Magic Hat Begins Pleasing Palates on Entirely New Level

The Artifactory®, Magic Hat’s epicenter of ales and arts, has begun healing hunger and slaking thirst in an all-new way. After much reordering and renovation, lovers of the brewer’s ales and odd notions can now enjoy fresh, locally sourced food selections. The grand opening will take place on Thursday, May 4, from 6-8:30pm, with a party that is free to attend and open to the beer-loving public.

The new menu was created by Wilson Ballantyne, one of Magic Hat’s brewers and a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, VT. Ballantyne has created a delectable menu of unique paninis, salads and cheese plates, each incorporating ingredients from local Vermont purveyors.

Pints of Magic Hat’s elixirs will also be available on a full-time basis. The bar at The Artifactory regularly features around 15 different beers, from new and old favorites, to brewery-only offerings from the brewer’s Pilot Batch system, to elusive ales from the Humdinger Collection. Should visitors become particularly attached to a beer, Magic Hat will continue to offer growlers for folks to take home.

“The Artifactory has always been a place of celebration for innovation, no matter the medium, and we are thrilled to finally round it all out by introducing food and building on our beer offerings,” said Mark Hegedus, President of Magic Hat. “Any space where beautiful art, inspiring music, good eats, and delicious beer come together sounds like one heck of a party, and we look forward to continuing the fun for the Burlington community here at our brewery and performing arts center.”

To tie the new Artifactory space together, even more artistically inspired architecture has been added, courtesy of Vermont-based artist, Russ Bennett. Bennett, renowned for his sculpture and design at major music festivals like Bonnaroo, Outside Lands and the Phish festivals, also played a major role in designing The Artifactory during Magic Hat’s 2008 brewery overhaul. Visitors can now sidle up to a new standing bar or take a load off at one of Bennett’s brushed steel tables.

The Magic Hat Artifactory is located at 5 Bartlett Bay Rd., South Burlington, VT, 05403, and it is open for business 11am-7pm Monday-Saturday and Noon-5pm on Sunday.