side of the bracket, which didn't see many close races. There were a few upsets, though, as the Valor amber ale from 14th Star Brewing Company in St. Albans defeated the world-famous Magic Hat #9 by a 69 percent to 31 percent margin.

Vermont Brew Bracket Is Back! Voting Now Open for Round 1

by Tyler Machado Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:36PM

Ladies and gentlemen, start your tap handles. The 2013 Vermont Brew Bracket presented by Three Penny Taproom is here.Once again we selected 32 of the finest craft beers in Vermont and seeded them based on popularity and ratings on sites like BeerAdvocate, RateBeer and Untappd.

Grazing: It's Alive! The Sour Ale From Backacre Beermakers

by Corin Hirsch Posted on March 15, 2013 at 4:33PM

Erin Donovan started home brewing while she was still in grad school in Colorado, but back then she wasn't sold on sour beer, even after trying some at that state's Great American Beer Festival. "Your mouth was puckering; your eyes were watering," she recalls.A few more tastes and visits to Belgium later, sour beer's "unique flavors" hooked Donovan, and she and her husband, Matt Baumgart, began brewing it, too. Eventually the pair moved to Belgium for two years, where they tasted scores of gueuzes and lambics and became even more enamored of the style.Now back in Vermont, Donovan and Baumgart — with the help of Donovan's dad, John Donovan — have taken their crush to a new level.

Barn Fire Devastates Springfield's Cavendish Game Birds

by Corin Hirsch Posted on March 14, 2013 at 12:09PM

A quick-moving, early-morning barn fire at Springfield's Cavendish Game Birds has killed 20,000 quail and 30 pigs.Co-owner Rick Thompson says he was awakened about 5:30 a.m. Wednesday by an alarm indicating a power failure in the hatchery.

Former Trapp Brewers to Launch Lost Nation Brewing in Morrisville

by Corin Hirsch Posted on March 13, 2013 at 4:26PM

When they were brewing at Stowe's Trapp Family Lodge, head brewer Allen Van Anda and his assistant, Jamie Griffith, mastered the delicacies of producing Austrian-style lager, that brewery's specialty.Van Anda left the brewery last spring, Griffith a few months later. Now, both are resurfacing a few miles north, in Morrisville, and will open their own venture, Lost Nation Brewing, later this spring.

Alice Eats: Rick's Grill

by Alice Levitt Posted on March 12, 2013 at 12:48PM

25 Centre Drive, Milton, 893-7425For competition-quality smoked meats, I know I can head to Bluebird Barbecue in Burlington or hit up the Belted Cow Bistro in Essex on its Tuesday barbecue nights. But there's a new game in Chittenden County.

Alice Eats: Positive Pie Tap & Grill

by Alice Levitt Posted on March 5, 2013 at 12:00PM

65-69 Main Street, Plainfield, 454-0133Positive Pie was a friendly culinary face in Plainfield for almost as long as I can remember. Last spring, it took over the space that was formerly River Run and, as Positive Pie Tap & Grill, became far more than a pizzeria.I felt conspicuous as a nonlocal entering the neighborhood spot, but it was worth it.

Seven Days