Ahhhh, a sunny Fall afternoon … the hills were alive with the sweet aroma of barley and hops … and of course the fumes of tourist-laden buses trekking to this newest mecca of the Stowe beer scene, the von Trapp Bierhall (located at the von Trapp Brewery off Luce Hill Rd in Stowe). I had been holding off on a visit to the von Trapp brewery, nestled on the eastern slopes of the Trapp estate, but now the time had come. The facility is quite impressive, featuring a brewery, restaurant (inside and outside
seating), bar, and merchandise area, as well as two function spaces on the 2nd floor.
The food is Bavarian-Vermont themed … I guess that is a thing. von Trapp brewery itself focuses on Bavarian-style lagers, ales, and Pilsners … no IPAs served here. But that’s ok … like I said, it was a beautiful Fall afternoon, and I wasn’t looking for anything too heavy.
Squeezing into a seat at the crowded bar, a tasting flight of four beers ($7) was placed in front of me. You can choose four beers per flight, and I went with:
- Vienna (5.2% ABV, 33 IBU). This is an amber lager with a definite taste of hops. Good aromas and tastes.
- Pilsner (5.4% ABV, 42 IBU). This was my favorite of the four. Very crisp and dry, and although it has a higher IBU rating than the Vienna, it was much softer on the tongue.
- Hoppy Märzen (6.4% ABV, 40 IBU). This amber lager is hoppy with citrus aftertastes. Almost passes for an IPA.
- Kölsch Style Lager (5.0% ABV, 28 IBU). As much as I tried, I couldn’t get into this German ale. Is Kölsch German for Budweiser?
The Cicerone says: choose the timing of your visit carefully. There are spectacular views that can be enjoyed late in the afternoon, after the lunch/tourist crush and before dinner swings into action.
von Trapp Brewery & Bierhall
1333 Luce Hill Rd, Stowe VT
Open daily 11:30am – 9:00pm
Website