Trout River Brewing to open tasting room in Springfield

Trout River Brewing Co. is opening a tasting room at its brewery at 100 River Street. The Springfield Select Board approved a second class liquor license for the brewery this week.


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Trout River Brewing to open tasting room in Springfield By SUSAN SMALLHEER Staff Writer | September 30,2016 SPRINGFIELD — Trout River Brewing Co. is opening a tasting room at its brewery at 100 River Street. The Springfield Select Board approved a second class liquor license for the brewery this week. Vermont Beer Shapers LLC, which bought the Lyndonville-founded brewery about two years ago, started production in the former Fellows Gear Shaper building on River Street, and has been expanding its operation, said Beer Shapers’ President Kelen Beardsley. Beardsley, who is one of three high school friends who bought the Northeast Kingdom brewery and brought it back to their hometown, said that the tasting room would be a boost to their business, as well as tourism in downtown Springfield. “We’re doing well,” he said. “A second-class license will allow us to interact with people,” said Beardsley. He said that the company was going to unveil a new product, which he would not discuss, in the near future, which would be sold out-of-state. “It will really increase our sales,” he told the Select Board. The Beer Shapers’ group has been supported by the town, as the select board in 2015 loaned the group about $45,000 from the town’s revolving loan fund. Beardsley said that Trout River would be selling beer at the upcoming Vermont Apple Festival, which is held in Springfield, during Columbus Day weekend. He said that a special, fenced-off area on the Robinson softball field at Riverside Park would be set up to sell the beer. The beer will not be sold on school property, since Robinson Field is town-owned property, said School Board member Steve Karaffa, who is an ex-officio member of the Select Board. Beardsley said the second-class license will allow Trout River to sell beer out-of-state. He said the tasting room would likely be operational by the end of October.