Long Trail Double Bag Returning In New Bottles

Long Trail Double Bag

This morning we bring you the latest packaging for a returning favorite from Long Trail Brewing in Bridgewater Corners, VT.  This is Long Trail Double Bag and it remains a double amber ale that will hit 7.2%-AbV.  This is the new 12oz bottle and stay tuned for 2019 release info.

I’ve also added in the new 2026 Double Bag 12-oz bottle packaging.

About Long Trail Brewing Company

Long Trail Brewing Company has built its reputation around Vermont craft beer, traditional brewing inspiration, and the rugged outdoor culture that makes the Green Mountain State such a distinctive place to live, work, and explore. Based in Bridgewater Corners, Vermont, Long Trail has spent decades producing beers that reflect the state’s independent spirit, combining approachable styles with a strong connection to the mountains, rivers, forests, and outdoor recreation that define Vermont. The brewery has become a recognizable name in New England beer, particularly among drinkers who appreciate classic ales, refreshing lagers, and a brand identity rooted in the outdoors.

Founded in 1989, Long Trail Brewing Company began during the early growth of the American craft beer movement, when small, independent breweries were challenging the dominance of mass-produced domestic lagers. At the time, craft beer was still finding its place in the American market, and many breweries were building their identities around traditional European brewing methods, distinctive regional ingredients, and beer styles that offered something different from the standard choices available in supermarkets and bars. Long Trail entered that developing market with a distinctly Vermont personality, drawing inspiration from the state’s long-standing traditions of hiking, skiing, fishing, and exploring the outdoors.

The brewery’s location in Bridgewater Corners gives Long Trail a natural connection to Vermont’s recreational culture. The surrounding region is known for its mountain scenery, winding country roads, covered bridges, ski areas, and access to some of New England’s most popular hiking destinations. That setting has helped shape the brewery’s identity over the years, making Long Trail a natural fit for consumers who associate craft beer with weekends on the trail, afternoons around a campfire, ski trips, and gatherings with friends after a day outside. Rather than presenting itself solely as a beer producer, Long Trail has cultivated a broader image that connects its products with the experiences and traditions of northern New England.

Long Trail’s Brewing Tradition

One of Long Trail Brewing Company’s best-known beers is Long Trail Ale, a traditional amber ale that helped establish the brewery’s reputation. The beer’s malt-forward character and balanced flavor profile offer a familiar alternative for drinkers who want more character than a conventional light lager without moving into the more aggressive bitterness or intense hop profiles associated with some modern craft beer styles. Amber ales have long occupied an important place in American craft brewing, providing breweries with a versatile style that can appeal to experienced beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers alike.

Long Trail Ale became an important part of the brewery’s identity because it represented the qualities that helped early craft breweries distinguish themselves: recognizable flavor, a dependable brewing approach, and an emphasis on character rather than sheer volume. Its traditional style also reflects the influence of older brewing traditions, when ales were valued for their malt complexity, drinkability, and ability to pair naturally with a wide range of foods.

As American craft beer evolved, Long Trail expanded beyond its flagship ale to offer additional styles and seasonal releases. The brewery’s broader portfolio has included beers designed for different occasions, from easy-drinking options suited to warm weather to fuller-flavored ales intended for colder months. This range has allowed Long Trail to serve consumers whose preferences have changed alongside the craft beer industry while maintaining a recognizable connection to its original identity.

The brewery’s approach also reflects a practical reality of the regional beer business. A dependable flagship can create lasting brand recognition, but maintaining that connection requires giving customers reasons to return. Rotating selections, new releases, and variations on familiar styles can help a brewery remain relevant while still serving the drinkers who helped establish its reputation. For Long Trail, balancing that established identity with changing consumer expectations has been an important part of its place in the competitive New England beer market.

Vermont Craft Beer and the Outdoor Connection

Vermont has developed an outsized reputation in American craft brewing, with breweries throughout the state attracting attention for everything from traditional ales to hop-forward IPAs, farmhouse beers, stouts, and experimental small-batch releases. Long Trail occupies a distinctive position within that history because its roots reach back to an earlier period of the craft beer movement, before the explosion of hazy IPAs, pastry stouts, and highly specialized beer releases transformed the industry.

That history gives Long Trail a different kind of recognition. While newer breweries may build their reputations around limited releases, unusual ingredients, or highly publicized collaborations, Long Trail benefits from a longstanding regional identity and beers that many consumers recognize from years of drinking and travel throughout New England. Its connection to Vermont also gives the brand a natural association with the state’s tourism economy, where outdoor recreation, local food, independent businesses, and craft beverages frequently overlap.

For visitors exploring Vermont, a brewery can be more than a stop for a pint. It can offer an opportunity to experience the local character of a region, learn about its brewing history, and discover how a state’s landscape and traditions influence its food and beverage culture. Long Trail’s setting and branding fit comfortably into that experience, particularly for visitors traveling through central Vermont or spending time in the surrounding mountain communities.

The outdoor theme is especially appropriate in a state where recreation is woven into everyday life. Hiking trails, ski slopes, mountain biking routes, rivers, and scenic drives provide a year-round backdrop for the activities associated with the Long Trail name. The brand’s identity connects naturally with these experiences, reinforcing the idea that craft beer can be part of a broader lifestyle built around exploration, community, and time spent outside.

Long Trail in a Changing Beer Industry

The American beer market has changed dramatically since Long Trail opened its doors in 1989. Independent breweries have multiplied, national beer companies have entered the craft category, consumer tastes have shifted toward more specialized styles, and the industry has faced growing competition from hard seltzers, ready-to-drink cocktails, non-alcoholic beer, and other beverage alternatives. Regional breweries must now compete not only with established beer brands but also with a constant stream of new products seeking attention from consumers and retailers.

For a brewery with a long history, maintaining relevance means recognizing these changes without abandoning the characteristics that made the brand successful in the first place. Long Trail’s established name, Vermont roots, and recognizable flagship beer provide a foundation, while an evolving portfolio can help the brewery respond to new tastes and drinking occasions. Its challenge, like that of many established craft breweries, is to preserve the loyalty of longtime customers while introducing its beers to a new generation of drinkers.

Long Trail Brewing Company remains an important part of Vermont’s craft beer story because it represents an earlier chapter in the movement’s development. Its history reflects a time when regional breweries helped expand Americans’ expectations of what beer could taste like, and its continuing connection to Vermont gives the brand a clear identity in a crowded marketplace.

From Long Trail Ale and its traditional brewing roots to its broader range of beers and its association with outdoor recreation, the brewery has established a recognizable place in New England’s beverage culture. For craft beer fans, Long Trail offers a reminder that the industry’s story is not built entirely on the newest release or the latest brewing trend. It is also shaped by the regional breweries that helped make craft beer a lasting part of American drinking culture, one pint at a time.

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