After visiting The Alchemist brewery, Freak Folk Bier was next on my list. After finding parking in the lot in the back, I walked into the brewery rather excited, based on the recommendations.
Now, there’s something to be said about the majority of Vermont breweries not offering tasting flights OR decent sample tastes of beers. When I asked, I was met with a rather standoffish response from beer host #1 – who was I guess tired after a shift at work. He told me that they don’t flights. But offer tastes. So, I tried the Shrunken Head (9% ABV – Hi-Saturation DIPA with Citra • Citra Quantum • Motueka • Motueka Hop Kief • Nectaron Quantum) and the Soothsayer (8.5% ABV – Smoked Baltic Porter).
I wanted to try a splash of the Bone Mask (4.8% ABV – Czech-Style Dark Lager). However, that’s when beer host #1 dryly responded that they have a max of 2 tastings and asked what beer I wanted a pour of. Strangely enough, that felt like a blunt slap in the face. Likewise, I said as much – as he didn’t explicitly state that I would only get two splashes when he originally stated that they offered them. Speaking up about this directly influenced him when he greeted a new batch of guests, as I heard him explicitly state that they didn’t offer tastings flights but offered up to two splashes for people to try. Clear communication is key in customer service.
To drink, I ordered a glass of the Shrunken Head. As I sipped, I explicitly focused on relaxing and ignoring beer host #1 and instead focused on conversing with beer host #2. And I was much better for it.
As I sipped my beer, beer host #2 and I got into conversation. For my trip to Montreal the next day, he recommended I try Messorem Bracitorium and Brasserie Milton. He also spoke highly of Salt & Rind, which I ended up visiting for an appetizer before my dinner at Salt & Rind. Beer host #2 was quiet, warm and really friendly – a rather interesting contrast to beer host #1.
Honestly – as I discussed with Tom at Foam Brewers brewery, Freak Folk Bier is one and done for me. Yes, I’m fine with checking it off my to try list, as multiple people in the food and beverage scene recommended it to me.
While I appreciated the general overall quality of the beers, it overall felt like a cool for school, esoteric focused brewery with a vibe that I could easily get at Solarc Brewing in Los Angeles. Yes, they don’t advertise and they’re on “someone told you about us” basis. I guess that gets some people off. But hey, at least I tried it it and had a good conversation from it.
Freak Folk Bier Brewery
28 Stowe St, Waterbury, VT 05676Waterbury, Vermont 05676
