Kraemer & Kin, Alburgh
“At Kraemer & Kin, it’s all about the ampersand, the most inclusive of all punctuation.” –Heather Kraemer
At Kraemer & Kin, it’s all about the ampersand, “the most inclusive of all punctuation,” according to Heather Kraemer.
Proudly displayed over the beer taps is an ampersand crafted by Amanda and Hugo Gervais, two North Hero farmers, from grapevine and willow branches laced through with native plants including barley, red clover, lavender, hops, rosehips, many of the same botanicals that infuse their beer. Heather adds to the sinuous base each season so the ampersand evolves and grows more bountiful with time, much like the family brewery.
Family & friends. Farmed & foraged ingredients. Cornerstones of the Champlain Islands’ first brewery.
Kraemer & Kin consists of Heather Kraemer (sister), Levi Kraemer (brother), and Christie Kraemer (married to Levi). The trio started the brewery in their Grand Isle two-bay garage in 2019. When Covid hit, they shifted from kegs to cans and growlers and set up an online ordering system. In July 2020, they opened a tasting room at Green Tara Space in North Hero. When the trio outgrew that space, they approached the owners of Alburg Golf Links, an 18-hole public course, who leased them the bar and dining room facility. Levi transitioned the brewery from his garage to the ground floor of the clubhouse, and the Kraemers renovated the spacious dining room to reflect their own artful ethos. Kraemer & Kin Brewery and Taproom opened in April 2022.
This small brewery exudes thoughtful earthiness. That aesthetic inspired the vintage flora and fauna labels created by the team in collaboration with graphic artist Sarah Ettinger. The cans serve as a field guide to Vermont’s natural world and send a subtle message: slow down, pay attention, appreciate the world around you—and enjoy this delicious beer.
One of Kraemer & Kin's thirst-quenching summer beers that highlight locally grown ingredients. Photo courtesy of Kraemer & Kin.
Strawberry wheat, honey ale, black currant saison, apple ale, sumac amber, lemon balm pilsner, peach sour. Levi excels in producing classic styles infused with farmed and foraged ingredients. While he brews eight core beers year-round, the rest tap in to seasonality with new flavors each month. “Wheat provides the perfect canvas for our botanicals and allows me to highlight that special ingredient,” Levi says. “Fresh is key: I only use herbs, fruits, and wildcrafted elements at their peak so their full flavor comes through.” Hops are grown a few miles away at North Hero Hops, a family venture that Levi and Christie established in 2012.
The Kraemers’ commitment to supporting local agriculture infuses the small taproom menu, with 78 percent of the ingredients sourced from farms in the Champlain Islands and northern Vermont. Think wood-fired pizza, burgers, BLTs, and salads. Christie Kraemer explains, “From the outset, we wanted to become a cornerstone of the community and showcase the beautiful local art and ingredients through our kitchen and beer. Our goal is fresh, local, and thoughtfully executed.”
Kraemer & Kin, a place where beautiful elements converge under one evolving, welcoming ampersand.
