We reached out to Pat and Greg Meulemans, owners of Meulemans’ Craft Draughts to answer 5 questions.

1.  Fall is here, what do you love about this time of year?

We certainly love the outdoors any time of the year but fall seems to be the time when you appreciate the beauty of Vermont the most. We really enjoy the cooler temps when out hiking or biking and even once the leaves fall the panoramas are spectacular. Having a craft beer at the end of an adventure is the icing on the cake.

2.  With Fall, what does that mean for Vermont Craft Beer?

It’s great to see so many Vermont breweries brewing traditional German-style Marzens and fest lagers. IPA’s still sit at the top but we are finding many people are very interested in some of the other more old-world styles.

3.  Being small business owners, and with Covid’s impacts, how are you doing in the “new norm”?

Like everyone we have made adjustments but it has been a busy summer and fall. There are more people living in the area and they appreciate the beer and everything else Vermont has to offer. We have also restricted the number of people we allow in the shop at any one time which gives us an opportunity to engage in conversation with more people.

4.    So what’s the most unusual or unheard of request from a customer?

One customer wanted us to create a beer-quet, a mix 12 pack wrapped individually like roses. It turned out to be the perfect Valentine’s gift for her husband!

5.  What made you get into this awesome business?

It has taken a long time and a lot of work to get to where we are but it’s certainly a great way to make a living. We get to talk and work with people who love beer as much as we do. Ten years ago we were both unemployed and took the opportunity to travel around the country. We were inspired by what we found during our travels and the regional nature of food and beer. Our business was the culmination of th adventure and on November 19, we’ll celebrate our tenth anniversary in business.