Situated in the lush landscape that surrounds Lake Champlain, Burlington, Vermont, is one of the region's top vacation destinations with an abundance of activities to offer all travelers.
Burlington is the state's largest city with over 43,000 residents and its location in the Lake Champlain Valley ensures unique panoramic views at seemingly every turn. Not only is the area beautiful, it's also packed with great things to do outdoors. Burlington is home to a wonderful collection of parks, beaches and public areas. You’ll encounter numerous golf courses that are great for golfers of all skill levels. From catching a tan on the beach in the summer sun to hiking challenging mountain trails, it's all here and waiting for you. The unique and thriving culture of the city shines through at local museums, galleries and exhibits. A few locations where you can soak in the local culture include: the BCA Center, State Craft Gallery and Frog Hollow. Don’t forget to plan a meal at one of the popular local restaurants: Hen of the Wood, American Flatbread and Penny Cluse Cafe. To get the full Burlington experience, schedule your visit during one of the great local events such as the Vermont Brewers Festival.
For almost two and a half decades the Vermont Brewers Festival has been setting the standard for craft beer events in the State of Vermont. While many brewing festivals have a few different breweries and beers represented, this is not the case here. This year's Vermont Brewers Festival features 46 different breweries and more than 230 different beers. This great selection has made the event very popular, and they are expecting over 11,000 people in attendance. Not only is this a good place to meet new people and sample unique beer, it’s also a place to learn. This year’s festival will include classes like Beer & Chocolate Pairing and Beer & Cheese Pairing. If you're a fan of craft beer and food, this is the ultimate event for you! ResortsandLodges.com got the chance to interview Laura Streets, Producer for LLSevents. LLC, to talk about the festival.
RAL: Tell me a little bit about the event.
LS: We our proudly entering the 24th year of the Vermont Brewers Festival. Each year the crowd seems to grow and this year we are expecting over 11,000 people in attendance. The crowd itself is all 21 years of age or older, due to the sale of alcohol. We do see groups of friends, couples, older families, and singles in attendance.
RAL: What makes this event unique?
LS: What primarily makes the event unique is the fact that it’s a fundraiser for the Vermont Brewers Association. We are an artisan craft beer festival that features 46 brewers and over 230 craft beers. Many of the beers you find at the festival are only available at the festival. We also are conscious about affecting the environment and are proudly the 1st plastic free bottle event in the entire state of Vermont.
RAL: Take me through a day at the event.
LS: We always have some of the best crafts beers in the world. Many of the beers featured at the event are only available here. Plus, you get the opportunity to talk beer with the brewers who produce them. We have great educational programs such as Beer & Chocolate Pairing and Beer & Cheese Pairing, programs that are fun and a great way to meet new people. Last but not least, there will be a variety of food vendors selling delicious meals and snacks (and plenty of free water).
RAL: What is the overall environment of the festival?
LS: Our festival is held in beautiful downtown Burlington, right on Lake Champaign, at the always scenic Waterfront Park. This is a great venue for our event due to the unique views of Lake Champlain and Adirondack Mountains.
RAL: What can an attendee expect to find for local lodging?
LS: Burlington has some great options for lodging. There is something for everyone from B&Bs to some great boutique hotels. Some of the local options include DoubleTree by Hilton Burlington, Hilton Burlington Hotel and Sheraton Burlington Hotel, to only name a few.
RAL: What does the event mean to the community?
LS: For 24 years this has been a great way for beer enthusiasts and beer producers to meet, talk and learn about beer. It's the ideal place to meet new and like minded people.
RAL: Does the event support a special cause in the community?
LS: Yes, this event is held in direct support of the Vermont Brewers Association. The Association was founded in 1995 to promote and strengthen the culture of craft brewing in Vermont through marketing, education and advocating for Vermont-made beer.
RAL: Why should people come to your event?
LS: In addition to the festival there are special beer events through Burlington with incredible craft beer tastings. For a craft beer enthusiast, we are rated as one of the best festivals in the country.
For more information about the Vermont Brewers Festival, please visit their website.