Matthew L.
Yelp
The Alchemist is a craft brewery that opened in Waterbury, Vermont in 2003. It was founded by husband and wife John and Jen Kimmich. The couple originally opened the brewery as a 60 seat brewpub dubbed "The Alchemist Pub & Brewery" at 23 South Main Street. The success and popularity slowly grew over the course of 8 years. The couple opened a small production brewery and cannery nearby at 35 Crossroad in 2011. Unfortunately, Tropical Storm Irene hit a few months later and caused massive flood damage to the brewpub. The Kimmichs decided to close their pub doors and focus their energy on the cannery. The brewpub location is now home to Prohibition Pig Restaurant & Brewery. One beer that put The Alchemist on the map was "Heady Topper" (Unfiltered Double IPA). First brewed in 2004 and released occasionally since then, it was now the most commonly brewed beer at the cannery and it soon attracted larger craft beer audiences from beyond Vermont's borders. In 2016, after a few more years of increased sales, popularity and long lines at the brewery, the Kimmichs opened a much larger facility in nearby Stowe which was dubbed "The Alchemist Brewery and Visitor's Center". The Waterbury cannery continues to produce beer but is now closed to the public. Today The Alchemist is viewed as not just one of the best breweries in Vermont but in the entire country.
I recently visited The Alchemist while I was on a Vermont craft beer road trip. Although it was my first visit to the brewery, I've wanted to visit since I first became serious about craft beer in 2013. Occasionally canned four-packs of "Heady Topper" or "Focal Banger" would pop up around my home in Connecticut, but not often. Everyone told me that I needed to go to the source. Out of all of the spots I was visiting on this trip, The Alchemist was what I was most excited to visit. The brewery and the grounds were so impressive; even better than I could've imagined. The Jamaican food truck Warren's Kitchen & Catering is parked at the brewery on most days. I ordered their "Kitchen Burger" (lettuce, tomatoes, crispy onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, avocado, fried egg on plantain buns with plantain chips) and took it into the Beer Cafe when it was ready. Inside the cafe, only one beer is available on draught: Hand-Pulled Heady Topper! It was probably the best Heady I've ever enjoyed! It went great with my burger, which was delicious but king of messy; I had to finish it with a knife and fork. Aside from Heady, you can get a can or bottle pour of anything else that's available. I decided to get a can of "Luscious" (British-style Imperial Stout) and I enjoyed it outside in the beer garden. Before leaving, I purchased a four-pack, a t-shirt, Heady Topper mustard, and Local Banger hot sauce. I had a fantastic experience at The Alchemist and can't wait to go back!