Long Trail Brewing Company - Long Trail Ale

This is the beer that started it all for Long Trail Brewing Co. back in 1989, and it sure was a good foundation from which to build. This brew is crafted as an altbier, a German style with a deep history around Düsseldorf. Translating to “old beer”, the name is a reference to the old style of brewing with ale yeast prior to the proliferation of lager brewing in Germany. Long Trail Ale pours an attractive reddish amber color with nice clarity and a head of light beige foam. This sure is richly malty in the aroma; look for notes of brown bread, caramel, and light toast, with a mildly sweet impression. The hops contribute a spicy and even lightly minty quality, backed by some floral and woodsy character. The sweet, bready malt notes in concert with the spicy hops gave some of us a bit of a spice cake impression. On the palate, we really enjoyed the balance and interplay between the malts and hops, which is something we appreciate very much in this style. Look for some fruity esters to pop through here and there as well, thanks to the ale yeast fermentation, offering flashes of dried fruits including fig, cherry, and berry-like notes. For food pairings, bready dishes and grilled, caramelized meats and veggies should pair nicely. A rich beef or lamb stew with root vegetables sounds great, too. We’d also love a burger with aged cheddar, smoked bacon, and caramelized onions. Cheers!

When the first batch of Long Trail Ale was produced in 1989, it was still very, very early in America’s craft brewing renaissance. Founded that year by Andy Pherson in an old mill, the brewery was a trailblazer for craft beer in Vermont, and the Northeast more broadly. Originally called Mountain Brewers, the brewery was so well known for their flagship beer that they changed their name to Long Trail Brewing Company at the same time they relocated to their current facility on the banks of the Ottauquechee River in early 1996. The brewery and their eponymous beer are named after Vermont’s Long Trail, which travels the spine of the Green Mountains from Canada to Massachusetts, where it intersects the Appalachian Trail – whose construction was inspired by the Long Trail.

Being an iconic craft brewer with a long history and deep roots in the community, it’s no surprise that charity and community involvement are central to the brewery’s philosophy. The business sponsors charitable events for numerous non-profit partners like Vermont Adaptive Ski & Sports, Vermont Mountain Bike Association, Green Mountain Club, and the Flyin Ryan Hawks Foundation. The brewery produces a wide array of year-round, seasonal, and limited production beers, and even some non-alcoholic CBD-infused seltzers. If you ever have the chance to visit their Riverside Pub, located about two and a half hours northwest of Boston, you should take the opportunity to go and enjoy over a dozen brews on tap, included limited releases, as well as good food, live music, and a beer garden vibe in a uniquely beautiful area. For more info, visit them at longtrail.com.