The Ultimate Local Product

We are so happy and proud to introduce to you Alta Gracia® Coffee Porter.  This great tasting beer is the result of a fantastic collaboration of farmer, roaster, and brewer – all with strong Vermont ties.

For eight years, we have been importing increasing amounts of certified organic coffee from our sister farm – Finca Alta Gracia – in the Dominican Republic.  The farm was founded and is stewarded by husband and wife Bill Eichner and Julia Alvarez, who live in nearby Weybridge, Vermont.  All the proceeds of the Alta Gracia coffee sales are returned to the community through the fair trade prices we pay, the support we provide for a community literacy program and teacher, and our donations that fund a sustainable agriculture volunteer.

Just down the road from our roastery here in Middlebury, our friend Morgan Wolaver and his team at Otter Creek Brewing, brew world-class artisan beer.  They recently won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival – quite an accomplishment for such a small brewery.  Morgan created a series of organic beers featuring ingredients from small farmers in the area, and he wanted to honor the efforts being made on our farm in the D.R.  His brewmaster, Mike Gerhart, developed the brew after careful experimentation and collaboration with our roasters Dave and John.

Alta Gracia® Coffee Porter is an exceptionally smooth and flavorfully complex beer that is surprisingly true to the porter style.  The hint of vanilla brings out the sweetness of the dark-roasted Dominican coffee. 

As part of this collaboration, Wolaver's and Vermont Coffee Company will donate $1 for each pound of coffee used to make this beer.  The funds will be used in the D.R. to support sustainable agriculture projects in the community around Finca Alta Gracia.  Watch for future news updates.

Brewmaster Mike Gerhart

Listen to his description below:

Jeremy showing off the case pack box before it’s filled with 6-packs.

Mike, Kate, and Morgan, of Otter Creek Brewing, invited us to a first-round tasting early in the process.

Side panel of 6-pack.