![]() In about the 15 th century, when alchemy – a medieval science and speculative philosophy that aimed to turn common elements into precious metals – was still a thing, and triangles were symbols that were strongly associated with it. Digging deeper into the past you’ll find that what is today a star didn’t start out that way. The Brewer’s star was the official insignia of the Brewer's Guild as early as the 1500s, and its association with beer and brewing can be traced back even farther. We’ll discuss why brewers aren’t quick to associate with this emblem in a minute, but first, let’s take a look at what the Brewer’s Star is and how it came to be. You’d think a symbol as powerful and influential as the Brewer’s Star, the oldest international guild emblem of brewers and one with over 500 years’ worth of history attached to it, would be hard to resist – and yet – they do. Therefore, it is understandable that The Alchemist wants to reserve as much coveted beer for fellow state residents and members of its community as possible.Have you ever noticed a brewery proudly displaying a six-sided Brewer’s Star in their breweries or incorporating it into their branding? Other than Sixpoint Brewery, (whose star is actually not quite a Brewer's Star) the answer to that question is likely a resounding “no.” To put that in perspective, Fiddlehead Brewing Company, another Vermont craft beer staple, can produce over 50,000 barrels of its IPA annually, per The Burlington Free Press. It is important to remember that The Alchemist brewery is still only able to produce 9,000 barrels of Heady Topper per year. ![]() So, any further expansion outside of Vermont most likely won't arrive anytime very soon. Up until then, its 30-mile radius of distribution only included Lamoille County, Mad River Valley, and Burlington. Plus, the statewide distribution of Heady Topper only started in 2019, according to Stowe Reporter. As of now, distribution out of state is few and far between, but, who knows, maybe more expansion is due sometime soon. The Alchemist and Heady Topper have expanded multiple times within its lifespan, from its small beginnings as a pub and brew to opening the cannery, to building the current brewery in Stowe. Today, the New England-style IPA is more popular, and Heady Topper remains the best in its class. With the immense success Heady Topper has achieved, this new style was inevitably followed by other brewers. Kimmich says that he had been brewing hazy IPAs with his mentor, Greg Noonan, for years, and wanted to educate beer drinkers that beers did not have to be crystal clear or be able to last for months unrefrigerated. Kimmich explains that the cloudy appearance of Heady Topper was never intentional, it was simply the result of getting the intense aromas and flavors he sought to attain. ![]() According to Kimmich in an interview with Vinepair, many customers at the original brewpub complained about the beer's murkiness, which, as Kimmich describes it, is comical to think about considering it the most common IPA style today. In fact, when Kimmich first started brewing and selling Heady Topper, there was quite a bit of resistance to this unprecedented beer style. Nowadays, curbside pickup is the bread and butter of The Alchemist and Heady Topper, which draws people from all corners of the country, and sometimes even the world, for a fresh four-pack.īefore Heady Topper, there was no such thing as the New England IPA. Through its two locations, The Alchemist brews and distributes all of its Heady Topper, and Focal Banger, throughout the Green Mountain State, along with the rare shipment outside of it. ![]() Finally, in 2016, the Kimmichs were able to open a full-scale brewery and visitor center in Stowe. Meanwhile, The Alchemist began selling its coveted canned beer in pop-up shops to long lines of dedicated customers. However, the inventory of canned Heady Toppers survived, which became the life fuel of The Alchemist.įrom there, the Kimmichs focused on their new brewing and canning facility and began distributing Heady Topper locally to bars and restaurants. ![]() The damage to the pub and brew was so great, they were forced to shut down. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Irene proved detrimental to The Alchemist, as well as most of Waterbury and the state of Vermont. ![]()
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