Ride Bikes, Eat Food with The Cyclist's Menu
Video and copy published on the Otter Creek Brewing Company Blog // August 9, 2019
The Cyclist's Menu is all about exploration through food, bikes and beer.
When they came to Vermont last year on a scouting mission, we were stoked to put something memorable together alongside our mutual friends at All Souls Tortilleria.
Flash forward to late-July when they hosted a week-long gravel camp in the Northeast Kingdom; showing us how they "ride bikes, eat food" with a taco picnic featuring fresh tortillas, locally-sourced carne asada and veggies from Pete's Greens.
We're stoked to share a short recap of the week, and to help spread Zander and Heidi's passion for cycling and local food. Crack open an All Souls Lager and enjoy the road with us!
LONG TRAIL TAKES THE LEAD
Copy published on the Vermont Mountain Bike Association Blog // August 28, 2018
Long Trail Brewing Company’s iconic hiker logo was inspired by a trail sign near the Pico Peak trailhead. For close to 30 years the hiker has been closely associated with Vermont’s outdoor recreation culture. We’ve built our brand through partnerships with heavy hitters in the Vermont outdoor scene like Killington Resort, The Green Mountain Club, Ski Vermont, Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports and Vermont Mountain Bike Association, to name a few.
Those relationships reflect the ideology of our brand, which in turn inspire graphics and branding we create. Beers like Over The Handlebars; “Sick Day”; Green Blaze IPA and the iconic Long Trail Ale were inspired by the mountain playground where we work, play and brew. For us, it’s important to live up to the lifestyle we portray on our packaging. Not only does it keep us sane and stoked, but it ties us to our local community.
For the past two years, we’ve sponsored the Killington Mountain Bike Club’s weekly Bike Bum races and after parties. The Bike Bum races are a wicked example of community; where else do you get dozens of folks dropping everything on a Wednesday afternoon to go biking? We’re super proud to be part of the rapidly growing scene in Killington – maybe next year we’ll finally get a team together.
The growth in Killington mirrors the state’s progression that’s facilitated by the Vermont Mountain Bike Association. We’ve been a VMBA marketing partner for 6 years, contributing to their mission and supporting fundraising events like VMBA Fest. Building on our partnerships with Killington and VMBA, we were stoked when the Fox US Open of Mountain Biking knocked on our door for their August event in Killington. As a sponsor, we poured beers while promoting a huge national event exhibiting the rapid growth of mountain biking-related tourism in Vermont – a few of us even got a little muddy on the mountain, too.
Vermont Adaptive’s annual charity biking event is another local event we’ve supported for the past eight years, which expanded from the road to the mountains with the addition of a downhill ride in 2017. Despite a little soggy weather, we (along with 600 riders) helped raise $280,000 for adaptive sports equipment and programs this past June. Our partnership with Vermont Adaptive continues with après-ski events at Pico and Killington in the winter.
We also work closely with Ski Vermont throughout the year. This gives us an excuse to chase fresh snow and promote Vermont tourism through our wide distribution network and social media channels.
Of course, making kick ass beers is our priority. Our partnership with the Flyin Ryan Foundation gives us the opportunity to combine killer beer and an awesome cause. While a portion of proceeds from Flyin Ryan IPA go to the foundation, the highlight of this project has been sharing stories and some turns with Peter Hawks. We also work closely with Ski Vermont throughout the year. This gives us an excuse to chase fresh snow and promote Vermont tourism through our wide distribution network and social media channels.
We’re closely examining our role in the Vermont landscape as we enter our 30th year as a pioneering craft brewery. Supporting institutions like the Green Mountain Club and VMBA, who advocate for the resources that define our state, is ingrained in our brand. The love of outdoor recreation spreads from our production crew to our sales team, and it’s only natural that we recognize our role in fostering the outdoor vibe that has come to define Long Trail Brewing.
While nothing’s more satisfying than a cold beer after a day on the trails, it’s hard to beat the advocacy and progression fueled by groups like VMBA and the Green Mountain Club, who make it possible for us to hit the trail.
Graining-in and Jamming-out with The Dead
Photo and copy published on the Otter Creek Brewing Company Blog // June 6, 2018
There’s a boom box in the Otter Creek brewhouse that, hidden under the click and clack of glass bottles, spits out the soft, twangy vocals and muted guitar riffs of the Grateful Dead.
It’s hard to distinguish if Jerry sounds disconnected or if Phil missed a note under the buzzing and banging of the brewery. Still, a break in the action reveals the familiar sounds of the Dead, and the sound echoes throughout the walls to create a welcoming vibe.
Next time you’re in our neighborhood, there’s a good chance our brew crew will be mashing-in and graining-out to the sounds of the Grateful Dead.
In celebration of the Dead & Company’s summer tour, we want to take you on a journey through our favorite Dead shows of yesteryear.
In the spirit of good vibes and tasty tunes, we’re giving a gift card good for the concert or sporting event of your choice!
Enter here for your chance to win and hop on the bus with us as we enjoy the ride throughout the Northeast. And now, let’s cue the music…
Live at Barton Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca NY on May 8, 1977
This show is controversially regarded by serious DeadHeads and soundboard tape slingers as one of the best ever. We’re not here to stir up any debates, but there’s no doubt this effort is full of energy and emotion from start to finish. There’s an unmistakable cohesion between Jerry and the gang that enters mind-blowing territory.
And the set list? Damn, there are some heavy hitting jams on this one like 25 face-melting minutes of Scarlet-Fire.
As one commenter on Archive.org puts it, “the crowd must’ve felt their mind blown away from their head.”
Whoa.
Live at Harpur College, Binghamton NY on May 2, 1970
Another favorite among tapers, this show is quintessential early Dead and features an entirely acoustic first set. Despite ongoing monitor issues and some banter back and forth with the crowd, the first set is home to a brief but memorable Candyman and closes with a great Uncle John’s Band.
Things really pick up in the second and third sets with the "return of the electric Grateful Dead”. The first of two Drums give way to what’s arguably one of the best performances of The Other One ever. Seriously, this thing comes on strong without relenting for a good 14 minutes or so. Those familiar with the show will know what I’m talking about, but those uninitiated should ready a catch pan for their brains. Just saying.
Live at Carousel Ballroom, San Francisco on February 14, 1968
Another high energy show that kicks it back to the early days, this hometown gig is the Dead’s first performance after the death of Neal Cassady, vagabond extraordinaire and highly influential friend of theirs.
This one is full-on psychedelia with heavy organ grinding, fuzzbox bass and crunchy guitar riffs.
“Close your eyes and you can see the gelatin screens and smell the Acapulco gold,” reads one comment. If that’s not enough to get you reaching for your head phones, then I don’t know what is.
Live at Patrick Gymnasium, University of Vermont on April 13, 1983
UVM’s reign as Groovy Uv was in full swing when the Dead came to Vermont in the early 80’s. From the first licks of Jack Straw to the final riffs of Touch of Grey, this show is near and dear to our Green Mountain hearts.
Check out the kicked-up tempo on Touch of Grey, which wouldn’t appear on a record until a few years later.
VERMONT'S FIRST CBD-INFUSED IPA
Photographs and copy published on the Long Trail Brewing Company Trail Notes Blog // August 29, 2017
A few weeks back, Joe and Rebecca Pimental from Luce Farm came by our pilot brewery with a jar of honey.
It wasn’t your average jar of honey; theirs was a special formulation infused with hemp --cannabidiol, to be exact-- grown on their scenic property just up the road in Stockbridge. The Pimentals grew their first crop of hemp plants in 2016; infusing the first batch of homegrown honey with cannabidiol, a.k.a. “CBD,” earlier this year.
According to a recent piece in Vermont Cannabis News, CBD is a “non-intoxicating and naturally occurring chemical compound found in the cannabis plant, which is said to provide a natural and safe alternative to other, synthetically produced compounds.”
(Check out the rest of the article for more background on Luce Farm and the origin of this feel-good project.)
The idea to infuse a beer with Luce Farm’s Hemp Honey sprouted shortly after the product gained a cult following among our pub staff. The project become a reality late-August when our brewers fired up the kettles and mashed-in a one barrel batch of beer on our pilot brewing system.
Fast forward to Labor Day weekend and we’ll be offering Vermont’s first CBD-infused beer exclusively available at our pub in Bridgewater Corners.
The yet-to-be-named Hemp Honey Ginger IPA is brewed with Citra and Mosaic hops; freshly grated ginger; and Luce Farm’s Hemp Honey, which is infused with CBD*. By no means your traditional hoppy offering, the brewers expect a hop forward profile with a low bitterness that ends up around 6.0% ABV.
"Hemp and hops are closely related so IPA seemed like the natural style to choose," said co-head brewer Ian Harbage.
How much CBD is in each beer is still undetermined. According to co-head brewers Harbage and Sam Clemens, the team is shooting for a dosing of about 20 - 30 milligrams of CBD per pour; about one dose per glass, they said.
We’re tapping one log on Saturday and one log on Sunday of this super small batch, feel-good IPA, with 12-ounce pours going for $8.00.
The Pimentals will be hanging around from 12pm – 4pm, offering up samples and sales of their CBD-infused honey. Stop in, say hello, have a beer, and learn about the benefits of CBD.