They may possess wild talents, far-flung followers and occasional swagger, but Vermont’s brewers, chefs and restaurateurs are also generous. That’s what the Vermont Foodbank found out last week when it got an unexpected email from Dave Brodrick, one of three owners of South Royalton’s Worthy Burger: A big check was on the way.
The Night Before the Night Before, a December 23 fête at the eatery, drew together hard-to-find beers, five courses of food, a cadre of local restaurant and brewing persona and some 85 beer fans for a benefit that was actually initiated by an out-of-stater: Sam Calagione, the founder of Delaware’s Dogfish Head.
,The Worthy crew, along with peeps from Hen of the Wood, Prohibition Pig, Three Penny Taproom and American Flatbread, drew in beers from Lawson’s Finest Liquids, the Alchemist, Hill Farmstead Brewery, Zero Gravity and the Bobcat Café and Brewery, as well as finger food from HOTW and sliders and oysters from Worthy’s kitchen.
Calagione himself appeared with what Brodrick calls “four super-special kegs,” including Birra Etrusca Bronze, an “ancient ale” planned partly according to analysis of 2800-year-old Etruscan drinking vessels (for realz).
The organizers had little problem selling $75 tickets, which probably made some beer geeks very, very happy — and also pulled in $2200 in proceeds.
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Go foodbank!! Dogfish Head is from DE though, despite the name 😉