Two Roads Brewing Company and Lawson’s Finest Liquids: Typecast Farmhouse IPA

Lawson's Finest Liquids and Two Roads Brewing Company: Typecast Farmhouse IPA

Hops: Wye Challenger, Cascade, Centennial

Special Ingredients: Vermont White Cedar, Connecticut Balsam Fir Tips

ABV: 6.5%

IBU: N/A

Availability: Limited

@untappd says: 3.7/5

We have a really atypical collaboration on the Windowsill today!

I love a good collaboration brew, so you know I was excited to find out that one of my favorite local breweries, Two Roads Brewing Company, and one of Vermont’s finest breweries, Lawson’s Finest Liquids, had come together to create a very unique Farmhouse IPA—the Typecast. For those of you know know Lawson’s story, it shouldn’t be a surprise that these two made a beer together. They already make a lot of beers together. If you’ve ever had any Lawson’s in a can, know that it was actually brewed at Two Roads. The two have had a solid contract brewing relationship for a while now.

Now onto the brew. A farmhouse IPA? Sounds wild, right? What is it? It starts out as a farmhouse ale (aka saison), and then it’s dry-hopped to perfection. One extra cool thing about this beer is that it uses all local ingredients. It uses Cascade and Wye Challenger hops grown in Connecticut, as well as Centennial hops grown in Vermont. The Typecast also includes Vermont white cedar and CT balsam fir tips in the boil. Overall, this brew wasn’t really for me, but it’s definitely an eclectic style, with some pretty good flavors that you might like. Cheers!

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Zero Gravity Craft Brewery: Wilson’s Plover

Zero Gravity Craft Brewery: Wilson's Plover

Hops: Azacca

Malts: Pilsner

ABV: 6.2%

IBU: 20

Availability: Rotating

@untappd says: 3.7/5

‘Tis the Saison on the Windowsill today!

Some beers are for the birds. While today’s brew, from Vermont’s Zero Gravity Craft Brewery is not for the birds, it is named after a local bird—the Wilson’s Plover. The bird was named after famed ornithologist Alexander Wilson (I wish my friends named a bird after me) in 1814. It’s a coastal wader, meaning it basically sticks to the coast, and sand bars and what not, wading around, living that beach life. Perfect summer bird, for a perfect summer beer.

I really enjoyed this Saison. I had it during my trip to Vermont a couple of weeks ago—I’m still going through all the beer I photographed and bought there, so bear with me—at American Flatbread Burlington Hearth in Burlington. American Flatbread is where Zero Gravity got its start, so it was a cool place to eat lunch at with the fellows. The Wilson’s Plover is a saison brewed with Pilsner malts and Azacca hops. The hops really bring out that dry saison finish, which made it really refreshing and gave the beer style a uniquely American twist. Good stuff!

Check this post out on Instagram for a few photos from American Flatbread, too!

Left Hand Brewing Company: Saison Au Miel

Left Hand Brewing Company: Saison Au Miel

ABV: 6.8%

IBU: 10

Availability: Spring seasonal

@untappd says: 3.61/5

The Windowsill is feeling sweet like honey today!

Left Hand Brewing Company is the brainchild of Dick Doore and Eric Wallace, two friends who met in college, at the Air Force Academy. They incorporated in 1993, and started rolling out the beers. Why Left Hand? The company is named in honor of Chief Niwot, an Arapaho chief who wintered his tribe in the Boulder Valley area of Colorado. Niwot, whose name meant Left Hand, was killed during the Sand Creek Massacre, betrayed by the U.S. soldiers he thought were his friends.

I love a good saison (aka farmhouse ale). The Saison Au Miel was my first of the style from Left Hand, and I really enjoyed it. It was dry, crisp and mildly tart, and the Colorado wildflower honey really came through in the middle to soften my palate. Makes me sad that I only picked up one!

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