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Act II
What a day!
I have no intention of turning John’s blog into my personal soapbox, but as you can imagine John and Jen have quite a few things on their mind at the moment.
Maybe most importantly is to assure everyone out there that Act II of The Alchemist Pub and Brewery is going to be pretty spectacular. And even more good news is that as I sit here typing, Jim, Jeff, Joel and John are over at the Cannery putting Heady Topper into cans!
The pictures you see scattered through this post are ones I took yesterday in Waterbury in and around what we used to call work. The whole day felt like an out-of-body experience, like what you see on the news about folks digging out from a natural disaster, but we were there doing it! I found some of our equipment a block away…..sitting on top on a car!
Make no mistake about it, Waterbury was devastated. At one point in the middle of the night, pretty much half the town was under around 10′ of raging, muddy water, with the river officially cresting at 20′. Not only was the basement completely full, but the dining room and kitchen were also about hip deep.
A business can be rebuilt though, individual lives and homes are so much more difficult, and for this one building there are 50 homes throughout Waterbury that are worse off. Here is some press coverage from elsewhere:
The Town of Waterbury has also put out the following request:
Volunteer Flood Support for Waterbury Area
Hello Waterbury Committee Members,
Many people have indicated interest in helping their neighbors impacted by the flood. In response the town is organizing a clearing house for labor. If you need help or can volunteer:
• Meet at 9:00 AM Tuesday- Friday (August 30 through September 2)
• Thatcher Brook Primary School, Waterbury
• Back parking lot near basketball court
If you are a homeowner/occupant in need of help:
• Please come at 9 AM with a list of labor or items that you need and we will try to provide a volunteer match.
If you want to volunteer to help:
• Please come at 9 AM in work clothes and prepared to help in ways you can. Bring cleaning supplies, mops, buckets, garbage bags if you have them.
With our thanks for all your amazing support, stay tuned……
[UPDATE 8/30/11] Some excellent local reporting on the extent of the flood’s damage across the region (including Waterbury, Moretown, Waitsfield and Warren):
http://vtdigger.org/2011/08/30/mad-river-valley-bears-brunt-of-irene-damage-in-central-vermont/
http://www.stowetoday.com/stowe_reporter/news/article_f3f32af2-d269-11e0-b1c5-001cc4c03286.html
[UPDATE 8/31/11] One more picture from continuing recovery efforts. 6 hours in a basement has a way of getting someone tired . There’s actually several more pics coming from back behind The Alchemist (closer to the river) but my pos phone hardly works when it gets this cloudy!
Randall Street was enough to bring a tear to your eye. Dumpsters, trucks, piles, high-pressure washers and, no exaggeration, easily 30 times more people than actually live there. (oh, turns out that it is actually over 100 homes that were partially or totally destroyed). Waterbury’s pretty amazing!
Main Street was a dustbowl of dried river mud and dump trucks, contractors and community food-stands with free dogs and burgers. Shout out to the Fire Department and Green Mountain Coffee.
And some really good videos that brings home just what happened around this state. Too many wonderful people……….
YouTube mash-up of personal videos (really well done!)
on:
Is the cannery opening on Friday? We want to support you, if that means buying beer, all the better.
on:
Yes, the cannery is still opening on Friday , and I’m sure they’d love the support.
on:
My thoughts are with those affected in Waterbury, and with John, Jen, and the rest of the Alchemist staff. Please keep us informed if there’s anything that the beer community can do to help with the rebuilding.
on:
What do disasters and great beer have in common? They will rally of us together to bring the second coming of the Alchemist all the more epic and all the more special! Love this town.
on:
@ Tim and Brian: the craft beer community is really pretty amazing, and I gotta agree, so’s Waterbury!
on:
From here in your home town of Pittsburgh, know we’re thinking of you folks. I’m a regular when I get to Vermont, and look forward to your second act. Amazing reading of all the damage to Vermont, just daunting the rebuilding ahead. Please stay safe and GOOD LUCK!
on:
My husband and I lived in Waterbury until last year – about 3 blocks from the Alchemist (stumbling distance) and we were there frequently. We moved to TN, and one of the things I miss about Waterbury is The Alchemist, your awesome beer, food and Kenny, Joel and Bart. (Kenny was pretty much the first person David and I met when we first moved to VT).
The pictures I am seeing of Waterbury and the Alchemist just make me want to cry. And then they make me wish I could walk over to the Alchemist for a Red Light. Or a Holy Cow. Or a Shut the Hell Up. Or Ouroboros.
We are thinking of you all, and wishing you the best for not just the brewery but for everyone who works there.
on:
We are nearly done cleaning up here in Richmond – what say a bunch of beer-lovers, after picking up their HT, make themselves available to the Kimmich’s or anyone else in Waterbury who needs some volunteer labor. Your beer karma will surely soar! Bring your rubber boots and look like John for the day
on:
Thinking of you guys. Let me know if I can be of any help, ie mobiles out for clean up or other general support. Best to you all.
on:
My wife and I took a trip to Vermont this past June. We visited the Alchemist pub for the first time and both enjoyed the fine brews you had on tap. It is heartbreaking to see the damage that Waterbury and other flooded towns had to endure. You guys are definitely in our thoughts right now and I hope you’re able to rebuild your beautiful town.
on:
We found the Alchemist by accident on our first trip to Vermont in 2010, and made several visits (even if it wasn’t “on the way” to wherever we were headed that day. We returned this past July, and it was every bit as wonderful as we remembered. Our favorite bartender and brewer here in Richmond, Virginia told us about the flood last night, and we were devastated. We went home to our (still without power) home and toasted your rebuilding in our Alchemist pint glasses. You have friends and admirers far afield who wish you and your fellow Waterbury residents well.
on:
http://www.veda.org/uploads/1314796858.pdf
See the link above, just wanted you to be aware that there is help out there.
on:
Thanks for the updates.
My wife and I spent part of our honeymoon in Waterbury three years ago. We went to many brewpubs and towns around Vermont, but yours was our very favorite. The crowd and the staff were the most warm and inviting people and made our honeymoon all that more special. And the beer was amazing.
With any luck, we’ll come out to the cannery this weekend and buy some beer — even if that means we have to drink it in our hotel room!
on:
You have definitely taken a hit, but I hope that all the positive energy and thoughts we have for you all help a bit
Your friends at vt Homebrew
on:
To John and the rest of the Alchemist Family my thoughts and prayers are with you all. I hope to be sitting at the bar soon joking with all of you. Enjoying John’s incredible beers. Eating all your “to die for” specials and having a pre-game warm up with my fellow Patriot fan Kenny!
I will be at the cannery Friday, after work, to pick up a 4-pak of Heady Topper and help support the rebirth of New Englands BEST pub and brewery…The Alchemist!
on:
I just spent the last day+ helping my sister’s family dig out on Randall St in Waterbury. You describe it well.. just unbelievable in every sense of the word. The devastation, the community coming together…everything. Wow.
Wish we were able to support you guys by buying cans of HT, but this will wait until the next time we’re in town. Good luck getting everything put back together and especially on Friday. I wish you guys all the best.
Jim
on:
I cant wait till all is back up and running to joke with Kenny and Joel at the bar and taste that magnificent food from the talented Mateo! To all of you…Jen, John, Jeff Matthew, Robin, Cory, Kenny, Joel, Bart, Sue, Jay, Ashlie, Andrea, and the counteless others. Laura you are a sweetie for being so helpful and orginized…..too many people to thank. Jen and Jonh…you are some kick ass people…Thank you!
on:
My thoughts are with all of you! Wish I could be there to help clean up… NC got hit pretty bad too but fortunately not this far inland. Glad to hear Phase II is happening!! Keep us posted.
on:
Heyyyyyy Matt!!!!! thanks for thinking of us, much appreciated!
I’m going to keep updating this with pics, a record must! be kept of this amazing event, and all the amazing folks supporting John & Jen’s efforts.
on:
i have been coming to the Alchemist since the first week it opened. i used to teach @ Harwood, and was happy to find a great spot on my way home to Richmond.
not OFTEN, but STEADILY i came to your spot. it became my favorite place to eat/drink, alone or in a group. fair prices/great food/awesome beer! i sincerely hope that you can re-open, as it wasn’t the building, but the magic that was going on inside that made it work.
on:
visited you guys every summer. you rocked our world. coming up from fla. never thought what we endure every year would f…… flood u. hope you and yours are back on your feet soon.
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on:
I’m saddened by the loss of this place. Kenny’s the only bartender who has ever remembered my name! I’ll be by the cannery for some HT tomorrow, but glad I was there last Friday for some Alena. Yum.
on:
my husband and i, and my brother and his wife, have been regulars at the alchemist for 6 years. Countless pappy’s porters and SPFs (sweet potato fries) with garlic mayo have been consumed over the years.. i’m getting choked up just writing this – we love you guys and wish you a speedy recovery.
on:
Just found out the pub was lost and I’m gutted. I went there for the first time last summer and was treated extremely well by everyone. Had numerous glasses of Heady Topper (and other beers) before the place shut down for the night. (One of my fondest beer memories.) Brought my friends back this summer and they loved the place. Is there a way to donate to rebuilding the place so we can come back?
on:
Jen and John and the whole staff,
It’s obvious from all of these comments that you guys have made an impact not only on lives in the local area but also regionally and nationally. The atmosphere and beer you created is something that is duplicated not many other places.
I remember the first time I discovered The Alchemist, I was hoping to fill out my beer card through the Vermont Brewer’s Association. My wife and I went and had a meal and I sampled every one of the brews on the menu and had a pint of Holy Cow on top of it. I haven’t filled out any other breweries since. Simply put, there is no finer beer in a state filled with great beer, and there is not finer pub atmosphere in the state. I can’t say enough great things about The Alchemist. It has been a pleasure eating and drinking there in the more than two dozen times I’ve been back since.
I’ll be at the Cannery later today to pick up a couple of packs of Heady pounders. Best wishes to all of you and thank you for the impact you’ve had. I’ll be one of the first in line when the pub re-opens.
-Ryan
on:
OMG!!!!! Just cracked open my first can of Heady-Topper at 3:54pm. There is a God and he loves us! I have not had beer in a can since I moved to Vermont 4 years ago. Well that’s about to change
. I was blessed enough to have Jen ring up my sale and to have John himself right behind her stocking the fridge by the register. There was lots of people and a gentleman taking pictures for what I hope will be the Waterbury Record. Everyone needs to come to the cannery and indulge in the best beer in New England. Support your neighbors and buy local, buy Vermont products and most definitely BUY HEADY-TOPPER IN 16oz CANS! God Bless America and God Bless The Alchemist.
-Dave
on:
Wow. Didn’t think Irene would hit the upstairs. So Sorry, just learned of this. Have loved the beer and food and ambience for years. Hoping for the best and will continue to look for ways to support! Best to all.
on:
Hey Guys,
Best Wishes and Postive Energy being sent your way. If you need anything, give us a call. . We were told the retail shop is about to open, we will be up to lend our support ASAP.
Regards,
Kevin Pecor/Owner
Knotty Shamrock
21 East St
Northfield, VT 05663
802 485 (GULP)4857
on:
My girl friend had told me about the tragic news! We had visited frequently (Vt brew passport tour which lead to many other random times). The Alchemist has become our NUMBER 1 brewery to visit by far! The food, the atmospher, and of course the…….BEER, which is second to none in the northeast. A roadtrip has been on our minds until the news broke. I am sure you’ll survive, and I hope in the same building as it has the “feel”. I would like to suggest a new brew when you are once again brewing……it could be a stout or a chocolate stout called “Muddy Waters (Chocolate?) Stout”. Good luck and hope to visit ASAP!
on:
Jen and John,
Hard to believe I was there enjoying a weekend with family a year ago on Labor Day,eating the great food at the pub and a getting a tour of the brewery.
You and all your staff have been in my thoughts and prayers. I heard the plant opening was a great success.
Love ya and wish you blue skies.
Ronnie
Tallahassee, FL
on:
We who live in Chittenden County were barely affected by Irene. We prepared before the storm, but frankly we’ve had worse. It’s only in the hours and days after that we learned how Irene had devastated so many. We saw the news casts, pictures, videos – such unbelievable images and stories. Now tonight 9/4, I learned that the Alchemist is no more. We’ve now learned what our connection is to all this; we love the Alchemist and all the great staff; and the beer is the best! To all Alchemist gang, we will miss you and look forward to your re-building and return. Gee, yesterday, I had thought of going there for a couple beers and dinner tomorrow night…not so. We wish you luck and we’ll be thinking of you. God speed.
Meanwhile, I think we’ll visit the cannery….who would have thought!
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