If you love beer, and if you love mountain biking, Stowe's the place for you! We have miles and miles of the best mountain biking in the East, and the Auberge is just a few hundred yards from the Cady Hill access. Visit our friends at the Stowe Mountain Bike Club for trail info. Then, when your done biking, sample the best beers in Vermont. Check out the Vermont Brewers Association, and read about the Green Mountain B.F.D. tour below.
***
Green Mountain B.F.D. Tour:
If you’re a connoisseur of great wines, beers, and spirits, you’ll be pleased to discover that within a twenty-minute drive of the Auberge de Stowe there are three breweries, two distilleries, and a winery--Brewing, Fermenting, & Distilling in the Green Mountains! These aren’t bathtub brewers and brown jug distillers, either. These are world-class, award-winning artisans producing top shelf spirits, extraordinary beers, and surprising wines right in the heart of Vermont’s northern Green Mountains. Book a stay at the Auberge and Shawn and Chantal will set you on a self-guided path to discover the outstanding grown-up tastes of the area. You’ll agree that this is a Big Flippin’ Deal!
Brew:
Rock Art Brewery, Morrisville: This is Shawn’s favorite brewery, producing his favorite beer, the Vermonster. Rock Art has recently moved into a beautiful new facility that includes a store and tasting area. Brewery tours are available, or just sample what’s on tap that day and pick up a growler to bring back to the Auberge.
Trapp Family Brewery, Stowe: Located at the Deli at Trapp Family Lodge, the Trapp Family Brewery produces traditional Austrian lagers in an idyllic setting. Enjoy a Trapp lager with your lunch on the deck of the Deli, with stunning vistas of the valley below. Shawn’s favorite is the Dunkel, a surprisingly snappy beer with full bodied flavor.
While there are no tours of the brewery available, sipping a flagon of Trapp Family lager on the deck while the brewmaster does his thing beneath your feet is worth the trip up the hill. Trapp Family Lodge, 700 Trapp Hill Road, Stowe, Vermont 05672. Telephone: 800-826-7000.
The Alchemist, Waterbury: The Alchemist could easily change its name to the Phoenix, because they've overcome adversity to find themselves sitting on the top of the beer world. After losing their brewpub to the flooding of Tropical Storm Irene, the Alchemist moved up the road and began canning the Heady Topper, recognized as the best beer in the world by Beer Advocate and others. Stock up while you're at the Auberge.
The Alchemist has a small retail shop and the brewery is easily viewed from the front of the store. The staff is welcoming and knowledgable, and they’d love to hear you questions. They are open seven days from 11 a.m. To 7 p.m. 35 Crossroad, Waterbury, VT 05676. Phone: 802-244-7744. If you want to know more about about the properties of a Heady Topper, check out this video from John Kimmich, the chief alchemist:
Ferment:
Boyden Valley Winery, Cambridge, Vermont: One of the largest and most successful wineries in the region, Boyden Valley has an extensive product list, including reds, roses, whites, fruit wines, desert wines, and Shawn’s favorite, the Vermont Ice Wine. They are open for tastings and tours throughout the year.
Green Mountain Distillers, Stowe: If you’ve never heard of a craft distillery, you’re not alone. But the founders and master distillers of GMD are exactly that, producing astonishing vodkas, liqueurs, and gins. Combining organic grains with pure Vermont spring water has allowed them to create a memorable line of spirits.
Smuggler’s Notch Distillery, Jeffersonville, Vermont: While they’ve only been in business for a few years, SND has already made its mark on the world of high quality spirits. They produce a vodka, an amber rum, and a gin. The father and son team that started the business has already won acclaim--and medals--at the World Spirits Competition.
All of these products are available locally and at the Vermont State Liquor Outlet at Stowe Beverage, 1880 Mountain Road, in Stowe. The best way to complete a B.F.D. tour is to buy samples of each of these locally produced beverages and bring them back to the Auberge!
***
Canopy Tours with Arbortrek Canopy Adventures
To call Arbortrek Canopy Adventures in Smugglers' Notch, Vermont, a place to go on a zip-line run grossly understates the full experience these folks offer. Arbortrek specializes in canopy tours of Vermont's forests, and they're staffed with knowledgable and professional staff who not only guide, but educate participants. Arbortrek is one of the coolest activities you can do while visiting the area--and if you don't believe us, check out the video below:
***
Family Adventure Package
The Auberge de Stowe is a family-friendly B&B, and it’s the perfect place to base your summer getaway with the kids this summer. With a big backyard and a stream full of critters perfect for exploring, the Auberge has a great deal for you:
2 nights lodging with breakfast for 2 adults and 2 children under 16 (same room), $160/night.
Dining discounts for selected restaurants.
25% off Stowe Mountain Resort activities, including the Toll Road, Alpine Slide, Gondola ride, Climbing Wall, and more.
2 hours of babysitting so mom and dad can go out and hold hands under the table.
Valid Sundays through Thursdays, June 20 to September 8, 2012; call for more details.
