Vermont Grateful for another brewer

The Brewers Association of Denver, CO has calculated thatVermonthas more breweries per capita than any state in theUnited States, and this weekend will see the opening of yet another. The Vermont Brewers Association is proud to announce the opening of Grateful Hands Brewing located in Cabot at2211 US Route2.
On Saturday September 8, 2012 from 1 to 7 PM owner and head brewer Ricky McLain will be pouring samples and selling growlers of his beers. Specializing in dark beers, his initial offerings are ‘Common Sense,’a Black IPA, ‘Time,’an American Brown Ale, ‘Spare Change,’aRobust Porter, and ‘Courage,’an American Stout.
Common Sense, a Black IPA. 5.2% ABV with 68 IBU. Lots of 2-row andMunichmalts, with a touch of chocolate and Carafa III. Hops areSummit, Simcoe, and Chinook, with a healthy dose of all three for dry hops as well to make a dry, grapefruit rind flavor and aroma balanced with a touch of roast and maltiness.
Time, an American Brown Ale. 5.0% ABV with 39 IBU. This is a balanced beer with a nice malty flavor complemented byonly late hops (columnbus and apollo); no "bittering" hops to give it a great hop flavor and aromawithout much hop bitterness.
Spare Change, aRobust Porter. 6.1% ABV with 39 IBU. Loads of Marris Otter are balanced with English floral hops (East Kent Goldings and Fuggles) to give this a malty, creamy flavor and mouthfeel.
Courage, an American Stout. 6.8% ABV with 65 IBU. 2-row malt is complemented by healthy doses of chocolate, roasted barley, and dark crystal malts to create, a rich coffee, toffee, roasty ale. Cascade hops are added at the end of the boil to balance the maltiness and give the beer a nice, subtle citrus aroma.
Considered a nano-brewery because of the size of each batch of beer (20 gallons), McLain expects to sell just growlers to start with from the brewery and at farmer’s markets, but wants to be bottling eventually. In addition to the first four beers, he hopes to offer seasonal beers as well. He is planning to make an extra stout for St. Patrick’s Day, and is working with a coffee roaster on a coffee stout for this winter.
Vermont Brewers Association Executive Director Kurt Staudter is thrilled with the new brewery. ‘Vermontis theDisneylandof beer, and with the addition of Ricky at Grateful Hands, that gives us 26 breweries,’said Staudter. Adding, ‘And I love dark beers, Yum! He’s sure to be a success.’
Ricky McLain says, ‘My motto is Small Batch Dark Ales,’and he begins each beer name with the expression ‘Because everybody needs a littleâ ¦ (Insert beer name here).’His enthusiasm for the brewer’s art is contagious, and passion for dark beers is reflected in his hand crafted small batch offerings.
Source:VT Brewers Associationwww.vermontbrewers.comwww.brewersassociation.org