The Skinny Pancake team is so very excited and honored to share that Mount Holly Beer will be opening a taproom within The Skinny Pancake Quechee. This collaboration has been months in the making. 

Collaboration. One of our favorite words at The Skinny pancake. One of our favorite actions, really. Collaboration is at the heart of the genetic code of the Skinny Pancake. When capable, creative people from different groups come together, magic happens and mountains move. 

Starting in the aughts, we collaborated with Vermont businesses for Social Responsibility and the Outdoor Gear Exchange to produce a decade of Green drinks in Burlington. In 2015 and 2016, we organized the Eat By Northeast local food festival. Over 80 organizations participated in vending, production and education on local food with a focus on access and affordability. 

Collaboration continued the next year when we produced our six part video series, The Local Motive thanks to the deep engagement and support from The Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund and Vermont Public. And then the pandemic hit. Perhaps the greatest collaboration we’ve ever participated in: Everyone Eats Program. This was the most prominent demonstration of the resilience of the local food network I have ever known. The Skinny Pancake worked directly with the state of Vermont, dozens of non-profits and 300 restaurants to coordinate the purchase of 2.5 million meals from the restaurants across the state and ensure that those meals found their way to the homes and bellies of folks in need.

It’s hard to top that one. But, this isn’t a competition… It’s a collaboration! 

Starting with a kickoff celebration this Saturday, Mount Holly Beer Company will have a taproom within the heart of our Quechee Skinny Pancake operation.

Mount Holly makes delicious beer. They do it with intention. Their founder, Dan Tilly, is creative and passionate about his product. He also relishes in the creation of high end cider, which will be featured at the Quechee SkinnyP.

The conversation on how our  two creative and complementary brands coexist has been fun and fulfilling. Where is there natural overlap? Where are the pitfalls and potential points tension that we need to hedge against? How do we show up and represent this very respectable brewery brand with integrity and attention? Those have been high-level questions. And then the collaboration drilled down to the specifics: What glassware will we be using? What beers will be featuring? Can we complement those with recommended food pairings?  Working through this process demonstrated Dan’s deep commitment to the authenticity of his brand. 

Collaboration isn’t a destination, it’s a journey. While those questions above have been answered, new questions, challenges and opportunities will emerge. That’s the beauty of the process. It’s real. It’s human. It’s intentional. We are choosing to join forces and reflecting on how we can both show up for each other.

Collaboration is a privilege earned by mutual respect and performance. We’re excited to have the opportunity to collaborate with Mount Holly here in Queechee. Please join us this Saturday, June 27th from 3pm – 8pm for a grand opening celebration. There will be live music, kids activities, samplings and an opportunity to meet the brewer! 

Yours in Pancakia,

-Benjy