An extremely popular watering hole, The Alchemist is a brew pub that offers up delicious locally sourced food to go along with its amazing hand-crafted beers. It is a favorite after-work spot of the locals and on a Friday night in the winter when you have end-of-the-week workers congregating along side the incoming weekend skiers, things can get pretty crowded. Even during the week, it is surprisingly busy for a restaurant in the relatively quiet little town of Waterbury.
Since I work across the street from it, I’ve had the opportunity to sample much of its beer and several of its menu items. However, until last night, I had never had their wings (I know – shame on me).
I have been missing out.
The wings come from Misty Knoll Farm, a local chicken farm, so they are super fresh, flavorful and juicy. They come in two styles: spicy dry rub or buffalo style. I haven’t had the buffalo style, opting for the dry rub. Next time I’ll go for the buffalo style, but they will be hard pressed to top the dry rubbed version.
The dish arrives with the wings arranged around a small container of blue cheese dressing and covered
with a light sprinkling of crumbled mild blue cheese. As the plate is placed in front of you, the aroma of paprika and spices mixing with the richness of
the blue cheese wafts into your nostrils. The wings are cooked just right, with light, crispy skin that holds the rub perfectly. The flavor of the rub is a perfect balance of heat, sweet and savory. Unlike some other dry rub wings, these don’t lose all their flavoring as you eat them, and it doesn’t overpower the taste of the chicken. I can say that these are easily some of the best “dry-style” wings I have ever had anywhere.
It is right down the street from The Reservoir, which means that Waterbury, Vermont has two locations that start to make it a wing-lover’s destination.
I admire your power of will…I would never have been able to choose the dry-rub over the sauced buffalo. We’d have made a good dining team in this particular situation!