The Alchemist Brewery is our new 15 barrel, small production brewery specializing in fresh, unfiltered IPAs. We are currently focused on brewing one beer perfectly: Heady Topper, our flagship Double IPA.
The BreweryAll You Need To KnowLong Live The Alchemist
Hello friends and fellow business owners.
First and foremost, thank you for all of your assistance and encouragement in the months following the flood. This experience was a challenge made easier by your outpouring of support.
We have made the very difficult decision not to re-open The Alchemist Pub and Brewery. While it is extremely difficult to walk away from the business we have spent our last 10 years building, this is the best option for us moving forward. There were many factors that helped us come to this decision.
Primarily, we have recently learned that none of the contents in our basement were covered by flood insurance. Unfortunately, our basement was the lifeblood of our business—our brewery, our beer, all of our food and our offices were in the basement. Moving forward, we have come to the realization that re-building our basement brewery is not a viable option.
At this time, we are focused on reconstructing our building at 23 South Main Street . Zoning has been approved to re-build a 60 seat pub. John and I are determined to re-build as fast as possible to contribute to the vitality of downtown Waterbury . We are in talks with a few different restaurateurs to take over the space. We will find the best fit for Waterbury —someone who can continue to run the pub in a warm, friendly and accessible manner, and provide employment opportunities to our staff.
The Alchemist will continue to be involved in the village of Waterbury . As property owners, we will continue to put our best foot forward with the aesthetics of the building. It is our belief that without the day-to-day operations of the pub and brewery, we will be able to spend more time on community focused special events. Moreover, and probably most important, we will move our 7 barrel brewery to our new production brewery at 35 Crossroad. Once we have installed the brewery, John will be hard at work to supply the community with his creative and tasty small production beers.
If anyone has any questions or concerns about the future of our building or The Alchemist, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Warm Regards,
Jennifer & John Kimmich
45 Responses to “Long Live The Alchemist”
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Wow… what a tough decision to have to make. All of the rest of us are sad, of course, but offer our understanding and continued support. I am sure that you will keep us informed about where we will be able to enjoy all of John’s wonderful beers in the future.
Candy and I wish you the very best of luck and look forward to seeing you again very soon!
–Steve K
While I understand your decision, I am terribly saddened by this news.
Thank you for so many wonderful meals, fantastic beers and special times.
I wish you all the best of luck.
While I only had the privilege of visiting The Alchemist a few times in the past years, it was always a “must-see” destination on my trips to Vermont. Having moved here a few months before the flooding, I loved visiting your pub. Great people, great atmosphere, and of course, wonderful beer. And it is those attributes that let me know that things will work out. All of the great people that support you and have enjoyed so many times at your establishment certainly will have your back. Wishing you the most success and happiness, cheers!
Such disappointing news, but I understand. Every August for the past 10 years I have made sure to hit the Alchemist at least a few times while I spend a week at Trapp. The beers, bartenders, patrons, food and atmosphere were exactly what I wanted in a pub. Top notch. Joel, the bartender, always remembered me for obvious reasons. I brought my twin daughters there for the first time this summer. We will miss the Alchemist (a huge understatement). As all of the bartenders always said while handing a beer to me….cheers!
Thinking of you guys. Thank you for all the good food, laughs, and support you have given to the Waterbury community. Waterbury loves you, don’t ever forget that! Jason Bahner
Very very sad news. I live in Trois-Rivières , Quebec , Canada and The Alchemist was my best Brewery ever in Vermont. Beer was good but also the people with their warmth welcome.
Did you consider to raise money by donation and to propose to the donators a discount on their future purchases of food and beer ????
I liked to rent a room in Waterbury at the Stagecoach just to enjoy your beers,and make sure to come back without taking my car.
I do not know about the future but thanks a lot for all what you did .
I’ll miss a lot my Holy Cow snifff
I miss Kenny, Joel, Ashli…even Bart.
I will miss watching the Red Sox on the tiny TV.
I will miss Warren asking me where is my lovely wife.
I will miss the whole extended Waterbury crew.
I will miss the friendly talks with Jen and the rousing debates with John.
The Alchemist was the center of our social life. Now it is gone
Give me a tissue, Rachael.
To the whole Alchemist Family, I love you all. You were the kindest group of friends. John, I believe you make some of the finest beer on the Planet. I think this sucks sucks sucks, but I understand and will come to grips with the realization that my future partner isnt at the bottom of the next pint.
Keep with the dream. And its been an amazing Ten years.
Your dear friends
Justin (and Galens bummed about the pool table.)
I’m at a loss for words but feel the need to write something.
Waterbury has a hole that can never be filled. The Alchemist turned Waterbury from a place to pass through on the way to somewhere to a destination. Those are huge shoes to fill and I don’t see that happening soon. I do wish the best to whoever fills the space and hope they will be pouring some Alchemist beers.
I know I will be seeing a lot of the same people elsewhere but it just won’t be the same.
Best wishes to everyone.
Heard about the sad news yesterday while having a Hillstead at the Black back pub
at a loss for words. Thank God for the cannery. I wish you all the best of luck with your future endeavors and am comforted to know that we will still be able to enjoy John’scrumptious creations hopefully in the near future. I hope to see all of our Alchemist family members back in the community as if this never happened. I miss the staff equally as much as the brews!
John and Jen you will always have Waterbury’s support for all the great times and happiness that you guys have provided to us for the last decade. Eat, drink Alchemist beer and be merry!
-Dave Ruiz
Two years ago Tyler from Portsmouth Brewery told us to check out a place called the Alchemist in Waterbury and we did. We loved it so much we planned another trip this year. The flood had us down but we took the trip anyway. We took pictures outside the pub with sad faces but we thought about coming back in a few months. We took some cans back to TX with us and shared them with our beer club. We are very sad to hear this news. I suppose it’s good we got a chance to try the pub at least once. Thanks goodness for the cannery. I don’t know if we will make it back to Waterbury now.
so sad! understandable, tho. here’s hoping the new pub (or the cannery?) will serve your fabulous beer cheese dip. i’m going through withdrawl….
[...] via Long Live The Alchemist. [...]
Comments: Dear Jen and John,
My brother emailed me over the weekend to say that insurance would not cover your losses in the basement. While I’m sure that was a blow you are probably looking at other options and resources. Here is something you might consider. You have a client base, that would be me and thousands of others who have celebrated your talents and hospitality over the years. We are already personally invested in the concept of The Alchemist. There are many, many people out there who would love to puchase a gift certificate to the future of The Alchemist. This is a concept that helped The Bees Knees get off the ground in our town. Be of good cheer, you are not without options. I am thankful for Heady Topper and thankful for your continued presence in our community. Happy Thanksgiving.
This is the saddest news ever…if you haven’t already, please consider the option of a community coming together like at the Bees Knees – there are so many of us who would gladly participate!!!
Dear Jennifer & John – As residents, customers, and one who helped muck the place out, I (& the extended Brink house)am deeply saddened by your decision. For whatever it’s worth here is an idea: I have been with Ben & Jerry’s for 24 years and so have lived first hand a concept going from very small to very big. In my 40 years in Vermont The Alchemist is the only other “Brand” which I have seen so capture Vermonter’s hearts. B&J’s initial stock offering was strictly (and legally) offered only to Vermonters and for all of the year’s before our aquisition we never ever paid a dividend beyond free ice cream and the so-called annual meetings. My point is that I believe that there are thousands of Vermonters who want to see a new, better Alchemist rise from Irene and only need a way to do so. I would personally like to invest in your dream provided that you never pay a dividend, never sell stock to non-VT residents, never allow yourseleves to be aquired to anyone except your employees. All of our original players are still living here and would be happy to advise, I’m guessing. Good luck no matter what. Michael & Nancy & Christian Brink, Bob and Lexie (Pfister) Brink.
John & Jen –
CSB…community supported beer. In community, there is hope. And money, customers, fans, etc. You have looked inside the box, and not found a conventional solution. So go outside the box. Other community-supported food ventures have succeeded in Vt. — Claire’s in Hardwick, The Bee’s Knees in Morrisville. The Alchemist starts with something none of these had: a big, loyal base of customers, and a town with far more traffic. Brew your great beer offsite, and sell it in the brew pub. If you lead, the people will follow. It’s different, risky, edgy…and it works. Waterbury & Vermont need you. You can do this, and Vermonters will help!
My Friends at the Alchemist,
You created something really special in that old flower shop on the corner. I am a lifelong Waterbury resident and the Alchemist is one of the few businesses that I have seen capture the hearts of the town like you have. “Date night” with my son (9 yrs old)is not quite the same without playing I Spy with all the unique fixtures and artwork you had on display at ‘the Alchy’, as he calls it. I miss your amazing staff. I miss your amazing food. And it goes without saying – your beer! There are a couple of great ideas in the posts before mine in regards to funding a future for the Alchemist. We people of Waterbury are a loyal and clever bunch and should you decide that you would like to give it another go, I’m sure that you would find all the help you can handle within just a few square miles of your doorstep. I’m in. Thank you all for years of great memories, good food and fun.
Steph and Zach
Thanks to everyone for the kind feedback- we really appreciate it. I understand everyones’ desire to continue The Alchemist as a community based and financed pub, but this is not a realistic option for us. If we did not hold a note on the building at 23 South Main St, we would simply find a new location and re-open our brew pub somewhere else. However, as building owners, we need to take care of our building first. There will not be a brewery built in the basement there- ever. This is the harsh reality that we have been forced to face. The building at 23 South Main Street is in a special designated flood zone- designated so by FEMA. Just as someone would not be zoned to re-finish a a basement within a house on Randall Street, FEMA guildelines do not allow for new basement construction at our commercial space. Moreveover, even if re-building the basement brewery were allowed under FEMA guidelines, this would not be the right decision to make. Basment contents and construction were not, and never will be, covered by flood insurance. We lost over $200,000 in malt, finished beer and brewery equipment in the basement. We never want to experience that kind of loss again. And, most imporantly, there is a HUGE environmental impact when something of this magnitude happens. I saw firsthand the toxic, fetid mess that our brewery created. Malt, dumped beer, glycol, co2 tanks… During clean-up, I was as upset about the environmental impact we were making as anything else.
I appreciate the outpouring of support to help re-build our brewery. Please understand that this is the best option moving forward. We are very excited about the new pub we are helping to plan at 23 South Main St. Right now, we are pouring a lot of energy into the space in hopes of having a new, great pub open this winter. We hope with time others can be as excited as us about the future of the pub at 23 South Main Street. Thanks to everyone for 9 great years- there will be many more. The Alchemist is still in Waterbury and we are here to stay!
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Hoping you can open a pub on higher ground at some furure date…
In the meantime, you need to make the new tenants sign a contract requiring them to serve the Alchemist recipe sweet potato fries and beer cheese dip!
Andy, Jerry & Caulder.
This news saddens me, probably more than it should. I understand completely, but can’t say I’m not disappointed. While I was only able to get to the Pub and Brewery once, it was truly a once in a lifetime experience. I came 1400 miles to find a place with the warmest people around. I felt completely comfortable and was able to enjoy top notch food and beer. I look forward to whatever comes next for The Alchemist, but there will always be a place in my heart for the Pub and Brewery. Thanks for making such a great place and good luck in the new endeavors.
While I join in the others who posted in the sadness of the decision and the loss of a community treasure, I can understand it; my mom lost everything in a flood in Owego NY, and was also told by FEMA that rebuilding as-is where-is was not feasible. Not a loss of similar monetary or community impact, certainly, but I feel both losses dearly.
I wish nothing but the best of luck to you in the cannery and the relocation of that wonderful little seven barrel system to the cannery. I will miss those amazing dry-rubbed wings and killer fries and the unique sense of community that one felt as soon as one walked through that door. The friendly staff (“Can I get you anything?” “Shut The Hell Up!” “You got it!”) and the warmth of the patrons; I never left The Alchemist without the feeling that I’d made new friends or at least friendly acquaintances, and enjoyed every single moment I ever spent in the building. I hope that the former staff are given first crack at the jobs at the new pub; and similarly, I hope and expect that at least one or two taps are dedicated to John’s beers and that perhaps a recipe or two finds its way onto the menu.
Looking to the future, I predict continued success for the Alchemist beers and cannot wait to be able to try the likes of Petit Mutant and Ouroboros and their successors, or whatever else may come out of that system, in the future. If someday another Alchemist brewpub rises, ideally in Albany NY but hey I’ll travel , I will celebrate it and visit as often as time allows; if not, know that what you created has left a lasting positive impact upon thousands of people, and that the good beer and goodwill that was brewed there will always be fondly remembered.
Brian
I’ve been driving up from CT to Stowe at least half a dozen times each winter for over a decade now and ever since I found out about the Alchemist it was a mandatory stop while up there. Heck, sometimes it was the ONLY place we went out to for food and drink the whole time staying in Stowe. The overall vibe of the place made it feel like home away from home. Really great food (at very affordable prices too), incredible beer, and friendly staff and customers. It was without doubt my all time favorite brew pub. I really hope that whoever takes the pub over can capture some of the magic that was the Alchemist. And I also wish Jen and John the best of luck. We will surely stop in at the cannery everytime we go up there and will also go back to the pub once it reopens.
Henry
There have been many similar post-Irene stories coming out of southern Vermont where business owners realize it would be unwise to reopen in floodplain locations. But many of these are also historic downtowns, and so Irene puts their viability at risk. What is great is the decision to reopen 23 Main Street as a pub/restaurant, albeit sans brewery. This will help keep Waterbury’s downtown alive. Thank you John and Jen.
That said, Nancy and I are missing the pub so much. Drinking From The Can helps, and we are patronizing the Blackback and Reso. When Greg Noonan passed away just over a year ago, I worried that the Pub and the spirit of the place would not survive without him. But the Pub easily transitioned and stays the same. I am optimistic that John and Jen’s creations will continue to amaze and please, whatever venue they take. And these will probably be found in Waterbury!
Mark Twain once said that when a man passes from this Earth, if he can truly look back and call even more person a “true friend”, then his life has indeed been blessed. For all of us who have visited Pubs and Restaurants over the years, we can all find peace in the fact that “The Alchemist Pub & Brewery” was that true friend to all of us. A place where we shared many laughs and conversations, some fond visits, great food, renewed relationships, unbelievable fellow patrons, a staff like none other, and of course all those wonderful beers and food created by John and Jen. Let’s all take solice that we were fortunate enough to have shared in this “Vermont Vibe” for as long as we did and take those memories and make new ones. I will never forget the excitement our family felt as our brother and his wife started this adventure and the pride we all felt in what they created – it has lead me to friendships I consider dear and to meeting the “Vermonters” who make your state what it is. I know that this decision will eventually work our for how it is supposed to work out – with a new adventure right around the corner for 23 South Main Street in Waterbury. Think of how empty life would have been, or the people we never would have met, if not for The Alchemist – that cannot taken away from anyone. Here’s to life’s new adventures ! “Long may you Run”
While it deeply saddens me that the Alchemist won’t reopen, I understand the decision from a practical and business perspective and look forward to enjoying the beer from your cannery.
I live up in Burlington and starting a few years ago, a few friends and I organized what would become a repeated and much loved evening – after work, we’d take a CCTA bus down to Waterbury and walk over to the Alchemist from the Park & Ride. We’d have two hours or so to enjoy delicious beer and superb food, after which we walked across the street to the train station and rode the train back to Burlington.
It was an evening always enjoyed by all, and I have countless fond memories of my time at the Alchemist. Between the beer, the food and the train station across the street, the Alchemist was undoubtably my most treasured Vermont establishment. It’s still difficult to think that it’s not coming back.
I truly hope that the new pub will serve Alchemist beers and perhaps some of your incredible brews will find themselves to a restaurant or pub in the Burlington area at some point. While nothing will ever be the same as the Alchemist, you’ll always have my continued support and I’ll be sure to make it down in the opening days of the new 23 South Main St.
We’ll raise a pint to the old Alchemist… our first date, my motorbike rest stop, a fun Summer of sessions and the best food and beer around. Cheers, guys.
Dear John & Jen,
We were saddened by the news, but also uplifted by your resilience. There is a bright, bright silver lining here. With that info we completed an episode you’ll be happy to show around, from the footage that we shot in July. Enjoy.
http://blip.tv/thehappyhourguys/the-alchemist-pub-brewery-tragedy-and-triumph-5760513
Cheers!
Jimmy
We are so sorry to hear that The Alchemist will not reopen. It must have been such a difficult decision to make. It was our place to go for almost every ‘eating out’ occasion. We spent so many great nights there and can’t imagine Waterbury without you.
Thank goodness for the Cannery! Hopefully it will grow and prosper and provide us with other favorite brews one of these days. Whatever you do, please know that we will gladly support your efforts to bring good beer and good food to the area.
So sad to see such a wonderful locally owned establishment gone! We LOVED everything about the alchemist and will miss it terribly!
Best of luck moving forward. I always loved grabbing some amazing beer, some great food, and a game of pool at the Alchemist. There are few places that surpass expectations in every way – every time, and the Alchemist was one of them. It will be missed.
We are saddened that we never got a chance to visit your special establishment with the gift certificate we received from some of your loyal patrons. We wish you the best for your future endeavors.
Even here in Wellington New Zealand, we will miss The Alchemist. News traveled across the globe and we wish your new venture the best of luck. We will come visit the new site for a tasting. Cheers
And I was hoping the new beer on tap would be: Resurrection.
Maybe it’s still to come.
John, Jen, Kenny, Ashley, Bart, and the rest of the Alchemist crew, you were and are the Alchemist.
Thank you for all you give – let’ see what’s next!
So sorry to hear this news! We have been hitting up your brewery whenever we’re in town and miss your crew, the atmosphere of the pub and your sweet potato fries. Best of luck with your future endeavors and we look forward to eating in the new pub.
Nifer
[...] That is has proved to be the nail in the coffin for the rebuild. In a letter soon published on theirwebsite: [...]
I still can’t believe the brewpub is gone. I will forever treasure the bottles of Heretic and Luscious that I have because they help enrich my memory of the brewpub. I look forward to your future output. I hope that I will be able to sample your excellent beers on tap once again. If you ever brew Luscious again, I hope it gets out there because it is truly marvelous. I made sure to hold onto it for that reason alone. It tops Beezlebub in my mind.
I am heartbroken to hear the news. My sister and I are missing The Alchemist from Oregon. I am visiting Vermont again next month, trying to find a location for my move this year, and was really looking forward to a rebirthed Alchemist. I will come by the Pub and hope to enjoy John’s delicious brews and some food on my way to Randolph. I understand the reasoning behind your closure, I appreciate your concern for the environmental impact, and I look forward to a new incarnation, in whatever form it may take, part or parcel.
I am very thankful that I was able to visit your pub in March of this year. My friend
[...] heard on this episode: Long live the Alchemist New Pub to open in Alchemist Space New Smuttynose Brewery Four Big DFH beers coming your way [...]
Hello from Schoharie County, NY:
My only visit to the Alchemist was in July of 2008 after the strong recommendation of a VTDEC geologist I met in grad school. I made it a point to stop by when I was passing through. Unfortunately, it was my only visit, but was very memorable. As a homebrewer for the last 15 years I was very impressed with the unique quality of the beer.
I just picked up a copy of the Ale Street News and read about the flooding in Waterbury, and how it affected the brewery. Many of my friends and neighbors went through similar issues when the Schoharie Creek flooded much of the county. In any event, I’m sorry to hear the pub won’t be reopening, but I am happy to hear the beer will continue on in another location. I look forward to seeing some sort of representation from the Alchemist in cans/bottles/drafts on my next trip to VT.
All the best,
Bernd
Howes Cave, NY
We just learned of the sad news about the Alchemist Pub and Brewery. I used to live in Rouses Point, NY, and we came over to Stowe every summer. When my wife and moved down to NYC, we bought a time share in Stowe. On one of our trips to Stowe, we read an article in the Burlington Free Press of the opening of the Alchemist Pub and Brewery, so we checked it out, and loved it. Our bartender was Kenny, very friendly fellow, and he waited on us many times as we always seem to have the seats at the end of the bar, closest to the door. We made a point of visiting you every time we came up to Stowe. We now live in Tucson, but still long for the days in Stowe and at the Alchemist. I got out my Alchemist t-shirt to wear today. Our best to you both in the brewery operations, and look forward to samplings when we can get back to VT.
I just read the article on the Weather Channel website, and I am absolutely heartbroken. I know that Irene was a punishing storm that has affected many, and I am truly sad that such a fantastic place, run by such fantastic people, in such a fantastic community, has been irreparably damaged. I only had the pleasure of visiting your wonderful brewpub once, almost a year ago, and it will forever leave an imprint on my memory. Good luck in your new endeavors, I look forward to visiting your new location, but know that your dream of owning and operating a brewpub in downtown Waterbury brought great joy and pleasure to at least one.
Next time I read a blog, I hope that it doesn’t disappoint me just as much as this particular one. After all, Yes, it was my choice to read, however I genuinely believed you would have something helpful to say. All I hear is a bunch of complaining about something you could possibly fix if you weren’t too busy searching for attention.